Plant Utilities worked example

Steam Trap Survey Load at 23% access and documentation allowance: a worked example

What does the result look like when access and documentation allowance reaches 23%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use it when reviewing steam trap survey load for a utility budget, maintenance priority, capacity check, energy project, or production support plan.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Steam traps to inspect: 240 traps (unchanged)
  • Inspection rate: 2 traps / min (unchanged)
  • Access and documentation allowance: 23 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 20)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Base steam trap survey load time = steam traps to inspect รท inspection rate) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 148 min for required steam trap survey load time, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 120 min for base steam trap survey load time.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 23 % for allowance applied.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2 traps / min for utility coverage rate.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where access and documentation allowance sits at 20% and the headline result is 144 min, this scenario comes in 2.5% above the baseline at 148 min.
  • A figure at this level is achievable when access and documentation allowance is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. A single average inspection rate hides big differences between an easy floor-level trap and one behind insulation up a ladder, so treat the result as a planning figure, not a guaranteed duration.

Results at a glance

  • Required steam trap survey load time: 148 min (headline result)
  • Base steam trap survey load time: 120 min
  • Allowance applied: 23 %
  • Utility coverage rate: 2 traps / min

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Steam Trap Survey Load calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.