Site Acceptance Testing - The Institute of Highway Engineers · Site Acceptance Testing ... • Stage 3 Road Safety Audit • Pass site details to maintenance contractor ... • Check

April 2014

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Site Acceptance Testing

Ed Ashworth MIHE

Atkins Transportation

Site Acceptance Testing

• Professional Certificate

• What is Site Acceptance Testing?

• Practical Considerations

• SAT procedures

• Post SAT procedures/checks

• SAT documentation

• What next?

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Professional Certificate in Traffic Signal Control

Competency 29

• “Conduct Site Acceptance Tests for pedestrian

crossings or traffic signal schemes, including timing

adjustments”

Aims and objectives;

• Explain the purpose of SAT,

– what tests need to be carried out including electrical testing

and how the check list is used

• Demonstrate an understanding of how to carry out a

SAT and make adjustments.

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Why do we need Site Acceptance Testing?

Recap;

• Check site meets legal requirements

• Verify installation is electrically safe

• Ensure layout conforms to approved design

• Check site is acceptable for maintenance takeover

• Check signals operate safely and efficiently

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What is a Site Acceptance Test?

In simple terms…..

• Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) ensures that the equipment has

been supplied and installed in accordance with the requirements

and specifications.

• That all the component parts of the installation operate

satisfactorily, and

• That the cabling and connections are correct….

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www.theihe.org | February 2016

Practical Considerations – Part 1

Who should attend SAT?

• Suitably experienced signal engineer – Represents the Highway Authority

– Ensures installation is legal, safe and fit for purpose

• Signal company engineer − Carries out testing as directed by Signal Engineer

− Rectifies any defects or faults occurring during testing

• Designer

• Maintenance contractor’s representative

• Safety auditor

• Civils contractor’s representative

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Practical considerations – Part 2

What else do we need to consider?

• Have all contractors completed their works?

• Ensure you have enough time to complete all parts of the SAT

without rushing through it

• Can tuning/validation be done immediately?

• Do you need additional people on site to assist?

• Are the weather conditions suitable?

• Good planning is essential for a trouble-free SAT

www.theihe.org | February 2016 7


Practical Considerations – Part 3

SAT Procedures

• Pre-commissioning site visit

• Checks before signals switched on

• Checks with signals switched on

• Agree any defects (‘snags’)

• Formal takeover of installation

• Validation/fine-tuning of operation

• Stage 3 Road Safety Audit

• Pass site details to maintenance contractor

• Add site to asset management database

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SAT Procedures;

Before switching on

• Is the site legal?

• Is the site safe?

• Are all works complete?

• Use a check list so you don’t miss

anything important

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Check site layout complies with drawing

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Check road markings are correctly laid

• Stop lines must be present or site is not legal (at crossings)

• Zigzags are legal requirement at Pelicans, Puffins and

Toucans

• Pedestrian studs must be present at

crossings

• Check all lane markings and arrows

are correctly laid

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Are the poles correctly located?


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Check nearside signals and pushbuttons are

correctly aligned

• Nearside signals should be aligned at

25 to 30 degrees to kerb

• Use ‘narrow field of view’ nearside

signals at complex junctions to

minimise ‘read through’ of signals

• Is there any “damage” on the

equipment?

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Is signal equipment

clearance from kerb

edge adequate?

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Check correct visors are

fitted to signal heads

Have the signal heads

been mounted at the

correct height?


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Is the controller correctly positioned?

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Controller base should be sealed to prevent

ingress of moisture, gas, rodents and insects

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Controller wiring should be tidy with all cables

tagged to identify destination

Like this…


April 2014

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…not like this!



Inspection chambers

• Side walls should not bow in

• Ducts should be trimmed off

• Slack cable should not be

excessive

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Check loops have been cut correctly

Are the loops positioned correctly from kerbs and road markings?

Are they correct distance from stop line?

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Ensure loop slots are

backfilled

Backfill should be flush with road

surface and not over- or under-filled


Dropped kerbs should be

flush with carriageway

surface


Tactile paving should conform to

the DfT’s Guidance on the use

of tactile paving

Check the layout, colour and

gradient is correct


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Dropped kerbs, tactile paving and studs should all line up



High friction surfacing should be completed before

crossings are switched on

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Check warning signs are

installed and in correct location

Sign lighting units should be

working

If street lighting required (e.g. at

crossings) this must be working

before site switched on

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Electrical Safety Checks

Before switching on the following must be done

• Obtain Earth Loop Impedance (ELI) Test Certificate

• Check feeder pillar correctly earthed

• Check correct rated fuses used in Electricity company’s cut-out

and secondary cut-out

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ELI Test Certificate should

be obtained before the

signals are switched on

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Before switch-on check summary

• Check site layout agrees with approved drawing

• Road markings are legal – stop lines, zigzags, studs

• Signal poles correctly located

• Check all vehicle and pedestrian signals correct

• Controller wiring tidy, tagged and base sealed

• Inspection chambers correctly installed

• Loops correctly cut and backfilled

• Dropped kerbs and tactile paving

• High friction (antiskid) surfacing installed if specified

• Signing installed and illumination working

• Electrical safety checks completed

If any of above are not satisfactory should you proceed further?

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SAT Procedures;

Tests with signals switched on

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Checking signal heads

• Has contractor pre-tested signals correctly wired e.g. ‘flashing out’ each

aspect under bags?

– What if all aspects flash correctly but signals don’t switch on?

• Check all aspects are working correctly

• Be prepared to switch off if something is wrong

• Check head alignment and adjust if necessary

– Primary heads, Secondary heads, Tall poles etc

• Check green arrow aspects are aligned correctly

• Ensure heads are not obscured by vegetation or street furniture

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Controller basic checks

• Check controller in correct mode

• Check clock date/time set correctly

• Check BST advance/retard weeks or dates correct

• Test lamp dimming facility (solar cell)

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Loop detection

• Check vehicle on loop activates correct detector card

channel (observe LED)

• Is detector channel set correctly for sensitivity and

presence time?

• Use handset to check each detector channel is wired

to correct controller input

• Check speed loop pairs wired correct way round and

check speed measurement readings with handset

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MVDs

• Check aligned correctly using LED on unit

• MVD should cover same lane length as System D

loops and allow vehicle to reach stop line

• Different to System D (extensions)

• Check MVD wired to correct controller input

• Cable should be neatly zip-tied to bracket

• Plug and socket should be installed (not hardwired)

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Pedestrian detection

• Check all pushbuttons wired to correct input with handset and

wait lamps illuminate

• Make sure kerbside detector coverage set up correctly

• Walk into and out of detector footprint to check demand cancels

• Check on-crossing detectors cover entire crossing area

• Ensure on-crossing detectors extend to maximum

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Audible and tactile indicators

Check audibles can be clearly heard

Check audibles and tactile rotating cones

start and stop with green man

Consider switching off audibles overnight by

timetable if close to residential properties

Check tactile rotating cones are installed on

right-hand side of pushbutton

Simulate one and two red lamp failures on each approach

One red lamp failure should extend all intergreen to pedestrian phase

Two red lamp failures should inhibit pedestrian phase at junction or switch off all signals if mid-block crossing

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Test site-specific facilities • Speed Discrimination/ Assessment

loops

– Soundmark interface…..

• All Red extension detection

• Bus and emergency vehicle priority

• Hurry calls

• Queue detection/Call – Cancel?

• Part-time operation

(timetable/triggers?)

• Physical links to other controllers/MEC

cabinets

• Communications links?


Remote monitoring

• Check either BT line or GSM comms

provided

• SIM card needed for GSM

• Carry out suitable checks to ensure

OMCU working correctly

• Lamp faults, mains failure and detector

faults should all be simulated


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Post SAT checks – Part 1

MOVA Testing & Validation

• MOVA loops will need careful

checking

• Ensure MOVA dataset is ready

• Allow enough time for MOVA

testing and setup


Post SAT checks – Part 2

UTC/SCOOT

• Additional work will be required

to set up Instation

• OTU and comms link will need

setting up and testing

• SCOOT will require separate

visits for validation after SAT

• Sites may need secondary

linking method e.g. cableless

linking (CLF) before

UTC/SCOOT operational


SAT Documentation

• Checklist of tests to be undertaken

• Earth Loop Impedance (ELI) certificate

• Detector loop test results

• Cable test results

• Interim or Final Takeover certificate

• Agreed list of defects (snagging list)

• Equipment inventory

• As built details

•www.theihe.org | February 2016 45

www.theihe.org | April

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Equipment

inventory


Stage 3 Road Safety Audit

• Should be carried out as soon as site in operation

• Safety audit team will assess safety of completed site in

daylight and night time conditions

• Recommendation may be made for remedial actions including

signals operation

• Stage 4 RSA may be required after 12 months operation


What Next?

• Cup of tea anyone???????


Documents

Site Acceptance Testing - The Institute of Highway Engineers · Site Acceptance Testing ... • Stage 3 Road Safety Audit • Pass site details to maintenance contractor ... • Check