Class participants in Charlotte Pipe’s College of Plumbing Knowledge training program learn techniques for properly joining no-hub cast iron with couplings.


Charlotte Pipe and Foundry hosted its first “College of Plumbing Knowledge” class for plumbing engineers on June 23 – 24, 2008. Held at Charlotte Pipe’s new, state-of-the-art 9,000-sq.-ft. training facility in Charlotte, NC, the class offered engineers a refresher course on the basics of designing plumbing and domestic water systems. The course was developed and taught by Ron George, CIPE, CPD, president of Ron George Design & Consulting Services, with assistance from Brian Connor and Charlotte Pipe and Foundry’s Technical Services Department. Attendees received a certificate and continuing education credits for completing the two-day class.

Charlotte Pipe’s state-of-the-art training facility features a realistic comparison of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings in a two-story setting.

“Plumbing design skills and continuing education training is desperately needed in our industry,” said George. “The course is ideal for young designers to learn about the nuances involved in designing plumbing systems, especially when it comes to choosing the right piping materials, understanding codes and standards and avoiding design pitfalls in general.”

Classroom topics included: Codes and Standards; Sanitary Waste Systems; Venting Systems; Storm Drainage Systems; Domestic Water Systems; Booster Pumps; Pipe and fixture Material Standards; CPVC distribution piping for hot and cold systems; CPVC Chemical waste systems; Venting systems; Plumbing Safety including the dangers of testing PVC with air.

Plumbing engineers attending Charlotte Pipe’s College of Plumbing Knowledge two-day continuing education class received hands-on training in the correct way to cut and join cast iron pipe and fittings.

The students were also instructed in the proper techniques for joining various piping systems and they toured the Charlotte Pipe cast iron foundry and Charlotte Pipe’s plastic pipe and fitting plant in Monroe, NC. The classes were created for plumbing designers with about five to eight years of experience, although one engineer in attendance with 24 years experience said he learned quite a bit of useful information in the class.

Additional “College of Plumbing Knowledge” classes will likely be formed in the spring of 2009.