A track of seminars presented by the National Association of Sewer Service Contractors (NASSCO) highlights the education lineup at the 2009 Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International, Feb. 25-28, in Louisville, Ky.
The NASSCO program is part of Education Day on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The complete program includes 46 seminars presented by industry experts across the full range of environmental service industries. Seminars are also offered on Thursday and Friday mornings. A summary of the NASSCO program follows. For a complete seminar schedule, see the Expo pages in this issue of Cleaner.
Robotics for the Future: What Do They Mean for You?
Scott Thayer, chief technology officer, RedZone Robotics
Although CCTV inspections are important for detecting many pipe defects, many problems are revealed only by more sophisticated methods: sonar for sediment and debris, laser for ovality and corrosion. New technologies are revolutionizing the ability to inspect and rehabilitate underground infrastructure. Advances in robotics, in particular, enable pipe inspections using multiple technologies simultaneously.
“Multi-sensor inspection (MSI) data can be fused into a more complete representation of pipe condition than is possible with individual sensors,” says Thayer. “Contractors using MSI data will improve their ability to diagnose problems and predict impending failures before they erupt on the surface. The next revolution in inspection technology is robotic platforms that collect data from all sensors in a single pass, while synchronizing the data in time and space.”
Small-Diameter Epoxy Coatings: How to Rehab 1/2- to 2-Inch Lines
Brian LeMaire, president, CuraFlo
In the mid-1990s, a new technology arose that enabled contractors to restore water mains, fire lines, and larger-diameter water supply lines. Now, similar technology can be used to restore small-diameter lines inside buildings without disrupting walls, woodwork, plasterwork and finishes.
“The epoxy lining process for restoring potable water systems is often the only quick, cost-effective solution in homes, apartment buildings, commercial and institutional structures, and municipalities,” says LeMaire. His seminar will describe a three-step process rehabilitation in which the interior of the pipe is dried with heat, cleaned with an abrasive, and coated with a two-part epoxy mixed on site and applied through a computer-controlled device.
Root Control: How Does It Work and Why Is It Needed?
John Fletcher, Atlantic regional manager, Duke’s Root Control Inc.
Sanitary sewers create an environment in which roots thrive and cause blockages, creating havoc for municipal sewer departments and homeowners. “Over the last two decades, the need for chemical root control became obvious as we gained understanding of how rodding and hydraulic cutting only worsened the problem,” says Fletcher.
His seminar looks at the basics of how chemical root control works and why it is needed. He will describe how strong, comprehensive root control programs can reduce emergencies caused by root stoppages. He will also tell how such a program became the foundation of a complete preventive maintenance program for a wastewater utility.
OSHA Regulations Need Understanding
Kathy Romans, national sales manager, Trelleborg/NPC Pipe and Manhole Repair Products Division
OSHA reports that its proposed confined-space rule for construction workers is expected to reduce fatalities and injuries by 90 percent. Although there is a general industry standard for confined spaces, the agency does not consider it protective enough. Proper implementation of the new rule is expected to prevent six fatalities and 880 injuries from confined spaces annually.
The proposed regulation may affect workers entering manholes. Jobs once considered routine may require additional personnel, bypassing or plugging of lines, and onsite rescue teams. Romans’ presentation will highlight the proposed changes and their potential impact on employers, employees and multiple-contractor projects.
Choosing the Correct Chemical Grouts for Municipal Applications
Ed Paradis, regional sales manager/director of municipal sales, De Neef Construction Chemicals Inc.
Chemical grouts, specified and applied in various applications throughout the nation’s infrastructure for more than 40 years, may have been less than optimally effective. “Like any repair material, the correct product must be specified to ensure that the repair is long-term and in the best interest for industry,” says Paradis. “History has proven that incorrect use of a particular material may solve the short-term problem, but may not last as long as it should.” The course will help contractors understand how to choose the right chemical grout for a given application.
Trained Technology Inspectors: How Can They Ensure a Better Job for the Customer and Higher Profits for the Contractor?
Gerry Muenchmeyer, principal, Muenchmeyer Associates LLC
Inspecting products has been part of society for many years. Everything that is manufactured, produced, and constructed is inspected for safety and quality. In many cases, government regulations dictate inspection requirements to protect the safety and health of the public. Muenchmeyer, technical director for NASSCO, will describe how trained technology inspectors ensure a better quality project by enforcing specifications. Better-quality work results in higher contractor profits, in part because they are less likely to be called back for repair work after projects are completed, he says.
Education Day also includes an entire track of seminars from the Southern Section Collection Systems Committee, a part of the California Water Environment Association. Those programs are:
• Trenchless Pipe Rehabilitation: Pipeline Problems and an Overview of Trenchless Lining Solutions – Dave Badgley
• Pipeline Inspections: Getting the Most out of the CCTV Operator Position – Jim Aanderud
• Nuts and Bolts of GIS – Mark Hill
• Nitty-Gritty on Pipeline Cleaning – Duane Johnson
• Conforming to Confined Space and Personal Protective Equipment Safety Require-ments in Wastewater Collections – Rick Lewis
• Manhole Inspections, the Sometimes Forgotten Link in Collection Systems – Denis Pollak
Here are several other presentations of interest to pipe-cleaning, repair and maintenance contractors:
Wednesday, Feb. 25 (Education Day)
• What an Air Mover Can Do for You and Your Business – Gary Toothe, WaterJet Technology Association
• Basics of High-Pressure Waterblasting – Gary Toothe, WJTA
• Waterjetting Applications: What You Can Do from 5,000 to 50,000 PSI – Scott Coleman, WJTA
• Crossbores of Gas Lines in Sewers: Reducing the Risk of Injury and Damage – Mark Bruce, Cross Bore Safety Association
Thursday, Feb. 26
• Study of Rotary Jets for Material Removal – D. Wright, J. Wolgamott, and G. Zink, StoneAge Inc.
Friday, Feb. 27
• High-Pressure Hose Safety and Proper Use – Tony Bessette, Spir Star
• The Better Jetter: Secrets to Marketing and Selling Jetting – Nick Woodhead and Ken Bryson, US Jetting
• Eliminating SSOs with Chemical Root Control – Bill Fuller, Douglas Products
• Keys to Proper Power Take-Off Selection – David Douglass, Muncie Power Products Inc.
• How to Choose Vacuum Tank, Chassis and Pump Configur-ations – Brian Amthor, Amthor International
To find out more about the education program or any other Expo offering, visit www.pumpershow.com. Register online or by calling 800/257-7222.
