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JOP
 Jul 15, 05 - 8:25 PM |
Piping Designer Training
Piping Training The following statement is an excerpt from text submitted by Peter Piper to a question on the pipingdesigner.com “Forum.” “A CAD operator is NOT a piping designer. While a piping designer can use CAD, CAD is merely the designer’s pencil! That's like saying if you can drive a Ford Fiesta, you are qualified as a Formula 1 driver! Or even, if I have the basic knowledge that allows me to write this sentence, so I must be a novelist!” Peter was specifically addressing questions on the subject of job descriptions. His comments however are even more appropriate when it comes to the subject of training. Today, too many people have gotten the idea that a person can take classes in AutoCAD (or some other like program) that may include some piping menus and that will be a fast track ticket to becoming a piping designer. “Take CAD training and you will be a piper.” I had this happen when I was the manager of a piping department. An individual knocked on my door, entered, placed a certificate in front of me and said “I want to transfer into your department and be a piper.” The certificate was for two semesters of evening classes in generic AutoCAD at a local tech school. That person was allowed to enter my next piping basic training class. The person lasted only a few weeks, then deciding that piping was too difficult. Piping training, be it basic, intermediate, advanced or leadership is not easy. If it is done right it takes years. The subject matter one is expected to master covers a wide range of design, engineering, manufacturing, fabrication, construction and management technology. Also, Piping is not a trade. Piping is a profession and it is a noble profession at that. The website Dictionary.com defines Training as: ‘To make proficient with specialized instruction and practice.’ Piping requires just that, specialized instruction and practice. This means that there has to be an education process. Dictionary.com defines Education (or Educate) (1) “The act or process of educating or being educated.” (2) “The knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a learning process.” (3) “A program of instruction of a specified kind or level.” This means someone has to create a class environment, provide instructional material, collect students and properly present the material. Someone has to do the educating and the student has to do the learning. You should then measure the results and make corrections as required. This brings the question. Where does one get this type of proper piping training? There is only one formal school that I know of that offers a complete program in Piping Design Technology. That school is the University of Houston-Downtown (www.dt.uh.edu) Houston, Texas, USA. Attachment “A” of this document is an outline of the Student Degree Plan. In order to avail yourself of this program you pretty much have to live in Houston. So, if I don’t live in Houston (or can’t afford to go to school in Huston) what do I do? How do I get piping design training? What kind of training is required? What training method results in the best learning? These are all good questions. The kinds of training that is required would include, over a period of time, all of the basic, intermediate and advanced technical piping subjects plus leadership and supervision. The teaching/learning method depends on many factors. The method of training must consider such things as the subject matter to be taught, the permanence of the activity relating to the subject, the complexity of the subject or material, the number of people to be trained, the time demand for skilled people, etc. The most important of these is the number of people to be trained, when they need to be trained, and when they need to be available. The subject matter and the number of people to be trained will affect the training method to be used. There are at least three basic methods for training. In the context of a typical engineering office work environment there are definite positive and negative factors for each. Method one- "Random Observation Training" (may be called absorption) -- The person (or trainee) sees something being done a certain way and they are required to copy what they observe. The positive aspects of this method may be: o This method only costs the salary of the trainee for the training period o This method does not involve any costs for classroom or class material The negative aspects of this method include: o There is no guarantee that the observed behavior covers the entire range of a desired subject o There is no guarantee that the observed behavior was correct o This method takes a very long time to observe all the actual things necessary to become proficient in a specific subject o This method does not have consistency of results o This method does not work for large groups o This method does not meet the needs of any fast track effort Method two- "Mentor Directed Experience" (Also called mentored learning) Under the guidance of an assigned experienced and knowledgeable individual, the trainee is given a task to do. The trainee is tutored on how to do the task and is monitored to insure that the desired results are achieved. The positive aspects of this method include: o This method does not normally involve any costs for classroom or class material The negative aspects of this method include: o The person doing the mentoring needs to have a trainer mind set o Management must validate the knowledge level of the mentor o This method takes time to cover all the things necessary to become proficient in a specific subject o This method reduces the productivity of the mentor during the training period o This method does not have consistency of results. Each mentor will have different ideas and values. o This method takes an equal number of qualified mentors to the number of trainees o This method costs the salary of the trainee for the training period Method three- "Instructor Directed Training" -- (Also called structured classroom training) With instructor directed training, the areas of need and the training subject are more easily identified and covered. Training material is developed for that specific subject. A qualified instructor is enlisted. The material is presented in a formal classroom environment. All the attendees are able to hear all the questions and all the answers. The positive aspects of this method include: o The person doing the training has a trainer mind set o Management can validate the knowledge level of the trainer o Requires a shorter time to cover what is necessary to become proficient in a specific subject o Gives a more consistent result o Requires only one qualified trainer to fifteen or twenty trainees o Greater results in the shortest time The negative aspects of this method include: o The cost the salary of the trainer and the trainees for the training period o The costs for classroom or class material o The loss of productivity of the trainer for other duties The very best thing for the piping profession would be for the Houston type piping program to exist close to all the major engineering centers around the world. That not being the case, the next best thing would be for piping related engineering companies to develop and conduct their own in-house piping training programs. There must be a lot of retired “gray-hair” pipers out there who could be hired for short term gigs. Reference material for use in the training process is also important. The following are some suggested text books. For basic piping to intermediate: Piping Drafting and Design: Using Manual, Autocad and Pro-Pipe Applications By Roy A. Parisher, Robert A. Rhea (Hardcover or Paperback- February 1, 1996) Book Description Pipe Drafting and Design, Second Edition provides step-by-step instructions to walk pipe designers and drafters and students in Engineering Design Graphics and Engineering Technology through the creation of piping arrangement and isometric drawings using symbols for fittings, flanges, valves, and mechanical equipment. The book is appropriate primarily for pipe design in the petrochemical industry. More than 350 illustrations and photographs provide examples and visual instructions. A unique feature is the systematic arrangement of drawings that begins with the layout of the structural foundations of a facility and continues through to the development of a 3-D model. Advanced chapters discuss the customization of AutoCAD, AutoLISP and details on the use of third-party software to create 3-D models from which elevation, section and isometric drawings are extracted including bills of material. Covers drafting and design fundamentals to detailed advice on the development of piping drawings using manual and AutoCAD techniques 3-D model images provide an uncommon opportunity to visualize an entire piping facility Chapters include exercises and questions designed for review and practice--This text refers to the Paperback edition. (Alternate) Process Piping Drafting By Terence M. Shumaker (Paperback October 1, 2003) Process Piping Drafting introduces you to the components of piping systems (pipe, fittings, valves and equipment). From there, the textbook shows how to put these components together to create the various types of drawings used in the industry. The drawings are presented in the same sequence that they produced by engineering firms. Process Piping Drafting is designed to teach you to read, comprehend and create process piping drawings. Each chapter of the text is followed by Review questions, Print Reading Exercises and Drawing Problems. Some of the Problems can be done directly in the text, itself; others should be drawn using a CAD system or drawn manually. The book also contains appendices with reference data required for the course work. For advanced piping: Process Plant Layout and Piping Design by Ed Bausbacher and Roger Hunt (Paperback - 1st edition July 22, 1993) Book Description This profusely illustrated, comprehensive guidebook presents tried-and-true workable methods and rules of thumb for plant layout and piping design for the process industries. Content is organized and presented for quick-reference on-the-job or for systematic study of specific topics. Presents general concepts and principles of plant layout -- from basic terminology and input requirements to deliverables; deals with specific pieces of equipment and their most efficient layout in the overall plant design configuration; addresses the plant layout requirements for the most common process unit equipment; covers piping requirements for the entire plant as well as all equipment types; and considers the computerized tools that are now available to help plant layout and piping designers. This book features more than 640 illustrations of equipment and piping found in the typical processing facility. I have all of these books (and more) in my library. I have used both the Roy A. Parisher/Robert A. Rhea book and the Ed Bausbacher/Roger Hunt book when I have conducted training classes. I found them to be excellent. For leadership and supervision: (Yes, this is my own book. If another one exists on this same subject please let me know) Piping Engineering Leadership for Process Plant Projects By James O. Pennock (Hardcover – (Hardcover – January 19, 2001)) Book Description Piping Engineering Leadership for Process Plant Projects focuses on the position of “lead in charge.” The “lead” piping person is responsible for the successful execution of all piping engineering and design for a project. This includes the technical and the non-technical aspects alike. This book is based on over four decade of personal experience by the author and is a how-to guide for others who may aspire to be that person in charge of the piping engineering and design on a project. It defines roles and responsibilities a lead will face and the differences found in the various project types. Some of the key operational activities covered include; Planning, Organization, Scope of Work development, Estimating, Scheduling, Controlling Change and Project Completion. I hope the information presented here is helpful. I am also sure it will generate many questions, comments and other view points. Please do not hesitate to E-mail these to me. (jopennock@netscape.net). Attachment “A” Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology -Major in Process Piping Design Student Degree Plan FRESHMAN HRS SEM* HRS SEM* ENG 1302 Composition II ENGR 1400 PC Applications in Engineering ENGR 1401 Engineering Graphics CHEM 1307 General Chemistry I HIST 1305 US History to 1877 CHEM 1107 General Chemistry Lab I PHYS 1307 General Physics I HIST 1306 US History after 1877 PHYS 1107 General Physics Lab I Fine Arts Course PSY 1303 General Psychology SPCH 1304 Introduction to Speech SOPHOMORE HRS SEM* HRS SEM* ET 2401 Piping Layout I POLS 2304 US Government II ENGR 2409 Engineering Mechanics PHYS 1308 General Physics II MATH 2401 Calculus I PHYS 1108 General Physics Lab II ENGR 23XX Sophomore English Lit. MATH 2402 Calculus II POLS 2303 US Government I ET 2402 Piping Layout II JUNIOR HRS SEM* HRS SEM* ET 3401 Process Piping Design ET 3307 Applied Thermodynamics ENGR 3308 Fluid Mechanics I ENG 3302 Business and Technical Writing EET 1411 Circuit with Lab ENGR 3410 Process Modeling & Simulation ET 3308 Materials Science ENGR 3302 Engineering Economics ELECTIVE SENIOR ET 4323 Technology Seminar ET 4307 Fluid Mechanics II ET 4301 Piping Models ET 4315 Piping Stress Analysis ET 4311 Heat-Power Applications ET 4313 Applied Heat Transfer ET 4304 Pressure Vessel Design ENGR 4340 Senior Project in Piping Design ELECTIVE ELECTIVE |
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Peter Piper
Jul 18th, 2005 - 8:42 AM |
Re: Piping Designer Training
Thanks JOP, Good article. |
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B
Aug 2nd, 2005 - 2:40 PM |
Re: Piping Designer Training
At the moment in ireland where is it possible to train as a piping designer, I have been looking for a course for over a year at this stage, it is not convenient to go live in Texas. Is there any companies that will still hire someone as a junior piper and mentor him or is it a thing of the past ? |
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Anton
Aug 2nd, 2005 - 2:45 PM |
Re: Piping Designer Training
Hi B. Training as a junior is the way to go about things in Ireland, although it does help to have some CAD training first. Drop me a mail if you want any further advise, and I'll do what I can. Regards, Anton |
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eastender
Aug 5th, 2005 - 6:34 PM |
Re: Piping Designer Training
As a grey hair piper (or would be if I had not pulled it all out) I have employed many young uns that were looking to get into this game. I would rather take a guy that had taken a pipe fitters course and teach him cad then take a cad monkey and try and teach him piping. There is no better grounding then a couple of years as a pipe fitter; this becomes apparent when you send these cad operators out in the field to take notes. Half of them can’t distinguish between a ball valve and a check valve and when it comes to actually making sketches in the field; well what happened to the skill of hand writing? 
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Baskar
Sep 25th, 2005 - 10:16 AM |
Re: Piping Designer Training
Hi JOP, Thanks for sharing your vast experience. I appreciate your effort in trying to guide the newcomers in this field. This is a very useful article.REGARDS. |
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Hossein
Sep 28th, 2005 - 10:36 AM |
Re: Piping Designer Training
Thanks JOP That’s very useful information. 
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JOP
Nov 24th, 2005 - 10:08 PM |
Re: Piping Designer Training
Just bringing this to the top. |
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Anton
Nov 28th, 2005 - 8:27 PM |
Valve section added
The training section has now been updated to include a section on valves. If any one would like to contribute to this or any other areas, please contact me at info@pipingdesigners.com Thanks, Anton |
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Jop
Mar 17th, 2006 - 4:42 PM |
Re: Piping Designer Training
Just bringging this back to the top again. |
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R.GOPINATH
Jun 13th, 2006 - 2:32 PM |
Re: Piping Designer Training
hiii this is gopi, i have finished B.E(MECH),the training section realy useful me.i got more information from this trainig section thankx |
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sajadlemoochi
Jun 14th, 2006 - 8:39 AM |
Re: Piping Designer Training
[:)s]salam man sajad lemoochi va to kar piping ba semat daftar fane hastam ba tashkor sajad lemoochi |
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