One of the biggest flaws in the OSHA’s and EPA’s process safety standards is their expectations of how contractors are to be evaluated. Yes, of course, hiring contractors with good safety programs and good safety performance is CRITICAL, but way too many facilities are only looking at the safety numbers and programs. And that is NOT good enough! In fact, some states have specific requirements for contractors doing certain types of work, such as piping installation, alteration and repair and we MUST (at least we should) incorporate these state requirements in our “contractor evaluation”. For example, a contractor welding on Ammonia Refrigeration piping in one such state will have some very specific requirements to meet and it would be the owner/operator’s responsibility to ensure they are “qualified” to do the work. For example, this state requires “high pressure piping contractors” to do all Ammoina refrigeration piping work; this is on top of the requirements in ASME B31.5. The state requires the “high pressure piping contractors” to…
FIRST employ an individual who has a master pipefitter license. The business may then apply for a Minnesota high pressure piping contractor license. After the business has met these requirements, it may apply for a permit to install or fabricate high pressure piping.
The business MUST ALSO employ licensed journeyworker pipefitters to install or fabricate the high pressure piping.
The following are considered “high-pressuree piping systems” in the state of Minnesota:
- steam-system piping designed to operate at more than 15 p.s.i (pounds per square inch),
- high-pressure and high-temperature fluids designed to operate at more than 250 degrees Fahrenheit and 30 p.s.i. gauge used for heating,
- ammonia (717) refrigeration-system piping, and
- bioprocess piping systems
Those who are NOT licensed as a master pipefitter or journeyworker pipefitter may assist in the installation of high pressure piping systems under the direct supervision of a licensed pipefitter, IF
- they are registered in an approved pipefitter apprenticeship program, OR
- registered with us as an unlicensed high pressure piping pipefitter.
Licensed master or journeyworker pipefitters may directly supervise NO MORE than two (2) unlicensed persons.
What is a LICENSED MASTER PIPEFITTER?
The individual MUST have five (5) years of experience in the practical installation or fabrication of high pressure piping systems, apply for and be approved to take the master pipefitter exam, and receive a minimum score of 70 on the exam.
What is a LICENSED JOURNEYWORKER PIPEFITTER?
An individual must have four years of experience in the practical installation or fabrication of high pressure piping systems, apply for and be approved to take the journeyworker pipefitter exam, and receive a minimum score of 70 on the exam.
SAFTENG NOTE: Those of you in the state of MN, as of October 9, 2019 all of this has to be done on-line.
Click Here to see all fo the MN State Code for high pressure piping