API 579 fitness-for-service assessment course
IN PERSON
Make confident decisions about continued equipment service.
This course is designed for engineers and inspectors who need a clear, practical approach to assessing the integrity of pressure equipment in real operating conditions.
Take the next step in your welding inspection journey!
Course overview
This two-day, in-person course introduces the API 579-1 / ASME FFS-1 Fitness-for-Service standard and provides a clear, step-by-step approach to assessing pressure plant equipment for continued service and life evaluation.
Co-hosted by HERA and Sequence Engineering, the course is designed to support informed decisions on whether critical pressure equipment should continue operating, be repaired, or be replaced. The focus is on practical application, grounded in real inspection and integrity assessment experience.
Who should attend
Inspectors, plant engineers, and engineering managers involved in the operation, maintenance, and integrity management of plant facilities, including pressure vessels, tanks, and piping.
What the course covers
The course examines the API 579-1 / ASME FFS-1 standard in detail, with emphasis on the most commonly used assessment procedures. Content is delivered step by step, with depth adjusted to suit participant experience.
Learning is reinforced through pre-worked case studies, group discussion, and selected individual problem-solving exercises. Participants are encouraged to bring real-world problems for discussion and benchmarking against best practice.
Key damage mechanisms covered include:
- General and local metal loss
- Pitting
- Crack-like flaws and fatigue
- Brittle fracture and material behaviour
- Hydrogen damage and blisters
- Misalignment and weld distortion
- Lamination
- Creep
- Fire damage
- Environmental cracking
Book your spot!
Format
In person
Dates
11-12 March 2026
Location
HERA – Manukau, Auckland
Places
Limited to 15 participants
What you’ll gain
You’ll develop a practical understanding of how to assess the fitness-for-service of common damage mechanisms in accordance with API 579-1 / ASME FFS-1. The course builds confidence in evaluating damage significance, identifying life-extension options, and documenting assessments in line with industry and regulatory expectations.
Fees
Early bird (book before 13 February 2026): NZD $2,200 + GST
Standard fee: NZD $2,500 + GST
Course fees include comprehensive course notes, lunch, and morning and afternoon tea.
Register now
Places are limited. Early booking is recommended.
For a detailed breakdown of course content, learning objectives, and daily sessions, please refer to the course leaflet.
Presenter
Dr Annette Karstensen
Director of Structural Integrity
Dr Karstensen is a structural integrity and fitness-for-service specialist with over 30 years of experience across power generation, oil and gas, petrochemical, and pipeline industries. She is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Welding Institute (UK), and an experienced international educator in fitness-for-service and fracture mechanics.