Prolong asset life for pressurised plant equipment.
11-12 March 2026 | HERA – Manukau, Auckland
Sequence Engineering and HERA invite you to participate in an informative two-day training course that will cover the basis for assessment of pressure plant equipment for continued service and life evaluation in accordance with the API 579-1 / ASME FFS-1.
This course is designed to help plant owners make decisions on whether to run, repair or replace critical pressure equipment.
The procedures in API 579 give a comprehensive step-by-step approach to assessing damage of pressure equipment. The course participant will learn how to apply the basic procedures and learn to understand the order of the procedures. The learning will be reinforced by case studies and worked examples for all sections covered.
The course is designed to share the practical knowledge and experience gained for evaluation and inspection of pressure vessels, tanks and piping. Participants are encouraged to bring along real-world problems, and the best suitable approach to assess the fitness-for-service will be discussed.
About the course
This course examines step by step and in detail the contents of the API/ASME standard. Sessions are not necessarily equal in length. The main focus will be on some of the more commonly used sections in API 579.
The level of detail examined will be dependent of the requirements and experience of the participants.
Most case studies examined throughout the course will be pre-worked to improve productivity and maximise learning transfer through group discussion. However, there will be opportunities for participants to work through a number of limited problems individually and in group work.
Participants are encouraged to bring specific problems of interest to them to discuss during the course, to assist with problem solving and benchmarking against best practices and lessons learnt.
Day 1
Introduction to FFS and API-579
Part 3: Brittle fracture and material behaviour
Part 9: Assessment of crack-like flaws
Fatigue assessment
Part 4: General metal loss
Part 5: Local metal loss
Day 2
Part 6: Pitting assessment
Part 7: Assessment of blisters and hydrogen damage
Part 8: Misalignment and weld distortion
Part 13: Lamination
Part 10: Creep assessment
Part 11: Fire damage
Part 12: Environmental cracking
Two Day Course Fees
Book before 15th January 2026
NZ $2,200.00 + GST
After 15 January 2026
NZ $2,500.00 + GST
Includes comprehensive course notes, lunch, morning and afternoon tea.
Places limited to 15
Book early to secure an $300 early bird discount!
About the Course Presenter
Dr Annette Karstensen. Director for Structural Integrity at Sequence Engineering
Dr Annette Karstensen is an experienced fitness-for-service and fracture mechanics specialist with extensive expertise in structural integrity and remaining-life assessments across the power generation, oil and gas, petrochemical, and pipeline industries. A Chartered Engineer with the UK Engineering Council and Fellow of the Welding Institute (UK), she has over 30 years of practical experience. Her expertise includes high-temperature life assessment and the application of crack assessment procedures such as BS 7910 and API 579 to determine allowable crack sizes or time to failure. She regularly teaches fitness-for-service and fracture mechanics courses in Australia and internationally.