DCTC Welding Breaks Record
DeKalb County Technology Center (DCTC) would like to recognize its 2018 – 2019 Pipe Certified students, which includes a total of 32 Open Root 6G Pipe Certifications.
DCTC Welding Instructor, Russell McFall, stated, “In reality when a student earns a 6G level test, they have twelve total certifications in one because that certification trumps eleven lower level certifications, in whatever process is being used. So the total of welding certifications this group accounted for was 384. All of the pipes were 100% X-Ray tested at a third party location with American Testing Laboratory, INC in Bessemer, Alabama. The tests were performed on 2” – 3” range, outside diameter pipes. The thickness range of the pipes was from SCH 120 Super Coupons, SCH 80, and SCH 40. All 6G tests are performed at a 45-degree angle, which means welders performing the 6G certification test must weld in all positions, including horizontal, vertical, and overhead. A gap is also in-between the pipes, which is known as an open root joint design. What also makes this position hard is that it makes the individual use their left and right hand because of the distinct left and right sides of the pipe, therefore needing much more skill to pass the test. All pipe certifications were welded with the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW )and Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) processes. Most tests were performed on carbon steel, and others performed on stainless steel materials.”
McFall explained, “It’s impressive and hard to imagine my high school kids are passing this caliber of tests considering I only have them for 2 years at the most, but at DCTC I hold my students to a higher standard and we are accomplishing more than almost all of the Colleges are doing in state of Alabama. If a student can pass these tests they can work anywhere in the country and even overseas, if they decide to. We offer 4 different 6G open root welding certifications a student can earn at the tech school. First, is a high pressure steam line test with the Tig only welding process all the way out on carbon steel pipe. Second, is the Boilermaker Common-ark test with a Tig root and 7018 stick rod out on carbon steel pipe. Third, is the UA-21 Pipefitter test with a 6010 rod for the root and 7018 rod out on carbon steel pipe. Fourth, is the UA-41 Pipefitter test with the Tig only welding process all the way out with a purged root on stainless steel pipe.
McFall continued, “If you’re a welder, then you understand the difficulty of these test. I understand most people don’t know the welding terms and lingo that I just listed, but these are high school kids performing exactly the same test that Boilermakers and Pipefitters take who, work on high pressure steam lines for Fossil Power and Nuclear Power Plants. I can’t promise that all students will become pipe certified. But I can promise you that I will work as hard as possible to do whatever it takes to train every student the best I can, but I need that same effort and attitude from each student if we are going to be successful. We’re setting the standard and raising the bar for the high school level of Alabama Career Tech Education. We’re doing things that’s never been done before and I couldn’t be more proud of my students.”
DCTC Director, Jonathan Phillips, commented, “I cannot express enough how proud I am of Mr. McFall and his students for obtaining the highest level of certifications within the field of welding. Mr. McFall’s students have earned industry certifications at a level no other high school program has been able to match and only a select few at the college level have achieved.”
