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Issue 1—2015

PIPELINE

www.notch.com

Project Team

Architect: LLT Architects General Contractor: C.E. Floyd

Owner’s Representative: Kellar Associates Plumbing Contractor: Notch Mechanical Constructors

In October 2013, Notch Mechanical Constructors completed a unique spe-cialty plumbing project – the first Trappist brewery in America! For centu-ries, Trappist monks have brewed their much sought after ale at a few mon-asteries in Europe. It was only available to American beer aficionados as an import. That changed when Spencer Trappist Ale went on sale.

For 60 years, the monks of St. Josephs Abbey in Spencer Massachusetts sup-ported themselves by selling Trappist Preserves jams and jellies. However, as their community aged, they recognized a need for an additional income source to cover expenses and continue their charitable work. It was decided that they would build their own brewery in the Trappist tradition. They con-sulted with their brothers in Belgium to plan the facility and assure that their recipe met the stringent scores requirements of the Trappist brand. In 2014, the monks attained their first year goal to brew 1.3 million bottles of beer at the 36,000 sq. ft. facility.

(continued page 2)

Specialty Plumbing for Trappist Brewery

Contents: Brewery pg. 1-2

New Pipefitter Li-censing Regs pg. 3

New Hudson Office Manager pg. 4

Team Profile pg. 5

Experience. The Right Fit.

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Notch’s scope included a well water treatment system, un-derground water storage tanks, precast trench floor drain system, propane piping, testing lab plumbing, hot and cold domestic water piping, and domestic drain, waste, and vent systems. The aggressive schedule was the biggest

challenge on the project since it required the un-derground plumbing and trench drains to be com-pleted during the coldest months of winter. Our crew persevered through sub-zero temperatures and the bone-chilling hilltop wind.. Despite these difficult conditions, our crew performed 8,867 work hours with a perfect safety record. Our total contract value was $936,000. Notch added industrial plumbing to our palette of services almost 20 years ago and has built a crew of 15 li-censed plumbers.

Marley SPX Cooling Towers

Specialty Plumbing for Trappist Brewery (Continued from page 1)

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New Regulations Drastically Expand Scope of Work Requiring a Pipefitter License in Massachusetts

On September 15th of last year, the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued emergency draft regu-lations related to pipefitter trade licensing which expanded the types of systems requiring a license and created multiple licenses classes. After a public hearing, the final regulations were issued on December 5, 2014. It was the most significant regulatory revamp in many years and was mandated by new legislation requiring licenses for pro-cess piping work, which previously had been an unlicensed trade. The new legislation was promoted by the Massa-chusetts’ pipefitter unions under the rationale of improving public safety. Historically, the MA pipefitter license was only required for steam-fitting work related to boilers for power genera-tion, large utility boilers, and district steam systems. Several decades ago, the scope was expanded to include all steam, condensate and hot water piping on systems over 700,000 BTU/hr rating, which encompassed most medium and large commercial heating systems. With the latest legislation and regulations, the following work will also require a license:

All piping for conveying of process gases, liquids, and solids at industrial process facilities (semiconductor, chemical, bio-process, pharmaceutical, food process, etc.), from raw material storage to finish product filling,

Chilled water piping systems greater than 10 ton capacity. According to the DPS website, the following types of piping are still exempt from the licensing requirement:

Utility and building service piping at industrial facilities (vacuum, instrument air, compressed air, nitro-gen, non-potable water, etc.),

Off-site shop fabrication of all process, power, heating, and cooling piping spools and skids,

Chilled water piping systems less than 10 ton capacity, Steam, condensate, and hot water systems with less than

700,000 BTU/hour rating. There are now (5) five classifications of journeyman pipefitter licenses:

1. Pipefitter Unrestricted (PJ-00) 2. Pipefitter – Power, Heating, Cooling Piping (PJ-01) 3. Pipefitter/Welder – Power, Heating, Cooling Piping (PJ-01-W) 4. Pipefitter – Process Piping (PJ-02) 5. Pipefitter/Welder – Process Piping (PJ-02-W)

The new license requirements apply to all contractor employees performing on-site work, but not direct employees of the industrial or institutional facility. Any currently un-licensed process pipefitter with at least 4 years experience, as well as any currently licensed Massachusetts pipefitter or plumber is eligible to receive a new process pipefitter license through the grandfather regulation. However, the grandfathering period will sunset on March 14, 2015 so if you or someone you know is eligible, it is highly recommended to apply before that date! Grandfather applica-tions are available at the DPS website. For more information you can go to the DPS FAQs webpage. The full text of the revised regulations can be accessed at the following links:

528 CMR 2 - Purpose, Scope and Definitions 528 CMR 3 - Standards Adopted 528 CMR 11 - Prerequisites for Examinations for Pipefitters

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Company Updates

Upcoming Trade Show

Notch Mechanical Constructors is pleased to announce that effective March 1, 2015, Nick Bernasconi has been promoted to lead project manag-er at our eastern New England office in Hudson, MA. The office was first opened in 2008 to better service customers in eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Our Hudson crew and customer base have grown steadily over that time and we look forward to Nick continuing that trend.

Nick has been working at our Chicopee home office for the past 4 years, but is originally from the eastern MA area and is happy to be working clos-er to home. He is a mechanical engineering graduate of UMASS Amherst and has a great track record on the wide range of projects. If you’d like Nick to stop by and introduce himself, please call him at 978-293-3530.

New Lead Project Manager for Notch’s Hudson Office

Come visit us at booth #124 Register early - mention Notch to receive free parking, lunch and seminars

UPCOMING Notch EVENTS: 17th Annual Notch Pipe Welding Challenge - May 20 2015 CHEMSHOW Bus Trip - November 18 Interested in Joining us? Contact Doreen@ 413-534-3440

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As our business continues to grow, so does our need for skilled craft. We are currently accepting applications for licensed Pipefitters, Plumbers, Pipe Welders, and HVAC Techs residing in Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island. We seek new team members who share our core values of safety, customer service, craftsmanship, and teamwork. If you know someone who would be a fit, please have them contact Kristin Monfette, our Craft Director at (413) 534-3440 or email her at jobs@notch.com.

WE PUT SAFETY FIRST - WE KEEP CUSTOMERS FOREVER - WE MEET THE CHALLENGE - WE ARE TEAM PLAYERS - WE CARE ABOUT FAMILY

85 Lemay Street Chicopee, MA 01013 413-534-3440

282 Central Street, Suite 4 Hudson, MA 01749 978-293-3530

Meet Our Team

HELP WANTED— quality mechanical craftworkers to join our crew!

Corey Russell— Industrial Plumber-Pipefitter Extraordinaire

Corey Russell has been with Notch since 1991 and as a multi-skilled and team-oriented crew leader, he has suc-cessfully led many of our projects. He graduated from Smith Vocational Tech in Northampton, MA and was hired on as an apprentice. Corey has since earned his MA Master Pipefitters license, MA Plumbing Master li-cense, CT S4 license, and VT Gas Fitting certification among several others that he holds. Whether an indus-trial process piping project or specialty plumbing job, Corey gets it done efficiently and to the satisfaction of the client. The Trappist brewery project showcased in this issue was one of his more challenging project ac-complishments. When off work, Corey enjoys spending time with his family and getting outdoors for some hunting and fishing. He was voted Crew Leader of the Year for 2014 by his peers at Notch due to his teamwork and attitude, as well as his mentoring of apprentices.