Municipal and Consulting Inspector Information Session

Quick answer: As part of our vision on education, the Canadian Concrete Pipe and Precast Association is continually providing training through the following activities:

As part of our vision on education, the Canadian Concrete Pipe and Precast Association is continually providing training through the following activities:

• Lunch & Learns: held both in person and by webinar
• Plant Tours: where attendees can see how concrete pipes and products are designed and manufactured
• Seminars (half day): cover various aspects of concrete pipes and precast structures, from design
and manufacturing to installation.

Although our Plant Tours, Lunch & Learns and Seminars continue to be well received by the municipal and consulting communities, we have identified a need to provide more in-depth practical knowledge to both the municipalities and engineering consulting firms.

Although delayed somewhat by the COVID-19
pandemic, the CCPPA has recently developed and rolled out a “Practical” information session specifically
designed for municipal and consulting inspectors. The Inspector Information Session involves six (6) separate practical learning stations which have the following themes:

1.The Basics
Basic pipe design, manufacturing, handling, and site storage

2. The Bedding
Proper bedding requirements including how concrete pipe reduced excess soils generation

3. The Gasket
Proper care, inspection, and installation of gaskets – both pipe and maintenance hole

4. The Maintenance Hole
Proper connection – Pipe to maintenance hole

5. The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
Common site issues related to the installation of concrete pipe and precast structures. Discussion covers causes and remedial actions.

6. Crack Evaluation
Acceptable and unacceptable cracking in concrete pipe.

The first session was held in the Ottawa area. The attendees were a mix of City of Ottawa staff along with staff from the Ottawa area consulting engineering firms.

As can be seen in both Picture 1 and Picture 2, lengths of reinforced concrete pipe, precast structures, gaskets, cages and other concrete pipe and precast components are brought in to enable a high level of practical knowledge exchange.

The attendees were separated into six smaller groups that started the at one of the stations listed previously. The information exchange at each station lasted approximately 25 minutes after which the groups would move on to the next station. The overall length of the session was three (3) hours. We held both a morning and afternoon session to allow for flexibility. Each of the stations had two individuals that were concrete pipe/precast producer staff. These two individuals would facilitate the information exchange/discussion.

In addition, videos were produced for each station. These videos will be released later this Fall on the Canadian Concrete Pipe & Precast Association’s YouTube Channel. Please watch for teaser videos on the Canadian Concrete Pipe & Precast Association’s LinkedIn page.

Kevin Lamer, Program Manager for City of Ottawa Inspection Group had the following statement after attending the Inspector Information Session:

“The City of Ottawa Inspectors were invited to the CCPPA on-site training event on May 18th, 2022, at the City of Ottawa’s EY Centre. This was an excellent session that provided detailed presentations and demonstrations from multiple concrete manufacturers. The Inspectors enjoyed the hands-on experience, and it provided them a great opportunity to learn more about the different products available to the industry and make some key contacts with the manufacturers.

It was well organized, and the Inspectors liked the open forum to ask common field questions and share knowledge with other attendees from the Consultant Industry. Thank you CCPPA for putting on this important event and bringing the industry back together post COVID-19.”

The CCPPA is looking at holding more of these sessions in 2023. Some of the tentative dates and locations are listed below:

February 2023 | Ontario | East GTA | Markham Fairgrounds
March 2023 | Ontario | West GTA | TBD
Spring 2023 | Alberta | Calgary/Edmonton | TBD

Please visit our website under the “EVENTS” TAB or follow us on LinkedIn to find out when the dates/locations will be confirmed.

Jude Tremblay, P.Eng.
Region Engineer
Canadian Concrete Pipe &
Precast Association