3871 -- Assessment, Perception, and Evaluation of DDC System Documentation Practices PDF

Presents the questions and answers obtained from parties involved with generating and using direct digital control (DDC) system documentation. The goals of the questionnaires were twofold - first, to access DDC system and logic documentation produced by engineers, control vendors, and equipment manufacturers; and second, to obtain the perceptions and evaluations of the documentation these groups receive from other groups. The results suggest several interesting points. Design engineers are generally not interested in the documentation of control system software and only wish to see information in the submittal related to the hardware. Control vendors claim that the engineer's documentation is approximately 70% complete when it goes out to bid, while the information provided by equipment manufacturers may not include "on-board" logic. Equipment manufacturers offer a variety of information, but most of it is technical and requires training to understand. End-users had several complaints about the documentation they receive from the previously mentioned three groups, including the lack of as-built documents, training, commissioning documentation etc., for a project.

KEYWORDS: year 1995, estimating, controls, computer controls, documentation, training, commissioning, questionnaires, surveys, project documentation, computer programs