EMC065 - Eternal Vigilance!

The following is from a 1990 utility company report after the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989. It is a reminder that when it is quiet and uneventful, it's easy to be lulled into thinking that all of our equipment is operative and will do the job when it is needed. 

However, as the following indicates, forever vigilance is required to be ready when the need does occur.

1. Sloshing battery acid resulted in unexpected damage.
2. Buckled battery stands resulted in battery damage
3. Weld failures caused batteries to shift
4. Unistrut end rails came loose and batteries fell to floor
5. "C" washers on door locking bars shook loose and fell into 1/2" space of 48 volt 6000 AMP bus bar shorting the circuit
6. 48 volt, 600 amp distribution cable moved 6" to short to a metal case and then it returned to normal placement
7. Gas turbine engine floor mooring anchors pulled out in a 4th floor installation
8. Light fixtures dangling from KONDU compression fittings (which should not be used to support equipment)
9. Fuel transfer lines shaken loose
10. 2500KW generator failed under load. 1000KW backup overheated and failed. 1700 KW generator had to be trucked in via the badly disrupted highways
11. 350KW generator would only carry 100 KW load and soon failed but meanwhile end cells melted down.
12. 350KW generator ran for short time, caught fire and failed.
13. 500KW replacement generator was placed too close to a building and could not cool itself.
14. 115KW generator started up immediately after the earthquake but after five hours shut down due to overspeed failure (that turned out to be a loose damper shaft.)
15. 125KW gas turbine failed to start after the earthquake

While these items refer to one company's problems, it can serve to remind us that the unexpected can and does occur. Relate it to your own facilities and equipment. Then look them over with a new eye to discern potential failures where LEAST expected.