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ECICM03 Perform condition monitoring

URN: ECICM03
Business Sectors (Suites): Condition Monitoring
Developed by: ECITB
Approved on: 26 Jan 2022

Overview

This standard is about applying condition monitoring techniques to an engineering component or asset.

You will need to be able to monitor components and assets to determine their condition. You are then expected, if necessary, to take appropriate actions whilst adhering to health and safety legislation, regulations and safe working practices.

In the context of this standard, your responsibility is to interpret and work within given specifications, using techniques and making variations to achieve the best possible result. In some cases, you may still be expected to refer to others for final authorisation, even though you remain responsible for identifying and implementing decisions.

Who this standard is for:
This standard is for condition monitoring practitioners.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

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  1. work safely at all times, complying with health, safety, environmental and other relevant legislation, regulations, guidelines and local rules or procedures
  2. ensure that the work environment, material, tools and condition monitoring equipment and instrumentation are suitably prepared for the work activities to be undertaken
  3. obtain and interpret the required information and specifications using drawings and other relevant sources
  4. correctly set up the condition monitoring equipment and check for calibration
  5. determine the correct use, care and security of relevant tools and equipment you use
  6. obtain and adhere to the relevant specifications including method statements
  7. carry out the condition monitoring activities
  8. ensure that the collected sample or measurement is representative, sufficient and not spurious
  9. adjust the monitoring instrumentation to assist in diagnosis
  10. record and review the samples or measurements and take appropriate actions
  11. remove and retain any faulty components for further investigation, where appropriate
  12. report immediately any findings that indicate the asset is in a dangerous condition
  13. ensure the work area is reinstated deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that have been and those that cannot be solved

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. relevant legislative, regulatory and local requirements or procedures and safe working practices
  2. preparation and reinstatement requirements in respect of the work area, material, and equipment, and the possible consequences of incorrect actions in these areas
  3. relevant engineering drawings, related specifications, quality standards and manufacturers' information
  4. what constitutes normal performance and condition standards of specific assets and abnormal performance and fault types
  5. the condition monitoring techniques and monitoring activities that are being used
  6. monitoring equipment settings, operation and care
  7. correct use of specified sample collection or measurement points
  8. specified sampling intervals and what influences these periods
  9. the types of disruption which can occur during monitoring and measures taken to minimise disruption
  10. understand how taking data from un-specified collection points impacts on the outcomes
  11. authorised procedures relating to checking the calibration of equipment in accordance with required codes or standards
  12. quality control systems and documentation procedures
  13. the correct use of relevant tools and equipment and your individual responsibility for the use, care, and security of those you use your responsibilities with regard to reporting lines and procedures in your working environment

Scope/range

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

A Work environment could include:

  • engineering construction sites
  • controlled operations
  • offshore installations
  • maintenance sites
  • nuclear sites
  • repair sites


A Work environment may be in open or restricted spaces:  

  • at height 
  • confined spaces
  • control rooms
  • controlled operational and offshore installations
  • designated work areas
  • explosive atmospheres
  • existing plants and structures
  • fabrication workshops 
  • in plant rooms
  • inside structures, systems and plant
  • on access structures (scaffold)
  • on open structures
  • onshore and offshore installations
  • shafts
  • shipyards
  • tunnels


Work area is reinstated could include:

  • returning the work area to a safe condition
  • removing barriers 
  • sweeping up
  • correctly disposing of waste materials
  • storing re-usable materials, consumables and equipment in accordance with appropriate procedures
  • completing all necessary documentation


Condition monitoring equipment and instrumentation could include:

  • bespoke equipment
  • flue gas analysers
  • frequency counters
  • frequency generators
  • gauges
  • LCR testers
  • leak detectors
  • meters
  • oscilloscopes
  • probes
  • pyrometers
  • relevant laboratory equipment
  • thermography cameras
  • thermometers
  • spectrum analysers


Condition monitoring activities could include:

  • attending alarm alerts
  • calibration checks

  • checking:

    • conformance to specifications
    • flame picture
    • flue gases and exhausts
    • levels
    • pressures
    • temperatures

  • electrical checks

  • end product analysis
  • integrity checks
  • investigating surges and spikes
  • lubrication checks
  • supporting commissioning
  • thermal imaging surveys
  • vibration checks
  • visual serviceability checks


Engineering drawings and related specifications:
An engineering drawing is a type of technical drawing that is used to convey information about an item for construction, maintenance or fault-finding      purposes and can define test-points used for condition monitoring

Specifications:
Engineering specifications can include manufacturer’s instructions or information from alternative sources that allows you to determine operational parameters of a device

Customer:
Customer in this context could mean someone outside of the organisation such as a client, another contractor, site engineers, master of the vessel, shift engineers, quality inspectors, construction managers, health and safety representatives and agents. Within the organisation, customer could mean supervisors, safety personnel, other departments, managers, engineers, technicians, and colleagues

Rotating equipment:
Machinery that has associated revolving parts. This group would include pumps, compressors, circulators, fans, blowers, engines, generators, turbines, motors, gear boxes. They are typically electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically, steam or wind driven

Condition monitoring techniques:
Various techniques can be used to obtain data on machinery and its components for the purpose of condition monitoring. Data can be gathered through the use of acoustic emissions, current-flow monitoring, fluid analysis, thermography, ultrasonics and vibration analysis

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

1

Indicative Review Date

26 Jan 2027

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

ECITB

Original URN

ECICM03

Relevant Occupations

Asset Engineer, Condition Monitoring Practitioner, Diagnostician, Electrical Maintenance Technician, Instrument and Control Maintenance Technician, Lubricant Chemist, Maintenance Engineer, Mechanical Maintenance Technician, Oil Analyst, Process Control Technician, Reliability Engineer

SOC Code

3113

Keywords

Condition; monitoring; engineering drawings; specifications; information; asset; equipment; technique; engineering; construction; condition monitoring; acoustic emissions; motor current signature analysis; oil analysis; performance monitoring; thermograph