ITAC

Inspection Training And Consulting

Post Office Box 5666
Pasadena, TX 77508-5666
Phone:
281-998-8305
Fax: 281-998-2163
Email: ITACDonna@comcast.net

What's New

Howdy! Come on in and relax a while. We're glad you're here!

The entire ITAC Website has changed (we hope for the better)! Please take a few minutes to browse through our pages and let us know what you think. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Check back here periodically to find product and service updates, as well as any changes to the API codes or standards, and other information hot off the presses.

ITAC HEADLINE NEWS


API 653 Tank Inspection Update
API 570 Piping Inspection Update
API 510 Vessel Inspection Update
API General Information
CINCH Program
Credit Card Orders
Did You Know...
Get More For Your Training Dollars
Mailing List Update
Pitch 'Til You Win
Quote of the Week
Resume Service
Test Taking Tips
Weekly Chuckle

 

 

 

 

 

ITAC

API 653 Tank Inspection Update

Documents Required for the March 26, 2008, API 653 Exam

API Recommended Practice 575, Inspection of Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Storage Tanks, Second Edition, May, 2005.

API Standard 650, Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage, Tenth Edition, November, 1998, including Addenda 1 (March, 2000), Addenda 2 (November, 2001), Addenda 3 (September, 2003) and Addenda 4 (December, 2005.

API Recommended Practice 651, Cathodic Protection of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks, Third Edition (January 2007).

API Recommended Practice 652, Lining of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tank Bottoms, Third Edition (October, 2005).

API Standard 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction, Third Edition, December, 2001, including Addenda 1 (September, 2003) and Addenda 2 (November, 2005).

API Recommended Practice 571, Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Indusry, First Edition
(December, 2003) (Items 4.2.7, 4.2.16, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.8, 4.3.9, 4.3.10, 4.5.1, 4.5.3, 5.1.11 only)

API Recommended Practice 577, Welding Inspection and Metallurgy, First Edition (October, 2004)

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, 2004 edition, with 2005 and 2006 addenda.

i. ASME Section V, Nondestructive Examination, Articles 1, 2, 6, 7 and 23 (SE-797 only)

ii. ASME Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications (Section QW only)

PLEASE NOTE: The API 653 Inspector Certification Examination now recognizes API RP 577, Welding Inspection and Metallurgy and API RP 571, Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Industry. These documents are listed as required items on the current API 653 Effectivity Sheet. ADDITIONALLY API has deleted API RP 2207 and API RP 2015 from the API 653 Inspector Certification Examination. Please be sure that ALL of the documents you intend to take to the test site match the current Effectivity Sheet EXACTLY, including edition and addenda numbers.  

 

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ITAC

API 570 Piping Inspection Update

Documents Required for the December 5, 2007, API 570 Exam

API Standard 570 - Piping Inspector Code: Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Rerating of In-Service Piping Systems, Second Edition, October, 1998, including Addendum 1 (February 2000), Addendum 2 (December 2001), Addendum 3 (August 2003) and Addenda 4, (June 2006).

API Recommended Practice 571, Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Indusry, First Edition
(December, 2003) (Items 4.2.7, 4.2.16, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.8, 4.3.9, 4.3.10, 4.5.1, 4.5.3, 5.1.11 only)

API Recommended Practice 574 - Inspection Practices for Piping System Components, Second Edition, June, 1998.

API Recommended Practice 577, Welding Inspection and Metallurgy, First Edition (October, 2004)

API Recommended Practice 578 - Material Verification Program for New and Existing Alloy Piping Systems, First Edition, May, 1999.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, 2004 Edition, with 2005 and 2006 Addenda.

i. ASME Section V, Nondestructive Examination, Articles 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 23 (SE-797 only)

ii. ASME Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications, Welding only

ASME B31.3 - Process Piping, 2004 Edition

ASME B16.5 - Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings, 2004 Edition

 

PLEASE NOTE: The API 570 Inspector Certification Examination now recognizes API RP 577, Welding Inspection and Metallurgy and API RP 571, Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Industry. These documents are listed as required items on the current API 570 Effectivity Sheet. Please be sure that ALL of the documents you intend to take to the test site match the current Effectivity Sheet EXACTLY, including edition and addenda numbers.  

 

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 ITAC

API 510 Vessel Inspection Update

API has updated the reference material for the API 510 Vessel Inspector Certification Examination to be held June 4, 2008. All ITAC courses have been updated to include the new reference material. ITAC has successfully trained students in this field for many years, and we look forward to including you among those certified candidates.

Documents Required for the June 4, 2008, API 510 Exam

API Standard 510, Pressure Vessel Inspection Code: Maintenance, Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration, Nineth Edition, June, 2006.

API Recommended Practice 571, Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Indusry, First Edition
(December, 2003) (Items 4.2.3, 4.2.7, 4.2.9, 4.2.14, 4.2.16, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.4, 4.3.5, 4.4.2, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.5.3, 5.1.2.3, 5.1.3.1 only)

API Recommended Practice 572, Inspection of Pressure Vessels, Second Edition, February, 2001.

API Recommended Practice 576, Inspection of Pressure-Relieving Devices, Second Edition, December, 2000.

API Recommended Practice 577, Welding Inspection and Metallurgy, First Edition (October, 2004)

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, 2004 Edition, with 2005 and 2006
Addenda.

i. ASME Section V, Nondestructive Examination, Articles 1, 2, 6, 7 and 23 (Section SE-797 only)

ii. ASME Section VIII, Division 1, Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels, UG, UW, UCS, UHT, Appendices 1-4, 6, 8 and 12.

iii. ASME Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications, Welding only

 

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ITAC

API General Information

In addition to the reference material for the API 653, API 570 or API 510 Certification Exams, you will also need to bring the following items with you to the test site:

  • Letter of Eligibility sent to you by API, confirming your test site location.
  • A photo identification (A driver's license or your employee photo I.D. badge are acceptable).
  • A non-programmable calculator (even if it is a non-programmable, the proctors become suspicious of a calculator with too many buttons). The only functions you will need are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and square root, so don't get too fancy. You don't need the aggravation on test day!)
  • Several #2 pencils (mechanical pencils are fine, but bring some old-fashioned #2's for back-up). This is a timed test and if your mechanical pencil jams, you don't get extra time because you had to fix your mechanical pencil!
  • A gummed eraser. (The eraser on your pencil will do, but if you do too much erasing and tear the grade sheet, you've got trouble. The soft gummed eraser will prevent this frustration.)
  • The applicable API and ASME reference publications. Highlighting, underlining, page tabs, and notes written in the margins of the code books are acceptable. Loose pages inserted int he code books are NOT ACCEPTABLE. Note: API and ASME publications are copyrighted material. Photocopies of publications are not permitted at the exam.

    The exam questions are multiple choice. There are open and closed book sections. You will be given a total of eight (8) hours to complete the exams.


CINCH Program

Opportunity is Knocking! Will You Answer?

Because of ITAC's superior track record in training quality inspectors and NDE technicians, our corporate clients frequently call on us to help them find qualified people who may be interested in working shut downs or participating in run and maintain activities. We have been proud to provide this service over the years to industry around the world, as well as to our loyal class participants. it has been one of the ways we say "thank you" to those folks who have continued to place their confidence and trust in us and in our training programs.

However, in order to keep up with the growing demand for certified personnel, ITAC must expand its database, and we need your help. We are pleased to introduce the pilot program 'CINCH" (Certified Inspector National Clearing House). CINCH was designed to match your skills and expertise with the global needs of our corporate clients. When an inquiry is made which corresponds with your area of specialization, we will provide the employer with your name and telephone number. Once contact is made, you are free to negotiate your own terms, or to turn the offer down. You are never under any obligation.

If you are a certified inspector who specializes in tanks, piping systems, pressure vessels, coatings or visual inspections, or if you are a NDE level II technician, you can participate in this innovative program for the low annual membership fee of $35.00. There are no other charges for this service, no matter how many times you accept offers of employment!

Simply complete the questionnaire below, enclose copies of your resume and certification documents and mail the application and registration fee to ITAC, or call ITAC at 281-998-8305 to charge by phone. We will keep your date on file for a year and offer it only to those companies seeking qualified personnel in the regional areas which you have specified.

If you do not currently have a resume, click here for more information...

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ITAC

CINCH QUESTIONNAIRE

Enroll Today! Don't miss out on your opportunity to reap the exciting benefits this program offers you.

Member Information

Travel Information

Name:

I am willing to travel: (check beside all that apply)

Address:

Within my state only

Address:

Within a specific region

City

Specify Region:

State/Zip:

To any U.S. location

Phone No:

To international destinations

Fax No:

I have a valid passport: Y or N?

Email Address:

I am not willing to travel

Payment Information

I hereby authorize ITAC to release information regarding my name, phone number and certifications to prospective employers. However, I do not want any information given to the following companies:

Check Number:

Credit Card:

MasterCard No:

Visa No:

Company #1:

AMEX No:

Company #2:

Discover Card No:

Company #3:

Expiration Date:

Company #4:

Signature*:

Company #5:

*Signature required for processing credit card order and information release authorization

 

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ITAC

Credit Card Orders

ITAC is proud to announce that you can now pay your registration fees with your corporate or personal MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card or American Express credit card.

For our loyal clients who have been waiting to take advantage of this payment option, we sincerely thank you for your patience while the negotiations were underway. For those of you who are new to our family of clients, we hope you will find this service to be a convenient and timesaving method of payment.

If there are any other services which you would like us to provide for you, please let us know. We are here to serve YOU, and our success depends exclusively on your continued satisfaction!

Did You Know...

API will now charge you $100.00 to change your exam site location after the cut-off date? When you fill out your API application package, we strongly urge you to consider your schedule carefully before selecting your exam site location.

 

 

 

 

ITAC

Did You Know... (Con't.)

API has adopted the following policies?

  • API now reserves the right to change candidates' test sites.
  • Refunds:

    a. Refunds must be requested in writing

    b. A full refund will only be granted if the candidate cancels exam registration in writing by the application deadline for that
    exam.

    c. For requests for refunds made after the exam application deadline, a 50% refund will be granted.

    d. Refunds must be requested within one year of the date payment is received by API.

  • Reschedule Fees

    a. A $50 reschedule fee will be charged each time a candidate cancels or no-shows an exam and wishes to take a later exam.

    b. A $50 reschedule fee will be charged each time a candidate fails the exam and schedules to retake the exam.
  • Rescheduling the Exam

    a. Candidates have up to three consecutive attempts to take and pass the exam, starting witht he first exam you
    registered for.

    b. If a candidate has not sat for and successfully passed the exam by the third consecutive attempt he/she must resubmit a
    new application and fee.

    c. The following delineates applicable fees for candidates who repeatedly fail the exam:
    • First Exam Administration: Initial application fee
      Second Exam Administration*: $50.00 reschedule fee
      Third Exam Administration *: $50.00 reschedule fee + $200.00 retest fee

    d. The following delineates applicable fees for candidates who repeatedly cancel or no-show the exam:

    • First Exam Administration: Initial application fee
      Second Exam Administration*: $50.00 reschedule fee
      Third Exam Administration *: $50.00 reschedule fee

      *Consecutive
  • Recertification

    a. Recertification applications must be received by API within three (3) months of the expiration date.

    b. Recertification applications received by API within three (3) months after the expiration date will be
    processed, but a $150 late fee is required.

    c. For recertification applications received by API later than three (3) months after the expiration date, the
    type of application will be changed to 'NEW CERTIFICATION". Inspector will be required to pay the
    full cost of the initial certification and the inspector's license status will remain 'EXPIRED" until the
    inspector has retaken and passed the exam and a new certificate is issued.

    d. Recertification applications must be mailed in, not faxed.

    e. When your recertification application is received by API, your status will be changed to "PENDING"
    until the processing is complete. However, you do remain an authorized inspector during the processing
    period.

    f. "PENDING" satus will not be extended any more than 120 days beyond your expiration date. After
    that time your status will change to "EXPIRED."
  • You can request that your exam be manually graded. There is a $50.00 grading fee charged, but if you
    failed the exam by only one or two questions, it might be well worth the expense to make sure the
    scanning machine did not make a mistake.
 

We've Changed Our Address! ITAC has a new mailing address. Please jot it down for future reference. Effective immediately, please direct all correspondence, registration forms, payments, etc., to:

Inspection Training And Consulting (ITAC)
Post Office Box 5666
Pasadena, TX 77508-5666

Our telephone numbers and email addresses remain the same, as does our commitment to continue to pursue excellence in providing you with the high quality of service and training which you have come to expect from ITAC.

 

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ITAC

Get More For Your Training Dollars

Whatever your inspection training needs, ITAC offers a wide variety of in-house training programs designed to save you valuable training dollars.

Obviously, it is much less expensive to bring one of our instructors to your facility, than it is for you to incur the travel, meals and lodging expenses for a group of your employees to come to us. That is why ITAC offers such diversity in the various inspection disciplines. Our in-house training programs are billed on a daily teaching rate, plus expenses; so, with the exception of the cost of the student textbooks, you can train up to 15 employees for the same price as training 5!

Call us today at 281-998-8305 for a quote on an in-house training class, or to send an e-mail inquiry click here. To read or print out course overviews for any of the following classes, simply click on the links listed below:

Tank Inspection with API 653 Exam Prep.
Piping Inspection with API 570 Exam Prep.
Vessel Inspection with API 510 Exam Prep.
Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) Exam Prep.
UT Digital Gauge Thickness Determination
Liquid Penetrant Test Method
Magnetic Particle Test Method
Radiographic Film Interpretation

We look forward to the opportunity to serve you in the near future!

Mailing List Update

So that we may better serve you, and ensure that you receive your copy of our newsletter, The Qualified Inspector, please fax or mail this completed form to the ITAC Houston Office, Post Office Box 5666, Pasadena, TX 77508-5666. Or call us at 281-998-8305 to update your address by phone. Either way, we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Name:

Yes! Please add my name to your mailing list. I want to Receive future issues of The Qualified Inspector

Title:

Company Name:

Please correct your records as follows so that I can continue to receive The Qualified Inspector by mail.

Address:

Address:

Please do not mail The Qualified Inspector. I would rather print the information from www.itac.net

City:

State/Zip

No thanks. Please remove my name from your mailing list. I do not want to receive future issues.

Phone No:

Fax No:

Thank you for taking the time to let us hear from you!

E-mail address:

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ITAC

Pitch 'Til You Win

ITAC is proud of the 90%+ pass rate attained by our students who have taken the API 653 and API 570 exams. Because of this remarkable success rate, ITAC is the only training company in the industry which can offer you our exclusive "Pitch 'Til You Win" program. This means that if you take our API 653 or API 570 course and do not pass the exam, you may retake one subsequent class at no cost within one year of your original class date, providing prior arrangements have been made. A copy of your API test score form indicating a non-passing grade will be required.

If a student retakes the course and still does not pass the API Certification Exam, there will be a charge of one-half (1/2) of the current course registration fee to retake the class each time thereafter.

Any student who attends an ITAC API 653 or 570 Certification Exam Prep. Class, but does not sit for the exam, will be charged one-half (1/2) of the current registration fee to retake the course prior to the test.

Travel, lodging, meals, and other related expenses are excluded from this offer. Each student will be required to bring his or her ITAC textbook with them to any such subsequent course.

Quote of the Week

"The will to conquer is the first condition of victory."

--Marshal Ferdinand Foch

Resume Service

Nothing says "I'm a professional" to a prospective employer better than a well-designed, concise resume. If you do not currently have a resume, one can be professionally create for you for only $49.95. You will receive 20 originals, on quality bond paper, for your personal use. Twenty-five additional copies can be ordered for only $5.00 more. Once your resume has been prepared, if you change jobs, or add new skills, any updates can be quickly handled and mailed to you for only $19.95. Call us today at 281-998-8305 and let us help you land the job!

 

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ITAC

Test Taking Tips

Taking Multiple Choice Tests

  • Don't read too much into a question. Don't try to second-guess the test preparer, get too elaborate and ruin the answer.
  • Underline the key words.
  • If two choices are very similar, the answer is probably not either one of them.
  • If two choices are opposite, one of them is probably correct.
  • Don't go against your first impulse unless you are sure you were wrong.
  • Check for negatives and other words that are there to throw you off.
  • The answer is usually wrong if it contains "all," "always," never," or "none."
  • The answer has a great chance of being right if it has "sometimes," "probably" or some."
  • When you don't know the answer, look for the wrong ones.
  • Don't eliminate an answer unless you actually know what every word means.
  • Read every answer thoroughly.
  • If you are supposed to read a long passage and then answer questions about it, read the question first. That will tell you what you are looking for and affect the way you read the passage.
  • The longest and/or most complicated answer to a question is often correct.
  • Be suspicious of choices that seem obvious.
  • Don't give up on a question that, after one reading, seems hopelessly confusing or complicated. Looking at it from a different angle, restating it in your own words, drawing a picture, or breaking it down, etc., may help you realize that it's not as hard as you first thought. REMEMBER: How do you eat an elephant? Bite, by bite, by bite!

 

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ITAC

Weekly Chuckle

Because I've been really, really bad and not updated the weekly chuckle in a while, here's an
extra chuckle that I hope everyone can enjoy. I hope this makes up for my neglect.


The Husband Store

 

A store that sells husbands has just opened in New York City , where a

woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance

is a description of how the store operates. You may visit the store ONLY

ONCE!

 

There are six floors and the attributes of the men increase as the shopper

ascends the flights There is, however, a catch . . . You may choose any man

from a particular floor, or you may choose to go up a floor, but you cannot

go back down except to exit the building! So, a woman goes to the Husband

Store to find a husband. .

 

On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

 

Floor 1 - These men have jobs and love the Lord.

 

The second floor sign reads:

 

Floor 2 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, and love kids.

 

The third floor sign reads:

 

Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, and are extremely

good looking.

 

"Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

 

She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads:

 

Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead good

looking and help with the housework.

 

"Oh mercy me" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!" Still, she goes to

the fifth floor and sign reads:

 

Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead

gorgeous, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak.

 

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign

reads:

 

Floor 6 - You are visitor 4,363,012 to this floor. There are no men on this

floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to

please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. Watch your step as

you exit the building, and have a nice day!

 

Please send this to all men for a good laugh and to all the women who can

handle the truth!

 

 

 

 

Can You Hear Me Now?

A man feared his wife was not hearing as well as she used to, and he thought

she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called

the family doctor to discuss the problem. The doctor told him there is a

simple informal test the husband could perform to give the doctor a better

idea about her hearing loss.

 

"Here's what you do," said the doctor. "Stand about 40 feet away from her

and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not,

go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response." That

evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the den.

He says to him self, "I'm about 40 feet away. Let's see what happens."

 

In a normal tone he asks, "Honey, what's for dinner?"

No response.

So the husband moves to closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife,

and repeats, "Honey, what's for dinner?"

Still no response.

Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife

and asks, "Honey, what's for dinner?"

Again, no response.

So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away and asks,

"Honey, what's for dinner?"

Again, there is no response.

So he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for dinner?"

(I just love this.)

 

"Earl, for the 5th time, CHICKEN!"

 

 

Good Luck Mr. Gorsky


GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOU SMILE

On July 20, 1969, as Commander of the Apollo 11 lunar

module, Neil Armstrong, was the first person to set foot on

the moon..

His first words after stepping on the moon "That's one
small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," were
televised to earth and heard by millions.

But, just before he reentered the lander, he made the
enigmatic remark "Good Luck Mr. Gorsky."

Many people at NASA thought it was a casual remark
concerning some rival Soviet Cosmonaut. However,
upon checking, there was no Gorsky in either the
Russian or American space programs.

Over the years, many people questioned Armstrong as
to what the "Good Luck, Mr. Gorskey, statement meant,
but Armstrong always just smiled.

On July 5, 1995, in Tampa Bay, Florida, while answering
questions following a speech, a reporter brought up the
26-year old question to Armstrong. This time he finally
responded.

Mr. Gorsky had died, so Neil Armstrong felt he could
answer the question.

In 1938, when he was a kid in a small midwest town, he
was playing baseball with a friend in the backyard. His
friend hit the ball, which landed in his neighbors yeard by
the bedroom window. His neighbors were Mr. and Mrs.
Gorsky. As he leaned down to pick up the ball, young
Armstrong heard Mrs. Gorsky shouting at Mr. Gorsky,
"Sex! You want sex! You'll get sex when the kid next
door walks on the moon"!


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