Whether you are installing a pressure relief valve on a boiler or actuators on a pipeline, having highly trained technicians is key to both your safety and your success. This article reviews the different levels of valve technician training and how technicians certified at these various levels can benefit your organization.
Basic valve technician training
Anyone who repairs or services valves should complete a basic valve technician training course. Several organizations offer this training. For example, the Valve Manufacturer’s Association just instituted a new three-day valve training program covering:
- An introduction to the valve industry
- Types of valves (multi-turn, check, quarter-turn, pressure relief, and control)
- Types of actuators (pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric) and actuator accessories
- Solenoids
- Valve standards
- Fugitive emissions
- Valve materials
- Critical service applications and valves
- Valve data
- Feedback and asset monitoring
- Valve repair
For hands-on basic technician training, Allied Valve has its own programs, including a new Technician Level 1 course launched in January 2015.
All valve technicians should complete basic technician training. This ensures that the personnel who work on your valves do so safely and using industry best practices.
OQ training
Technicians who work on energy pipelines must be Operator Qualified (OQ) by the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). According to the PHMSA website, “Qualified means that an individual has been evaluated and can perform assigned covered tasks and recognize and react to abnormal operating conditions.”
Having OQ-trained valve technicians work on your pipelines ensures that you are in compliance with the law. The OQ designation also means that technicians will adhere to the required safety protocols and that they will be able to respond appropriately to any problems they encounter.
Valve factory training
Factory-trained valve technicians, also called manufacturer-trained valve technicians, have completed special training programs offered by the valve manufacturers themselves. Factory training usually takes place at the manufacturer’s facility. The goal is to ensure that the valve technicians working on particular manufacturer’s products are up-to-date on all of the manufacturer’s latest technologies and recommended valve repair procedures.
When a factory-trained technician works on your valves and actuators, you can be sure that the service you receive conforms to the manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations, as well as the factory warranty.
ValvePro training
The ValvePro® Certified Valve Maintenance Technician program is a comprehensive training program for preventative maintenance and valve repair. ValvePro certified technicians are trained to work safely on pipeline valves that are inline and under pressure. They are also able to perform advanced troubleshooting procedures to get to the root of problems including valves that are difficult to operate and valve leakage.
ValvePro trained technicians can perform regular preventative maintenance as well as diagnose and repair pipeline valves. This significantly decreases your safety risk and also saves you from downtime and loss of revenue related to emergency shutdowns.
When it comes to safety, there can be no compromise. At Allied, we guarantee that our technicians have completed the most advanced, most comprehensive training available so that you can rest easy knowing that the job is being done right.