ArcPro Pipe Welding Training Course

School Rules and Policy Manual

8630 Bellingrath Rd. Theodore, AL 36582 (251) 272 - 1580

Training Facility Location: 8630 Bellingrath Rd / Theodore, Al 36582 Mailing/Billing Address: PO Box 456 / Theodore, Al 36590 (251) 272-1580 / www.arcpromobile.com / info@arcpromobile.com

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Contents
I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3 Class Descriptions and Tuition Rates................................................................................. 4 Registration and Tuition Rate Lock Deposits ................................................................ 5 Financial Aid ........................................................................................................................ 5 Class Schedule and Holiday Policy ..................................................................................... 6 Tools/Supplies ..................................................................................................................... 6 Testing & Evaluation .......................................................................................................... 7 Successful Course Completion ........................................................................................ 8 Safety Rules ......................................................................................................................... 9 Shop Rules & Administrative Policies .............................................................................. 10

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I. Introduction
Welcome to ArcPros Pipe-welding program. As the commercial and industrial development of the gulf coast continues to increase at record pace, the need for skilled welders is at an all time high. ArcPro specializes in training welders in Tungsten/Inert Gas [TIG] (also referred to Gas/Tungsten Arc Welding [GTAW]) and Stick (also referred to as Shielded Metal Arc Welding [SMAW]) welding process. A brief description of each process is as follows: TIG welding is known for its versatility in metal joining applications as well as the high quality, visually attractive welds it produces. It also generally considered the slowest and most difficult process to perform when compared to stick/SMAW, MIG/GMAW, or other more automated processes because of the smaller fill metal deposition rate and the two-handed coordination required to hold the torch and feed the wire simultaneously. TIG pipe-welders are especially in demand because of the additional skill required to weld one-sided welds in 3-dimensions along the curved surface of a pipe joint. Learning to become a TIG welder requires the correct equipment, safe learning environment, and most importantly, competent instruction. Stick welding is the most familiar form of welding for most people. It is still the most common type of welding for most applications where the cleanliness of TIG welding is not required, or where faster production rates are needed. While generally accepted as a simpler welding process to learn, it requires steady hands and a feel for what is happening in the weld puddle, because it is not always visible due to the flux produced as a shielding for the weld. Combination welders are those who are capable of performing both as TIG welders and Stick welders. They are the highest demanded skilled trade and extremely flexible because of their dual process ability. ArcPro has the latest equipment from Lincoln Electric that is simple to use but also powerful enough to meet industrial needs. The ArcPro facility gives the welder all of the essentials needed to focus on welding and prepares them for the industrial field. Finally, our instructors are pipe welders who have trained welders in the field and in the classroom with the experience skills to ensure only the best techniques and highest standards are passed to our students.

ArcPros mission is to serve our students and industry as the highest quality pipe welding program on the Gulf Coast. See Section X item h. for our service guarantee!

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II. Class Descriptions and Tuition Rates

All courses and services include the welding equipment and materials listed in this guide, trained supervision, and final WPQT visual inspection and destructive bend test evaluations by level II NDT inspector. Metal-etch and X-ray evaluations are an additional cost, if desired. Materials/equipment for welding materials other than those outlined in standard courses below may be additional costs. All classes are available for Night or Day schedules (see below for times) 1. GTAW (TIG) Pipe Welding 10-week course $6000 Generally for students with no prior welding experience. Course covers carbon steel and stainless steel training up to first class skill level. 6-week course $4500 For students with some professional welding experience, but no pipe welding experience. Course covers carbon steel and stainless steel training up to first class skill level. 4-week course $3000 Welders have professional pipe welding experience but not with TIG process. Course covers carbon steel and stainless steel training up to first class skill level. Day/weekly rates For welders who want to prepare for a improve skills or practice for a specific WPQT. Price varies according to materials being welded but is approx. $175/day ($750 per week) for basic carbon steel & stainless welding. 2. SMAW (Stick) Pipe Welding 6-week course $4500 For students with limited SMAW welding experience. Course starts with basic arc control in structural positions and moves to cover carbon steel pipe with E6010 root/ hot pass and E7018 Fill/Cap. Includes uphill and down hill progressions for root pass in 6-G position. 4-week course $3000 Welders have professional pipe welding experience but not with SMAW process. Course covers carbon steel pipe with E6010 root/ hot pass and E7018 Fill/Cap. Includes uphill and down hill progressions for root pass in 6-G position. Day/weekly rates For welders who want to prepare for a improve skills or practice for a specific WPQT. Price varies according to materials being welded but is approx. $175/day ($750 per week) for basic carbon steel SMAW welding.

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3. Combination Pipe Welding 17-week course $10,000 For students interested in becoming combo welders capable of both GTAW and SMAW processes. Course follows GTAW and SMAW curriculum but adds additional week of class for additional testing, e.g. Tig root, Stick weld out, etc. Method of payment: ArcPro Inc. accepts cash, check, money order, credit card, or Paypal.

III. Registration and Tuition Rate Lock Deposits

After an instructor has evaluated your initial skill level and notified you of the program duration, the next step is to secure a slot for the training. Positions are reserved on a first come, first serve basis by paying tuition in full. Classes are conducted in a rolling start format, as new students are registered. All students will be required to sign a registration contract that specifies the course to be taken and the acknowledgement of school policies, as listed within this catalog. In addition and prior to class start, all students are encouraged to get a basic eye examination and, if necessary corrective lenses necessary to achieve 20/20 vision. If you cant see, you cant weld, and welders are required to be able to perform welds in tight spaces where welding may be less than 10 inches in front of the shield. Also, welders are often required to inspect their own welds for quality and must be able to see small defects without magnification. If the class is currently full, a $500 deposit can be made to be placed on the waiting list and to lock in the current pricing for that class. Once the deposit is made, ArcPro will provide you with the approximate date (accurate within two weeks) that a slot will be opened for training. The full tuition must be paid no later than one week prior to start of training.

IV. Financial Aid

ArcPro is dedicated assisting you to locate all possible means for financing your tuition, however we do not currently qualify for FAFSA, SALLIE MAE, or other government-backed student loan programs. ArcPro, Inc. offers the following repayment terms to qualified applicants:

ArcPro Student Payment Plan

If students cannot find other financial aid, ArcPro may elect to self-finance the student. The minimum requirements for this service are as follows: $1000 down payment due at start of class $125 weekly payments until balance is paid, by terms expressed in a notarized promissory note between the student, a cosigners, and ArcPro Inc.

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Valid Bank Checking Account with Debit card number for automatic payment withdrawals is required though the term of contract. Application for credit check, credit reporting Submission to random drug screening*

* ArcPro insists on drug screening because it is an industry standard for welders to undergo such tests as a condition of employment. Students who cannot pass a drug screen would not be able to secure a welding position and would therefore be a financial risk for repayment.

V. Class Schedule and Holiday Policy

General: All new students start on Mondays, as space becomes available. Nights Schedule Monday-Friday 5:30PM-11PM (27.5 hours per week) Days Schedule Monday-Friday 12.00PM-5:30PM (27.5 hours per week) Holidays/Makeup days Major holidays are: New Years Eve and Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (2 Days), Christmas Eve and Day. For these days, holiday time will be made up either by working additional hours before the holiday or adding a day session as determined by the instructor after polling the students for best case. All hours will be made up for any instructor absences, should they occur. Student absences are discouraged because of the extreme pace of the course work required to learn the skill. Every hour in the testing booth improves skill and makes the student a better welder. See Section X for attendance policies.

VI. Tools/Supplies
Equipment Supplied by ArcPro: The following tools are supplied by ArcPro on first day of class. Students are responsible for replacement, thereafter. Safety Glasses (yours to keep) Welding Helmet (yours to keep) Welding Gloves (TIG) (yours to keep) All Carbon Steel Materials and consumables All Stainless Steel consumables Welding Machines, grinders, grinding wheels, and other consumables for class use

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Equipment Supplied by Student Ask instructors for details before going out on your own to save money and time. Equipment needed to start (Day 1) o The student is required to have steel-toed safety shoes. These are necessary for later employment at all fabrication facilities. o Long sleeve shirt made from cotton to protect from UV light o 12 inch crescent wrench for using table fixtures o Pair of lineman-type electrical pliers or heavy duty wire cutters (Klein or similar) Note: dont buy a $5 pair of pliers, you will be sorry. Spend $20-$30 on a good pair to save your hands. You will be cutting thick steel wire hundreds of times per day each time you start welding. o Small inspection flashlight Equipment needed later in class (Several weeks in) o Half round file o Inspection mirror (one inch diameter, telescoping) o All exotic or specialty metals unless otherwise specially priced in tuition (CUNI, Aluminum, etc).

VII. Testing & Evaluation

a. First two weeks evaluation to determine aptitude i. Instructor advise student to withdraw based on performance Student may elect to remain in class Instructor will notify student that service guarantee is void (ref Sect X- item v.) b. Daily evaluations i. Instructors will keep daily scores on students performance and attendance, including problem areas for additional attention. c. Weekly tests (varies by skill level) i. Weeks 1&2 Skills Assessment Instructor will assess students ability and capability of meeting program goals in within allowable timeframe Pass Criteria: Student should be capable of walking torch over filler wire evenly in all positions to meet ASME IX & B31.3 standards for visible inspection ii. Week 3 Fill Exercises (no root) Student will work filling v-groove and capping in all structural positions. Pass Criteria: Student will perform fill and cap of plate grooves for each position before advancing to next. Welds should be uniform and repeatable. Welds should meet ASME IX & B31.3 for visual inspection.

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 iii. Week 4 & 5 Root Pass Student will weld open-butt structural root passes in all positions. Pass Criteria: Student will perform root welds with adequate penetration and convexity to pass ASME IX & B31.3 for visual inspection before advancing to next position. Welds should be uniform and repeatable. iv. Weeks 6, 7, &8 Carbon Steel Pipe Students will combine skills learned in weeks 1-5 to make complete welds on pipe in all positions. Pass Criteria: For 1-G and 5-G positions, welds should be repeatable, consistent and pass visual inspection to ASME IX and B31.3. For 6-G position, same as above in addition to passing destructive bend testing to ASME IX v. Weeks 9 & 10 Stainless Steel Pipe Students will practice welding stainless steel pipe in 6-G position Pass Criteria: Welds will be consistent and repeatable, pass visual inspection to ASME IX & B31.3 in addition to passing destructive bend testing to ASME IX. d. Final acceptance testing on formal Welding Procedure Qualification Tests [WPQT] i. Welder testing for Carbon Steel and Stainless pipe in accordance with ASME IX. ii. Pass Criteria: Welded samples pass visual inspection and destructive testing to ASME IX.

VIII. Successful Course Completion

At ArcPro, our goal is to make every student the best they can be. We strive to train individuals to a level of quality and consistency far beyond the minimum requirements of ASME Code. At a minimum, students will meet the following for successfully course completion:

a. Welding WPQT evaluation i. Visual Non-destructive testing evaluation -PASS ASME Standards ii. Mechanical bend test PASS ASME Standards iii. x-ray & macro etch (if required by specific WPQT at additional charge) b. ArcPro Certificate of Completion Upon passing WPQ tests each student will receive a qualification certificate listing the tests passed to ASME Code Standards. It is important to realize that this certificate is only a piece of paper. Your skill as a welder will be what gets you a job as determined by the WPQ Testing that perspective employers will give.

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IX. Safety Rules

Safety is the primary concern for ArcPro Instructors. Unsafe practices will be logged in students daily score cards. Repeat offenders and/or flagrant violations of Safety Policy will result in expulsion without refund.

a. PPE i. Eyes - mandatory safety glasses worn AT ALL TIMES IN SHOP and face shield (when grinding) ii. Ears -voluntary but encouraged; ear plugs available in shop iii. Shoes- steel toe boots; mandatory iv. Gloves -mandatory for welding, grinding, and oxy fuel cutting; NO GLOVES ALLOWED WHEN USING BAND SAW v. Clothing - cotton, long sleeves and pants (no synthetic fibers) this protects skin during grinding and from sunburn due to UV light when welding. b. Welding operations i. Electrical safety Dont tamper with anything; Instructor will perform any electrical maintenance on machines, receptacles or circuit breakers ii. Burn prevention Treat every piece of metal as if it were hot (always wear gloves) c. Flash protection (yourself and others) i. Shield requirements; always weld with shield down. ii. Welding in open areas; minimize welding in open areas, notify others before striking arc to protect themselves. d. Grinding operations i. Face shield use; always - no exceptions ii. Hand protection; always no exceptions iii. Equipment handling safety as taught in classroom e. Grinding, cutting, and wire wheel maintenance and dangers i. Always inspect cutting disks and grinding rocks before each use for splits or damage to prevent shrapnel ii. Inspect grinder cord for nicks and damage each shift f. Band-saw usage to be taught by instructor if you are unsure about operation, ask instructor. Do not attempt any maintenance on saw. i. Saw cutting operations ii. Cutting speeds/feeds iii. Cutting lubrication

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g. General Shop Safety i. Electrical: DO NOT TAMPER WITH ANY ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS; call an instructor for assistance. ii. Fire: In the event of a fire, sound the alarm, verbally, and make sure the instructor is aware of situation. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIGHT FIRE YOURSELF. iii. Fumes/Smoke: Shop is well ventilated, but if fumes are apparent from welding or other processes, notify instructor and seek fresh air. iv. Doors for evacuation: There are three main escapes in shop area: 1) North roller door, 2) East roller door & 3) exit via office and office door. v. Absolutely no Horseplay.

X. Shop Rules & Administrative Policies

a. Cursing, Threatening Behavior, Fighting, and Weapons i. ArcPro has zero tolerance policy. Any students causing disruption will be immediately asked to leave facility by the instructor for disrupting class or other students. Offending student(s) may be subject to immediate expulsion, at the discretion of the board of directors. ii. Fighting or threatening behavior will result in police involvement and criminal charges in addition to expulsion iii. Weapons of any kind are not allowed on the premises and students disobeying this rule will be subject to actions described in i or ii above. b. Material usage All consumable materials are provided as part the students basic tuition. Conservation shall be practiced at all time to prevent material waste and to keep costs low. Waste of materials will not be tolerated on the job, so we dont allow it at ArcPro. c. Equipment usage All equipment is provided as part of the students basic tuition. Equipment shall be kept neat and clean. General machine wear notwithstanding, all shop equipment should be treated with care and respect to prevent unnecessary cost and delays. Please refrain from excessive tack welding to the benches to preserve them. d. Supervision i. If in doubt, ask an instructor. ii. Instructors are your supervisors; they are responsible for safe operation of the shop and its equipment. Please help them provide a safe environment by reporting damaged tools/equipment and ANY other safety concerns immediately. e. Cleaning the Shop (last 15 minutes of every day) i. All students are individually responsible for cleaning their training booths after each session. Tools rolled up, workbenches ground smooth and clean. ii. All students are collectively responsible for cleaning the common areas and removing trash after each session.

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f. Attendance i. Tardiness a. All tardies are recorded on daily evaluation cards; more than a combined 60 minutes late in any week counts as an Absence. b. ArcPro reserves the right to make special allowances for students who are currently employed to assist there work schedules on a case-by-case basis. Any accommodations will be made IN ADVANCE during registration to prevent abuse. ii. Absences a. At your own peril, you can not learn if you are not here! b. More than one absence voids all refund policies and guarantees (ref. Section X, item h.) iii. Makeup days a. Makeup days for major holidays are determined in advance of that holiday. b. Additional days for absences at $175/day or $750/wk, if desired. iv. Leaving Class Early a. Class is from 12-5:30PM / 5:30-11PM leaving early will be noted on your daily evaluation cards. More than one instance per week will void the service guarantee (ref Section X item h.) g. Refund Policy i. Cancellation 72 hrs before class start Full Refund ii. Cancellation within 72 hrs of class start Full Refund, minus $195 processing fee iii. Termination of service within first week 85% refund of tuition cost iv. Termination of service within second week 75% refund of total tuition cost v. Termination of service after second week of training no refund

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h. Service Guarantee As a student, it takes a lot of courage to make such a substantial investment in yourself. What if I dont have the ability? What if I cant get a job There is a lot to be worried about when starting a new career path, but worrying about whether you will have the skills necessary at the end of class shouldnt be one of them. Some people are not cut-out to be welders that is what the two week evaluation period is for. After that, we offer the following guarantee: if a student is willing to give 100% of their effort to the task, we will make them the best welder they can be without worrying about what it will cost to get them there, based on the following rules: i. After student receives a positive two-week evaluation from ArcPro confirming progress of abilities to ArcPro standards AND student continues to meet the attendance policies, as described in Section X-item f, ArcPro will continue training, at no additional charge, until first-class skill level is reached. ii. Example 1; Student passes 2-week skills evaluation and has perfect attendance though out the regular class duration. If training takes three weeks additional training to get to a first class level, the student is only responsible for paying for regular price of training under the original contract, provided that no attendance lapses occur during the additional time allowed. No additional charges will apply for the extra class time. iii. Example 2; if student does not pass 2-week skills evaluation, Service Guarantee is Void. If student elects to continue training, additional charges will apply, unless student finishes in the allotted course time. iv. Example 3; Student passes initial two week evaluation but fails to meet attendance policies, Service Guarantee is void. i. Grievances At ArcPro, we pride ourselves on being straight-forward with everyone regarding school policies, tuition, fees, and skills evaluations, and we expect the same treatment from our students. At any time students are free to address any class related issues with their instructor(s) without fear of reprisal or persecution. However, if a student feels the need, a formal grievance will may be filed in writing stating the date of the occurrence, parties involved, and pertinent details to: ArcPro, Inc. Board of Directors PO BOX 456 Theodore, AL 36582 The Board will review the information and contact the parties involved for a full investigation. The result of the ruling will be sent, in writing, describing the actions to be taken. Wherever possible, the anonymity of the grieved party will be maintained, however because of the nature of the issue, confidentiality will not be guaranteed.

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j. ArcPro Management Arcpro is a private, for profit institution wholly owned and operated by ArcPro, Inc. ArcPros training programs began in April of 2008 in conjunction with welder testing services also provided by the facility. Governing body members and roles are listed as follows: Board of Directors: Joseph Johnson Board President / Chairman Nicholas Cooper Secretary Alex Kraft Director Day to Day Operations: Joseph Johnson Lead Instructor Nicholas Cooper Instructor Alex Kraft Business Manager

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