NASSCO PACP/MACP/LACP-

The Trainer’s Perspective

WEAT Collections Conference| January 22, 2014

Gerald Boman

NASSCO PACP/MACP/LACP Certified Trainer

What is NASSCO?

National Association of Sewer Service Companies

Formed in 1976

Member Based Organization

Provider of Services and Products to the Owners of Sewer Collection Systems

Founding Mission to Improve Success in Pipeline Rehabilitation Industry Through

– Education

– Technical resources

– Industry advocacy

NASSCO WEBSITE

PACP

Pipeline Assessment & Certification Program

Implemented in 2002

Program Purpose:

– Standardization and Consistency in sewer pipe condition evaluation

– Management of collected CCTV data.

Based upon Water Research Centre (WRc) codes (Swindon,

England)

Defect Coding System to document pipeline condition

Re-certification required every 3 years

PACP Coding Example

PACP Coding Example

MACP

Manhole Assessment & Certification Program

Developed In response to industry demand for a program

to code manhole defects

Version 6.0.1 (November 2010 Release): Two inspection protocols

– Level 1 inspection - basic condition assessment to evaluate general

condition

– Level 2 inspection - detailed information to document all defects & condition

MACP Coding

– Applies PACP defect coding system

– Incorporates ASCE manhole Standards.

PACP certification is prerequisite for MACP training & certification

MACP certification is valid for 3 years

MANHOLE DIAGRAM

MACP Coding Example

LACP

Lateral Assessment & Certification Program (LACP)

Training addresses fittings and access points unique to laterals

Coding applies PACP defect coding system

PACP certification is prerequisite for LACP training and certification

LACP certification is valid for 3 years

LACP Coding Example

Why NASSCO Train?

People have different:

– Perspectives

– Opinions

– Levels of Experience

– “Learned Eye”

Utility owners need measures to gauge:

– When to act

– When to wait

– When and how to prioritize

Why NASSCO Train?

To Compare One Pipe, Manhole, Lateral

evaluation to another and To Prioritize

System Needs, Requires:

Standardization

Consistency

Objectivity

Managed Data

Training Operations Staff

Operators have

– Hands on field experience

– Technical training

– Inspection knowledge and experience

– Field “learned eye”

Operators do not have

– Data analysis experience

– Design experience

Training Operations Staff

Operators are the eyes and ears of the

“office” reviewers

Operators are not technical/engineers… and

proud of it

Training Operations Staff

When you are coding, think about:

– Recording what you see thoroughly and consistently

– Code all defects regardless of repetitive/continuous defects in

segment.

– Don’t allow coding to become “relative” to severity of defects in pipe

– Don’t exaggerate or over emphasize a defect

– Don’t minimize or skip a small defect.

Training Operations Staff

When Performing CCTV:

– Field conditions make achieving clear & accurate video a difficult task

– Important to obtain the best recorded image feasible

• Camera Speed, orientation, and lighting are essential

• NASSCO has clear & detailed guidelines to assist in

achieving high quality video inspections & assessments

Training Operations Staff

Operators hands on experience and learned eye applied in coding can result in:

– Coding based upon real time view vs. recorded

view • Ex: Depth of a crack in the manhole wall

– Codes that reflect surrounding conditions • Ex: Crack with evidence of I&I

– Defect identification that may be missed or unclear

in recorded version • Ex: Hearing water travel down a manhole wall

Defect Coding Examples

Training Operations Staff

Tips to Operators on NASSCO Training

1. Bring field experience with you; good opportunity to ask

questions of trainer & industry peers

2. Table your pre-conceived notions; you might actually

learn something you didn’t already know

3. Adopt PACP standards and use the training materials to

enhance your knowledge and experience; always room

for improvement

4. Appreciate that your job in field is critical to success of

system assessment; office staff are blind, deaf and dumb

without it!

Training Technical/Engineering Staff

Engineers have

– Data analysis experience

– Design experience

– Construction method knowledge

– Construction material knowledge

Engineers do not have

– Hands on field experience

– Technical field training

– Field Inspection knowledge and experience

– Field “learned eye”

Training Technical/Engineering Staff

Technical knowledge applied in coding review can result in:

– Coding based upon material degradation

knowledge vs. code applied • Ex: RCP pipe with rebar exposed

– Evaluating composite codes vs. one defect code • Ex: Pipe and manhole defects found

– Defect identification that may be missed or unclear

in field review • Ex: Lateral defect missed in CCTV coding of pipe

Field Coding vs. Technical Review Example

Missing Something??

Training Technical/Engineering Staff

Tips to Technical/Engineers Staff on NASSCO Training

1. Bring your technical knowledge and experience with you; good

opportunity to ask questions of the trainer as well as industry peers

2. Table your pre-conceived notions; you might actually learn

something you didn’t know

3. What you learned in training/college can be different when applied

in the “real world”

4. Adopt the training materials to your knowledge and experience;

always room for improvement

5. Appreciate that you are reviewing work performed in field conditions

under varying conditions of weather and system operations; not

easy and many times a dirty job

Conclusions

NASSCO Training is Beneficial to Operators, Technical Staff and Engineers Alike

NASSCO Coding Does Not Replicate/Replace Knowledge and Experience

Combining Knowledge/Experience with NASSCO Principles is Key!