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Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/08/2015 9:56 AM

The installation of Impressed Current Cathodic Protection is on an off-shore platform. Bonding of tubular steel piles was done by cad welding of 25mm2 xlpe cable from one pile to the other. As part of the quality control, continuity testing between the piles were conducted. The values that were recorded were below 2 ohms. The design documents and the contract requirements does not specify the acceptance criteria for the test. However, our consultant engineer wants us to mention the allowable maximum resistance for the said test. I have checked with the internet but I only found from a procedure which states that "According to AS 2832.5:2002 - Cathodic Protection of Metals, If the resistance measure in both direction is stable and less than 2 ohms, then the two items of steel being tested are considered to be electrically continous". Your comments on this subject are highly appreciated. Thank you.

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#1

Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/08/2015 11:03 AM
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#2
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/08/2015 11:31 AM

Thank you for the links.

There is already an approved detailed design for the Cathodic Protection System and it is being followed by the sub-contractor. My problem is that the consultant engineer is asking for resistance value for the continuity test to be considered as acceptable as per standards.

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#4
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/08/2015 1:12 PM

So what's wrong with saying <2 ohms? What standard are they going by?

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#5
In reply to #2

Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/08/2015 3:56 PM

Refer him/her to the fact that the design is approved, then, and invite him/her to play in another sandpit instead.

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#11
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/09/2015 1:41 AM

I have done that. I also explained to the consultant engineer that standard practice for continuity testing is that if the resistance value is low or close to zero then it has good continuity compared to poor conductivity if it has high resistance value or close to maximum reading. I am waiting now for the answer of the supplier of the ICCP.

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#16
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/09/2015 3:54 PM

<...waiting now for the answer of the supplier of the ICCP...> Don't wait! Use the telephone instead!

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#20
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/10/2015 12:32 AM

UYVXNJ3LPWSlack, I cannot directly contact the supplier since it is not within the scope of my responsibilities. Anyway, the supplier relayed to the subcontractor that the maximum resistance of continuity between steel piles shall be less than 1 ohm. This means that we have to repeat again the tests for results that are higher than 1 ohm. We conducted the testing for 17 piles yesterday and got good results.

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#21
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/10/2015 7:33 AM

One more thing I should have linked earlier, when I get cathodic questions I can't figure out, I contact this company.
http://www.corrpro.com/

Drew K

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#8
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/08/2015 8:46 PM

Try to find out what standards are referenced, it may help to narrow down a suitable standard (AS, IEC, etc).

My problem is that the consultant engineer is asking

Oh if I had a nickel for every time a consultant has asked us to do their job for them......

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#12
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/09/2015 1:44 AM

I have searched through several standards that were referenced in the ICCP design and have not found one yet. I am still searching. ...

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#3

Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/08/2015 12:30 PM

I have not read AS 2832.5:2002 - Cathodic Protection of Metals but will agree to the statement you quoted.

As for my experience with cathodic protection, I worked with pipeline fuels and managed the review of the system at a power plant. I would say if this is to protect an offshore platform you need to design a monthly test of the effectiveness of the system. You don't want to find out the hard way that part of your system is not protected. All it takes is to take a reading of potential from the water to the section of metal being protected. Make sure you develop a plan to check potential of every section at least monthly and record current readings from the rectifiers so you can see if it changes due to a section being dropped off the system.

Drew K

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#10
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/09/2015 1:33 AM

Thank you for your tip Drew.

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#6

Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/08/2015 4:17 PM

Perhaps your "consultant engineer" that you are probably paying dearly for, should provide the necessary standards that he is requesting, not you.

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#13
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/09/2015 1:49 AM

I cannot comment on that gringogreg. I don't want to be on his bad side.

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#17
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/09/2015 3:58 PM

What rot. Consulting Engineers are there to assist the project, not obstruct it. Ask this individual to justify the consulting fees charged; the longer the job lasts, the more the consulting fees payable!

Ask this individual what the acceptance criteria for continuing the consultancy might be.

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#19
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/10/2015 12:17 AM

Actually it is the other way around, he asks the questions and I provide the answers. The consultant engineers were hired by the owner while I am with the EPC contractor. As a QC inspector, knowledge and skill is not enough. You also have to be patient and diplomatic.

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#7

Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/08/2015 8:43 PM

You should check AS 2832.5:2008 as the 2002 standard has been superseded.

http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store/Details.aspx?ProductID=1019965

I don't have a copy of the current standard so I don't know if the procedure has changed. I am not even sure if this standard relates to off shore platforms which may come under a completely different standard.

Try a search of some of the standards websites online, you may be able to find a more applicable standard to reference.

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#14
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/09/2015 1:51 AM

Thank you Jack! I will continue searching. Maybe I will get lucky today.

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#9

Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/09/2015 1:04 AM

That's the beauty of standards--there are so many to choose from. If the "consultant" does not like your quoted AS standard, tell him/her to furnish some other standard. If he/she furnishes a standard requiring less than 5 ohms, remind him/her that 2 < 5.

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#15
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/09/2015 1:55 AM

Good point Tornado. I have the same experience with another consultant last where I presented to him the NEC and he said that it is not applicable because it is an US standard.

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#18
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Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/09/2015 4:00 PM

It sounds as though it is time to stop paying consulting fees.

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#22

Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/11/2015 3:44 AM

I received the official response from the supplier of the ICCP. The following are

the acceptance criteria for the continuity test:

Bonding cable resistance shall be <1ohm

Pile to pile resistance shall be <2ohms

The consultant engineer is happy with the justification and the issue is now resolved.

Thank you for all your comments.

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#23
In reply to #22

Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/11/2015 7:48 AM

Thanks for the followup! It is always helpful to the forum to get record resolution, now for anyone clever enough to search the forum they will see your solution and information.

Thanks!

Drew K

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#24

Re: Acceptance Criteria for Continuity Test

06/28/2024 5:50 AM

There is something fundamentally wrong:

  • a <...test...> is only a <...test...> if its pass/fail boundary is known in advance.

Surely there must have been a procedure written-up beforehand for those carrying out the <...test...> to follow? Without this criterion in place what takes place is actually only a measurement.

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