Transmission Business Experience
in Unification of Engineering
Standards & Specifications
27 October 2008
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Contents
1.
Background.
2.
Standardization.
3.
Objectives of Unification.
4.
Process of Unification.
5.
Major difficulties in Unification and Solutions.
6.
Achievements.
7.
Implementation of Unified Standards & Specifications.
8.
Conclusion.
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1- Background

The Electricity Companies before the merger:
 Four (4) Saudi Consolidated Electricity Companies in the
Central, Eastern, Western and Southern Regions
 Ten (10) small companies operating in the north of the
Kingdom.
 All electricity operations which were managed by the
General Electricity Corporation.

After the merger on 5th of April 2000:
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC)
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1- Background
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2- Standardization
The responsibility of standardization process was entrusted to
Transmission Standards and Specifications Department.

Role description:
 Prepare, develop, review and approve the Standards and
Specifications for transmission assets for use in the Design
and Engineering not limited to transmission lines and
substation facilities.
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2- Standardization (cont.)
 Coordinate with Transmission Operational Departments/
Divisions for development of agreed Standards for operations
, maintenance and protection.
 Undertake detailed research into the best engineering
practices for design of transmission assets.
 Update and issue Transmission Standards to reflect
improvements in equipment selection and in engineering/
construction practices.
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3- Objectives of Unification.

Study
existing
Transmission
Engineering
Standards
Documents and code of practices adopted by all the regions of
SEC and General Electricity Corporation, recommend
improvements and up gradation for unification in light of SEC
mission statement.

Unify & prepare common Material Specifications, Engineering
and Construction Standards for Transmission Network of SEC
for Kingdom wide application.
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3- Objectives of Unification (cont.)

Develop the unified standards and specifications using the
various common parameters and value engineering logics
giving emphasis to reliability, safety, quality, economy,
availability and feasibility of requirements.

Propose directives and approve policies, procedures and
practices that pertains to the Engineering Standardization and
safety of SEC Transmission Network.
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3- Objectives of Unification (cont.)

Ensure compliance with specified applicable Saudi Standards
(SASO), Saudi Arabian Grid Code and International Industry
Standards.

Ensure strict compliance to applicable Material Specifications,
Engineering Standards and Construction Standards developed
under the patronage of Transmission Business.
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4- Process of Unification

Collect information and conduct technical analysis and
evaluation of existing code of practices and standards of all
SEC operating areas and General Electricity Corporation.

Prepare drafts of unified Standards and Specifications and
circulated to various concerned Departments/ Divisions within
the company and outside to selected Manufacturers and
Contractors.

Analyze comments received from various concerned
Departments/ Divisions, Manufacturers and Contractors.
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4- Process of Unification (cont.)

Resolve and finalize all comments and issue clarification
letters if required.

Conduct presentations periodically to review and highlight
significant issues raised on standards and specifications
already circulated to the concerned Departments/Divisions.

Review and approve all the proposed Transmission
Engineering Standards Documents and upload them on SEC
intranet for Kingdom wide applications.
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5- Major difficulties in
Unification and Solutions

Resist to change from existing code of practices and
engineering standards and specifications.
Solution:
Present the advantages of unification to concerned
Departments/ Divisions and welcome their participation in the
unification process.

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Various system parameters and Service conditions.
Solution:
Issued the 01-TMSS-01 “General Requirements for all
equipments/ materials” after extensive research, surveys,
reviews and discussions by concerned Departments/Divisions
of SEC operating areas.
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5-Major difficulties in
Unification and Solutions (cont.)

Non-availability of documented engineering standards and
specifications in appropriate format in some SEC operating
areas and General Electricity Corporation.
Solution:
Surveyed and collected any available documented code of
engineering practices in whatsoever shape available from all
SEC operating areas and General Electricity Corporation. After
thorough evaluation, came up with unified standards and
specifications and code of practices.
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5-Major difficulties in
Unification and Solutions (cont.)

Different requirements in all operating areas of SEC and General
Electricity Corporation due to the different environmental
conditions and operational/maintenance practices.
Solution:
Studied and analyzed the different requirements and applicable
standards in all operating areas of SEC and General Electricity
Corporation and came up with consensus requirements after an
extensive technical and economical evaluation.
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5-Major difficulties in
Unification and Solutions (cont.)

Technical references were not available with some
Departments/Divisions to review the draft of Standards and
Specifications.
Solution:
Provided on-line access to international industry standards
references such as IEC, IEEE, ANSI, ASTM, ASCE, ACI, NEMA
& NFPA ,data bases of electronic books, technical journals
from KNOVEL, EBSCO, THOMSON GALE, engineering
documents and code of practices available to all technical
staff of SEC. The advanced technical information center
provides all necessary technical information in hard copy and
in addition to the above electronically.
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5-Major difficulties in
Unification and Solutions (cont.)

Not receiving comments/feedbacks on circulated Drafts of
Standards & Specifications on target date.
Solution:
With Executive Management support and follow up, encourage
and invite Departments/Divisions to participate and share their
engineering expertise within a given time to realize SEC
mission statement and objective conclusively.
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6- Achievements
Transmission Material Standard
Specifications
TMSS
99
Transmission Engineering Standards
TES
84
Transmission Construction Standards
TCS
22
Transmission Standard Drawings
TSD
12
SEEDS
1
Saudi Electricity Company Engineering
Drawings Standards
TOTAL
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6- Achievements (Cont.)
TMSS
TES
TCS
TSD
SEEDS
TOTAL
APPD
99
84
22
12
1
218
DRAFT
19
21
13
24
1
78
TOTAL
118
105
35
36
2
294
APPD %
84%
80%
63%
33%
50%
74%
More Info.
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7- Implementation of Unified
Standards & Specifications

The unification of standards and specifications in Saudi
Electricity Company Transmission Business is considered as a
milestone achievement as these are now implemented in all
substations and transmission lines projects of SEC kingdom
wide.

The standards developed so far are being implemented/
incorporated
during
prequalification
of
manufacturers,
preparation of Scope of Work/ Technical Specifications for
capital projects, direct purchase of equipment, tenders
evaluation, contractors technical submittal, execution and
commissioning of projects.
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7- Implementation of Unified
Standards & Specifications (cont.)

In the case of deviation to standards, waiver request is initiated
and submitted to SEC-TS&SD for review and approval based on
its merit and technical justification.

Likewise, the new list of technically pre-qualified and acceptable
manufacturers for materials/equipment is strictly implemented in
all projects to ensure the quality and reliability of materials/
equipment procured and used in the projects.
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8. Conclusion

Development/update of standards is a continuous improvement
process. TS&SD is continuously searching for new and best
practices to be adopted for the enhancement of standards and
specifications keeping in mind the best value engineering
practices whenever available.

Any new amended/ modified requirements are brought in and
specified in the scope of work/ technical specifications of the
proposed project until such time that the standards and
specifications are updated/revised.
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8. Conclusion (cont.)

Streamline the unification process for standardization of
engineering practices by adopting the international norms for
kingdom wide application in transmission network.

Affective
implementation
of
unified
standards
needs
Management support to establish an independent quality
control system for the transmission projects.
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Thank You
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