Carry out functional tests on plant and apparatus in the power industry

Overview

This standard is about testing plant and apparatus in an electricity power utilities environment.  This could apply to both electrical transmission or electrical distribution networks and could typically apply to voltages from low voltage up to and including transmission voltages such as 400,000 volts. Networks could be aligned with systems using traditional or emerging energy technologies.

This standard could be applicable to tests on newly installed plant or apparatus or for tests on in substations for tests on transmission protection systems, control systems, cables or switch gear or it could be applicable to voltage or earthing tests on overhead lines.

This standard includes confirming safety documents and instructions, carrying out risk assessments, checking the system is safe to work on, carrying out functional tests, checking completed work and completing documentation.

This standard is for crafts persons or technicians working for network owners or operators or their sub-contractors who are responsible for testing plant and apparatus on electrical networks.  This could be carried out by people with different levels of network operational authorisation, but in each case, they will be required to have the degree of supervision which is required for their individual level of authority.

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

  1. identify the work location using system information in line with organisational procedures
  2. carry out all work within the remits of own authority and under the supervision of suitably authorised personnel when required
  3. receive and confirm safety documents and instructions about required functional tests in line with organisational procedures
  4. carry out site specific risk assessments of work areas and condition of plant and apparatus to be tested, identifying hazards and required control measures in line with organisational procedures
  5. check the system is confirmed as safe to work on in line with organisational operational safety rules
  6. communicate the status of tests to affected parties and designated people when required and in line with organisational procedures
  7. use approved tools, equipment and consumables for functional tests in line with organisational procedures
  8. work in line with health and safety, environmental and other relevant regulations, directives and guidance at all times
  9. carry out functional tests on plant and apparatus in line with workplan, safety instructions and organisational procedures
  10. complete documentation for functional tests in line with organisational procedures
  11. confirm completed tests meet safety requirements before reenergisation of plant, apparatus or the network
  12. leave work areas in a safe condition in line with organisational procedures
  13. deal with network issues and complications in line with safety and organisational procedures
  14. escalate issues that you cannot resolve to the designated person in line with organisational procedures when required

 

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. Electrical power principles including three phase alternating current and direct current theories; voltage; dynamic and static engineering systems; application of electrical and electronic circuit theory and interfaces between the system voltage
  2. Electricity network design, construction, capabilities, complexities, operations, boundaries, topologies and control boundaries
  3. Apparatus which makes up the transmission or distribution network and the design, operation, function and limitations of transmission or distribution plant and equipment, substations, transformers, overhead lines, switchgear and auxiliary equipment
  4. Standard terminology, abbreviations and nomenclature in relation to plant and apparatus and testing techniques
  5. The regulatory requirements associated with safety while carrying out work on power network plant and apparatus
  6. How to assess the location and structure and safe procedures for access, egress and proximity to live equipment
  7. The general and inherent dangers of working with electrical systems of different voltages under outage and non-outage conditions and required measures to address them
  8. Organisational procedures and safety instructions for receiving and confirming operational, network related instructions in normal and fault conditions, including remote and emerging technological advances
  9. The principles of pre task and point of work dynamic risk assessment, when they are required and how to carry them out and record findings
  10. Operational restrictions, their purpose and actions to be taken and how to recognise and use physical signage and network diagram indicators
  11. Who to notify about network related operations, when to notify them and organisational procedures for doing so
  12. Electricity network principles of operation in normal and fault conditions and associated protective devices and their indicators in the event of system fault scenarios
  13. Sources of system information and how to interpret them to identify points of isolation and earthing arrangements including system diagrams, work instructions, fault logs, protection data
  14. The sequence of processes, procedures, stages and operational safety rules
  15. The environmental impact of disposal, organisational decontamination procedures and what to do if things go wrong, including the use of spill kits
  16. The approved plant, apparatus, tools, equipment and consumables required for functional tests and how to obtain, inspect, prepare, carry out pre-use checks, use, maintain and store them
  17. Safety, earthing and bonding materials and where and when they should be applied
  18. The purpose of checks and tests for plant and apparatus and when they are required and how to carry them out including visual checks, functional checks, electrical tests
  19. Functional testing procedures and techniques and how to interpret test results
  20. Organisational procedures and systems for recording and storing test results and findings and to meet cybersecurity and data governance requirements, including role-based access, secure storage, audit logging, data retention
  21. The route to authorisation and supervision at different levels and the training, experience and certification required for your role
  22.