Channel, Strut, and Support Materials Selection & Requirements

This article is about Channel, Strut, and Support Materials Selection & Requirements of Electrical Power System Systems as per International Codes and standards for Commercial Buildings, Plants and Refinery Projects.

Channel, Strut, and Support Materials Selection & Requirements

General Requirements

1. Electrical materials shall be new and unused.
2. Electrical materials shall be in accordance with the Saudi Aramco-approved project-specific design drawings, diagrams, schedules, lists, databases, and associated documents.
3. Electrical materials shall be free of damage.
4. Electrical materials shall conform to all applicable requirements, standards, and specifications prior to release to be used as part of the work.
5. Electrical materials shall be identified by using tags, stamps, color coding, stencils or labels. The location and method of identification shall not affect the function or quality of the materials.
6. Electrical materials shall be traceable from the manufacturer and supplier through delivery, storage, fabrication, erection, installation, repair, modification and use.

Specific Requirements for Channel, Strut, and Support Materials

1. All strut components must be supplied by a single manufacturer. (Unistrut Spec. Guide 1.02 B.2)
2. Channel erector system components (Unistrut or similar) used to support cable tray and other electrical equipment shall be fabricated from structural grade steel conforming to one of the following latest ASTM specifications:
   a) A 570 GR 33
   b) A 653 GR33 (Unistrut Spec. Guide 2.02 A)
3. All fittings shall be fabricated from steel conforming to one of the following ASTM specifications:
   A 575, A 576, A 36 or A 635
   (Unistrut Spec. Guide 2.02 B)”
4. Strut system components shall be finished in accordance with one of the following latest ASTM standards:
   a) electrolytically zinc coated per ASTM B 633 Type III SC 1
   b) hot dipped zinc coated to ASTM A 123 or A 153  (Unistrut Spec. Guide 2.03)
5. In severe corrosive environments, channel erector system components (Unistrut or similar) used to support cable tray and other electrical equipment shall:
   a) Meet all requirements as specified above and be protected by:
   1) Factory-coating with PVC (minimum thickness of PVC: 40 mils) per NEMA RN 1 or
   2) Field coating prior to installation in accordance with SAES-H-101 APCS-22 (offshore), or APCS-26 (onshore)
   b) Be stainless steel or
   c) Be fiberglass”
6. Uncoated plugs and other bare metal shall be coated with:
   a) PVC patching compound (1000421977), or
   b) SAES-H-101 APCS-22 (offshore), or APCS-26 (onshore).

International Standard and Codes for Switchgear Room / Substation, Equipment Installation

1. METHOD STATEMENT FOR TESTING & COMMISSIONING OF SWITCHGEAR
2. Advanced Power and Energy Meters Technical Requirements
3. Erection and Commissioning of Medium Voltage Switchgear by Suppliers
   3. SAES-P-104 – Wiring Methods and Materials.
   4. Unistrut Metal Framing – Application, Installation, Specification Guide.
   5. SAES-H-101 – Approved Protective Coating Systems.
   6. National Electrical Manufacturers Association NEMA RN 1-2005 – PVC Externally Coated Galvanized Rigid Steel Conduit
   7. American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM A 570 GR 33 – Standard Specification for Structural Steel Hot Rolled
   8. American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM A 653 GR33 – Standard Specification for Steel Sheet Zinc-Coated or Galvanized
   9. American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM A575 – Standard Specification for Steel Bars M- Grades
   10. American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM A576 – Standard Specification for Steel Bars Special Quality
   11. American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM A36 – Standard Specification for Carbon Structural Steel
   12. American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM A635 – Standard Specification for Steel, Sheet and Strip, etc.
   13. American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM B 633 Type III SC 1 – Specification for Normalized HSLA Structural Steel Plates
   14. American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM A 123 – Specification for Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings on Iron and Steel
   15. American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM A 153 – Specification for Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware.