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Definition and
inspection of structures and/or structural elements of equipment whose
failure
would constitute a threat to safety, environment
and/or production.
The following is a brief summary of the Engineering, Inspection
and Surveying Services available for all types of cranes and heavy industrial
machinery:
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O.S.H.A. inspections.
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Detailed inspections of overhead
crane including O.S.H.A., mechanical, structural and electrical details
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Specific component inspections as
specified by client.
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Building runways including critical
adjacent structures.
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Building runway rails and girders
including critical adjacent structures.
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Detailed surveys of overhead cranes
including general squareness/ alignment, crane
girders, bridge trucks & wheels, bridge and trolley machinery.
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Surveying of crane girder
deflections and torsional twist.
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Close tolerance surveying for
checking/setting critical machinery components.
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Stress and failure analysis of
mechanical machinery components such as shafting/axles, bearing assemblies,
drive units, lifting devices, hooks, spreader/lifting beams and practically
any crane component.
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Engineering, design and detailing of
custom mechanical machinery components such as shafting/axles, bearing
assemblies, drive units, drum assembles, lifting
devices, hooks, spreader/lifting beams and practically any crane component.
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Crane upgrade studies including
construction cost estimating.
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Crane and heavy machinery upgrade
design.
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Crane and heavy machinery repairs
design.
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Stress and failure analysis of
structural components such as building structures, building runway girders,
crane structural components, machinery frames/support structures and
foundations.
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Engineering, design and detailing of
structural components such as building structures, building runway girders,
crane structural components, machinery frames/support structures and
foundations.
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Review and analysis of electrical
power and control systems including relay logic control systems, DC drive
systems, AC variable frequency drive systems, PLC control systems, and
radio-controlled systems.
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Engineering, design and detailing of
electrical power and control systems including relay logic control systems,
DC drive systems, AC variable frequency drive systems, PLC control systems,
and radio-controlled systems.
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Updating and upgrading of crane and
machinery control systems.
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Conversion and/or addition of radio
control systems on existing cranes and machinery.
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The intent of “Critical Structures Management” is to
minimize the risk of unexpected losses or liabilities by establishing a
“pro-active” approach to structural maintenance, as opposed to
the traditional “reactive” approach that occurs once a crisis has
developed. For the purpose of developing the initial program, Critical
Structures are defined as those structures and/or structural elements of
equipment whose failure would constitute a threat in one or more of the
following categories:
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Personnel Safety and Hygiene
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Environmental Liability
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Damage to Critical
Equipment/Processes
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Unscheduled Reduction or Termination
of Production
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For best results and cost
efficiency, the Critical Structures within the facility are identified,
organized and prioritized in advance of initiating the inspection phase of
the program. The selection, identification and establishment of a baseline
for Critical Structures is accomplished through an
internal audit. The internal audit consists of interviews with key
engineering, maintenance and operating personnel of each department or area
within the plant, and reviews of previous inspection records/reports.
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The structures are identified by a
tag number that represents the facility location, area/department and individual
item number.
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The Critical Structures are
organized by a given Classification Code that identifies its type, usage
and primary materials of construction.
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The list of Critical Structures, to
be inspected, is then prioritized based upon failure risk, environmental
exposure, duty cycles, loading conditions, age, etc.
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Each individual structure is
assigned a frequency or maximum time period between inspections.
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The Critical Structure is assigned
one of the following inspection types:
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General Condition Inspection:
is defined as a
visual examination of all accessible structural, mechanical and electrical
components from normal access walkways and platforms. If and when
deficiency(s) are encountered, the area is examined to determine the
nature, extent, possible cause of the problem and action required. For the
first cycle of inspections, it is recommended that a General Conditions
Inspections be performed on all defined Critical Structures, with an
emphasis on “High Priority” items. The General Condition
Inspections provide the initial assessment required to further refine or
adjust the frequencies and priorities of the subsequent inspections.
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Detail Condition Inspection:
is defined as a
complete and comprehensive visual examination of the Critical Structure,
limited only by operating conditions and physical accessibility. The visual
inspection includes; electrical components, welded connections, mechanical
fasteners, joints, and a detailed visual inspection of the primary and
secondary framing components. A Detailed Condition Inspection is
recommended where chronic problems occur, for a “high risk”
structure, where General Condition Inspections reveal a deficiency, and in
preparation for facility upgrades or renovations.
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Non-destructive testing and
instrument surveys may be required. These specialized services are available
as warranted by the specific project/inspection. Depending on the severity of
the conditions encountered during the inspection and complexity of the
required repairs, the Owner may opt to request formal design, details and
specifications for repair or replacement. Also, for any work beyond routine
maintenance, construction supervision or monitoring of the required repairs
is available.
The inspections are for the Owner’s use in
coordinating, tracking and estimating budget costs for anticipated
maintenance activities. The inspections can also be utilized in evaluating
remedial options or other courses of action to be taken. The program is set
up to emphasis those items that have the most potential to cause disruption
or other problems. The Critical Structures Program is not intended to qualify
or disqualify individual structures, but rather, it is an attempt to minimize
risk by revealing any conditions that might otherwise go undetected, exposing
the Owner to unforeseen liabilities.
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