Joining non-ferrous marine pipework
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to assemble and join non-ferrous marine pipework, in accordance with approved procedures. In producing the assemblies, you will be expected to use a range of equipment, hand tools and techniques, appropriate to the operations being performed.
The assembly and joining activities will include producing soft soldered joints and compression joints. The pipe assemblies produced will use a range of fittings, including straight connectors, elbows, tee pieces, reduction pieces, tank connectors, tap connectors, valves and other fittings, as appropriate to the application.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the non-ferrous pipe assembly activities undertaken and to report any problems with the equipment, materials or assembly/joining activities that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work to instructions, either alone or in conjunction with others, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying assembly and joining procedures to non-ferrous marine pipework. You will have an understanding of the pipework assembly, and its application, and will know about the various methods of assembling and joining the pipework using soft soldering, compression joints, pipe components and materials, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification.
You will understand the safety precautions required when working on non-ferrous marine pipework assembly and joining activities, and with the associated tools and equipment. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace, both ashore and afloat.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- follow the relevant instructions, assembly drawings and any other specifications
- ensure that the specified components are available and that they are in a usable condition
- use the appropriate methods and techniques to assemble the components in their correct positions
- join the components using the specified connectors and securing devices
- check the completed pipework assembly to ensure that all operations have been completed and the finished assembly meets the required specification
- deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety precautions to be taken when assembling and joining non-ferrous marine pipework, and with the tools and equipment that are used both on land and onboard vessels
- the personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used when assembling and joining the pipework
- the hazards associated with the marine pipework assembly and joining activities (such as handling long lengths of pipe, using gas torches and brazing equipment, handling sealing agents and fluxes), and how they can be minimised
- how to obtain and interpret information from job instructions, drawings and specifications, in relation to the work undertaken
- the preparation of pipework and fittings for the assembly operation (such as checking for damage, removing foreign objects, dirt and swarf from bore of pipe, removing burrs)
- the range of pipe fittings that can be used, and how to identify them (to include straight connectors, elbows, tee pieces, reduction pieces, screwed fittings, valves, blanking pieces/cap ends)
- the different types of fittings available, such as soldered fittings, compression fittings and push fit fittings
- how to determine the overall length of the pipework required, taking into account allowances for pipe fittings
- how to identify the correct orientation of fittings with regard to flow, and the consequences of incorrectly orientating the fitting
- the methods used to prepare pipe ends and fittings for soldering or brazing, and why it is necessary to ensure that these preparations are carried out
- the various types of soldered connectors available (such as solder ring types and capillary fittings)
- the methods used to solder the joints and how to recognise when the fitting is correctly soldered on
- the precautions to be taken when using gas torches to form the joint, and the effect of overheating the joint
- the use of compression fittings; how the pipes are sealed and the effects of over-tightening the fittings
the use of push-fit connectors and their advantages and disadvantages
methods of supporting pipework and the type of fittings that are used
- the tools and equipment used when assembling non-ferrous pipework
- why tool/equipment control is critical and what to do if a tool or piece of equipment is unaccounted for on completion of the activities
- the standards to be attained and the company quality procedures
- the extent of your own responsibility and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Carry out all of the following during the pipe assembly activities:
- use the correct pipe assembly drawings, specifications or job instructions
- ensure that appropriate COSHH regulations are adhered to
- check that all tools and equipment are in a safe and usable condition
- ensure that the components and pipes used are free from foreign objects, dirt or other contamination
- ensure that appropriate techniques are used to assemble the pipework system
- leave the work area in a safe condition on completion of the activities
Cut pipes to length and join them, using two of the following methods:
- compression fittings
- snap-on/push fittings
- soldered fittings
Produce pipework assemblies which contain four of the following types of fittings:
- straight couplings
- elbows
- tee pieces
- reduction pieces
- valves
- blanking caps
- pipe clips/supports
- drain/bleeding devices
- screwed fittings (such as tank, tap, pump, gauges)
- flanges
- couplings
- unions
- pipe clips/supports
- other specific type of fitting
Produce joined pipework which contains two of the following features:
- angled bends
- offsets
- bridge sets
- other specific feature
Assemble pipework using five of the following:
- soft solder
- hand tools
- gas torches
- flux
- pipe cutters
- sealing tapes
- gaskets/seals
- jointing compounds
- other specific items
Assemble pipe and pipe components to form two of the following marine pipework systems:
- high/low pressure air
- hydraulic
- lubricating/oil
- cold/chilled water
- sea water
- refrigeration gas
- hot water
- fuel gas
- exhaust gas
Assemble pipework using four of the following methods and techniques:
- securing and fitting pipework supports to ship structures
- alignment and levelling of pipework
- connecting pipe-to-pipe
- torque loading of connections
- connecting pipe to ship's equipment
- using gaskets, seals or jointing compounds
- attaching identification markers of pipe contents (such as colour coding, labels)
Produce pipework assemblies, in accordance with one of the following standards:
- BS, EN or ISO standards and procedures
- customer (contractual) standards and requirements
- company standards and procedures
- specific system requirements
- recognised compliance agency/body's standards
- other accepted international standards
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
You will be able to apply the appropriate behaviours required in the workplace to meet the job profile and overall company objectives, such as:
- strong work ethic
- positive attitude
- team player
- dependability
- responsibility
- honesty
- integrity
- motivation
- commitment