Construction Engineering Consulting & Codes

Presented by: Larry D. Elliott, PE (ID, ND, NV OR, WA)

Senior Discipline EngineerCoffman 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

Open Street SewageModern Wastewater

Treatment

http://www.tagnet.org/caringandsharing/slum_work.htm

US Wastewater InfrastructureOur 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

Two Sources for Power,Two Pumps

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

Utility Transformer – Open Delta

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

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247 248 243 0.81% 26 27 26.5 1.89%237 238 238 0.14% 31.2 30.7 30.8 0.97%240 241 243 0.69% 28.5 33.5 31.5 7.49%

Voltage - Loaded Current

• 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 ConstructionFederal Gov’t

Finances

Owner

State Gov’t

Schedule Contractor

Local Gov’t

Safety

Consultant

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

M

Supply (Utility)

Premise (User)

POS

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

1. 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.

2. Installations of conductors and equipment that connect to the supply of electricity.

3. Installations of other outside conductors and equipment on the premises.

NEC Distinctions

4. Installations of optical fiber cable.

5. 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

LASTING creativity | results | relationships

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

Washington Administrative Code

Arc Flash and Blast Tests

Testing is Basis for NFPA Standard