Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/886554
10 | THE DATA CENTER JOURNAL www.datacenterjournal.com cess, and design consultants should mandate this terminology's use in the system specifications. A significant improvement comes when the con- trols vendor must perform a submis- sion review of programming termi- nology before system installation. ere are a number of ways consultants and controls vendors can assist operators in effectively manag- ing the critical infrastructure through application of solid automation strate- gies. A primary and basic example is helping operators gain an overall understanding of automation-system inputs and outputs. Conscientious vendors and con- sultants actively engage the operations staff in the development of notifica- tion and alarm strategies. is effort goes to the basic understanding of the nature and purpose of notifications, the prioritization hierarchy of alarms, and the source that generates them. e sensitivity and thus frequency of those notifications and alarms should be discussed with operators to preclude "nuisance" alarms that lead to desensitization. Design consultants must take care to verify the purpose of the notifications/alarms as they relate to the sequence of operations as well as operations-staff actions. Ultimately, it's through the collaborative process, driven by the consultant and ultra-inclusive of the equipment vendor and operations team, that optimal results are realized. CONSTRUCTION PHASE Construction Administration During the construction pro- cess, the astute design consultant and vendor with a concern for ongoing operations can make major man- hour-saving improvements. ese sav- ings come by way of strong construc- tion administration performed with a detailed eye by the design consultant. e following are a few examples: • Slight modifications to equipment configuration in mechanical and electrical spaces can greatly increase the efficiency of downstream opera- tions. Adequately sized paths and access points reduce effort and time that operators need to perform maintenance. • Simple elements such as adequate access to chases or panels for filter changing can facilitate maintenance that will improve equipment perfor- mance and lengthen equipment life. • Locations of sensors and gauges can improve operator awareness of equipment performance and reduce nonconformance. Factory Witness Testing Operations team members are too oen le off the list of important attendees at factory witness testing (FWT). Vendors must pay special attention to emphasizing the need for operations attendance at the FWT. Oen, equipment refinements and op- erational idiosyncrasies are identified during the FWT, and operations input is of great benefit. QA/QC Operators also gain invaluable knowledge while observing construc- tion of elements that may be invis- ible once construction is complete. Having the commissioning consultant engaged for frequent QA/QC visits, documenting issues and sharing with operations can provide invaluable long-term benefit. Record Drawings and As-Builts Along these lines, ongoing operator involvement with the design consultant to ensure that contrac- tor red-line drawings are properly maintained and reflective of the actual conditions will not only help to ensure their accuracy, but it will help opera- tors recognize changes to the original design and understand how they came about. Although some of these items seem to take away from operations, when done right, the majority of the effort is the responsibility of the vendor or consultant, and the long- term dividends for operations are significant. COMMISSIONING No phase of the project has the ability to favorably affect operator per- formance as much as commissioning. At no other time in the process is the operator permitted virtually unfet- tered access to the equipment in an environment that encourages invasive exploration of the components and performance. Testing For many operators of mission- critical infrastructure, commissioning may be their only chance to access the inside of electrical gear until an issue arises. e opportunity for true hands-on operation and to witness cause and effect are few when the in- tent is to keep the gear energized with little or no interruption. e commis- sioning consultant/provider should, therefore, actively engage operations at ideal stages of commissioning, most importantly during both functional and integrated systems testing. Photo Documentation is phase is also an opportunity for the commissioning consultant/ provider to memorialize the inside configuration of the equipment with annotated photographs so that operators can know what to expect when they do need to access that