FRC Rule Manual Discrepancies

[AustinShalit]

I wanted to point out that R87 is different between the inspection checklist, Q&A and the manual. At our last event, my team was told that the inspection checklist and Q&A's interpretation of R87 had more power than the ambiguity of the rule book. Is this true? Either way, FIRST needs to be clearer about how much power each of it's documents have compared to each other and express this to teams, volunteers, and staff. I expect to either see a Q&A and Inspection Checklist update or a rule book update to clear this variation up.

[Thad House]

They all read the same to me. They all say that the relief valve must be attached by legal fittings directly to the compressor. Legal fittings does not include tubing for the purpose of this rule.

[rich2202]

The Robot Inspector has the power. If you can't get it past the Robot Inspector, you are not going to compete, regardless of what the manual says. At Robot Inspector training, we were told that the Relief Valve is to be attached with rigid tubing.

Basically, no chance of failure due to pressure prior to the relief valve.

In prior years, some RI's required the relief valve to be directly connected to the compressor. I think that is the easiest rule to follow to know that you are compliant.

I would say that if I, as a Robot Inspector, were looking for a clarification, that Q&A is intended to clarify the Manual, and the Inspection Checklist is a summary of the rule. The interpretation better be in harmony with all 3. If the interpretation is in conflict, then safety takes precedence.

[AllenGregoryIV]

The interpretation of the rule was changed in week 6 from how LRI's were instructed earlier in the season.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126906&highlight=relief+valve+tubing