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PPD Certification Exam Package


THE FACTS:

Practice, Final Exam and Application for Certification fee included in Exam Package.

Multiple choice quizzes from same question bank as final exam

Available for 30 days from date of purchase

Unlimited attempts

Located on a dedicated testing site

Designed to help candidate prepare for final exam

Not intended as a replacement for complete online training courses
 

PPD PIPER BOOTCAMP

Covers equipment and fittings necessary for routing pipe from nozzle to rack to nozzle. 

Prepares piping designers or engineers with a minimum of one year of piping design experience for the Level I or II PPD Certification Exam

Detailed PPD Certification level requirements.

TOPICS:  Introduction to Process Plant Design, Design phases & information, Pipe manufacturing and fabrication, Pipe assembly, Typical spool ISOs, Pipe and Weld Materials, Valve types and applications, Self-actuated valves, Valve selection and use, Pump types, Pump layout, Instrumentation, Pipe routing, Pipe racks, Pipe Layout specification, Pipe supports & hangers, Pressure vessels, introduction to Pipe Stress and B31.3, and CAD.


PPD PROCESS PLANT LAYOUT 

Prepares piping designers, leads and engineers with four to five or more years of experience.for the Level III or IV PPD Certification Exam (see detailed PPD Certification level requirements).

Covers terminology and concepts needed for equipment layout, spacing and orientation within the process plant. Also includes pipe routing to key equipment nozzles considering operations and maintenance.

TOPICS:  Introduction to Process plant design, Design phases and information, General layout considerations, Plant layout specification, Instrumentation, Pump layout, Compressors, Drums, Furnaces, Heat exchangers, Distillation towers, Reactors, Plant structors, Underground piping, Pipe racks, Introdution to Pipe stress and B31.3., Tanks and CAD.

PPD Certification Exam

Register for PPD Certification Exam and/or Practice Quizzes with Payment

About PPD Certification
How to apply for PPD Certification

Maintaining your PPD Certification

PPD Certification Level Advance

 

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The Piper BootCamp Course Contains:

 

- Approximately 25 hours of online videos

- Printable notes

- Links to supplemental material

- Course available 24/7 for up to six months from the date of purchase or until completion

 

Note: SPED annual membership is compulsory in order to purchase this course

 

$1095/course

 

For further information or to register for the course, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

PIPER BOOTCAMP (PBC) TOPICS

The PPD Piper BootCamp covers equipment and fittings necessary for routing pipe from nozzle to rack to nozzle (see list of topics below).  The topics covered are chosen to prepare for the SPED PPD Level I Certification Exam; Level I or II may be awarded depending upon years of experience.  This is a solid review of pipe design basics leading to an internationally recognized credential.  Piping drafters training Internationally desiring a refresher using English terminology and drafters from non-piping EPC disciplines are encouraged to take this course.  No experience is needed to take this course, however, drafting and CAD experience is preferred.  Pipers with 3-5 years of experience are encouraged to participate and may be eligible for Level II Certification.

 
 

PART 1

SELF ASSESSMENT (results not included in grade)

Algebra

Geometry

Physics

Chemistry

Descriptive Geometry

CAD Basics

INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS PLANT DESIGN

Stakeholders

Roles and Results

Project Life Cycle

DESIGN PHASES AND INFORMATION

Design Phases

Information Flow

Process Documents

Piping Documents

PART 2

PIPE MANUFACTURING AND FABRICATION

Manufacturing Processes

Pipe Sizes

Marking and Coating

Fittings and Components

Pipe Fabrication

Shop Welding

Branch Connections

Heat Treat and Shipping

PIPE ASSEMBLY

Cranes and Lifts

Scaffolding

Pipe Field Assembly

Pipe Rigging and Lifts

Hydrotest Insulation Labeling

Finding CG of Spool

Typical Fabrication Isos

Pipe and Weld Materials

Pipe Materials and Properties

Welding and Welder qualifications

Weld Defects and Inspection

PART 3

VALVE TYPES AND APPLICATIONS

Valve Parts

Isolation Valves

Gate Valves

Butterfly Valves

Isolation Applications

Throttling Valves

Valve Actuators

Self-Adjusting Valves

Check Valves

Regulator and Relief Valves

Steam Traps

Valve Selection and Use

Valve Symbols and Loops

Valve Selection

Station Layout

INSTRUMENTATION

Control Loop Elements

Pressure Measurement

Flow Measurement

Temperature Measurement

Level Measurement

Installation Concepts

More Installation Concepts

PART 4

PUMP SELECTION

Centrifugal Pump Configurations

Centrifugal Pump Cavitation and NPSH

Centrifugal Pump System Design

Positive Displacement Pumps

Motive Power for Pumps

PUMP LAYOUT

Configuration and Elevation

Pump Piping Layout

Temporary Strainers

Pump Access

Pump Loading and Redundancy

Pump installation Examples

PIPE ROUTING

Piping Layout Data

Pipe Routing Considerations

Piping Component Use

PIPE RACKS

Pipe Rack Terminology

Rack and Bent Layout

Rack Pipe Layout

Rack Pipe Expansion

Construction and Details

Other Uses

PIPE LAYOUT SPECIFICATION

PART 5

PRESSURE VESSELS

Overview and Terminology

Head Shapes and Attachments

Vessel Layouts and Nozzles

Introduction to ASME Section VIII

Vessel Fabrication and Erection

PIPE SUPPORTS AND HANGERS

Span Types and Terminology

Spans and Characteristics

Spring Hanger Placement

Spring Design

PIPE STRESS AND B31.3

Component Class

Pipe Stress Overview

Weight Solutions for Rack Piping

Thermal Expansion

Simplified Pump Nozzle Load Check

Simplified Vessel Pipe Stress Check

Simplified Expansion Loop Design

Intro to B31-3

CAD

Data Structures

Rendering from Data

Database Issues

Database integrity Capture and Reuse
 
 
 

This course is in part (approximately 1/3), based upon the textbook, Process Plant Layout and Design by Ed Bausbacher and Roger Hunt.  While this book is not necessary to complete the course, it is a good reference for future use.  You may purchase it through amazon.com.
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The Process Plant Layout online course contains:

 

- Approximately 25 hours of online videos

- Printable notes

- Links to supplemental material

- Course available 24/7 for up to six months from the date of purchase or until completion

 

Note: SPED annual membership is compulsory in order to purchase this course

 

$1095/course

 

For further information or to register for the course, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 
 

PROCESS PLANT LAYOUT (PPL) TOPICS

PPD Process Plant Layout covers the terminology and concepts needed for equipment layout within the process plant. This includes equipment placement, spacing and orientation. It also includes pipe routing to key equipment nozzles considering operations and maintenance. The topics covered are chosen to prepare for the SPED Professional Piping Designer Level III Certification Exam; Level III or IV may be awarded depending upon years of experience and whether experience includes supervision. This is a very dense course and is packed with hard to find material covering a broad span of essential material. It is a master class for Pipers who are familiar with pipe routing and design. Experienced pipers who desire to advance into plant layout and equipment pipe routing are encouraged to take this course.  Piping drafters who have performed plant layout in foreign countries desiring a refresher using English terminology are also encouraged to take this course.
 

PART 1

INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS PLANT DESIGN

Stakeholders

Rules and Results

Project Life Cycle

DESIGN PHASES AND INFORMATION

Design Phases

Information Flow

Process Documents

Piping Documents

GENERAL LAYOUT CONSIDERATIONS

Stakeholders and Information

Layout Techniques and Methods

Layout Considerations

Example - Madden Methodology

PLANT LAYOUT SPECIFICATIONS

Equipment Spacing

Equipment Elevation and Clearance

Operations and Maintenance Clearances

Plot Plan Development

PART 2

INSTRUMENTATION

Control Loop Elements

Pressure Measurement

Flow Measurement

Temperature Measurement

Level Measurement

Installation Concepts

More Installation Concepts

PUMP SELECTION

Centrifugal Pump Configurations

Centrifugal Pump Cavitation and NPSH

Centrifugal Pump System Design

Positive Displacement Pumps

Motive power for Pumps

PUMP LAYOUT

Configuration and Elevation

Pump Piping Layout

Temporary Strainers

Pump Access

Pump Loading and Redundancy

Pump Installation Examples

COMPRESSORS

Centrifugal

Reciprocating and Rotary

Drives

Auxiliary Equipment

Pulsation Control

Lube-Seal Oil and Condensate

Maintenance Requirements

Supports and Foundations

Combining Requirements on Layout
 

PART 3

HEAT EXCHANGERS

Heat Exchange Concepts

Shell and Tube

Plate

Spiral Hairpin Air Cooler

Applications

Exchanger Arrangements

Nozzle and Piping Arrangements

Construction and Maintenance

DRUMS

Drums Introduction and Internals

Drum Applications

Deaerator Steam Reflux Applications

Drum Placement and Elevation

Drum Layout and Piping

Drum Instrumentation Arrangement

DISTILLATION TOWERS

Distillation Concepts

Trayed Tower Controls and Nozzles

Nozzle Orientation and Elevation

Tower Platforms and Access

More Platforms and Access

Access of Height

TANKS

Types and Containment

Tank Details

Layout
 

PART 4

FURNACES

Types and Terminology

Coils and Burners

Controls and Equipment

Placement and Transfer

REACTORS

Overview and Terminology

Applications

Layout

Delayed Coker Drums

PLANT STRUCTURES

Structural Concepts

Loads and Access

UNDERGROUND PIPING

UG Piping in Plants

UG Components

Sewer Sizing

Boxes and Drains

Hydrants Monitors Double Wall

PART 5

PIPING PIPE RACKS

Pipe Rack Terminology

Rack and Bent Layout

Rack Pipe Layout

Rack Pipe Expansion

Construction and Details

Other Uses

PIPE STRESS AND B31.3

Component Class

Pipe Stress Overview

Weight Solutions for Rack Piping

Thermal Expansion

Simplified Pump Nozzle Load Check

Simplified Vessel Pipe Stress Check

Simplified Expansion Loops Design

Intro to B31-3

CAD

Data Structures

Rendering From Data

Database Issues

Database Integrity Capture and Reuse
 

This course is in part (approximately 1/3), based upon the textbook, Process Plant Layout and Design by Ed Bausbacher and Roger Hunt.  While this book is not necessary to complete the course, it is a good reference for future use.  You may purchase it through amazon.com.
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The SPED Board of Directors manages the business affairs of SPED. For details on the Board's responsibilities and operation, see the SPED Bylaws and Constitution.  Excerpts from the Bylaws are listed below.  
 
1)  Board meetings are generally conducted every six weeks.


2)  The board secretary emails notice of the next meeting one week prior to the meeting.


3)  Board members may phone into the meetings.


4)  Lunch is provided to those attending in person.

 
5)  A toll-free number will be provided to any board member who must phone in to participate in the meeting.  


6)  Communication between board meetings is chiefly through emails and phone calls.


7)  Any board member not present for three consecutive meetings, will be asked to resign from the board. 


7)  You must be a SPED Member to participate as a board member.
 
EPCs are invited to consider sending a representative to serve on the Board; if you are interested in nominating an employee for a Board committee, please email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

SPED Board of Directors




William Beazley
Information Assets 
SPED Executive Director
Term: 2020 - 2022
 
Kevin Noakes
Consultant
SPED President
Term: 2020 - 2022

 

Paul Bowers

Consultant
SPED Executive Vice President
Term: 2020 - 2022

 

Kerry Millen

Air Products

SPED Treasurer

Term: 2020 - 2022

 
Jacques De Fortier

SPED At-Large Director
Term: 2020 - 2022


Clarence Wynter
SPED At-Large Director
Term: 2020 - 2022
 

Catherine Van Der Walt

SPED Secretary / Operations Manager

Term: 2020 - 2022

 

Jimmy Garcia

SPED At-Large Director

Term: 2020 - 2022

 

David Diehl

Hexagon

SPED At-Large Director

Term: 2020 - 2022

 

Miguel Sanmartín

Wood PLC

SPED At-Large Director

Term: 2020 - 2022


 

Excerpts from the Bylaws Relating to the Board of Directors

 
The business, property and affairs of the Society shall be managed by the Board of Directors. The detailed management of the affairs of the Society shall be exercised by the President and Executive Director of the Society under the authority of the Board of Directors. The President, Executive Vice President, and Executive Director shall execute the policies and decisions of the Board, subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society. 
 
All questions coming before the Society, its governing bodies and committees shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast except as otherwise provided by the Constitution and Bylaws. Each Member, other than Student Members, shall be entitled to one vote on all questions submitted to the membership of the Society. 

Organization and Terms of Board Members

President: Two Years


Executive Vice President: Two Years


Treasurer who is elected by the Board of Directors and length of term shall be at their discretion.


Treasurer Elected by the Board of Directors and length of term shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors


Executive Director term of office shall begin at the close of the annual meeting at which the officer’s election is announced and shall continue until a successor qualifies.


Two Vice Presidents and at least two Directors shall be elected each year.


President, Executive Vice President, Executive Director and Treasurer shall be elected at a board meeting at which a quorum of the Board of Directors is present.


An Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Executive Vice President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, and the Executive Director.  Within the limitation set by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee shall act for and with the authority of the Board of Directors between its regular meetings.


There will be no limit to the number of terms any officer or director may serve.
 
 
Revised 15 February 2019 Paul Bowers

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Layout Course Content

Unit 1 - Introduction to Plant Layout Design (4 Hours)

What is a plant layout design. Purpose and role. Principal Function. Data required by plant layout design. Basic of plant layout design. Development of layout philosophy. Advantages of good plant layout. Results of poor plant layout design. Effective use of space. Abbreviations and terminology encountered by the plant layout designer. Code and standards normally used by the plant layout designer. Constructability... What does it mean?

Unit 2 - Plant Layout Specification (2 Hours)

What is a plant layout specification. Modifications to layout specifications. Equipment-arrangement-elevation. Roads. Clearance. Platforms, ladders, stairs. Operational access. Maintenance requirements.

Unit 3 - Plot Plans (4 Hours)

Purpose. Use. Development-Wind direction-Horizontal-Vertical-Economy-Process requirements. Real estate governing factors. Underground considerations. Climatic considerations. Pipe racks. Line shoots. Access, operations, constructability

Unit 4 - Compressors (8 Hours)

Type. Drivers. Uses. Auxiliary equipment. Mounting Waste Heat. Nozzle orientations. Maintenance / Constructability. Lube oil system. Seal oil system. Surface condenses Location and elevation. Shelter. Maintenance vs. economics. Arrangement-with shelter-W / O shelter. Inter and after coolers. Critical compressor piping. Special supports. Auxiliary and interconnecting piping. Surface condenser piping.

Unit 5 - Drums (4 Hours)

Type. Location. Support-Grade mounted-Structure mounted. Nozzle locations. Platform arrangements. Piping arrangements. Instrument arrangement. Maintenance. Special considerations.

Unit 6 - Exchangers (4 Hours)

Definitions. Types. Shell and tube. Plate. Spiral. Double pipe. Air coolers. Location and support methods * Nozzle orientation. Access- Maintenance-Constructability. Piping.

Unit 7 - Furnaces (6 Hours)

Basic parts and primary operation. Types of furnaces. Terminology. Burners. Air preheating. General arrangement. Auxiliary equipment. Breeching Stack. Piping layout-Circular-Box. Access. Constructability. Burner management. Waste heat recovery.

Unit 8 - Pumps (4 Hours)

Terminology. Type. Locations. NPSH Requirements. Piping. Maintenance. Constructability.

Unit 9 - Reactors (4 Hours)

Process operation. Design considerations. Location and support. Nozzle locations. Special consideration. Platforms. Piping.

Unit 10 - Towers (6 Hours)

Type. Design Considerations. Elevation and support. Constructability. Maintenance. Tower internals. Nozzle elevation and orientation. Reboiler circuits. Platform arrangements. Instrumentation. Piping. Supports.

Unit 11 - Pipe Racks (2 Hours)

Establishing need. Setting line locations. Piping flexibility. Instrument/Electrical considerations. Access. Piping. Structural considerations. Intersections.

Unit 12 - Structures (2 Hours)

Design considerations. Stairs. Ladders. Bracing. Access. Constructability. Drill.

Unit 13 - Underground Piping (4 Hours)

Standards. Terminology. Type of systems. Materials of construction. Gravity flow systems. Pressure systems. Details. Composite. Fire protection.

Unit 14 - Instrumentation (2 Hours)

Piping layout considerations. Instrument Locations.

Unit 15 - Storage Tanks (4 Hours)

Codes and Regulations. Terminology. Types of Tanks. Spill Containment. Dike Access. Sizing Tanks and Dikes. Tank Details. Tank Support.

Unit 16 - Stress Analysis

Piping Stress. Causes. Impacts. Layout solutions for weight, thermal and other stresses.

Unit 17 - Computer-Aided Design

Application. 3-D Solid Modeling. Layering. Planning. Integrated Modeling Systems. Systems Engineering and Instrument Design. Electronic Spool Sheets. CAD benefits summary.