Charlotte Pipe and Foundry
hosted its first “College of Plumbing Knowledge” class for plumbing engineers
in June. Held at Charlotte Pipe’s new, state-of-the-art 9,000-sq.-ft. training
facility, the class offered 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’s Technical Services Department. Attendees received a
certificate and continuing education credits for completing the two-day class.
“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; and plumbing safety, including the
dangers of testing PVC with air. The students were also instructed in the
proper techniques for joining various piping systems and they toured the
company’s cast iron foundry and 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.