Engineering Standard

SAES-J-801 18 June 2015

Control Buildings
Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Scope............................................................. 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations................................. 2
3 References..................................................... 2
4 Definitions....................................................... 3
5 Location of Control Buildings.......................... 4
6 Control Building Floor Plan............................. 4
7 Control Building Room Requirements............ 5
8 Building Construction..................................... 8
9 Air Conditioning............................................ 11
10 Electrical Requirements............................... 12
11 Personnel and Equipment Protection........... 14
12 Communications........................................... 14

Previous Issue: 27 February 2013 Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018

Primary contact: Al-Hashim, Abdullah Mohammed (hasham0m) on +966-13-8801388

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2015. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

1 Scope

This standard together with the referenced standards and specifications provides
minimum requirements for the design and construction of plant control buildings. The
standard covers Central Control Buildings, Local Control Buildings, and Process
Interface Buildings. This standard does not cover maintenance buildings or analyzer
buildings.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any conflicts between this Standard and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Engineering Standards (SAESs), Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs)
Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager, Process & Control Systems Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this standard in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Process & Control Systems
Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

3 References

The selection of material and equipment, and the design, construction, maintenance,
repair of equipment and facilities covered by this standard shall comply with the latest
edition of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-A-105 Noise Control
SAES-B-008 Restrictions to Use of Cellars, Pits and Trenches
SAES-B-014 Safety Requirements for Plant and Operations
Support Buildings
SAES-B-019 Portable Mobile and Special Fixed Firefighting
Equipment
SAES-B-055 Plant Layout

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

SAES-B-069 Emergency Eyewashes and Showers

SAES-H-Series Paints and Coatings Saudi Aramco Engineering
Standards
SAES-J-505 Combustible Gas and Hydrogen Sulfide in Air
Detection Systems
SAES-J-902 Electrical Systems for Instrumentation
SAES-K-001 Design and Installation of Heating, Ventilation and
Air Conditioning (HVAC)
SAES-K-002 Air Conditioning Systems for Essential Operating
Facilities
SAES-M-009 Design Criteria for Blast Resistant Buildings
SAES-M-100 Saudi Aramco Building Code
SAES-O-209 Security Doors
SAES-P-103 UPS and DC Systems
SAES-P-104 Wiring Methods and Materials
SAES-P-111 Grounding
SAES-P-123 Lighting
SAES-S-020 Oily Water Drainage Systems
SAES-S-060 Saudi Aramco Plumbing Code
SAES-T-481 In-Plant Voice Paging System

3.2 Vendor Manuals (reference only)

Site Planning and Installation Manuals

3.3 Industry Codes and Standards

The International Society of Automation

ISA S71.04 Environmental Conditions for Process Measurement
and Control Systems: Airborne Contaminants

National Fire Protection Association

NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC)

Underwriters Laboratories
UL 779 Electrically Conductive Flooring

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

4 Definitions

Local Control Buildings: In close proximity to the process facility for which it is
designed, a Local Control Building is characterized by its relatively small size.
Local Control Buildings are specifically designed to control a single process unit or
plant. Field instrumentation will be connected directly to the control building process
interface room. The building will be used to provide only the console areas, offices and
facilities necessary to support the operation of the plant or process unit. The building
shall be located to minimize the risk of external damage from fires, explosions, or toxic
releases per SAES-B-014.

Central Control Buildings: Central Control Buildings are used to control several
interconnected process modules or plants. They provide a single focus for plant or
multi-plant wide operation and shall be used in conjunction with Process Interface
Buildings and Local Control Buildings located at each process module or plant.
The building shall be located to minimize the risk of external damage from fires,
explosions, or toxic releases per SAES-B-014 and shall provide essential administrative
facilities necessary to support the continuous operation of the plant(s).

Process Interface Room (Rack Room): The Process Interface Room is typically a
section of the Local Control Building, or Central Control Building (such as in small
facilities), used as the termination and internal distribution point for instrumentation
wiring. For Local Control Buildings, this will include field instrument wiring
terminated in marshaling cabinets for inbound distribution to distributed control system
interface modules. For Central Control Buildings incoming wiring will mainly feature
electronic or fiber optic highways associated with the Process Control System (PCS)
and ancillary control systems.

Process Interface Building (PIB): The Process Interface Building is an unmanned

building located near plant process areas and is used as the termination and internal
distribution point for instrumentation wiring coming from the field. This building
typically houses all marshalling cabinets, process automation system cabinets,
emergency shutdown system cabinets, auxiliary systems cabinets, and relevant auxiliary
systems diagnostic workstations.

5 Location of Control Buildings

General Requirements

5.1 Control and process interface buildings shall be located per SAES-B-014.

5.2 Minimum spacing between control, process interface buildings and pipeways or
facilities shall be in accordance with SAES-B-055.

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

6 Control Building Floor Plan

6.1 General Requirements

Local and Central Control Buildings shall be designed to provide administrative

and process control facilities to support safe operations and to provide a suitable
environment for the operation and maintenance of the process unit or plant PCS.

6.2 Internal Layout

It is not intended that this document mandate control building layouts. Floor plans
shall be developed on a case by case basis to support local operating practice and
facilitate the installation and maintenance of the plant control system.

6.3 Access

6.3.1 The main entrance to the control building, which shall face away from
the process plant or face the plant considered to have the least risk of
fire, explosion or toxic gases, shall be provided with an air lock to
sustain building pressurization. Locks are not required for emergency
exits and service entrances. Certain emergency exit doors may be
restricted from being opened from outside, but personnel shall be able
to open them from inside without the use of keys.

6.3.2 The floor plan shall be designed to minimize casual personnel traffic
through the control room. Offices and equipment rooms should be
connected by internal corridors. For Central Control Buildings, the
main entrance shall open onto a lobby or corridor from which the
control room, offices and other facilities are accessed. For a Local
Control Building, the main entrance may open directly through an air
lock to the control room area.

6.3.3 The computer room (when specified), engineering room and process
interface room (rack room) shall have their main access through the
control room.

6.3.4 Emergency exits shall provide easy exit routes from each room and
from the control building in accordance with SAES-M-100.

6.3.5 Double doors shall be installed to provide outside access to the control
room, equipment rooms and rack rooms as required. If the control
room is elevated above grade then loading platforms with stairways
shall be provided to facilitate equipment handling during installation
and maintenance. Equipment access doors shall be kept locked during
normal operation and shall meet the blast resistance requirements of
the structural walls of the building.

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

7 Control Building Room Requirements

7.1 Control Room

7.1.1 The control room shall be designed so that only activities associated
with plant control are performed there.

7.1.2 The control room shall be engineered to accommodate future planned

expansion.

7.1.3 Spacing between operator workstations and walls and between

workstations must be at least 1.22 m wide to provide adequate access
for routine maintenance.

7.1.4 The control room and equipment installed therein shall be designed for
lowest practical background noise level. Maximum allowable noise
levels shall be per SAES-A-105. Equipment that cannot meet this
criterion shall be installed in auxiliary equipment rooms or shall be
located in an acoustic cabinet.

7.-2 Process Interface Building and Rack Room

7.2.1 All field wiring with the exception of control system communication
links shall be terminated inside marshaling cabinets in accordance with
SAES-J-902.

7.2.2 All incoming cables must be sealed in accordance with Section 15.4 of
SAES-P-104.
Commentary Note:

The intent of the sealing requirements is to eliminate any incoming

hazardous hydrocarbon gases, or products of combustion inside the
incoming conduits or cables, from entering the building.
Multi-conductor instrument cables shall be sealed around the outer
jacket at the building entry point.

7.2.3 Power, instrument analog and digital signal cables shall be segregated
and run in accordance with SAES-J-902.

7.2.4 Spacing between cabinets and walls (subjected to blast loads) shall be
per SAES-M-009.

7.2.5 Spacing between cabinets shall be appropriately designed and installed

to allow maintenance activities of the cabinets.

7.2.6 Workstations for machinery condition diagnostic systems and auxiliary

instrumentation systems that do not need to be routinely monitored

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

shall be installed in the Process Interface Building or rack room unless

stated otherwise.

7.2.7 Distribution panels for incoming power from the UPS to power up
system cabinets, may be installed in the rack room.

7.3 Mechanical Equipment Room

The mechanical equipment room containing air handling equipment, particle

filters and chemical filters, if required, shall be fire separated from all other
rooms. The rating of the fire separation shall be per SAES-B-014.

7.4 Electrical Equipment Room

7.4.1 Electrical equipment (e.g., distribution panels, motor control centers,

etc.) associated with control building services and the control system
UPS shall be located in the electrical equipment room.

7.4.2 The electrical equipment room shall be sized to permit top, front, side
and back access for operation and maintenance of installed equipment.

7.5 Battery Rooms and Battery Installation

7.5.1 Batteries shall be located in separate battery rooms and installed in

accordance with SAES-P-103.

7.5.2 Battery rooms shall be ventilated in accordance with SAES-K-002 and

SAES-P-103.

7.5.3 Safety equipment shall be installed in accordance with SAES-B-069,

SAES-B-014 and SAES-P-103.

7.6 Engineering Room

7.6.1 Engineering workstations shall be installed in the engineering room.

7.62 Secure fire resistant storage cabinets shall be provided for storage of
computer software and documentation. This is not for storing back up
system software, manuals and documentation which shall be stored in a
secure off-site location.

7.6.3 The room shall provide space for desks, filing cabinets and essential
drawings.

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

8 Building Construction

8.1 General Requirements

New Central Control, Local Control and Process Interface Buildings located in
hydrocarbon producing or manufacturing facilities shall be constructed in
accordance with SAES-B-014, SAES-M-009 and SAES-M-100. For small
unmanned Process Interface Buildings, pre-fabricated buildings may be
considered, provided that the building construction is suitable for the area
classification and is approved by Consulting Services and Loss Prevention
Departments.

8.2 Floors

In Central Control, Local Control and Process Interface Buildings, two types of
floor will generally be provided. Areas containing computers and process
control equipment shall be provided with raised computer floors. Other areas
shall have conventional tiled or surfaced concrete floors. The finished surface
of the conventional concrete floor shall be leveled with the surface of the raised
computer floor.

In Local Control Buildings, with proponent approval, conventional concrete

floors may be used throughout the entire facility. This will have an impact on
the design of the air conditioning system which shall have ducting installed in
accordance with Section 9 of this standard. Overhead wire systems shall be
installed in accordance with Section 10.5.

8.2.1 Conventional Floor

8.2.1.1 The surface of conventional concrete floors shall be a

minimum of 0.15 m above grade.

8.2.1.2 Non-combustible high pressure laminated fiber resin floor tiles

shall be permanently bonded to the surface of the conventional
floor unless approved otherwise by the proponent.

8.2.2 Raised Computer Floor

Raised Computer Floors shall comply with the following requirements

when installed in control buildings:

8.2.2.1 Raised computer floors (pedestal floors) shall be installed in

the Central Control, Local Control, and Process Interface
Buildings where specified in Paragraph 8.2.

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

8.2.2.2 Pedestal floors shall provide a minimum 610 mm or 0.61 m

clearance between the finished floor surface and subfloor.

8.2.2.3 The floor shall be designed for the static and dynamic loads
encountered during normal operation and during the
installation of the distributed control system. Static loads and
load factors associated with the installation of a particular
PCS shall be based on vendor design data.

8.2.2.4 Pedestals and stringers shall be designed to accommodate the

required clearance and shall provide a rigid stable platform.
The pedestal system shall be selected to minimize leveling
problems. The floor surface shall be leveled to within
+0.25 mm per panel and +1.65 mm in 3.0 m.

8.2.2.5 Floor panels shall be gravity held, electrically conductive per

UL 779 and shall be made of noncombustible materials per
SAES-B-014.

8.2.2.6 Floor panels shall be surfaced with high pressure laminated

fiber resin.

8.2.2.7 The floor pedestal system shall be grounded at diagonally

opposite corners of the support structure. Grounding conductors
shall be run in conduit.

8.2.3 Subfloors

The following requirements apply to sub floors for pedestal floor systems:

8.2.3.1 The subfloor of control buildings located within 60 m of a

hydrocarbon facility shall be at least 0.15 m above grade.
Taking the sub floor as the reference line, the surface of the
raised floor shall be minimum 0.75 m above grade.
Cable entry shall be in accordance with SAES-B-008.

8.2.3.2 The surface of the concrete subfloor shall be coated with a

sealant to prevent dusting. The sealant shall be in accordance
with the relevant SAES-H-Series.

8.2.3.3 Drains shall be provided in the subfloor to prevent flooding.

Floor drain traps shall be 0.1 m deep in accordance with
SAES-S-060.
Exception:

With proponent approval, drains are not required for Process

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

Interface Buildings or Central Control Buildings that use dry

chemical and/or gaseous fire extinguishers and that have no
potential source of moisture ingress or water.

8.2.4 Battery Room Floors

The floors of battery rooms in which open wet cell batteries are installed
shall be tiled with acid resistant tiles, sloped to a gravity drain
constructed with acid resistant material in accordance with SAES-S-020,
SAES-S-060 and SAES-P-103.

8.3 Interior Finish

8.3.1 For large Central Control Buildings, it is recommended that specialist

control building architectural consultants and/or interior designers be
used to coordinate interior decoration of the control room.

8.3.2 Process Interface Buildings and Local Control Buildings' walls shall be
prepared and sealed in accordance with H-series Saudi Aramco
Engineering Standards.

8.3.3 Materials and all internal finishes shall comply withSAES-B-014.

8.3.4 The minimum recommended floor-to-ceiling height is 3 meters.

8.3.5 Suspended ceilings shall be made of noncombustible and non-dusting

type of acoustic tiles or boards. Sufficient space between the ceiling
and the roof shall be provided to allow for ducts, lighting fixtures and
trays.

8.4 Doors

8.4.1 External frames for blast resistant doors shall be set in grooves on all
sides to prevent doors and frames from being blown into the building in
the event of an explosion. Blast doors shall comply with SAES-M-009.
Doors in a fire rated barrier or wall shall meet minimum fire rating of the
barrier or wall per SAES-M-100.

8.4.2 Blast resistant doors shall have door closers and dust proof/air stop
weather strips. Door closers shall be selected to provide adequate
closing capacity in consideration of the building's pressurization.

8.4.3 Manufacturers shall certify that blast resistant doors are designed to
withstand intended blast loading per SAES-O-209.

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

8.5 Plumbing

Pluming installations and fittings shall be in accordance with SAES-S-060.

9 Air Conditioning

The space between the false ceiling and roof shall not be used as a return air plenum
unless overhead cable systems conform to NFPA 70 NEC Article 300-22.

9.1 Pressurization and Air Conditioning

Control Building pressurization and air conditioning systems shall be designed

and installed in accordance with SAES-K-002.

9.2 Air Quality

9.2.1 The air quality inside the control room shall meet the requirements
specified by ISA S71.04 Severity Level G1, unless otherwise stated by
the process control system, auxiliary control, or computer vendor.
The most stringent requirement shall apply. Chemical filters shall be
supplied as required in accordance with SAES-K-002.

9.2.2 Particle/dust filters shall be provided in accordance with SAES-K-001.

9.2.3 Temperature and relative humidity shall be controlled to meet or

exceed the specifications contained in SAES-K-001 or PCS vendors
site planning manual.

9.3 Monitoring

9.3.1 Temperature and relative humidity inside the Process Interface

Buildings, rack rooms or computer rooms shall be monitored.

9.3.2 Building pressurization shall be monitored by a differential pressure

switch or transmitter connected between the inside and outside of the
building. Loss of building pressurization shall be alarmed at the DCS
console.

9.3.3 In hazardous (Class I, Zone 2 or Class I, Division 2) areas or areas

defined by the building risk assessment of SAES-B-014, appropriate gas
detectors shall be installed at the entrance of the pressurization air intake
ducts to detect toxic or flammable gases. The detectors shall be easily
accessible for maintenance and testing. Hydrogen sulfide and
combustible gas monitors shall be selected and installed in accordance
with SAES-J-505.

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

The LEL and H2S detectors shall be set at the following:

Table 1 - Gas Detection Alarm Set Points and Actions

Detector Warning Setpoint Critical Setpoint

LEL 5% 10%
H2S 5 PPM 10 PPM
-Action -DCS Hi Alarm - DCS Hi Hi Alarm
- Activate Common Horn &
Beacon in Central Control
Room
- Switch off Pressurization Fans
- Close duct dampener
Table 1 - Gas Detection Alarm Set Points and Actions
9.3.4 Smoke detection in control buildings shall be in accordance with
SAES-B-014.

9.4 Ducting

9.4.1 Air conditioning air intakes shall be installed in accordance with

SAES-B-014.

9.4.2 Non-combustible air distribution ducting shall be installed above

suspended ceilings in preference to installation beneath computer floors.

9.4.3 Air diffusers shall not discharge directly onto any panel or equipment
cabinet and shall be sized to eliminate noise induced by air flow.

10 Electrical Requirements

10.1 General Requirements

Electrical installations shall conform to SAES-B-014, SAES-J-902, SAES-P-Series

and NFPA 70.

10.2 Grounding

10.2.1 Electrical equipment and field instrument systems shall be grounded in

accordance with SAES-J-902 and SAES-P-111.

10.2.2 Distributed control system workstations, computers, I/O cabinets and

auxiliary equipment shall be grounded in accordance with SAES-J-902
and the PCS vendor's recommendations.

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

10.2.3 PLC based Emergency Shutdown Systems (ESD) shall be grounded in

accordance with SAES-J-902 and the ESD Programmable Logic
Controller (PLC) manufacturer's recommendations.

10.3 Lighting

Deep parabolic reflector fluorescent tubes or Light Emitting Diode (LED) shall
be used in combination with incandescent spots to provide variable illumination,
without glare or shadow, at operator workstations and task lighting for work
surfaces. Lighting details shall be in accordance with SAES-P-123.

10.4 Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

10.4.1 Critical instrument and control systems shall be connected to a

UPS system. These systems include:
- Gas Detection System
- Fixed Fire Suppression System
- Emergency Shutdown System
- Process Control System
- Burner Management System
- Emergency Lighting
- All local and field instrumentation devices
- Other auxiliary protection, monitoring or control systems.

10.4.2 The UPS system shall be configured and installed in accordance with
SAES-P-103.

10.5 Wiring

10.5.1 Under floor power distribution cable systems shall be installed in

accordance with NFPA 70 NEC Article 645-5.

10.5.2 Wiring systems shall be maintained in accordance with SAES-J-902.

10.5.3 Data highways shall be terminated directly to PCS interface equipment.

10.5.4 Cables and conduits entering blast resistant control buildings shall be
sealed in accordance with Section 15.4 of SAES-P-104 and
SAES-O-209. Multi conductor instrument cables shall be sealed
around the outer jacket at the building entry point. Cable end seals
shall be applied as required by the NEC.

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Document Responsibility: Instrumentation Standards Committee SAES-J-801
Issue Date: 18 June 2015
Next Planned Update: 18 June 2018 Control Buildings

10.5.5 Signal and power cables installed in air conditioning plenums shall
conform to NFPA 70 NEC Article 300-22.

10.5 Lightning protection system shall be provided in accordance to SAES-P-111.

10.6 Electrical equipment shall not be mounted on the interior face of walls that may
be subjected to blast loads as per SAES-M-009 requirement.

11 Personnel and Equipment Protection

11.1 Fire alarm and fixed detection systems shall be designed in accordance with
SAES-B-014.

11.2 Designs for separation and fixed fire suppression systems shall meet SAES-B-
014.

11.3 Flooring and furniture shall be selected from materials that minimize the effect
of static electricity.

11.4 Portable fire extinguishers and/or fire blankets shall be provided in accordance
with the requirements in SAES-B-014 and SAES-B-019.

12 Communications

In-plant Communication systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with

SAES-T-481.

Revision Summary
18 June 2015 Major revision.

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