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Plastic Pipe Joining Program

Benefits to Participants

Administered by third party contractor thus reducing manpower requirements

Administrator is an engineering and design contractor that performs other engineering, design, planning, training and technical services for utilities and contractors

Program is universal as far as manufacturers’ procedures that set the minimum standards are concerned. Utilities are free and encouraged to customize above and beyond the manufacturer’s specifications, for example:

· Requirement of additional cooling time before rough handling

· Requirement of checking heater temperature every time

· Requirement of only using rotary scrapers

· Requirement of testing personnel on electrofusion using a saddle tee as opposed to a coupling (both are approved methods)

Allows participants to stay current with fittings and equipment manufacturer’s changes in procedures. As a result of program Administrators vigilance, the program allowed utilities to correct procedures that were being performed incorrectly, e.g. improper shift sequence for McElroy hydraulic butt fusion machines and improper dis-assembly of Dresser couplings

Lays out clear guidelines for fusion temperatures, pressures and bead sizes, all of which are methods approved by the manufacturers

The commissions have audited and accepted this program. Commissions routinely audit qualifications sessions.

Beginning with January 2003, the program fully conforms to the OQ Rule and includes both medium and high density procedures

Beginning with January 2003, Performance Pipe adopted the Plastic Pipe Institute’s (PPI) procedures. Therefore the program is universally accepted within the plastic pipe industry

PHMSA representatives have routinely expressed their desire to see utilities adopt a regional approach to the OQ Rule compliance, training, testing and qualification requirements

The program administrator takes care of everything – database management, notifications, registration, testing, issuing qualification cards, issuing manuals, issuing updates, communicating dis-qualifications, etc. allowing utility and contractor training staff to concentrate on other important tasks such as OQ and training.

Valuable data regarding pipe joining practices in critical areas is obtained on a regional basis as opposed to just one system. This approach serves as benchmarking tool for sharing information within the participants. To date approximately 2,000 applicants have qualified on approximately 15,000 individual tasks

By monitoring the failures we have been able to determine the exact training needs for the contractor personnel. Critical areas are:

· Pipe surface preparation

· Understanding of the SDR concept

· Understanding Hydraulic machines’ procedures – adjusting pressure, shift sequence, etc.

· Understanding of the heating, cooling, rough handling times

· Overall awareness of correct procedures and the importance of following them

· Understanding of the DOT rules (knowledge vs. performance)

· Learning to use written materials such as procedures, guidelines, instructions, etc.

Allows utilities access to data from all the participating contractors – this can be very valuable in identifying qualified personnel in the event of emergencies such as system outages

Allows utilities to check the qualifications of personnel new to their system and acts as a check against non-qualified applicants from working on the utility’s system

The program gives utilities access to several back-up contractors to help adjust to workload demands

This program has helped contractors identify training needs and meet OQ requirements