API Quality Management Standard FAQs

About API Specification Q1 

​WHAT IS API SPEC Q1?
Product recalls have a devastating effect on any organization, but particularly oil and gas manufacturers. The American Petroleum Institute (API) has developed the API Spec Q1 9th edition standard to help organizations minimize the failure of manufactured products used in the oil and natural gas industries. The API Spec Q1 9th edition standard builds on the ISO 9001/ISO 29001 requirements to be more specific to oil and gas product manufacturers. ​
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF API SPEC Q1 - 9TH EDITION?
​​As public pressure increases to emphasize safer and more environmentally-friendly operations, major oil and natural gas firms are demanding higher standards from their suppliers. Spec Q1 certification represents your organization’s commitment to provide the highest quality products within the industry, as well as your commitment to operational safety and efficiency.
WHAT DOES API SPEC Q1 COVER?
​The 9th edition of API Spec Q1 expands into areas such as Management of Change, Quality Planning, Contingency Planning, Risk Management, Design Review & Validation, and Preventative Maintenance, just to name a few. The 9th edition of Spec Q1 incorporates many of the risk management aspects of API Spec Q2.  The added requirements further facilitate the consistent and reliable manufacture of API monogrammed products.
WHAT IS ADDENDUM 2?
​Addendum 2 focuses on supply chain controls, specifically with multi-tier suppliers. As you are aware, API Spec Q1 spec requires us to manage our supply chain.  The new addendum expands the definitions to include associated (tier 2 & 3 level) suppliers essential for product realization. ​​The American Petroleum Institute released API Spec. Q1, 9th Edition, Addendum 2 in June 2018.  Certified companies had until June 30, 2019 to comply with the new requirements.
WHERE CAN I FIND A COPY OF THE API SPEC Q1 STANDARD?
​​API Spec Q1 9th edition is a complex standard that touches nearly every level of the enterprise. Please visit our Client Resources page for more information or to purchase a copy of the standard.

About API Specification Q2 

​​WHAT IS API SPEC Q2?
​​​The API Spec Q2 is a set of requirements for a quality management system for service supply organizations to the oil and natural gas industries, developed by industry professionals and the American Petroleum Institute, in response to the Macondo incident of 2010. These requirements are meant to ensure that organizations providing onshore and offshore services for drilling, intervention, production, and abandonment effectively transition from a processed-based management system to a risk-based quality management system.
​WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF API SPEC Q2?
​API Specification Q2, Specification for Quality Management System Requirements for Service Supply Organizations
for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries, establishes the quality system requirements necessary for service
supply organizations to consistently and reliably provide services that meet customer, legal, and other applicable
requirements. This specification applies to service-related activities in oil and gas including well construction, intervention, production, and abandonment, as well as repair, maintenance, and configuration of service-related product. ​
IS THERE AN UPDATE TO THE API SPECIFICATION Q2 STANDARD?
​Yes.  The American Petroleum Institute (API)  issued the second edition of its landmark API Specification Q2, Quality Management for Service Supply Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry on July 14, 2021. The new edition strengthens safety, quality, environmental protection and sustainability requirements to facilitate the implementation of best-in-class standards across natural gas and oil supply chains.
​WHATS NEW IN THE 2nd EDITION?
The new API Spec Q2, 2nd edition standard contains a number of significant changes, including:
  • Alignment with API Q1 verbiage where applicable
  • Addition of requirements to the Human Resources section (4.3.2)
  • Addition of supply chain to Purchasing Control (5.6.1)
  • Alignment of Control of Testing, Measuring, Monitoring, and Detection Equipment with API Q1 (5.8).
  • Removal of Preventive Actions section.
  • Harmonizing Q2 for service organizations with API Specification Q1 for manufacturers. 
  • Adding requirements to ensure workers possess the required skills and knowledge and receive the proper training. ​
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE TO API SPEC Q2 - 2nd EDITION?
​Transition to the Q2, 2nd edition is expected to take place on the following schedule:
  • Starting October 14, 2021, API begins auditing to the requirements of API Spec Q2, 2nd Edition.
  • Starting October 14, 2021, new applicants will be audited against API Spec Q2, 2nd Edition.
  • All organizations are required to implement the requirements of API Spec Q2, 2nd Edition by January 14, 2022.
​WHERE CAN I OBTAIN A COPY OF THE API SPEC Q2 STANDARD?
​API Spec Q2 is a complex quality assurance standard that touches nearly every level of the enterprise. Please visit our Client Resources page for more information or to purchase a copy of the standard.