Building the RBI System Hierarchy

For RBI analyses, you have the option to define systems, subsystems and components as you do for any system hierarchy. However, the risk based inspection analysis can be performed only for specialized items that represent specific equipment and component types that are addressed in the API RP 580/1 guidelines. To perform an RBI analysis, the hierarchy must include:

At least one piece of equipment that is eligible for RBI analysis. The Add RBI Equipment window provides a list of the equipment types that can be analyzed (e.g., compressor, heat exchanger, etc.).
At least one component for each piece of equipment. The Add RBI Component window provides a list of the component types that are available for the equipment type that is currently selected.

Note: The specific types of equipment and components are defined by the RBI methodology and cannot be modified or deleted. You can have multiple instances of each type of equipment and component in the same project.

RBI items have the same item properties as other items in the system hierarchy and can have additional analyses attached (i.e., they can include FMEAs, Risk Discovery Analyses, etc.). They do have the following differences:

While you can place an RBI item under a non-RBI item, you cannot place a non-RBI item under an RBI item.
An RBI component item must always be under the relevant equipment type and cannot be placed or promoted above it.

Adding RBI Equipment

When you add an RBI equipment to the system hierarchy, it will be added to the bottom of the list.

Select any item in the system hierarchy other than an RBI component item and choose System Hierarchy > Risk Based Inspection > Add RBI Equipment.

The command opens a window that displays the list of equipment types that have been predefined for RBI analysis. Use the check boxes to select one or more items to add to the system configuration and click OK.

Adding RBI Components

When you add an RBI component to a piece of equipment, it will be added to the bottom of the list for that equipment.

Select an RBI equipment item and choose System Hierarchy > Risk Based Inspection > Add Component.

The command opens a window that displays the list of components for that type of equipment (based on the RBI standards). When adding a component, you have the option to create the item immediately or work through the wizard to define the general properties and damage factors first. If you choose not to define the properties when adding the component, you can still view/edit these properties at any time from the tabs in the Analysis panel.

Converting System Hierarchy Items to RBI Equipment

You can convert a non-RBI item in the system hierarchy to an RBI item if it is at the lowest level in its branch or if it has no more than one level of dependents. In addition, the item must not have any RBI equipment items as dependents.

Select the item and choose System Hierarchy > Risk Based Inspection > Convert to Equipment.

The command opens a window where you can choose which equipment type to convert the item to.

- If the item is at the lowest level in its branch, select the desired RBI equipment type and click OK to convert the item.
- If the item has dependents, select the desired RBI equipment type and then click Next >. On the second page, choose which RBI component type each dependent item will be converted to, then click OK.

All converted items retain the original item properties they had before the conversion.

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