Risk-Based Inspection (RBI)
Risk-based inspection puts your effort where it does the most good. We rank equipment by risk, then focus inspection on the items that matter most and ease off where risk is genuinely low.
About risk-based inspection
Risk-based inspection, or RBI, is a structured and data-led way of deciding where inspection effort should go. It follows the principles set out in API 580, with the detailed methodology drawn from API RP 581.
The approach assesses each item of equipment on two axes: the probability that it will fail, driven by its active degradation mechanisms and condition, and the consequence if it does, in terms of safety, environment and business loss. Combining the two gives a risk ranking across the plant.
That ranking then drives the inspection plan. Effort, coverage and frequency are concentrated on the higher-risk items and relaxed on the lower-risk ones, so the programme is proportionate to the actual risk rather than applied evenly across everything.
What an RBI assessment covers
We work through the plant systematically to produce a defensible risk ranking and a plan built on it.
- Collection and review of equipment, process and inspection data
- Identification of credible degradation mechanisms
- Assessment of probability of failure
- Assessment of consequence of failure
- Risk ranking of equipment across the plant
- Setting inspection scope, coverage and methods by risk
- Setting risk-based inspection intervals
- Alignment with API 580 and API RP 581
- Documentation of assumptions and the basis of the assessment
Why choose risk-based inspection
Spend where it counts
Inspection effort and budget concentrate on the equipment that carries the most risk.
Safer plant
Credible failure modes on high-consequence items are identified and managed deliberately.
Justified intervals
Intervals rest on a documented assessment of probability and consequence, not habit.
Defensible decisions
The basis for every inspection decision is recorded and can be shown to regulators and insurers.
What you receive
You receive a risk ranking of the assessed equipment together with an inspection plan that sets scope, method and interval according to risk.
The report records the degradation mechanisms considered, the probability and consequence judgements behind each ranking and the assumptions the assessment rests on, so the plan is transparent and can be defended.
Because RBI is a living process, the assessment can be reviewed as inspection results, process changes or new damage mechanisms come to light, keeping the plan aligned with the real condition of the plant.
A note on standards
Risk-based inspection is described in API 580, which sets out the principles and the elements a sound RBI programme should contain. API RP 581 provides the quantitative methodology that puts those principles into practice, including the calculation of probability and consequence of failure. Working to both keeps an assessment consistent with recognised industry practice and helps operators demonstrate a considered basis for their inspection decisions.
Related inspection services
Considering a risk-based approach?
Talk to our team about RBI aligned with API 580 and API RP 581 for your plant.