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Specifications
Specifications
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One of the basic “tools” engineers, scientists, and technicians prepare is a technical specification for materials, components, systems, or equipment. It is usually written to describe how something is to be developed or procured as if it had never been provided before. “Musts” are described specifically while “wants” are defined in a general manner. Collectively, they determine what the acceptable result should consist of. When they are completed and approved, specifications are often sent to suppliers of try to match their goods and services to those defined in the document. More on that process later. In a previous section, I mentioned that I was contracted to Alstom Power, working on the La Paloma Generating Company, LLC, 1124 MW, natural gas-fired, combined cycle facility. I was responsible for preparing the specifications that described the construction requirements for the general contractor. By the time I completed the assignment, I had 17 three-ring binders of drawings, specifications, and standards representing our requirements to submit to various contractors for bid purposes. Many of the documents in the package were developed for other installations while some were prepared specific to the La Paloma plant. See Fig. 3.1. Here is an example to illustrate the purpose of a specification. Old Dominion Electric Coop in Louisa VA requested that ITAC convert 6 and 10 inch #2 fuel oil storage tank valves from manual to electric so they could be operated from a remote station. This involved both mechanical and electrical disciplines to complete the project. After a site visit, my first significant task was to prepare a specification for the valve operators which included headings summarized as follows. • Scope of work: This describes the design, purchase, delivery, and installation of the product, electric actuators, the location of the installation, and how they are to be furnished for the project; what work is to be done by the vendor and what will be done by “others.” • Documentation: The applicable reference documents shall be listed in this section. They may consist of codes, industry standards, and customer specific engineering standards such as painting, shipping, and marking. • Technical requirements: This section describes how the actuator performs, its size, motor characteristics, gearbox, manual override, margins of safety, controls, electrical requirements and protective features, and visual operational displays. • Quality control: The applicable quality requirements shall be defined such as the vendor’s standards, applicable codes, or those listed in the specification. The vendor may be required to submit nonconformance reports with recommended dispositions for approval by the customer. • Examination and testing: The requirements for vendor testing, inspections, and examinations are described based on applicable codes, standards, and the vendor’s practices. Performance tests may be witnessed by the customer and curves submitted with the documentation package.
Technical Career Survival Handbook. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809372-6.00078-5 Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Technical Career Survival Handbook
• Preparation for delivery: This section should cover, cleaning, painting, storage, handling, nameplate data, packaging, warranty provisions, and filed service technician requirements. • Documents: The customer’s requirements may require submitting calculations, data sheets, schedule for manufacturing, electrical wiring diagrams, test data, inspection reports and installation manuals, dimensional drawings, and component weights. • Attachments: These may include secondary specifications, drawings, and data sheets partially filled in, and other pertinent documents.
Often the buyer will prepare a general specification for, say, an actuator but attach a data sheet with project specific information in order to reduce man-hours for preparation prior to submitting the request to vendors. A preferred way to reduce the man-hours to prepare a specification is to use a “goby.” This entails simply using a previously prepared specification as a text template, deleting the nonpertinent requirements, and inputting the pertinent requirements and data. Consultants typically have standard specifications and data sheets for equipment that serve as templates for developing new specifications rather than starting from scratch. Song: “Handy Man” As popularized by: Jimmy Jones 1960
78
One of the basic “tools” engineers, scientists, and technicians prepare is a technical specification for materials, components, systems, or equipment. It is usually written to describe how something is to be developed or procured as if it had never been provided before. “Musts” are described specifically while “wants” are defined in a general manner. Collectively, they determine what the acceptable result should consist of. When they are completed and approved, specifications are often sent to suppliers of try to match their goods and services to those defined in the document. More on that process later. In a previous section, I mentioned that I was contracted to Alstom Power, working on the La Paloma Generating Company, LLC, 1124 MW, natural gas-fired, combined cycle facility. I was responsible for preparing the specifications that described the construction requirements for the general contractor. By the time I completed the assignment, I had 17 three-ring binders of drawings, specifications, and standards representing our requirements to submit to various contractors for bid purposes. Many of the documents in the package were developed for other installations while some were prepared specific to the La Paloma plant. See Fig. 3.1. Here is an example to illustrate the purpose of a specification. Old Dominion Electric Coop in Louisa VA requested that ITAC convert 6 and 10 inch #2 fuel oil storage tank valves from manual to electric so they could be operated from a remote station. This involved both mechanical and electrical disciplines to complete the project. After a site visit, my first significant task was to prepare a specification for the valve operators which included headings summarized as follows. • Scope of work: This describes the design, purchase, delivery, and installation of the product, electric actuators, the location of the installation, and how they are to be furnished for the project; what work is to be done by the vendor and what will be done by “others.” • Documentation: The applicable reference documents shall be listed in this section. They may consist of codes, industry standards, and customer specific engineering standards such as painting, shipping, and marking. • Technical requirements: This section describes how the actuator performs, its size, motor characteristics, gearbox, manual override, margins of safety, controls, electrical requirements and protective features, and visual operational displays. • Quality control: The applicable quality requirements shall be defined such as the vendor’s standards, applicable codes, or those listed in the specification. The vendor may be required to submit nonconformance reports with recommended dispositions for approval by the customer. • Examination and testing: The requirements for vendor testing, inspections, and examinations are described based on applicable codes, standards, and the vendor’s practices. Performance tests may be witnessed by the customer and curves submitted with the documentation package.
Technical Career Survival Handbook. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809372-6.00078-5 Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
198
Technical Career Survival Handbook
• Preparation for delivery: This section should cover, cleaning, painting, storage, handling, nameplate data, packaging, warranty provisions, and filed service technician requirements. • Documents: The customer’s requirements may require submitting calculations, data sheets, schedule for manufacturing, electrical wiring diagrams, test data, inspection reports and installation manuals, dimensional drawings, and component weights. • Attachments: These may include secondary specifications, drawings, and data sheets partially filled in, and other pertinent documents.
Often the buyer will prepare a general specification for, say, an actuator but attach a data sheet with project specific information in order to reduce man-hours for preparation prior to submitting the request to vendors. A preferred way to reduce the man-hours to prepare a specification is to use a “goby.” This entails simply using a previously prepared specification as a text template, deleting the nonpertinent requirements, and inputting the pertinent requirements and data. Consultants typically have standard specifications and data sheets for equipment that serve as templates for developing new specifications rather than starting from scratch. Song: “Handy Man” As popularized by: Jimmy Jones 1960