Routine daily plant operations involve system and equipment reconfiguration and monitoring. Historically, monitoring tools and task development was more art than science, based on expert opinion and experience. Not surprisingly, most rounds programs were large scope-wise, and difficult to perform by the book, particularly when plant or equipment reconfiguration got in the way. Scheduling daily activity represents an area where objective equipment failure criteria requirements review is likely to yield significant task reductions.

Daily Rounds

Daily rounds seek to identify random and common cause failures that may not be effectively managed any other way. Random instrumentation or lighting failure, or flooding common cause failures are two examples.

Weekly Rounds Tests

Weekly tests typically assure that systems and components providing safety system backup operate as design. Many insurance programs require weekly rounds tests on equipment like turbine anti-induction valve air dump valves to avoid their hidden failure for long periods of time when they are presumed operable for safety purposes.

Like the daily rounds, some are over-prescribed in interval scheduling terms. Rounds tests are performed conscientiously, although the importance of the test involved is often not understood clearly.

Monthly Tests

Longer interval monthly tests verify operational capability on standby and alarm systems such as emergency diesels or fire systems. They often assure the operability of standby safety systems, and reflect systems with less need for immediate operation due to redundancy or lack of credibility of failure between tests.

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