Material Handling Structure inspection 1

[StrP88]

Anybody with experience with inspection of Material Handling structures?
Any good reference document or resource?
What to look and how to manage your time?

Appreciate sharing with me

Thank you

 

[MotorCity]

As a starting point, take a look at the special inspection items required by the IBC. Certainly not an exhaustive list but a bare minimum. Also consider performing inspections when the equipment is operating and when its down. Some deficiencies may not be readily apparent if you are only observing one or the other.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

What's the material being handled?

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/

 

[dhengr]

My first thoughts were a dump truck handling/hauling gravel, or a crane on a barge handling buckets of concrete. But, then they are all material handling structures (there are only a few hundred variations of material handling systems and structures), so you would certainly inspect them all the same way. Of course, dump trucks do not always have to be buoyant like barges.

 

[StrP88]

MotorCity (Structural),
Thank you for your response, may ask whats the special inspection items required by the IBC?
Do you by the chance have a copy of it? I don't have a copy of the list. Will appreciate if you have a copy of list attaching it.


TehMightyEngineer (Structural),
Material is Coal and steel conveyors

Anybody familiar with inspection of steel conveyor belts?
I have to do it tomorrow - thanks for your help colleagues!

 

[StrP88]

?

 

[bootlegend]

StrP88,

Are you asking about inspection of the belt or are you inspecting the conveyor structure? I'll assume you are concerned with the structure.

Who is requesting your services, and why? In my experience there is usually a root concern for an inspection to be requested. Did a truck collide with the structure? Have they noticed deteriorated members? Is the conveyor sagging? Determine the reason the inspection is needed beforehand and it can focus attention to particular locations and issues.

Be cautious of someone asking for a blanket guarantee/certification of an entire plant if you did not design it. We have had that request more than once and politely declined. But I have inspected specific issues and designed solutions. I always make sure that my reports/drawings/etc state that items outside of my scope are not my responsibility.

 

[dik]

One of the big issues to be concerned with is fatigue loading... and something that doesn't often show up with visual inspection and may show up (if well developed using NDT)... Mag particle may be OK in well developed weld failures...

Dik

 

[StrP88]

bootlegend (Structural,
Thank you very much for your kind guidance.
Yes, it is Structural inspection of Conveyors (Belt Conveyors) they are out door.
What to look at specifically? And how important is damage to structural integrity? Whats the risk of not fixing?

Also, I am new can you share with me some of those disclaimer languages you use in your reports?
I love to see couple of Conveyor structure inspection and see typical findings and how we address those

In field I have problem to address the location of problem so later I can figure out where was it

Thanks

 

[StrP88]

Any disclaimer sample statement for inspection reports?
I appreciate if anyone can share with me

Thanks

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

It really sounds like you're not experienced in structural inspections at all. You could be doing your client a huge disservice and opening yourself up for potential liability by taking this job. I will not provide any advice on disclaimers, you should talk to a lawyer for that and they'll give you the same advice I just gave above I bet.

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/

 

[StrP88]

TehMightyEngineer (Structural)
Wow such help- I hope more generous Structural engineers are around!

 

[bootlegend]

StrP88,

I think TehMightyEngineer is being very helpful to you by warning you.

If you are having to ask the questions that you've asked then you are most likely not the right engineer to perform the inspection.

There are clients out there that will take advantage of your inexperience. Many times MSHA (similar to OSHA for mining industry assuming you are in US) orders a shutdown of an old or damaged structure unless it inspected and certified by a professional engineer. The owner of the plant needs you to certify the structure is safe and satisfactory so that MSHA will not force a shutdown. That's why I asked for more background information above but you did not provide it.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Okay, look at it this way.

It sounds like you're inexperienced in structural inspections. Please let me know if I'm wrong on this point.

If you are inexperienced then your client is paying for a service that you're not qualified to provide. You are doing your client a disservice and could potentially approve something that is not correctly evaluated. This could be a safety issue or at a minimum cost someone money down the road.

You're also hurting other structural engineers. Your client may not appreciate your lack of experience and this reflects poorly on our profession as it is exactly that; a "profession". Plus, you're potentially taking work from a more qualified structural engineer. No offense but I know I wouldn't appreciate being uncut out of a potential client by another engineer when that engineer was not qualified to do the work.

Finally, I'm honestly trying to help you out. If you're unqualified for this work then how are you shielded from liability? You're going to be more likely to make a mistake and, if you do, you're more likely to be held liable for it. By your own admission you don't have a robust disclaimer or contract language. Is this something you're okay with? I know I wouldn't be.

As for a more "generous" engineer chiming in I hope and doubt you will get one. To get my engineering license I have a number of code of ethics conflicts with helping you. Obviously code of ethics vary by jurisdiction but I imagine most licensed engineers have similar requirements.

In the performance of their services for clients, employers and customers, Licensees shall be cognizant that their first and foremost responsibility is to the public welfare.

Licensees having knowledge of any possible violations of the Act, the Rules, or the Code of Ethics shall notify the Board and provide all information and assistance necessary in order for the Board to render a final disposition of the matter.

Some of the code of ethics clauses you appear to be violating:

Licensees shall undertake assignments only when qualified by education or experience to perform the professional engineering involved.

Licensees shall not compete unfairly with others.

Licensees shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their or their associates’ academic or professional qualifications. They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their degree of responsibility in prior assignments or the complexity of said assignments. Presentations incident to the solicitation of employment or business shall not misrepresent pertinent facts concerning employers, employees, associates, joint ventures and past accomplishments.

If you want to learn structural inspections I can give you some pointers but I won't help you with a job you appear to be unqualified for.

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/

 

[dik]

This is a typical disclaimer that I've used for numerous reports. Check it and modify as needed; you may want a legal opinion:

Typical Disclaimer

The following photographic and descriptive comments are a record of visual observations made on the date and at the time of the site visit. It is generally comprehensive and attempts were made to provide a complete and thorough report, but no warranty of this is expressed or implied. The review undertaken is not intended to warrant that the building is free of defects, both patent and latent.

This report has been based on a non-intrusive review and is not an exhaustive study and should not be construed as such. No opinion has been tendered on the cause of observed deterioration/distress. If a more definitive statement is required, it will be necessary to undertake additional study.

Numerous digital camera photographs were taken. All of the photographs taken, may not have been included in this report, but, all photographs taken form part of this report. Copies of these omitted photographs are available in digital form on request. All photographs, including those poorly exposed or out of focus have been retained. Photographs retained are in their unaltered digital state; they have not been digitally altered or enhanced. Photographs, unless explicitly noted, have been taken by the person preparing the report. Continuity of ownership has been maintained; the photographs were taken, retrieved from the digital camera, and copied onto CD media by the person preparing the report, without an intermediary.

This report contains information provided by Others that cannot be substantiated. Information provided by others will be identified as such. If information provided by others is inconsistent with observations this will be identified in the report.

Any use of which a third party makes of this report, or any reliance or decisions to be made, based on it, are the responsibility of such third parties. The person preparing the report accepts no responsibility for damages suffered by any third party as a result of decisions made or actions based on this report.


[added] Any critique of the above would be appreciated. I work on my own and generally in a vacuum.
Dik

 

[StrP88]

dik (Structural,

I very much appreciate it. Thanks for your kind help.

Respectfully,
StrP88