Fluke 810 User Manual page 145

2. How should the severity scale be
interpreted? How long do I have before
failure?
The severity scale is based on the intensity of
the machine fault at the time of measurement. It
is not an indicator of time to machine failure. As
conditions change, the severity may change,
even appear to improve (for example,
immediately after lubrication). However, over
time, conditions will worsen with normal machine
wear and tear. Time to failure will vary
depending on the equipment type, age,
machine load, environmental conditions, and
other variables. It is not possible to correlate
each severity level with a certain time to failure.
Follow the recommended actions for each
severity level to avoid failure. In general, the
scale may be interpreted as follows:
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs - Diagnosis
• Slight
No repair action is
recommended. Monitor the
machine and retest after
regular machine planned
maintenance to verify
maintenance was performed
correctly.
• Moderate
(Months, even up to a year) –
Repair action may be needed
in the future. A machine
failure is possible, so plan
accordingly. Increase the
frequency of vibration testing
on this equipment and review
spare parts availability.
• Serious
(Weeks) – Repair action may
be needed before the next
planned downtime. There
may be other physical
evidence of the fault in terms
of noise or higher bearing
temperatures. Retest the
machine within a short period
to confirm finds. Limit the run
time of the machine, if
possible, and determine a
fault progression trend to
prevent additional component
failure.
A
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