A RAGAGEP, which is often overlooked for pipe flanges but is fair game for OSHA and EPA to reference, is ASME PCC-1, Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly. The RAGAGEP outlines the training personnel needs to safely assemble and disassemble flanged joints in hazardous material(s) piping circuits. A facility with flanged piping should seriously consider adopting these training requirements for the QA/QC in its piping MI program. These are the recommended requirements for the training, qualification, duties, and responsibilities of:
- Qualified Bolting Specialists,
- Qualified Senior Bolting Specialists, and
- Qualified Bolting Specialist Instructors
engaged in the assembly and disassembly, including inspection and quality assurance, of
(1) pressure vessel pressure-boundary bolted joints
(2) piping pressure-boundary bolted joints
(3) storage tank pressure-boundary bolted joints
Additional supplemental qualifications may be obtained on the basic training to extend the qualifications, duties, and responsibilities to include:
(1) powered equipment
(2) heat exchanger pressure-boundary bolted joints
(3) special pressure-boundary bolted joints
TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION OF BOLTED JOINT ASSEMBLY PERSONNEL
It is recommended that the user provide, or arrange to have provided, as appropriate, essential training and qualification in accordance with Appendix A of the bolted joint assembly personnel who will be expected to follow procedures developed from this Guideline.
The qualification of assemblers in accordance with Appendix A may be considered portable subject to the guidance in para. A-5.3.5.
ASME PCC-1, section 3 recommends that an organization qualify joint assemblers and supervisors per the requirements in this Appendix. In the qualification process, the Qualifying Organization conducts training, demonstrations, and practical and written examinations to determine a person’s general knowledge of bolted joint assembly and related technical areas. No determination is made of an individual’s capabilities in applying that knowledge within a specific work environment or under actual working conditions. It remains the sole responsibility of the employer of the individual to determine the individual’s competency for the task assigned.
This Appendix can be applied to any person who is involved in the assembly/disassembly or quality assurance activities concerned with pressure vessels, piping, and tank bolted joints. It applies to persons typically employed by, but not limited to, the following:
(a) jurisdictional authorities
(b) manufacturers, installers, and maintainers of equipment
(c) equipment owners and their employees
(d) contract bolted joint assembly personnel
(e) labor organizations
(f) educational institutes