Chapter 24 - Mechanical Plant

Abstract

The mechanical plant required for the installation, operation, and maintenance of a large radio station complex would be extensive. One of the important points to be kept in mind, not only in the planning and design of radio engineering work, but in carrying out this work, is the provision of proper safeguards for the workmen. Unsafe practices with mechanical plant can no more be tolerated than unsafe practices with electrical equipment. The assembly, installation, or erection of the mechanical plant associated with the radio station facilities is a major part of most large project activities, and adequate time must be provided on the works program to allow for proper running-in periods during which adjustments might be required to ensure that the whole of the installation is coordinated into a trouble free and safely installed work. It has to be appreciated that each unit of plant is but a link in a chain where one breakdown might delay the entire project. On the maintenance side, badly maintained plant would cause poor reliability in station operations, and unsafe plant might have a bad psychological effect on the staff.