High-pressure piping frequently asked questions

What are high-pressure-piping systems?
Who is licensed as a high-pressure piping business contractor? (PDF)
What licenses are required to install high-pressure piping in Minnesota?
What are the requirements to become a licensed contractor pipefitter?
What are the requirements to become a licensed journeyman pipefitter?
What are the contracting/journeyman pipefitter exams based on?
Are study guides available for these exams?
Where can I access the necessary forms for the examination?
What are the differences among standard, time and material, and blanket permits?
What costs are to be included in the inspection fee formula on permits?

What are high-pressure-piping systems?
The following are considered high-pressure-piping systems:

steam-system piping designed to operate at more than 15 p.s.i.;
high-pressure and high-temperature fluids designed to operate at more than 250 degrees Fahrenheit and 30 p.s.i. gauge used for heating; and
ammonia (717) refrigeration-system piping.
Bioprocess piping systems

What licenses are required to install high-pressure piping or fabricate for installation in Minnesota?
A business must first employ an individual who has a contractor pipefitter license. The business may then apply for a Minnesota high-pressure-piping business license. After the business has met these requirements, it may apply for a permit to install or fabricate high-pressure piping. The business must also employ licensed journeyman pipefitters to install or fabricate the high-pressure piping.

Persons who are not licensed as contracting or journeyman high-pressure-piping pipefitters may assist in the installation of high-pressure piping systems under the direct supervision of a licensed pipefitter, if they are registered in an approved pipefitter apprenticeship program, or registered with CCLD as an unlicensed high-pressure-piping pipefitter.

Licensed contracting or journeyman high-pressure-piping pipefitters may directly supervise no more than two unlicensed persons.

What are the requirements to become a licensed contractor pipefitter?
An individual must have five years experience in the practical installation or fabrication of high-pressure-piping systems, apply for and be approved to take the contracting pipefitter exam, and receive a minimum score of 70 on the exam.

What are the requirements to become a licensed journeyman pipefitter?
An individual must have four years of experience in the practical installation or fabrication of high-pressure-piping systems, apply for and be approved to take the journeyman pipefitter exam, and receive a minimum score of 70 on the exam.

What are the contracting/journeyman pipefitter exams based on?
Both examinations are drawn from the Department of Labor and Industry's high-pressure piping and code for power-piping systems: Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326B - sections 326B.90 to 326B.925 and Minnesota Rules Chapter 5230. This information is also available for purchase from Minnesota's Bookstore, 660 Olive Street, St. Paul, MN 55155, (651) 297-3000.

TThe tests include questions about welding requirements, high-pressure steam piping, ammonia refrigeration piping and licensing requirements, plus some isometric piping-system drawings to complete. The contractor's examination also includes questions about contractor responsibility requirements.

Are study guides available for the exams?
Available study guides include:

ANSI/IIAR 2-2008; "IIAR Ammonia Refrigeration Piping Handbook"
ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2007
ASME BPE - 2005
ASME B31.1-2007
ASME B31.5 - 2006
ASME IX - 2007

Where can I access the forms for the examination?
The a application and affidavit forms are available for download on this Web site or by contacting the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry at (651) 284-5059

What are the differences among standard, time and material, and blanket permits?

A standard permit shall be applied for any time a contractor has a set bid and knows the costs of labor and material for a project.br>
A time and material permit shall be applied for any time a contractor has a project that doesn't have a set bid price.
AA blanket permit shall be applied for when a contractor is to receive multiple projects over the course of a calendar year at one location, such as a paper mill, power plant, sugar-beet plant, processing plant, etc.

What costs are to be included in the inspection fee formula on permits?
All costs of labor and material for the installation/fabrication of the high-pressure-piping project are to be included. This includes the cost of material supplied by the owner of the facility of the project. There is a worksheet with the permit application form to assist you in the calculation of these fees.