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Issue 2 2015

PIPELINE

www.notch.com Follow Us

Thoughts on the Trades as a Career Path by Steven Neveu, P.E.

University of Bridgeport 1.4MW Fuel Cell CHP Plant - page 4

Complimentary Tech. Tool - page 8

I grew up in a family where something was always being built or repaired. My aptitude for

science led me to UMass where I studied engineering. Going to college is the route I took toward

building career success in a mechanical field, but it’s not the only route.

My dad Roger was a pipefitter. He learned the trade, began leading crews and then formed his

own business – Notch Welding– which four decades later is still going strong. My brother Ron

entered the trades and became a master HVAC technician and electrician. Today he works at Notch

as a service technician on high-end mechanical systems. Right out of high school, my brother Doug

became an apprentice plumber and pipefitter. He also worked his way up in the trades and now

he’s VP of Operations for Notch.

This isn’t meant to be a story about the Neveu family, it’s meant to illustrate a point: college

isn’t the only route to career success. Skilled trades can provide a great career path doing work

that is meaningful, interesting, well-paying dropping odds football and hands-on. For the right

kind of person, the oppor-tunities are limited only by their work ethic and desire to learn.

So what is the “right” kind of person?

Someone with a mechanical aptitude and a predisposition for doing hands-on work.

Someone who is a sponge for learning. (A trade apprenticeship is all about learning).

Someone with good math skills. (As technology creates new ways to support the trades,math is more important than ever).

Someone with good communication skills. (That’s especially important as opportunitiesarise to lead team or manage projects).

Demystifying ASME B31 - page 2

EXPERIENCE. THE RIGHT FIT.

(continued page 6)

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Meet Our Team

Which B31 code is applicable to my project? Do I have a choice on which code to use? What’s the difference? As a mechanical contractor specializing in installation of piping systems for

industrial and institutional facilities, we know that the B31 pressure piping

codes can sometimes seem confusing. In this article, we will provide an over-

view of the three most commonly used codes and provide some guidance to

help you select the best option for a given system.

First a little history. In 1905 at the height of the industrial revolution, a boiler

explosion in Brockton Massachusetts resulted in 58 deaths and 117 injuries.

This devastating accident highlighted the need for action. Up to that point,

there were no regulations for boilers. The result was the establishment of

state boiler laws, first in Massachusetts and then the rest of the country. The

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) stepped up and voluntarily

developed the Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code which became the technical basis

for the new boiler laws.i

In 1926, the American Standards Association (predecessor to ANSI) saw a

similar need for a pressure piping systems and the B31 project was started.

Since then, ASME has led the effort developing and updating the pressure pip-

ing code. Initially, B31 was a comprehensive document intended to cover all

piping systems, but it became clear that a “one size fits all” solution did not

make sense. Over time, B31 sub-sections evolved as separately published

documents to meet the unique requirements and risks of various industries

and applications. While there are several other B31 sections, the three most

commonly encountered in the facilities realm are B31.1, B31.3, and B31.9.

Taking the Mystery Out ASME B31 Pressure Piping Codes by Philip Neveu, P.E.

Most recent to join the Notch team as Project Manager/Estimator is Nick Depalma. He graduated from UMass Amherst, Class of 2014, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Building & Construction, and an Associ-ates degree in Construction Management from STCC. Nick brings with him prior GC experience in charge of residential construction sites. Now he’s utilizing those skills in the industrial market with Notch.

Nick spends his free time with his wife and their two small children. He’s an avid sports fan and enjoys golf. Nick DePalma & Ryan Neveu were part of the winning team at the recent AFE Chapter 85 Golf Championship held at South Hadley Orchards Golf Club.

1905 Brockton Factory Explosion (Before & After) (Continued on page 3)

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Taking the Mystery Out ASME B31 Pressure Piping Codes

B31 Pressure Piping Codes Overview (continued from page 2)

You will note that there is some overlap in the scope of the various B31 codes. If there is no local or state building code

requirement to use a particular B31 section, the determination would be made by the design engineer based on other factors

such as plant engineering standards, owner/insurer requirements, or installation costs. For instance, if cost is the driving

factor, B31.9 would be selected due to the more limited examination and QC documentation requirements, as well as some

lower cost materials that are allowed. Some examples:

Example #1 – 12 psig low pressure steam distribution main in a college building: B31.1 or B31.9 Example #2 - 175 psig medium pressure utility steam distribution piping in a pharmaceutical facility: B31.1 or B31.3. Example #3 - 750 psig steam line in cogeneration plant located at chemical process facility: B31.1 Example#4 –15 psi clean steam piping at a biopharmaceutical plant: B31.3 supplemented with BPE

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i

https://www.asme.org/about-asme/who-we-are/engineering-history

ii

www.asme.org

Code Name B31.1 Power Piping

B31.3 Process Piping

B31.9 Building Services Piping

Scopeii …piping typically found in electric power generating stations, industrial and institutional plants, geothermal heating systems, and central and district heating and cooling systems

…piping typically found in petroleum refineries; chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, semiconductor, and cryogenic plants; and related processing plants and terminals

…piping in industrial, institutional, commercial and public buildings, and multi-unit residences, which does not require the range of sizes, pressures, and temperatures covered in B31.1

Pressure-Temperature Limits

None: limited only by the pres-sure-temperature ratings of components and the allowable stress of the materials

None: limited only by the pres-sure-temperature ratings of com-ponents and the allowable stress of the materials

Steam and condensate: 150psig, 366OF Other nonflammable liquids: 350psig, 250 OF Other nonflammable gases and vapors: 150psig, 200OF

Design life 40+ years 20-30 years 40+ years

Minimum radiographic examination requirements for butt-welds

Temp >750OF: 100% Temp between 350 OF and 750OF, and >1025 psig and over ¾”: 100% All others: none, visual only

Category D: none, visual only Normal: 5% Category M: 20% Severe Cyclic: 100%

None, visual only

24” Chilled Water Prefabricated Header - B31.9

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Unique Feature: 1.4 MW Fuel Cell CHP Plant at University of Bridgeport

Through our installation of a 1.4 MW fuel cell-based combined heat and power (CHP) plant at the University of

Bridgeport (UB), Notch Mechanical Constructors contributed to Bridgeport’s energy renaissance, helping it

capture the title as one of America’s greenest cities.

The project was performed on a

fast-track basis and was completed

in December 2014, allowing UB to

utilize the thermal energy from the

fuel cell for the winter heating load

at its Wheeler Recreation Center as

well as nearby student apartments.

In addition to space heating, the

exhaust heat is used to generate

domestic hot water in the locker

rooms and heat the six lane swim-

ming pool. The project will slash

carbon emission by 7,000 tons a

year - equivalent to taking 1,220

vehicles off the road annually and

is expected to reduce UB’s energy

costs by $3.5 million over 12 years.

In addition to the complete mechanical installation of the fuel

cell and balance-of-plant, Notch provided the waste heat recovery

system on a design-build

basis. The heat recovery

system was designed to

seamlessly integrate with

the existing building

systems. The existing

heating infrastructure is

retained, but whenever

the fuel cell is operating,

it satisfies most of the

thermal needs of the

connected facilities. At

full load, the fuel cell can

provide 2.2 million BTUs

per hour of usable heat.

Heat Recovery System

Major Equipment Set in Place

(Continued on page 5)

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Unique Feature: 1.4 MW Bridgeport Fuel Cell (continued from page 4)

The DFC1500 molten carbonate fuel cell system was manufactured in Connecticut by FuelCell Energy Inc. (FCE),

a Danbury-based provider of highly efficient and virtually pollutant-free fuel cell power plants. This project was

the third home-state installation for the company.

According to Chip Bottone, FCE’s President

and CEO: “Universities are ideal candidates for

our ultra-clean and efficient fuel cell power

plants due to their power usage profile that

requires baseload power, desire for sustainable

power generation, need for energy security,

and demand for reliability that on-site power

generation provides.”

Over the past decade, Notch has been involved

in the full range of CHP project sizes, from 200 kW

up to 15 MW for many types of facilities. This

project adds more diversity to Notch’s significant

CHP experience portfolio which includes:

fuel cells,

steam turbines,

reciprocating engines,

and gas turbines.

Each of these prime mover technologies has unique characteristics and installation considerations. If you

would like to learn more about which technology(s) might be the best fit for your CHP application, please

contact our President, Steven Neveu, P.E.

Completed Installation

Heat Recovery Duct

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Thoughts on the Trades as a Career Path

Marley

Today’s trade careers combine new, leading-edge technologies with time-tested techniques and methods. For

example, craft workers can use laser dimensioning tools to verify and layout a piping system, then apply their

skills in welding and pipefitting to construct a piping system.

Seeing the fruits of one’s labor, as craft workers see every day,

provides tangible satisfaction that a lot of us in an office-driven

environment don’t experience in the same way. There’s also a

great deal of variety in the trades. A craft worker could upgrade

piping in a pharmaceutical plant for a month, then work on an

emergency repair in a power station for a few days, then con-

struct a piping system in a brewery.

The importance of craft workers in today’s world is reflected

in the Notch mission statement: We sustain the common good

by constructing and maintaining the piping systems essential

to our modern society. The piping systems we create are largely

behind the scenes, but they matter. Food that sustains you,

electronic devices that keep you connected, heat that warms you

in winter, clean water and sanitation that keep you healthy – all

of these are made possible by an amazing variety of piping systems, and this list only begins to scratch the surface.

One reason why our craft workers take such pride in what they do is because they know it’s important. The

world depends on the work they do. They may be unsung contributors, but they understand that their work is

meaningful. Roughly a generation ago, America began steering more and more high school graduates toward

college. This shift has contributed to a shortage of skilled craft workers, leading to many career opportunities –

some quite lucrative – in the trades. Young people who want to work with their hands as well as their brains can

begin earning good money right out of high school. (Continued on next page)

Notch Office and Fab Shop Team (field crew not shown)

(continued from page 5)

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Thoughts on the Trades as a Career Path (continued from page 6)

A typical trade apprenticeship takes about four years,

depending on the field. Those who complete the rigorous

training emerge as licensed journeymen. Those who want

to grow further in the trade can go on for a master’s

license. During those same four years, young people who

go to college are paying out money, not earning it. Most

graduate from college with significant debt right when

they’re just beginning a career. In contrast, young people

in the trades have a significant head-start on building a

career path and financial independence. While their friends who went to college are working to pay down stu-

dent loans, young people working in the trades can be saving to put down money on their first house.

If you know someone who enjoys working with their hands, has good intelligence and problem solving ability,

and a willingness to be a sponge for learning, you might encourage them to look at entering the trades and

blazing their own career path:

Go through an apprenticeship, rise through the ranks and earn good money.

Develop a specialty and earn even more.

Gain experience as a crew leader or field supervisor and get into management and senior leadership.

The trades offer better job security than many fields because the work isn’t exported. Society will always need

clean water, power plants and industrial process piping. Sometimes craft work can be seasonal, but it isn’t going

overseas. How should a young person prepare to enter the trades? A vocational or trade high school can

provide a leg up, but it’s not a requirement. What every prospective craft worker should focus on is developing

math skills and communication skills. Practically every new learning experience for an apprentice involves one

skill set or the other, and both become increasingly important as craft workers advance on their career path.

(Continued on next page)

Construction Industry Career Paths

8 85 Lemay Street, Chicopee, MA 01013 (413) 534-3440

Put Safety First—Keep Customers Forever— Meet the Challenge—Work as a Team—Care About Family

Prospective craft workers should look to be part of a company

that’s committed to training and growth opportunities. Learning

a trade involves not only classroom theory, but watching other

people and being receptive to guidance and constructive criticism

from more experienced people on the crew. Apprentices must

develop good work habits as they learn to use their hands and

their brains to get challenging and exacting work done. They also

must learn to personally add value to their teams and projects.

So keep an open mind about the trades. With the

opportunities available for today’s young people,

a meaningful, satisfying, rewarding and well-paying

career doesn’t always have to include going to college.

For an insightful video on this topic, check out this link:

Success in the New Economy.

Notch Happenings

Early next spring in Boston, we will be exhibiting at the Globalcon 2016 Tradeshow on March 9 and 10th. The Association of Energy Engineers will hold free continuing educational seminars during the multi-track conference. Visit http://www.globalconevent.com/registration/ for more information and mention Notch when registering.

Thoughts on the Trades as a Career Path (continued from page 7)

Free Tech Tool for Our Readers!! As a thank you for reading our newsletter, we would

like to offer you a complimentary pipe measuring caliper. Contact Doreen at ext . 122 to get yours.

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