General guidance as to the most likely damage mechanisms for common alloys used in the refining and petrochemical industry is provided in this bulletin. These guidelines provide information that can be utilized by plant inspection personnel to assist in identifying likely causes of damage, and are intended to introduce the concepts of service-induced deterioration and failure modes.

The summary provided for each damage mechanism provides the fundamental information required for a FFS assessment performed in accordance with API RP 579 or an RBI study performed in accordance with API RP 580.

The damage mechanisms in this bulletin cover situations encountered in the refining and petrochemical industry in pressure vessels, piping, and tankage. The damage mechanism descriptions are not intended to provide a definitive guideline for every possible situation that may be encountered, and the reader may need to consult with an engineer familiar with applicable degradation modes and failure mechanisms, particularly those that apply in special cases.