The Academy of Joint Integrity launched by FDS Group

According to the FDS Group, the Academy's training programmes address the lack of standardised qualifications for bolted joint assemblers, identified by the industry as a leading cause of joint leakage that can result in personnel injury and, for example, hydrocarbon releases that are viewed as precursors to major incidents.

The Academy provides accredited and awareness training courses in joint integrity and flange management processes, underpinning the importance of certified bolted joint assemblers to achieving and maintaining a leak-free bolted connection.

Safe operation of bolted joints

Training programmes recognise the important role sealing technology plays in the safe operation of bolted joints. Significant advances in gasket technology in recent years have enabled significant improvements to be made in the specification of gaskets for industrial applications, thereby minimising the likelihood of joint leakage and reducing operating costs. Academy courses include modules on sealing technology and also provide practical identification, handling and removal of gasket.

Gary Milne manages the Global Client Training Division of the FDS Group and will head up the new Academy. He has extensive technical experience and in-depth knowledge of the sealing industry and joint integrity products and sServices, together with involvement and representation on a number of UK and international committees. Within these committees he promotes and advises on industry best pPractice to ensure joint integrity issues and new technologies are transparent to end users.

ASME has commissioned Gary Milne, until 2012, as an independent consultant to provide technical input in the rewrite of ASME PCC-1-2010 and formulation of Appendix A, which will include Training and Qualification Procedures for personnel assembling and tightening bolted flanged connections.

Milne comments: "Welders are able to train and become certified to industry standards, but bolted joint assemblers have no such system, despite assembling pressure boundary joints on the same equipment as welders.

"This is a great opportunity to introduce much needed symmetry in training and qualifications to ensure personnel are adequately trained, and transparency for the industry. It is a brave move by FDS to introduce an Academy, which is not revenue-generation led; integrity is central to our mission to deliver quality training.

"We are actually addressing the age-old questions posed by engineers dealing with pressure vessel and piping bolted joints of what assembly bolt load should be used and why the joint leaked, in PCC-1-2010."

Accredited training

The Academy of Joint Integrity offers accredited training to International Standards including ASME PCC-1-2010 and EN 1591-4. Training will be delivered in a variety of ways: at the Academy's purpose-built training facilities; at clients' premises utilising mobile training rigs and equipment; and through Blended Training via a web-based learning portal using a specially written e-learning programme.

Both the ASME PCC-1 and CEN EN 1591-4 provide a structured, back-to-basics methodology to training and certifying personnel involved in the assembly of bolted joints, which is the approach adopted by The Academy of Joint Integrity. Training provided by the Academy is designed to equip personnel with the necessary competences to ensure leak-free connections throughout the lifetime of the joint, without the need for intricate software. The courses, delivered by industry experts, utilise a combination of practical and theoretical training and assessment and are accredited to International Standards including the ASME PCC-1 and the EN 1591-4.

Follow the link for more information about the Academy of Joint Integrity.