Materials System Specification

17-SAMSS-515
14 October 2008
Auxiliary Electrical Systems
for Skid-Mounted Equipment
Electrical Substations Equipment Standards Committee Members
Ishwait, Basel A., Chairman
Ghamdi, Mohammed Ahmed, Vice Chairman
Nazzawi, Abdullah Omar
Fayez, Hamad Abdullah
Gopal, Uarutharaja
Ojan, Jawad Ali
Helfrich, Cory Allan
Refai, Jobran Ali
Sheef, Jaafar Abdullah
Ramadhan, Mohammad Jafar
Maghrabi, Ibrahim Mohammad
Hartman, Ralph August

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Scope............................................................
Conflicts and Deviations...............................
References....................................................
General.........................................................
Conduit and Cable Installation......................
Power and Control Wiring.............................
Grounding.....................................................
Motors...........................................................
Switches and Receptacles...........................

2
2
2
3
4
4
5
5
5

Data Schedule - 1............................................... 6

Previous Issue: 17 May 2008 Next Planned Update: 17 May 2013

Revised paragraphs are indicated in the right margin
Primary contact: Ghamdi, Mohammed Ahmed on 966-3-8760290
CopyrightSaudi Aramco 2008. All rights reserved.

Page 1 of 6

Document Responsibility: Electrical Substations Equipment

Issue Date: 14 October 2008
Next Planned Update: 17 May 2013

17-SAMSS-515
Auxiliary Electrical Systems
for Skid-Mounted Equipment

Scope
This specification defines the mandatory requirements for auxiliary electrical systems
provided on custom-engineered, factory-assembled, and pre-wired, equipment skids. It
also applies, if specified, to other types of types of custom engineered, manufactured
equipment. Unless specified, this specification does not apply to manufacturer's
standard equipment built in conformance with standards recognized by Saudi Aramco.

Conflicts and Deviations

2.1

If there are any conflicts between this Specification and associated purchasing,
project or engineering documents, this specification shall take precedence.

2.2

Direct all requests to deviate from this Specification in writing to the Company
or Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company waiver procedure.

2.3

The designation "Commentary" is used to label a sub-paragraph that contains

comments that are explanatory or advisory. These comments are not mandatory,
except to the extent that they explain mandatory requirements contained in this
SAMSS.

References
The following is a summary of all the documents which have been mentioned within
this Specification. The specific part(s) of these documents which are applicable have
been identified throughout this Specification.
3.1

Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specifications
16-SAMSS-512

Switchrack Outdoor

16-SAMSS-518

Low Voltage Panelboards

17-SAMSS-502

Form-Wound Induction Motors 250 HP and above

17-SAMSS-503

Severe Duty Totally Enclosed Squirrel Cage

Induction Motors to 250 HP

17-SAMSS-520

Form Wound Brushless Synchronous Motors

34-SAMSS-831

Instrumentation for Packaged Units

Saudi Aramco Inspection Requirements

Form 175-173700

Auxiliary Electrical Systems for Skid-Mounted

Equipment

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Document Responsibility: Electrical Substations Equipment

Issue Date: 14 October 2008
Next Planned Update: 17 May 2013

3.2

17-SAMSS-515
Auxiliary Electrical Systems
for Skid-Mounted Equipment

Industry Codes and Standards

National Fire Protection Association
NFPA 70

National Electrical Code (NEC)

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

NEMA ICS 6

Enclosures for Industrial Controls and Systems

NEMA MG 1

Motors and Generators

NEMA RN 1

Polyvinyl-Chloride (PVC) Externally Coated

Galvanized Rigid Steel Conduit and
Intermediate Metal Conduit

NEMA WD 6

Wiring Devices - Dimensional Requirements

NEMA 250

Enclosures for Electrical Equipment

(1000 Volts Maximum)

Underwriters Laboratories

UL 698

Industrial Control Equipment for Use in

Hazardous (Classified) Locations

UL 894

Switches for Use in Hazardous (Classified)

Locations

UL 1010

Receptacle-Plug Combinations for Use in

Hazardous (Classified) Locations

UL 1682

Plugs, Receptacles, and Cable Connectors of the

Pin and Sleeve Type

General
4.1

The electrical installation shall be in accordance with NFPA 70 (NEC).

4.2

Unless otherwise modified by this specification, electrical equipment, electrical

wiring systems, and electrical installation shall meet all requirements of Saudi
Aramco Materials System Specification 16-SAMSS-512 except as follows:
Exceptions:

4.3

1)

STRUCTURE section, is not applicable

2)

LIGHTING section, is applicable only if lighting is specified for the skid.

Process instrumentation (including instrumentation wiring material

requirements) shall be in accordance with 34-SAMSS-831.
Page 3 of 6

Document Responsibility: Electrical Substations Equipment

Issue Date: 14 October 2008
Next Planned Update: 17 May 2013

4.4

Panelboards shall be in accordance with 16-SAMSS-518.

4.5

Inspection requirements shall comply with form 175-173700.

Conduit and Cable Installation

5.1

17-SAMSS-515
Auxiliary Electrical Systems
for Skid-Mounted Equipment

Conduits and cables shall be supported from structural members or dedicated

supports only. Process pipe, etc., shall not be used for support.
5.1.1

Structural members used for conduit support shall be coated as specified

for the structure.

5.1.2

Channel erector system components (Unistrut or similar) used to support

conduits, cable trays, enclosures, lighting fixtures, and other electrical
equipment shall be made of steel, either hot dip galvanized (preferably),
or zinc electroplated as supplied by the manufacturer. If the skid has
been designated for applications in a "severe corrosive environment" in
the data schedule, channel erector system components shall also be
factory coated with PVC per NEMA RN 1 or be of stainless steel.

5.2

Conduits and cables shall not be installed within 150 mm of process piping
which operates at temperatures in excess of 100C, where subject to physical
damage, within 75 mm of ladder rungs, or in areas subjecting personnel to
tripping hazards. Conduit runs shall be installed parallel to or at right angles to
equipment and/or skid structure lines.

5.3

Each continuous conduit run with a length in excess of 3 m shall be provided

with a Type 300 Series stainless steel combination drain/breather fitting at the
lowest point of the run.

5.4

Sealing for explosion containment shall be provided only at enclosures and

devices which are required by the NEC to be sealed.

5.5

Armored cables shall be continuously supported by cable tray or structural steel

except for lengths, not exceeding 2 m, at terminations to electrical equipment.

5.6

All open conduits shall be capped.

5.7

Conduit sealing fittings shall not be used.

Power and Control Wiring

6.1

Conductors shall be continuous, without splices, between termination points.

6.2

Power, lighting, and 120 V ac or dc control wiring shall be run in conduit or

cable systems separate from instrumentation and communication systems.
Page 4 of 6

Document Responsibility: Electrical Substations Equipment

Issue Date: 14 October 2008
Next Planned Update: 17 May 2013

6.3

17-SAMSS-515
Auxiliary Electrical Systems
for Skid-Mounted Equipment

Field wiring connections to skid wiring systems shall be at skid-mounted

terminal boxes containing terminal blocks, except for equipment designated for
direct connection. (e.g., Where a motor branch circuit is brought directly from a
controller external to the skid to a motor mounted on the skid.)

Grounding
Provision for grounding the skid structure shall be made at diagonally opposite corners
per the switchrack structure grounding requirements of 16-SAMSS-512.

Motors
8.1

Fractional horsepower motors, except for motors operating motor-operated

valves, shall be NEMA Frame fractional horsepower totally-enclosed motors
meeting the requirements of NEMA MG 1 with minimum NEMA Class B
insulation system and suitable for operation in a 50C ambient temperature.

8.2

Motors 0.746 kW and larger shall be in accordance with Saudi Aramco

Materials System Specifications 17-SAMSS-502, 17-SAMSS-503, or
17-SAMSS-520 as applicable.

Switches and Receptacles

9.1

General-use snap switches shall comply with UL 894. Control switches shall
comply with UL 698. Switch enclosures shall be cast or malleable iron per
NEMA ICS 6 and Type 3/7 minimum in accordance with NEMA 250.

9.2

Receptacles, when required, shall be in accordance with NEMA WD 6, UL

1010, or UL 1682. Unless otherwise specified by the Saudi Aramco buyer or
company representative or required because of the electrical area classification,
120 VAC receptacles shall be NEMA type 5-20R.

9.3

Receptacles shall meet the requirements of NEC Article 410 for wet locations
and receptacles for 120 V AC shall be protected with a ground fault circuit
interrupter (GFCI) circuit breaker.

17 May 2008
14 October 2008

Revision Summary
Revised the "Next Planned Update". Reaffirmed the contents of the document and
reissued with no other changes.
Editorial revision to replace Electrical Substations Equipment Standards Committee
Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Page 5 of 6

Document Responsibility: Electrical Substations Equipment

Issue Date: 14 October 2008
Next Planned Update: 17 May 2013

17-SAMSS-515
Auxiliary Electrical Systems
for Skid-Mounted Equipment

Data Schedule - 1
For 17-SAMSS-515 : Auxiliary Electrical Systems for Skid-Mounted Equipment
(Information to be Supplied by Buyer)
Quotation Request/ Purchase Order No.______________
B.I./J.O. No._________, Line Item No.______________
Service Information:
As Indicated on the Attached Reference Documents: ___________________
or as Follows:
Indoor ____, Outdoor_____
Area Classification: Unclassified _____
Classified _____: Class _____ Division/Zone _____ Group(s) _____
Commentary Note:
Vendor to indicate in quotation if skid mounted equipment will affect classification.
Severe Corrosive Environment: Yes (

), No (

System Frequency: 60 Hz Nominal System Supply Voltage: _______

120VAC Utility Receptacle(s) Required: Yes (

), No (

Arabic Warning Nameplates Supplied by: Manufacturer (

)
), Buyer (

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