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API Certification for OEM

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Jungpao

Mechanical
Sep 21, 2022
6
Hi all,

I want to ask regarding API Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). I have a case of an OEM recently declared that their product is API Compliant.

How does an OEM declare that their product is API Compliant to their specific standards? Are there certifications?
Moreover, does the OEM needs to be assessed by the API first? Is there a list of API certified OEM?

Kindly advise if you have any knowledge or exposure regarding this matter. Thank you very much

Best Regards
 
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Hi Steve(SJONES),

Thank you very much for the information. I was looking at the link you provided but could not found the vendor I wanted to search. Does this mean their product is not recognized by API?

For example, if a rotating equipment manufacturer (Pump, Compressor, or Turbine) said their product comply to their respective API Specifications, does this mean they should already have certificates from API? Any advise would be very appreciated. Thank you
 
It means that their manufacturing facility has not been certificated by API, and that they are not licensed to apply an API monogram. It doesn't mean that the product that they produce does not comply with the applicable API standard.

Steve Jones
Corrosion Management Consultant


All answers are personal opinions only and are in no way connected with any employer.
 
SJones is correct. Anybody can produce product conforming to API standards, regardless of whether they have a license from API or not. Only an organization with an API Monogram license can produce API-monogrammed equipment.

As well, many products are outside the scope of the API Monogram, so nobody is allowed to apply the API monogram to them. It appears that most or all API rotating equipment standards are outside the scope of the monogram program, so nobody would have an API monogram license for this equipment.

If you look at the Composite List link that SJones provided, there is an option to search by the "Specification/Standard". If the standard that you want the equipment to meet is not listed in the options for that search, then it is not in the monogram program and nobody is allowed to API monogram them. However, anybody can still produce equipment that conforms to that standard.
 
Jungpao Rotating equipment manufacturers (in particular) are required by most petroleum and chemical facilities to meet a variety of standards - not all of which are fall under the realm of the American Petroleum Institute (API). However, the equipment itself is (usually) not found within the API Monogram program. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will discuss specific issues with purchaser/user to determine critical-to-quality and critical-to-performance requirements. These are then used to develop a semi-custom design for THAT SPECIFIC APPLICATION. Note that this applies to the entire compressor train, for example ... both mechanical and electrical components and connections. To prove design concept and conformance to API (or any other applicable) standards, the OEMs run a series of in-process and factory acceptance tests. The nature of the tests - and the pass/fail criteria - are agreed upon ahead of time by the manufacturer and purchaser/user. IN some cases, additional material traceability requirements are also part of the "documentation" trail.

Converting energy to motion for more than half a century
 
Dear SJONES / jmec87/ Gr8blu,

Thank you very much for all your valuable insights. To summary all the answers :
1. API does give permit to license products/equipment using the Monogram Program. However, not all products (which have their own API specifications) are not covered in this program
2. Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) products can conform to their each applicable API standards without API license
3. Due to semi-custom design to their SPECIFIC APPLICATION, which sometimes falls out of API range, the guarantee for Non-Monogram API Products (at least for rotating equipment) that their product comply to their API specifications are in-process inspection and Factory Acceptance test.

Let me know if I'm missing something or misinterpreting some of your points.
 
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