"Temporary" Equipment

[RocketmanRay]

Does anyone have a definition for "temporary" equipment??

We've had "temporary" equipment in service for..... a very long time.

Does anyone know of a good ASME/ANSI/ Code definition?

I'll take any I can get...

Thanks,
RM

 

[CodeRef]

In my opinion, you only have to be prepared to defend your definition and intended us of the term "temporary"

Generally accepted terminology or generally accepted good practices are both subject to interpretation.

Alot depends on the Specified/Required Standard determined by the enforcement/regulatory authority that governs the use for the particular item in question.

The question you ask is too general for all applications.

There are three kinds of people in this world; those who can count and those who can't.

 

[metengr]

Umm,,,
I have come across this many times in post construction Code activities.

Temporary equipment, equipment installed until such time that someone forgets about it and it becomes a permanent equipment installation.

 

[vpl]

In US nuclear plants, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) generally recognizes the following types of temporary equipment:

1) temporary equipment used for testing (such as jumpers), which is to be removed once the testing is finished
2) temporary equipment used for maintenance, such as FME covers, blank flanges, which is to be removed once the maintenance is finished (with the caveat that it cannot remain in place more than 90 days without analysis as specified by NRC regulations)
3) temporary equipment necessary to repair a problem which cannot be immediately fixed or for which parts are not immediately available. These are generally not to remain in place longer than approximately two years. Sufficient analysis necessary to show the safety function is not impaired.
4) temporary "environmental relief" equipment (i.e., fans). These are required to be analyzed and proceduralized unless they fall in one of the other 3 categories.

The NRC has been known to take umbrage over utilities that fail to do the necessary analysis before installing (or failing to remove) temporary equipment.


Patricia Lougheed

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of the Eng-Tips Forums.

 

[unclesyd]

Years ago one of my mentors explained to me in very specific terms that the word "temporary" didn't exist in the ASME code book.

His rule, as plant engineer, was that anything that was used within the battery limits of a process building had to be designed and installed using the applicable engineering standards for the area. This included things on wheels, carts, and pallets. If you used a portable air compressor you had to have a proper manifold. If you had several welding machines, pigs, they had to properly installed electrically and if they were for a shutdown they had to be in a pig pen.

This lasted about 5 years after he retired until expediency won out, temporary came back on site. It took 2 or 3 very expensive incidents before they realization that temporary was very bad word. One bulged 24" blank cost three days of production and a breech of contract on none delivery. It was just going to be used for a few minutes so there was no need to get the proper blank. Besides that there wasn't one on the local blank board.

It seems like temporary is use for a couple of years then something happens and it is dropped for couple of years, thus the vicious cycle.

Anecdotal:
My namesake was killed in 40's when a flange parted in a temporary line at Helium storage facility. The blast knocked him off a 60' elevated platform.

 

[RocketmanRay]

Thanks so far to those who have contributed.

I apologize for being vague, it was intentional. I wanted to compare notes; temporary equipment is a touchy subject…. Thanks Patricia.

I know this is not really a “technical” code interpretation, but not the less relevant to a project were working trying to establish pressure vessel policies.

At Kennedy Space Center we have aerospace/ground support equipment definition; and as an example, our temporary equipment consists of a Vapor Containment Facility for ammonia used on orbit for cooling. This facility is a brick and mortar structure, and yet, to my dismay “temporary” equipment.

All help appreciated so far…..

RM

 

[dcasto]

Well, temporary will be defined by the lawyers if their is a problem. So you have to beat them to the punch as we say. As long as YOU define it and live with what you say, then it will be a draw in court and you will win. Define it and follow it!

 

[jte]

An interesting topic. In my experience at a refinery, "temporary" repairs were intended to be removed at the next schedulued shutdown. These mostly included things like flange clamps and piping encapuslations. The temporary repairs were tracked, inspected annually, and consistently removed at the next shutdown.

There are a few exceptions that I'm aware of. In one case a steam condensate line bolted leak box was not removed and the piping replaced because although the "entire" refinery was shut down the steam system was not and there was no way to isolate the line without impacting work throughout a unit. Engineering and inspection got together and determined that the condition of the line and box was satisfactory, the box was welded out to avoid potential issues with future leakage, and a memo sent to the plant manager explaining to him why the box was not removed and what had been done to make it more reliable for the long term.

Having said all of that... All "temporary" repairs were designed to new equipment codes. Obviously, most of them did not receive a full hydrotest.

jt