Run-to-Failure Maintenance
Regarding Scott Arnold’s column "Running (Literally) to Failure" (Editor's Notes, September 2010): In my 24-year career with four different health-care organizations as an operating engineer (eight years) and facility director (16 years), I have found that every chief executive officer/chief financial officer I have worked under either does not understand or, because of immediate/short-term budget issues, will not invest the necessary resources to maintain a facility properly. I am speaking of every facet of facility maintenance, not just mechanical equipment. For the most part, the engineering/maintenance department is seen as a necessary evil, a non-revenue-producing money pit. The only exception is during capital-investment projects ($50,000 and up), when I get to select the new equipment being purchased. The rest of the time, I must use operating-budget dollars to fund small projects that don't require further approval. As far as preventive/predictive maintenance goes, anything beyond changing filters, greasing bearings, and washing coils is a pipe dream. I am pretty certain this is the rule and not the exception in most facilities.
Name withheld
Tennessee

I am pleased to say the Royal Navy never has run a policy so ludicrous as "run to failure." ... The whole basis of rounds carried out by watchkeepers ... is to check the condition and operating parameters of equipment and, from those assessments—whether visual, from readings from gauges, or from monitoring equipment—actively look for deterioration in the performance of equipment. My question to anyone supporting a run-to-failure policy is why would you send your son to sea in a submarine with two main MGS and two TGS that had never had VA carried out before sailing or any condition-based monitoring while on patrol? The next week that submarine will be sunk by something as stupid as a ruptured flexible coupling that costs peanuts, but tore because the resilient mountings were degrading because of a corrosive oil leak from the air compressor above, but it was missed because no one was carrying out preventive maintenance. Run to failure—don't make me laugh. ... The Russians run this policy because of a lack of finances. The result? The Kursk.
Graeme
from HPAC.com

I work for a not-for-profit senior company with prior experience in the public sector. I am just floored at how they let front-end costs drive up operational costs, as it relates to paying higher costs for failures.
Knaumann
from HPAC.com

You would be surprised by the number of mechanical installations made with no thought given to maintenance. In some cases, installations are almost impossible to maintain. A local freezing plant had a motor on a flash-freezer unit go bad. It took two men almost a day-and-a-half to change the motor. When I saw the unit, I made a sketch as to how the blower and motor could be relocated to improve the efficiency of the blower, with the motor replaced in less than an hour. I was told they could not make the change I suggested, as headquarters had sent this leased machine, forbidding them to make changes.

I always told plant people, if you are not going to install a unit so it can be maintained, don't install it at all, as it will not be long before the unit is not operating.
Kenneth E. Robinson, CIH
Apex, N.C.

LEED-Certification Appeal
Editor's note: The following comments were posted on HPAC.com in response to the Liability & Litigation column by Gina Vitiello, LEED AP, on the appeal of the LEED certification awarded to Northland Pines High School in Eagle River, Wis. ("Appeal Raises Questions About LEED Certification," August 2010).

LEED is bogus. Let common sense prevail.

If anyone can explain to me why you can't simply say to an architect or engineer, "Design (for) me the most energy-efficient building you can without the need for another party intervening," I would like to hear why.

The way I see it, LEED is marketing, and that is it.
Rgr9969

In reply to Rgr9969:

I agree. ... The USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) ... charge(s) to review ... project documents, but do(es) not check (if equipment) is installed per drawings. ... It is a money-making business. Now, LEED AP(s) ha(ve) to pay for 30 hours (of) training ... to keep their license. ...
Guest

Get a life. LEED is a standard of relative greenness, not a contract document for overpaid lawyers and underemployed engineers to litigate. Before LEED, there was little awareness of green design principles, much less an understanding of related issues. LEED, follow, or get out of the way.
Ronaldperkins