GC and GCMS Site Preparation and Installation Frequently Asked Questions (from Agilent and Customers!)
- What was purchased?
- Operators do not always know what management bought and it is smart to be prepared.
- What is the Agilent Sales Order Number?
- Is there information describing anything special or unusual about the order or the site that would help the installer?
- Did you purchase an analyzer or custom solution?
- Are there any specific requirements?
- Have you completed the free Agilent University Course GC-8890-1201e - Getting Prepared for Your New GC System ?
- Many of the questions in this document are answered there in detail
- How long will it take for the system to be installed?
- Somewhere between a few hours and a few weeks as it depends on the site readiness and configuration purchased.
- Where is it listed how much time it typically takes?
- How do I purchase additional time?
- How long will the installer be delivering Introduction? (talking about)
- Hardware?
- Software?
- Maintenance?
- Troubleshooting?
- How do I learn more? What resources are available?
- Will the operator be with the installer the entire time?
- If not, why not?
- Most installing engineers will talk the whole time
- What happens if the installation needs to be rescheduled?
- Call Agilent as soon as you know
Boxes/Space Requirements:
- The boxes are in the way, may I open them?
- Do not open any boxes! All boxes should remain unopened as received from Agilent.
- How big are the crates that will arrive?
- Will there be space to store them before the installer arrives?
- The crates are HUGE! GC, Computer and peripherals, MS, pumps, etc.
- Is there access to the lab from the receiving location? Cart? Lift? Pallet jack? Elevator? Doors open? Badging? Signing in/out?
- It is easiest if the crates are brought as close to the lab bench as possible before the installer arrives.
- Has the lab met Health, Safety, and Security requirements?
- Are there any restrictions to site access for the installer?
- Is there open, clear, empty bench space, around, behind, and above where the instrument will be installed? Will it support the maximum system weight plus a safety margin?
GC minimums - W: 84”, H: 40” w/ALS, D: 26”.
GC/HS minimums - W: 116”, H: 40”, D: 26”.
GC/MS SQ minimums - W: 92”, H: 40”, D: 26”
GC/MS TQ minimums- W: 96”, H: 40”, D: 40”
- Trash – Is there room for it?
- There are a lot of boxes and bags!
- Who will take it away?
- You are responsible for all trash.
Power:
- What are the power requirements?
- Is the outlet on a dedicated circuit and 120 V 20amp for the GC Standard oven or a 240 V 15amp for Fast Oven, if applicable?
- Are there enough outlets for the install?
- Pictures of the plugs and the outlets.
NEMA 5-15R
NEMA 5-20R
NEMA L6-15R
NEMA L6-20R
- Does Agilent support use of a UPS or surge protector with my GC or GCMS system?
Gases:
Have you completed the free Agilent University Course GC-0GEN-1001e - Gas Management Best Practices ?
- Many of the questions below are answered there in detail
- Which gases will you be using?
- Do you confirm that gases available are a supported configuration for install?
- What is the purity of the gases?
- GC all gases 99.9995%
- SQ GC/MS 99.9995% He at <=120 psi
- TQ GC/MS 99.9995% He at <=120 psi
- TQ GC/MS 99.9995% N2 at <=120 psi
- CI: Methane 99.999% <=25 psi
- JetClean: H2 99.9995% <= 25 psi (a regulator is not included to go down from FID H2 to JetClean H2)
- Can I use gases with specifications that are not as good as the requirements? Why not?
- What is the source (tanks, generators, house plumbing) of the gases?
- Will the installer have easy access to the gas supply?
- How far away will the gas cylinders be?
- Will you be connecting into existing plumbing?
- What should the terminal connection be before the installer arrives?
- All gases should have 1/8” Swagelok terminal fittings.
- Have you purchased the necessary tubing, fittings, valves, traps, etc?
Venting:
- GC - How will you be venting the solvent/sample waste?
- Autosamplers (vents, vials, wash & waste)
- GC inlet vents
RDT-1020 ~$161 USD (and refill three pack RDT-1023) is an activated charcoal trap that gets plumbed onto the split vent to capture organics at the GC. These are handy even if the customer has a snorkel before they get away from the GC.
- MS - How will you be venting the rough pump exhaust?
- Consider cooling airflow, waste venting, heat, very limited distance away from MS
- How will you be handling the temperature in the lab?
- Is the lab air conditioned and capable of handling GC oven exhaust heat and system heat? (See site preparation documentation for specifics)
- Will there be a dedicated vent for the oven heater exhaust?
Computer/Network/Backup:
- Do you plan on connecting this to a lab network?
- Have all details available, administrator level access for the installing engineer, potentially have an IT person available.
- Does your IT department have a required hard drive image?
- Installation, Checkout, and Introduction will all be performed with the Agilent image as delivered. Any software changes after that time are subject to additional charges and not covered by the installation or system warranty.
- How will you be backing up your data, methods, sequences?
- If a H1172A Backup Solution was purchased from Agilent with Installation and Introduction, the installer will create a backup image of the physical hard drive when the installation and checkout is complete.
Supplies/Consumables:
- Did you purchase additional required install supplies from Agilent, or will you be providing your own?
- Did you purchase sufficient supplies to begin normal operations of the instruments?
- Did you purchase the required consumables to begin normal operations of the instruments?
- Additional details
Eight Tips for Tighter GC Connections
Agilent J&W GC Column Installation Guide
The Right Connections Make All the Difference
5973_5975_5977_Supplies_Quick Reference Guide
Top Supplies to Optimize your GC WorkFlow:
Top Supplies to Optimize your GCMS WorkFlow:
Compliance:
- When will the required compliance, Installation Qualification and Operational Qualification be performed?
- This procedure begins during the installation. The testing will begin after the system passes the required checkout specifications.
- What do I need to do to be ready for that procedure?
- - Equipment Qualification Plan (EQP)
Advantages of Agilent Qualification Documents
Warranty:
- When does the warranty period begin?
- For Products without installation included in the purchase price, acceptance occurs upon delivery. For Products with installation included in the purchase price, acceptance occurs when the Product passes Agilent’s installation and test procedures. If Customer schedules or delays installation by Agilent more than thirty (30) days after delivery, acceptance of the Product will occur on the thirty-first (31st) day after delivery.
- What is covered by the warranty?
- Agilent Global Warranty Terms
- Each Product will receive a global warranty. A global warranty includes the standard warranty for the country of purchase
- The above warranties do not cover defects resulting from improper or inadequate maintenance, installation, repair or calibration performed by Customer or a third party not authorized by Agilent; Customer or third party supplied hardware or software, interfacing or supplies; unauthorized modification; improper use or operation outside of the Specification for the Product; abuse, negligence, accident, loss or damage in transit; or improper site preparation.
- Terms of Sales and Service for the Americas
- Terms of Sales and Service for Europe, Middle East, Africa, India
- Need the other links if available
- Agilent Global Warranty Terms
LINKS:
A free customer course is available to help our customers through site preparation of GC systems including those with a Mass Spectrometer, Headspace Sampler, and 7693 ALS. It goes into detail about space, weight, environmental conditions, ventilation, exhaust, power, gas, and more. GC-8890-1201e - Getting Prepared for Your New GC System
Free Gas Management course.
The entire customer learning pathway by instrument type is available here:
The Agilent Customer Community
The Agilent 5973, 5975, and 5977 Series GC/MSD Supplies Quick reference guide – consumables customers should know about for the MSD: 5990-8819EN_5973_5975_5977_Supplies_QRG.pdf
Links for the site prep documents
7890: 7890_Series_GC_Site_Preparation_Checklist
8860: usermanual-gc-siteprep-8860-g2790-90012-en-agilent
8890: usermanual-gc-siteprep-8890-g3540-90012-en-agilent
Intuvo: Intuvo Site Preparation Guide G4580-90006
5977B: 5977-Series-MSD-Site-Preparation-Checklist
7000D/7010B: 7000 and 7010 Series System Site Preparation Checklist
Glossary of Terms:
Installation
Introduction
Sales Order
Equipment Qualification Plan
Equipment Qualification Report