Operational Readiness Clearance
Preparing for ORC Inspection
Each time an approved test beam experiment sets up in the beamline it must obtain an Operational Readiness Clearance (ORC) before actually taking beam. This consists of an inspection of the equipment by the Particle Physics Division Safety Committee and an inspection of the enclosures by the Accelerator Division Radiation Safety Officer. See Getting Started with ORCs
- Two weeks before the scheduled ORC Inspection users must submit:
- Simplified (block) electrical diagram of entire installation, including commercial components, with special emphasis on power handling issues. These must be of sufficient detail that reviewers can verify the experimenters have observed good systems engineering practices and have used proper fusing, wire sizes, insulation, termination, etc.
- Line diagrams of custom manufactured circuitry or modifications of commercial components of similar detail.
- At least 48 hours ahead of time, The FTBF Coordinator will contact the PPD Committee Chairman, and the AD RSO, to arrange a time for inspecting the equipment.
Due to the ORC process, beam can NOT be guaranteed for the same day, and extensions will not be made. Please make your request appropriately.
Obtaining Operational Readiness Clearance
The full set of information that constitutes official guidelines is in FESHM. The Inspection is based largely on the Hazard Awareness Checklist, which constitutes the last page(s) or the experiment's TSW.
PPD ES&H Experiment Review Committee for ORC Approval
- Cryogenics
- Electrical Equipment
- Electrical Safety ORC Review Tips PDF
- 2 weeks before the scheduled ORC Inspection users must submit:
- Simplified (block) electrical diagram of entire installation, including commercial components, with special emphasis on power handling issues. These must be of sufficient detail that reviewers can verify the experimenters have observed good systems engineering practices and have used proper fusing, wire sizes, insulation, termination, etc.
- Line diagrams of custom manufactured circuitry or modifications of commercial components of similar detail.
- Flammable Gasses or Liquids
- FESHM Chapter 6020.3 Outlines the requirements and Necessary Documentation for use of Flammable Gasses.
- Other Gas Emissions
- Hazardous/Toxic Materials
- Pressure Vessels
- Vacuum Vessels
- Radioactive Sources
- are they being used as a calibration (temporary use) or do you need them in the enclosure while beam is being run (permanent installation)?
- you will need Source Training
- Target Materials
- certain materials require additional training for handling
- targets require additional safety reviews/inspections/approval
- Lasers
- Hazardous Chemicals
- Any experiment using flammable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic materials will need to post the Material Safety Data Sheets at the entrances of the enclosure.
- MSD sheets can be found here.
- Mechanical Structures
A Fire-Life Safety Review is part of the ORC review. Guidelines
- As a general practice, the use of combustibles within FTBF should be limited. If there are questions regarding the combustibility of building materials (cables, foam board, plastics, etc.), please obtain a sample of the material and contact the FTBF Coordinator. There is a system in place to test these materials.
In addition, the Accelerator Division Radiation Safety Group inspects the area to look for issues that may result in adverse radiological consequences, each time an experiment sets up to take beam. AD Rad Safety Checklist.
ORC Approval Process
- The committee members will give their email approval to the Chairman, who will arrange for a signed 'Operational Readiness Clearance' document.
- The FTBF Coordinator will then obtain signatures from all required parties:
- Once all signatures are obtained (which can take several hours) the FTBF Coordinator will notify the experiment spokesperson and deliver a signed copy to the Operations dept, who will then authorize the MCR Crew chief to deliver beam when requested by the experiment. The crew chief will also see to any steps necessary for operating the beamline.
- The FTBF Coordinator will also scan the signed ORC and distribute it to all signing parties. The original is kept by the coordinator.
