Penrod Services

Our team at Penrod Services wishes everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.  Our last blog was November 7^th and a lot has happened since.  On November 25, 2011 I posted on twitter (www.twitter.com/CarolinaCAD) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/PenrodServices) about learning new CAD software and you should listen to the seasoned CAD veteran.  Below is the post.

“When one is learning new CAD software, it is always wise to listen to the suggestions of the seasoned CAD veteran.  These suggestions are usually based on pain, tirals and tribulation they experience.  The best advice given to me when I was being introduced to AutoCAD was to learn the typed command short cuts.  Still type in commands & makes it a lot easier getting to other commands in the command ribbon in the newer versions of AutoCAD & LT.”

My very first engineering manager/mentor was about 50 years old to my 27 years.  One day he sat me down in his office told me three very important things.  The first was to “Always work smart, not hard!”  This will make you more efficient.  The second was to “You don’t have to remember everything, but remember where to find the information.”  This will help keep focus on the current.  And “Always network within your department, know your internal maps for direction.”

That conversation happened about 24 years ago and I still practice and share those three items.  I also still speak with Doug every few months and he still gives some of that “Old-Timer” advice.  And you better believe I still listen.

When I wrote the “Fire Alarm System CAD Documentation” blog last week, I did not think there would be a part 2.  But after reading the post over the weekend again, there were a few items, non-CAD related, that I wanted to touch on.  We know that this project was very important and can be replicated many times.

During the documenting of the device locations, pictures were taken of each of the components that were placed in the facility layout.  Also included was the fire alarm system panel and screen.

These pictures were then used in various parts of the bound system document.  Here are a few examples of how the pictures were used and parts of the document. 

Pictures of the panel and screen were used to show how to read the panel.  In the document, the areas on the read out were located and what each was.  This showed device type, location and description, device address, extended description, date, and time.  (An example of loop from the binder was shown below.  This was used to train how to read the panel and loop device sheets.) 

A photo legend was created showing what each device looked like and the different types of equipment that the device may have been located in.  Then another photo legend was created for each loop that also provided location of the flow and tamper switches.  This made locating of these items faster and easier. 

As mentioned, a bound copy of the system documentation was provided to the fire department and also the drawing showing device location within the facility.  The purpose of the documentation was to provide direction to the alarm point.

It was a late Saturday morning and manufacturing was working overtime.  The fire alarm goes off and the building is evacuated and the fire department arrives.  It took the facility maintenance team a little over 20 minutes to locate the fault in the building based on what the read out was flashing.  Needless to say when I arrived in the plant the following Monday morning, the general manager was already looking for me with a new project with its scope of work.  It was rather simple, if the fire alarm goes off, we need to identify and locate the alarm source in 5 minutes or less. 

This might not sound that complicated of a task, but the building was a bit over 800,000 square feet, had a basement with scrap tunnels and pits, mezzanines and second floor offices, a separate guard house and over 75 HVAC units.  The question was, where to begin?

Our first step was look over the CAD data of the facility layout.  After our review of the CAD data, there were only a few items in the drawings.  The results from the review were what started the development of our plan of action for the project.

The first important step we took was to develop the CAD blocks of all the fire protection items from NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) information.  All of the CAD blocks were attributed with location ID (column numbers, plant departments & office areas), floor level and node point.

While the CAD blocks were being created, one of our team members was going through the entire facility, offices included, documenting the locations of pull stations, flow and tamper switches, horns and horns/strobes, field power charging supply (FCPS), smoke detectors, heat detectors, fire extinguishers and the fire alarm control panel. 

Once the CAD blocks were created and the locations documented, it was time to start placing the blocks in the layout, in the proper layers.  This process also included inputting all of the relevant data into each blocks attribute field.

After this was completed we were able to provide drawings of the basement area, main floor area, second floor office and mezzanine area and roof area drawings showing location of all the components of the fire alarm system.  These drawings were laminated and posted by the fire alarm control panel to assist with alarm point locations. 

Along with creating the CAD documentation, we were able to extract all of the information in all attributes into a spreadsheet.  Not only was this information used in a bound document for the fire alarm system, but was able to have this data imported into alarm readout.  So when the alarm did go off, the read out provided the type of sensor and also provided the specific location within the plant.

When this project was completed, one of the specified facility maintenance personal was able to go to the panel and radio to the maintenance team the location.  And within less than 5 minutes have the location identified and verify if it was a false alarm, damaged sensor or a real emergency.  And the fire department was provided a bound copy of the system specifying types of node points and the drawing showing the component locations.

The CAD layout is basically the road map of a facility.  It provides directions, information and a vision of current and future.  Interpretation and use of this electronic data is the key and path to a successful journey.

There are numerous uses for CAD data.  This can range from product flow, capacity planning, LEAN processes, equipment installation & moves, building expansions, fire protection, marketing and many other items.

By having all of the columns, walls, stairs, offices, racking and other types of obstacles documented.  Movement and traffic direction can be defined.  Also, equipment design and installation can now be specified and located.

Raw material and purchased items can be stored in a proper area based on process flow.  Work In Progress (WIP) and Finished Goods (FG) areas can be calculated, designated and or created based on and from the CAD data. (Capacity Planning)

The CAD layout assist with LEAN processes, Value Stream Mapping, 5s, TPM and other types of quality and cost savings programs.  This includes the support documentation that is accurate from the facility layout.

The CAD data is and can be used for various projects, processes, studies and documentation.  The most important practice is that the data and information needs to be accurate and correct.  As they say, “Garbage in is garbage out!”

Our next blog will provide an example of how the CAD data was used to document the fire protection system. 

How does one define or what is a facility?  Is it a manufacturing plant, school, library, hospital, retail space or commercial property?  All is correct and one can add churches, apartments and the list goes on.

However the facility is defined, all use electricity, water, sewage and some even use natural gas.  There are HVAC units, hot water heaters, plumbing, bathrooms, windows, doors, electrical outlets, IT connections, fire protection items and various other items.  The managing of the facility is similar for the most part, but there are systems and procedures in place for the specific use.

Our next blog at the end of the week will get into a bit more detail on the how.  If you would like more detailed information or would like to discuss a specific situation, email us at info@penrodservices.com.

It’s been awhile since we have posted a blog on the Penrod Post, but have been posting on twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIN.  We have implemented the use of social media in the last week of September and now are including our blog.  Our post will include different uses of CAD, AutoCAD, facility layouts, 3D & 2D, design, project support, LEAN process documentation, use of geosynthetics and geomembranes, and various other design/construction topics.

The Facebook post can be viewed on the home pages of www.penrodservices.com and www.carolinacadworks.com.  We are also in the process of updating and changing the websites.  Be sure to visit the sites and look for the updates and changes.  If your business would like to share links on both of our websites, be sure to email marketing@penrodservices.com with your request and a link to your site for review.

Our handle on twitter is @CarolinaCAD and you can also view our tweets without having a twitter account by going to www.twitter.com/@CarolinaCAD.  If you do tweet on twitter, be sure to follow us.  We will follow right back.

You can also view our fan page on Facebook without having an account by going to www.facebook.com/PenrodServices.  If you do have an account, be sure to hit the like button.  We also review our likes and other sites and are pretty good at liking the pages we visit.

On LinkedIN, you can view my profile without have a LinkedIN account by going to www.linkedin.com/in/randihandshoe.  Our company profile can also be viewed on LinkedIN by going to www.linkedin.com/company/penrod-services-llc.  If you do have a linked in account, be sure to follow the Penrod Services company profile page and also send connect request to my personal profile.