Third Party Inspection for Bus Duct

The Third Party Inspection for Bus Duct article provides you information about bus duct test and bus duct inspection in manufacturing shop.

You may need to review this article in conjunctions of following article:

Inspection and Test Plan for Bus Duct

This content guides you about all necessary stages in the production of the Bus Ducts from the examination of the raw material, final inspection, preservation and packing to dispatch to site.

This content is written for typical Bus Duct and might not be detail for special cases.

This content would be useful for second and third party inspectors, Bus Duct manufacture quality control personnel, engineering companies, purchasers and any interested individuals

Bus Duct inspection and test is done against the approved drawings, purchase order specifications, purchasers or company standards, and within the practices and rules of the country, state or province and any government decrees, laws, ordinance or regulation as may apply.

The applicable codes and specifications for Bus Duct which is under construction or supply process are:

The applicable codes and standards may be based any international standards. This content is general and can be useful for all recognized standards.

Design code
Purchase order specification
Purchaser's standards
Approved drawings

The applicable codes and standard may be based any international standards. This content is general and can be useful for all recognized standards.

Required Documents for Third Party Inspector Review:

The list of documents normally is agreed in the Pre Inspection meeting which is hold several weeks before actual commencement of inspection work. The parties which are participated in this meeting are manufacture, purchaser and third party inspection agency representatives.

This already explained in the Inspection and Test Plan for Bus Duct article.

These are the list of documents which are normally agreed to be presented to the inspector:

Bus Duct Purchase Order or Contract
Bus Duct Manufacture Quality Control Plan
Bus Duct Inspection and test plan
Bus Duct Data Sheet
Bus Duct Approved Drawings
Bus Duct Material Test Reports
Bus Duct Welding Specification Procedures (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Records(PQR)
Bus Duct Welders Qualifications Reports
Bus Duct NDE procedures
Bus Duct NDE Personnel qualifications Reports
Bus Duct Calibration Certificates for Test Equipment
Bus Duct Special procedures
Bus Duct Special qualifications
Bus Duct Preparation and Painting Procedure
Bus Duct Preservation, Packing and Shipping Procedure
Bus Duct Packing List

Third Party Inspection for Bus Duct - Material Inspection

The first actual inspection work is raw materials inspection. The original or authenticated copy of mill certificates normally is available at manufacturer's premises.

The third party inspector examines these certificates for compliance with specifications and where appropriate with drawings.

The review includes checks on:

Certificate No.
Heat or cast No.
Chemical composition.
Mechanical properties.
Heat treated condition.
NDE applied and results.
Surface finish

Inspector witnesses the materials identification on the certificates against materials marking. It is also necessary to check with Bus Duct drawing datasheet, material list and other specification as appropriate.

Visual inspection for surface finish and probable defects are done and dimensional compliance with specification need also to be controlled.

When third party inspector carried out the material inspection, then provides inspection visit report (IVR), the report contains following items:

Confirmation of satisfactory document review
Record of the endorsement of certification reviewed/witnessed
Record of all non-conformities
Record of any tests witnessed and the result

Third Party Inspection for Bus Duct Construction

When Bus Duct raw material inspection carried out and results was satisfactory or non-conformities closed by remedial action, then Bus Duct manufacture will start fabrication.

The third party Inspector checks following points on Bus Duct based on the inspection and test plan (ITP) which is already agreed between purchaser and Bus Duct manufacture.

The inspection scope is determined in the ITP, some purchasers prefer to have stringent control and assign the TPI inspector in more “hold or witness points” for inspection and test activities and some others prefer lesser “hold or witness points” and assign TPI much more in the “review document”.

This depend to the inspection budget which purchasers assign for inspection, much more inspection will have much more costs and less risks and conversely less more inspection will have less costs but more risks.

For more detail review Inspection and Test Plan for Bus Duct article. There is draft ITP in this article which I believe it is the best practice for Bus Duct inspection.

The third party inspector (TPI) checks following in accordance of approved drawings and applicable standards:

Paint using specified colour swatch, measure thickness, if specified
Panel condition
Outline dimensions, interface dimensions, bus bar dimensions and clearances and other specified dimensions

Check tightness/torque of terminals

Principal dimensions

If TPI is not in the “hold” or “witness” point in the ITP for this inspection stage, will review the Bus Duct manufacture quality control report in coming visit or in the final inspection day.

Third Party Inspection for Bus Duct General Arrangement Check

The third party inspector checks that all compartments, bars etc., are correctly rated and are correctly located, with specified labelling in accordance of approved drawings.

Similarly If TPI is not in the “hold” or “witness” point in the ITP for this inspection stage, will review the Bus Duct manufacture quality control report in the coming visit or in the final inspection day.

Third Party Inspection for Bus Duct Insulation Resistance Test

Insulation resistance is measured at each circuit with a 500V or (for circuits over 500V) a 1000V Megger.

The test would be acceptable if the measured value is not less than 1 Megohm.

Third Party Inspection for Bus Duct Withstand Voltage Test (Dialectric Test)

Power frequency voltage (at specified voltage) is applied between each circuit and earth and between bars, for 1 minute.

The test would be acceptable if no flashover and puncture occurs during the test.

Bus Duct Painting and Coating Inspection

Surface preparation and painting is checked according to the specification. The checking include to the following items:

Cleaning method (Blast or scraping and wire brushing)
Preparation grade
Freedom from weld spatter, blow-holes and other defects
Dry film thickness is measured according to specification

It is necessary surface to be free from pin-holes, runs damage and other discontinuity.

Third Party Inspection for Bus Duct - Reporting

Third party inspector provides Inspection Visit Report (IVR) after each visit as well as a final report summarising the activities carried out during the Bus Duct production in accordance with the contract requirements and circulated within the time limits specified in the contract.

The report normally is in the format required by the client and clearly indicates final acceptance or rejection of the Bus Duct.

Third Party Inspection for Bus Duct - Release Note:

When required by the contract or purchase order a release note is issued by third party agency and given to the manufacturer when the Bus Ducts have been finally accepted.

Third Party Inspection for Bus Duct - Bus Duct Packing, Marking and Shipping

The following points are checked by third party inspector:

Verify that the packing materials conform to specifications and accepted practice for the mode of transport.
Verify protection against humidity, abrasion, distortion and other damage.
Verify shipping marks to marking instructions and record.
Verify handling marks.