10: Utility/Support Equipment Issue
Definition/Typical Issues
Was there a performance gap in the performance of utility systems? Did the utility systems fail to perform as desired? Were there variations in the quality or characteristics of the utility systems?
Typical utility systems include compressed air systems, fire protection systems, electrical supply systems, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, and cooling systems. These systems do not directly produce or manufacture the product. Instead, their operation supports the process/manufacturing equipment.
Examples of items coded under this node include:
- Air
- Gas
- Electrical
- Water
- Fire detection systems
- Fire protection systems (deluge, sprinkler)
- Lighting
- HVAC
Purchased utilities, such as electricity, steam, and water, should also be coded here.
Examples
Example 1
- An air handling system failed to provide adequate cooling to a computer room. The air handling unit was designed with an inadequate capacity for the heat load in the room. As a result, the computers housed in that room failed.
Example 2
- An air handling system failed to provide adequate cooling to a computer room. As a result, the computers housed in that room failed. The system was undersized due to recent upgrades to the computer systems that rejected more heat to the room. The impact of the increased heat loads on the air handling system was not considered during the computer system modifications.
Example 3
- Power was lost to the manufacturing area when a number of breakers opened following a fault in a single machine. The breakers were incorrectly coordinated and power was lost to the entire area, instead of just to the one machine.
Typical Recommendations
- Ensure that utility systems have adequate capacity for the highest anticipated demand.
- Ensure that utility systems meet the applicable specifications for the equipment they supply.
Cross-References
| Maritime Element(s) | |
|---|---|
| Node ID | Node Name |
| 3 | Outfitting |