API 936 study guide
API 936 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
API 936 Refractory Personnel is an individual certification delivered through the American Petroleum Institute's Individual Certification Programs (ICP) family. It is aimed at people whose decisions affect the quality of refractory linings in refinery, petrochemical, and other high-temperature process equipment: refractory inspectors, installation supervisors, contractor quality-control staff, maintenance and reliability engineers, and the owner-operator personnel who review and accept their work. The API 936 study guide has 5 sections and about 1,418 words.
01Refractory Materials, Properties, and Selection
Monolithic refractories are classified by binder and placement method: castables, plastics, ramming mixes, and gunning mixes. Within castables, cement content drives behavior: conventional castables contain relatively high calcium aluminate cement, low-cement castables (LCC) are formulated with dispersants and minimal cement, and ultra-low-cement or cement-free systems use colloidal silica or hydratable alumina.
278 words, about 1 min02Refractory Design and Specification
API 936 is a quality-control standard for monolithic refractory installation; it does not replace the designer's responsibility to set lining thickness, anchor layout, and service limits. A specification should state material class, test requirements, installation method, curing, and dryout.
294 words, about 1 min03Installation, Mixing, and Curing Practices
Installation quality depends on water control, mixing discipline, and curing. Use clean potable water at the manufacturer's specified range; never add water to improve flow after mixing.
291 words, about 1 min04Inspection, Testing, and Quality Control
Quality control begins before installation: verify material certificates, shelf life, packaging condition, and storage. During installation, hold points should cover anchor inspection, expansion-joint layout, mixing water, placement, and curing.
277 words, about 1 min05Dryout, Repair, and Maintenance of Refractory Linings
Dryout removes free water and decomposes or drives off chemically bound water without causing explosive spalling. A controlled schedule specifies heating rate, hold temperatures, hold duration, and maximum skin temperature.
278 words, about 1 min