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Construction Engineering Consulting & Codes. Presented by: Larry D. Elliott, PE (ID, ND, NV OR, WA) Senior Discipline Engineer Coffman Engineers, Inc. Spokane WA Office. Engineering. What is it?. Engineering. What is it?.
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Construction Engineering Consulting & Codes Presented by: Larry D. Elliott, PE (ID, ND, NV OR, WA) Senior Discipline Engineer Coffman Engineers, Inc. Spokane WA Office
Engineering • What is it?
Engineering • What is it? Using the knowledge of science for the benefit of mankind [and our world]. Comment: Engineering is as much an art as science because it involves the application of inviolable laws in a world of imperfection, and because it impacts matters of conscience and ethics.
Sewage Treatment, or Lack Thereof Modern Wastewater Treatment Open Street Sewage http://www.tagnet.org/caringandsharing/slum_work.htm
US Wastewater Infrastructure Our nation’s wastewater infrastructure includes 16,000 publicly owned wastewater treatment plants, 100,000 major pumping stations, 600,000 miles of sanitary sewers, and 200,000 miles of storm sewers. Since 1972, with the enactment of the Clean Water Act, Federal, state, and local investment in our national wastewater infrastructure has been over $250 billion. This investment has provided significant environmental, public health, and economic benefits to the nation. Rivers no longer catch on fire, and fishing and swimming may be enjoyed in many lakes, rivers, and shorelines that used to be clogged with sewage and other wastes. Our farmers, fishermen, manufacturers, and tourism industries rely on clean water to carry out activities that contribute over $300 billion to our economy each year. http://www.house.gov/transportation/water/03-19-03/03-19-03memo.html
Will it work when it’s needed most? • An Example: Pine Ridge Wastewater Pumping Station, Kamiah ID
In The Real World . . . • The Contractor and Vendors are “low bid” • The Cooperative “sells” an open-delta transformer bank to save investment • Residential electric furnaces share the Utility transformers with the pump station • The Pump Station operates reliably for 6 months, then begins to randomly trip • Pump Motor Protection Relays operate on “Current Unbalance” causing wastewater overflow
Motor Current Unbalance • 1.5% to 2% is preferred submersible motor current unbalance
The Human Element • The Owner is unhappy with motor tripping and overflow conditions • The Prime Civil Engineer is confounded and frustrated • The Contractor denies responsibility since system had worked for months • The Utility is a small Cooperative, not regulated by the State PUC
The Art of Engineering • Educate the Owner’s Representative • Appease the Prime Engineer • Confront the Utility with the Facts • Convince the Contractor to Pay the Utility
Consulting • What is it?
Consulting • What is it? Using special knowledge and skills in service to others as a livelihood. Comment: Consulting is a business and requires understanding of client/market needs, proposal presentation, employee training and safety, capital investments, federal, state and local tax payments and various insurances.
Engineering Consulting Using engineering knowledge and understanding in service to others as a livelihood. Comment: Engineering consulting may stand alone as a service or may be part of other services including multi-discipline engineering, architectural or construction services.
Types of Engineering Consulting • Construction Design Firms • Advisory Practice • Inter-Professional Practice • International • Forensic • Research & Development
Construction Design Firms • Construction Documents: • Plans & Specifications • Bidding Documents • Construction Administration • Field Observation • System Start-up Assistance
Advisory Practice • Feasibility Studies • Planning • Environmental Impact • Cost Estimating • Specification Writing
Inter-Professional Practice • Architectural Support • Contractor Support • Other Engineering Discipline support • Computer Services • Testing Services
International Consulting • Financing • Construction • Project Management • EPC Development: Engineering, Procurement and Commissioning
Forensic Engineering • Law Firm Support • Insurance Agency Support • Building Owner Support • Individual Redress Support
Research & Development Consulting • Federal • Corporate • Private
Top Design Firms in 2007 URS Corp., SF (EAC) ~$3 Billion Jacobs, Pasadena, Calif.(EAC) ~$2.5 Billion CH2M HILL COS., Englewood CO (E) ~$2 Billion Power Engineers, Hailey ID (EA) $95.9 Million 2005 Coffman Engineers, AL, CA, WA (E) $20.2 Million KEY TO TYPE OF FIRMA=architect; E=engineer; EC=engineer-contractor; AE=architect-engineer; EA=engineer-architect; ENV=environmental; G=soils or geotechnical engineer; P=planner. Other combinations possible. Firms classified themselves.
URS Corp – Typical Project The 8 MGD nanofiltration membrane treatment plant in Lancaster, Ohio, serves approximately 36,000 residents. URS provided pilot studies, feasibility and final design, plant start-up and operation, cost estimating, scheduling construction administration
Power Engineers, Inc. – Typical Project • The new Darajat III geothermal plant at 110 MW in capacity, will be the largest geothermal turbine-generator unit ever built when it enters service in 2006.
Darajat III Players ChevronTexaco, doing business as ChevronTexaco Energy Indonesia, awarded the EPC development to an consortium which includes Kanematsu, a large Japanese trading company, as the lead EPC entity, Thiess Corporation of Indonesia as the construction contractor, and POWER Engineers of the USA as the engineer.
E3 – Taxiway Lighting • FAA – PMRA – JUB Engineers – E3
Typical Design Market Sectors • General Building • Manufacturing • Power • Water Supply • Sewer/Waste • Industrial/Petroleum • Transportation • Hazardous Waste • Telecommunications
E3 – Service Sectors • Federal: Air Force Base Homeland Security Site Power (With Parsons-Evergreene and Design West Architects) • Public: Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District 350HP Deep Well Pump (JUB Engineers) • Municipal: Pomeroy Water System Wireless SCADA System (Progressive Engineers) • Educational: UI TLC Fault and OCP Coordination Study (John’s Electric)
Key Player in Construction Federal Gov’t Owner Safety Local Gov’t State Gov’t Consultant Schedule Contractor Finances
Safety • Persons • Property OSHA's mission is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.
Demystifying Codes and Standards • Standards are necessary for interchangeability and compatibility • Codes are regulatory for safety • Codes rely on standards to achieve enforceability • Insurance companies rely on codes to provide a level of assurance of profitability
Underwriter’s Laboratories • Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent testing organization created in 1893, when William Henry Merrill was called in to find out why the Palace of Electricity at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago kept catching on fire (which is not the best way to tout the wonders of electricity). After making the exhibit safe, he realized he had a business model on his hands. Eventually, if your electrical equipment wasn't UL certified, you couldn't get insurance. http://www.schneier.com/essay-024.html
U.L Terms • Listing (evaluated relative to life and property hazards) • Classifications (evaluated to specific hazards and conditions) • Certificate (field-installed system evaluation) • Recognition (Evaluated as a system component)
Other Listing Agencies • CSA • Factory Mutual
“Electric” Safety Codes • NESC – National Electric Safety Code (IEEE) • NEC – National Electric Code (NFPA-70) • NFPA 70E – Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace • NFPA 820 – Standard for Fire Protection in Wastewater Treatment and Collection Facilities • Many others to specific
POS • Point-of-Service Supply (Utility) POS Premise (User) M
NESC Distinctions • Published exclusively by the IEEE, the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC®) sets the ground rules for practical safeguarding of persons during the installation, operation, or maintenance of electric supply and communication lines and associated equipment. The NESC contains the basic provisions that are considered necessary for the safety of employees and the public under the specified conditions.
NEC Distinctions • Installations of electric conductors and equipment within or on public and private buildings or other structures, including mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and floating buildings; and other premises such as yards, carnivals, parking lots, and industrial substations. • Installations of conductors and equipment that connect to the supply of electricity. • Installations of other outside conductors and equipment on the premises.
NEC Distinctions • Installations of optical fiber cable. • Installations in buildings used by the electric utility, such as office buildings, warehouses, garages, machine shops, and recreational buildings that are not an integral part of a generating plant, substation, or control center.
NFPA 820 • Standard for Fire Protection in Wastewater Treatment and Collection Facilities
Standard Progression • 1990 First issue is a Recommended Practice based upon known fire incidents • 1992 Extensive changes including addition of storm sewers • 1995 Changed to Standard with Mandatory Requirements • 1999 Editorial Corrections for better Enforcement
Preparing for Engineering Consulting Practice • Take and pass the Engineer-in-Training (Fundamentals) Exam • Practice under a Professional Engineer in your field of expertise • Take and pass the Professional Engineer (PE) Exam in your State of Residence • Continue to grow in depth and breadth of engineering practice
Arc Flash NFPA 70E
The Dangers • Burns • Blast • Blindness • Shock
OSHA, NFPA, NEC • OSHA 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910 • NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace • NFPA 70-NEC Section 110.16