CALGARY CHAPTER MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY 2013

February 4, 2013 at 5:30PM:  Piping Technology & Products will be presenting Piping Systems Support and Piping Hanger Designto the SPED Calgary Chapter at The Belfry Gastrohaus in downtown Calgary.  About the presentation:

        "This presentation, "Influences on Pipe Support Design", focuses on the major factors which impact the overall design and function of pipe supports. We will review how the support configuration, including the materials used, the size of the components, and the adjustability is influenced by the operating conditions. An examination of different support styles, ranging from rigid supports, spring supports, restraints and auxiliary steel will be featured. See specific examples of how support characteristics are modified to accommodate different load, movement and temperature requirements. We will conclude with a review of support guidelines, including methods to develop standardized supports, minimize field fabrication, include adjustability and incorporate maintenance or accessibility after installation.

The featured presenter, Jerry Godina is PT&P's lead spring support designer. He has over 16 years experience as a pipe support designer and manages PT&P's engineer training development program. He also inspects existing supports, consults on site remediation projects and oversees installation on a regular basis."

February 27, 2013 at 5:30PM: "Material and Fabrication Requirements for Sour Service Piping Systems" by Roy Baguley P. Eng.  For more information, visit the Calgary Chapter Blog.

HOUSTON CHAPTER MEETING THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

All SPED Members and piping designers in the Houston area are invited to attend this important meeting.  SPED Members will be voting to elect a President and Vice President of the Houston Chapter, a SPED Board member, and new bylaws that will be explained at the meeting. There will also be door prizes!

Social: 6PM

Meeting starts at 6:30PM

Sherlock's Baker Street Pub and Grill

10001 Westheimer Road #2840

Houston, Texas  

(713) 977-1857

PIP Chairman Says Piping Best Practices Lie in Codes, Standards, Author/Collaborator Networks

The new repositories of “Best Practices,” are in the professional codes, standards and the networks of authors that write them according to industry expert, Wayne Dolbec. Mr. Dolbec is a former SPED President and currently is Middough Manager of Engineering and 2012 Process Industry Practices (PIP) Chairman. He made his comments at SPED 2012 in October. 

PIP is well known as a consortium of member companies harmonizing their internal standards for design, procurement, construction, and maintenance. PIP publishes these harmonized documents as “Practices” in multiple disciplines with many of them related to the piping, valves, fittings and equipment. (see chart below)

Dolbec went into particular detail on how PIP consensus standards are the result of the collaboration between multiple experts. These experts form a “Technical Networking” that can be consulted later for technical questions. “I’ve always felt uneasy calling someone at a competitor,” said Dolbec. “PIP clearly sets the boundaries of what’s non-proprietary. You can talk to contributors to PIP Practices. Not only can you talk to them, you are required discuss these practices with them and come up with the best solution.” PIP members collaborate along published lines of communication – phone numbers, email addresses, regularly scheduled off campus meetings. This forms long term relationships, “I’ve been working with some of these guys for 20 years.”

These consensus practices benefit projects in two major ways, less risk and lower costs. Risks are reduced when clients are citing standards and practices the contractor is already familiar with. This brings greater certainty to budgets and schedules. Costs are lowered through reduced deviations from missed requirements and less training of staff on new and unfamiliar standards. Referring to a recent job that had 4 volumes of proprietary piping standards and specs, Dolbec said, “each piper on that job had to become familiar with that client’s requirements.”

PIP collaborators study each standard together, the best way to learn the best functional methods in the industry. “we put it up on the screen,” said Dolbec. Then, “we read it and debate it.” If someone is looking for a functional method or practice, PIP provides a search feature.

Dolbec also reviewed his favorite reference books, some of which he personally contributed to. The talk is posted to the SPED society news playlist on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP6H44FCnKEVhmV-E861SrnDLHiOLzVdQ

For more information on the Process Industry Practices consortium, go to:www.pip.org

Be sure to check out the Calgary Enmax Tour 2012 photos now posted on the Calgary blog.  For more information about the calgary chapter, visit the blog for information about how to join.  Kevin Noakes and Paul Bowers are Chapter Co-Presidents and will be glad to help you.