ON-SITE TESTING
Survey duration is impacted by site complexity, item accessibility, and plant support. Team introductions, safety, and service overview are typically completed upon arrival. A site walk-down may be needed to identify valve locations and temporary insulation removal if needed. Identification tags are placed and a picture of each item is acquired as permitted.
Acoustic testing begins under the direction of the Team Lead taking into account operating conditions, location, accessibility, and an item’s importance to testing. All testing is non-destructive and does not require any permanently installed equipment.
Advanced acoustic monitoring equipment is used to acquire test data, make initial conclusions, and evaluate the likely extent of internal valve damage. External conditions (such as a packing leak or broken handle) are noted, and safety concerns are addressed with site personnel as needed.
The Field Services Manager reviews daily data to ensure accuracy. This provides the test team an opportunity to gather additional data if needed to support conclusions. Upon test completion, the Team Lead completes an exit meeting with site personnel, either in person or remotely as preferred. Initial results are presented but are not considered final. Repair decisions should not be made based on initial results.