The SPFA Pipe Quality Certification program is a major accomplishment achieved by many satisfied pipe fabricators.
This certification is a requirement in most piping specifications in the United States water transmission industry.
Overall, the program addresses quality assurance and control, lining and coating operations, equipment and welding procedures specific to steel water piping, and management, organization, engineering, and procurement practices.
Rigorous annual audits are administered throughout a third party quality assurance organization. Pipe system owners and engineers who require SPFA Pipe Quality Certification can be confident that their pipe and fittings will conform to both requirements of AWWA steel pipe standards and the intent of a quality product.
During the manufacturing process of steel water pipe, several quality check points are required, as prescribed by AWWA. To highlight a few of these, I want to start with the weld production tests.
An area across the weld zone is taken from a pipe cylinder to produce specimens for a well bend test and detention test.
For the weld bend test, two specimens are produced to allow both the ID weld and OD weld to be tested. The test involves forcing a specimen around a pin and then evaluating the specimen for defects.
For the tension test, the dog bone shaped specimen is produced and placed in equipment to validate the weld area meets the yield requirements for the project.
Another batch test is in cement lining. Here, the specimen is prepared in a similar manner to the lining in the pipe. For example, if the pipe to steam cured, then the specimen is also steam cured.
Here we are confirming if compression values are required by the project specifications are met.
While these tests are significant to ensure the quality of the product, equally important is the process an SPFA certified plant has in place to ensure project specifications are accurately communicated throughout the manufacturing process.
When you require SPFA certification, you can be confident that the project will be manufactured as specified.
