API 580 Risk Based Inspection Practice Test

Which equipment categories are generally excluded from RBI analysis?

1. Pressure vessels and tanks

2. Electrical instrumentation

3. Transport pipelines

4. Safety valves and regulators

The correct answer is: Electrical instrumentation

The rationale for excluding certain equipment categories from Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) analysis typically centers on the nature of the equipment and its role within the overall risk management framework. Electrical instrumentation is often considered less critical in traditional RBI assessments because it does not generally contribute directly to process safety in the same way that mechanical equipment (like pressure vessels and tanks) does. Electrical instrumentation primarily serves to monitor and control processes rather than containing hazardous materials or having direct structural implications. As a result, the risk associated with failures in electrical instrumentation tends to be considered separately from equipment that contains, transports, or regulates hazardous substances. On the other hand, categories such as pressure vessels and tanks, transport pipelines, and safety valves and regulators are generally integral to processes involving hazardous materials, making them more susceptible to failure modes that would warrant RBI analysis. Therefore, while RBI is a comprehensive approach focusing on mechanical integrity and failure risks, electrical instrumentation typically falls outside the immediate scope of such assessments.