Periodic Checks during Facility Operation

DOE-STD-1036-93

Equipment and System Status," and DOE Order 4330.4B, Maintenance

Management Program.

4.2.3

Periodic Checks during Facility Operation

Many facilities are required, by technical safety requirements or by

regulatory agencies (e.g., OSHA, EPA, state agencies), to perform

routine periodic checks of the operability of certain systems, structures,

and components. Routine periodic checks include:

C Testing fire protection systems to ensure that they are properly

aligned for operation

C Testing Continuous Emission Monitors to ensure that they detect and

record regulated emissions

C Testing toxic gas monitoring equipment (e.g., in oil well drilling and

production facilities) to ensure that the equipment will detect a

specific concentration of toxic gas and actuate an alarm.

These periodic checks (defined as surveillance tests in some facilities) are

independent of the activities that established the status of the system, and

therefore qualify as independent verifications.

When there are no regulatory requirements for periodic verification or

surveillance, it is still a good practice to periodically check the alignment

and status of safety and mission-critical equipment. Verification may be

performed using normal operating procedures, or specific checklists may

be developed for the purpose. Components to be checked may be

included on operator round sheets.