Community Opinion on Vendor Anchorage Load Data Expectations 1

[petertor]

We have a D-B contract with a large multinational consultant and process equipment vendor.
We have to provide the foundation design for their process equipment on the barge already.
We asked them for environmental load data they used, equipment loads and anchorage results,
you know, just to make sure they did all the 7-10 load combinations for wind and seismic.

They are demanding an additional fee to develop that information for our foundation design.
And because they're a large multinational, they want an OPEN END P.O. to develop the loads.

Is that normal? In 30 years I've never had a vendor demand more money for anchorage loads.
This is a package process unit, all the consultant is doing is pipe runs and connections.
The vendor should have this pre-calc'd. Vendors give the loads, we design the foundations.
Or did Earth pass thru an alternate dimension after the last solar X-burst, and I'm wrong? ; )

 

[Bagman2524]

I would think that to be basic information that they would have for their equipment.

 

[WARose]

I’ve never seen that before either. In fact, I’ve asked for (and gotten) unbalanced forces for compressors and so forth from vendors without charge. The main hang up has been the time element (considering it’s a design problem)……but an open ended PO for something they probably already have? Something sounds fishy to me.

 

[UcfSE]

I would check to see if they governing codes you're using already list providing load information as part of their responsibility.

 

[Ron]

Since they are providing turnkey package equipment, they should provide the info you have requested; although they might have an exclusion for such in their contract...so check that.

This is no different than a PEMB manufacturer providing reactions for foundation design.

 

[dhengr]

Maybe try talking to a real engineer in their engineering dept. rather than some contract jockey, or sales person. They certainly must have some of the loads you need (operating static and dynamic loads, of course) or they couldn’t have done a complete design of their own equip. However, they are designing a fairly std. piece of equip., for many destinations and probably would have included some lateral loads, etc. if they are selling into a high wind or EQ region, but they may not know the local code requirement specifics, and you have to add them. See if that sort of thing isn’t the real problem.

These days, everyone is trying to find ways to add fees and push any responsibilities and duties off on the next guy. And also, with the first few levels (people) you talk to, remember that all people eventually rise to their level of incompetence. And, since they don’t know how to answer your question, they give you a bunch of b.s. If you are one of their subs. they should make some effort to be helpful, and in that respect, try to find someone there who can be your go-to guy on the job. Alternatively, you did sign a D-B contract, right?

 

[JStephen]

It would depend on the equipment and the circumstances.
For example, you don't expect a valve supplier to develop seismic loads for a valve they're shipping out.
On a custom piece of equipment, especially one that requires anchorage, you would expect that to be furnished.
If you have local regulations that prohibit them from furnishing that information, that may be the issue. IE, if they're not licensed to do engineering in that jurisdiction.

 

[paddingtongreen]

What did the equipment purchase order specify?

Michael.
"Science adjusts its views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved." ~ Tim Minchin

 

[rjenyoy12]

Have you seen their submitted drawings if they have these information? In most of our experiences in the O&G industry, the equipment assembly drawings/vendor prints have the loads included in it. Say for a pressure vessel, the vendor/prints or drawings should have the design data and loading data included. It is the responsibility of the vendor to provide these to show the basis of their design and to provide data to be used by foundation engineers.