TWI has a long history in the area of fitness-for-service (FFS) and flaw assessment, having been at the forefront of the development and experimental validation of modern FFS methods.
Fitness for Service (FFS) is a standard and best practice used in industries, including the oil and gas industry to determine the fitness of in-service equipment for continued use.
FFS engineers can operate across the full lifecycle of a part, from equipment design to assessing operating conditions, lifecycle extension, and end-of-life decommissioning and recycling.
Fitness-for-Service Support with TWI
TWI’s experts are highly experienced in the development and application of FFS assessment techniques, particularly for the avoidance of brittle and ductile fracture and also general and local metal loss. We can help solve problems that may arise throughout the lifecycle of a component, minimising risk and cost.
Our staff are actively involved in the ongoing research and development of industry standards such as British Standard BS 7910, ‘Guide on methods for assessing the acceptability of flaws in metallic structures,’ API Fitness-for-Service: API 579-1/ASME FFS-, and the UK nuclear industry’s fracture assessment code R6, ‘Assessment of the integrity of structures containing defects.’
Through established multidisciplinary teams, with specialist knowledge in areas of fracture mechanics, fatigue, finite element analysis, materials, inspection and welding, TWI is able to provide industry-leading services to our international network of Industrial Member companies. We have carried out FFS assessments on pressure vessels, slug catchers, storage tanks, pipelines, piping system and high-temperature equipment in accordance with industry-accepted standards.
Bespoke Services and Training
TWI's wide-ranging expertise is regularly used to develop non-standard testing and assessment methodologies, conforming to the API 579/ASME FFS-1 Level 3 classification. This capability allows us to take on and solve problems where non-standard geometry, unusual loading, or exotic materials mean that standard FFS approaches are unsuitable.
TWI's expert staff are also available to conduct FFS training, either through our in-house training school or as a bespoke programme, tailored to the needs of individual clients.