Process equipment specification

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Thread Starter

Eddie L. Robinson

I have been given the assignment to create an equipment specification document and I want to know if there are any websites or references
which detail the requirements for generating a good equipment specification document.


Eddie L. Robinson
 
W
Oh boy, can we have fun with this. First, check out Specification ISA20 at http://www.isa.org. Then check out the boilerplate specifications for
instrumentation and controls in section 16000 of the typical contracting document. You can find these at any Planholders Room in your local
Builders' Exchange.

Now, how to do it right. There's the fun part.

One of the most important requirements is to specify equipment that works. Another is to specify equipment that works correctly _in the application._ In order to do that, you have to do some engineering.

Walt Boyes

---------------------------------------------------------------
Walt Boyes -- Director of New Business Development
Branom Instrument Co.-- P. O. Box 80307-- 5500 4th Ave. So.
Seattle, WA 98108-0307
Phone: 1-206-762-6050 ext. 310 -- Fax: 1-206-767-5669
http://www.branom.com -- http://www.branomstore.com
mailto:[email protected]
---------------------------------------------------------------
 
D

David Leese Dresser Valve Div., Hallibur

If you are looking for examples, try
http://www.globalspec.com/

> I want to know if there are any websites
> or references which detail the requirements
> for generating a good equipment specification
> document.
 
T
Here is a general outline of what I provided for the last machine that I specified to be custom built for my company. It is long, so I generalized in a lot of places, but I hope it helps you in some way.

System Requirements
1. General Requirements
1.1 Things like production rates.
1.2 Scrapped parts specification like less than 1% or whatever.
1.3 Computer specifications.
1.4 General technology requirements such as algorithms.
2. Specific machine requirements
2.1 This section contains subsections for individual "zones" of the machine (examples: heating functions, cooling functions, material handling functions, ect).
3. Control system requirements.
3.1 Things like incoming line voltage, safety controls, color coding standards, wire numbering and labeling.
4. Operator requirements
4.1 What should be manual, and what should be Automatic?
4.2 Other operator specific requirements such as ergonomics.
5. Mechanical requirements
5.1 Things like machine lubrication (Example: not more than once a week.
5.2 Pneumatic requirements (safety shutoffs, filters, quick disconnects, and things such as this).
5.3 Hydraulic requirements (see pneumatic).
6. Change over and set-up time requirements.
6.1 Setup time requirements.
6.2 Tooling requirements.
6.3 Setup manual?

Purchase Order
1. Details associated with sending your company the purchase order.
1.1 To whom to send it.
1.2 Shipping instructions or whatever.

Safety
1. Machine Guarding specification.
2. Lockout/Tagout
3. Other general safety requirements and specification.
3.1 Things like label all energy sources.
3.2 Eyewash stations for machines with chemicals.
3.3 Adequate lighting.
3.4 maximum pressures.
3.5 You get the idea.

Standard purchased component list - Specify the manufacturer and sometimes even the part number for all parts that may be on your machine. I just did something like below:
Programmable Logic Controllers Siemens S7 300 or 400

I had the following sections (shortened of course)
1. Electronic Controls
1.1 All electronics such as sensors, relays, PLCs, pressure
switches, even fuses.
2. Electrical Transmission Equipment
2.1 Conduit and other wiring equipment.
3. Electrical Power Equipment.
3.1 Motor starters.
3.2 DC drives.
3.3 AC drives.
3.4 and the list goes on...
4. Pneumatic equipment
5. Steam equipment
6. Fluid equipment (you know, grease, coolant, etc.)
7. Hydraulic equipment.
8. Bearings, Bushings, and seals.
9. Mechanical drives and components.
9.1 Things like gear belt drives, gears, couplings.

Panel and Cabinet layout
1. Control Panel layout
1.1 Specify things like amount of free space.
1.2 Maximum fill of conduits and wiring troughs.
1.3 Tell them to mount everything on the panel or they will put them on the side of the cabinet, in other words: leave nothing to chance.
1.4 Make it oil tight.
1.5 Specify amount of spare terminals, PLC outputs, and DIN rail slots or you'll end up with none.
1.6 I specify that like voltage components should be grouped in the panel.
1.7 Make them keep analog signals away from AC sources.
1.8 There is more but boy this is getting long for you...
2. Control Station layout.
2.1 Emergency stop buttons locations.
2.2 Start and stop button locations.

Machine Manual Outline - This is very important in my opinion. Make them provide you with a machine manual (not a copy of data sheets). Provide them with the table of contents of the manual to inform them as to what you want.
Here is an example (hey, I know I am embedding outlines, but what can I do?)
A. Table of contents
B. Cover Sheet
* Machine Serial Number
* General Description of equipment
* Weight of the machine
* blah, blah, blah
C. Technical Data
* Fluid capacities
* Types of Fluids
* Required Utilities
* Control Voltage(s)
* Full load current
* Main disconnect fuse size
D. Installation
* Unpacking
* Special handling
* Assembly
* Leveling
* Installation
* Set-up
* Initial Start-up
E. Machine parameter settings
* Pressures (min, max, target)
* Flows
* Temperatures
* Pressure switch settings
* Signal conditioner setting limits
* Rotation directions
* Spindle speeds
* Feed rates
* Vibration control settings
* Initial vibration analysis
* Clearance (clutches, brakes, ect)
* Initial motor running current
F. Timing/Sequence of operations
G. Standard set-up procedures
H. Standard operating procedures
I. Part number change-over procedures
J. Monitoring system(s) description
K. Safety requirements (lock-out, tag-out, ect.)
L. Control panel description
M. O.E.M. equipment
* Serial number and date of purchase
* OK, now the technical bulletins
N. Bill of materials
O. Preventive maintenance program (including spare parts list)
P. Troubleshooting
Q. Miscellaneous
* Special tools required
* MSDS (as needed).

Industry Standards - Just tell them to comply with JIC, OSHA, ANSI, NFPA, etc.

General Design Specifications
1. Tell them all of your application specific specifications.
2. Tell them how you want it wired.
3. Tell them how you want the PLC program structured.
4. Tell them how you want your pneumatic and hydraulics designed.
5. Whatever else.

Machine Acceptance specification
1. Tell them exactly what you require before accepting the machine.
2. Tell them exactly how you plan to test the machine both
at their sight and on initial startup at your sight.

Project Planning and reporting
1. I usually just told them I wanted a preliminary schedule in gantt chart form and then monthly updates and status reports.

Schematics
1. Tell them what drawings you expect as well as what electronic versions you want including PLC programs and other source code and executables.

That was it... I know this is long, but I hope it gives you some help. If anyone thinks this is the dumbest spec the have ever seen, please don't tell me. I don't do this work anymore so it won't do me any good. Thanks.
 
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