West Virginia & Region’s Finishing Trades Institute (FTI) Training Center has announced ambitious plans to leverage the existing elevated water reservoir at its facility for comprehensive training programs. This development marks an important milestone for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), as the facility becomes the only training center in the United States equipped with a full-size elevated tank.
Brian Stanley, West Virginia FTI Co-Chair and Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer for IUPAT District 53 Council discussed the project:
“I’m very excited that coaches from the United States and Canada will be able to come here to learn and teach the tank painting curriculum.” BM/ST Stanley continues to emphasize that “I am also excited to partner with vendors on this project to showcase the products and best practices for this project. At IUPAT we pride ourselves on training the most skilled workforce. The tank training committee has done a lot of work to bring this project to fruition.”
Demand for elevated tanks has been limited in West Virginia, as the Appalachian area has more land storage tanks. However, recognizing the need for specialized training opportunities, the FTI Training Center took the initiative to utilize the tank and create a state-of-the-art training facility. By reusing the existing tank, the center saves considerable costs that would otherwise have been required to build a new one.
The idea of using the depot had been discussed since the center was acquired in 2009, but it wasn’t until five years ago that the project was seriously considered. Two years ago, the plans finally materialized, leading to the formation of a committee made up of members of various IUPAT district councils in the US and Canada and staff from the International Union in Hanover, Maryland. Recent steel repairs have rejuvenated the project, attracting more participants and generating renewed enthusiasm.
To ensure funding viability, the FTI Training Center reached out to industry leaders, such as suppliers and contractors, who generously provided donations and reduced costs for the purpose of creating a skilled workforce. In addition, municipalities across the country contribute their work to help build the tank, improving the overall training experience and saving funds. In exchange, these councils will have access to the equipment for the training of their own members.
Prominent organizations, including the Association for the Protection and Performance of Materials (AMPP), are actively involved in the project. They collaborate in the drafting of specifications and collaborate in the preparation of training curricula. “We are very proud and excited to have been asked by the IUPAT to participate in this project. As we all know, well-trained craftsmen are in extremely short supply in our industry today,” adds Dave Evans, Director of QP & Coatings Credentialing at AMPP. “This project provides a wonderful opportunity for students to gain an excellent education in the specialized field of elevated water tank coating application, combining an exceptional classroom learning experience with hands-on training from real world in an exceptional training facility.”
Remedial work on the depot is expected to be completed by the summer of 2024, including the implementation of a comprehensive training curriculum by this fall. The training programs will cover various aspects such as mobilization, containment, blasting and lead reduction. As the work progresses, all important procedures will be documented on film to capture vital training elements.
Although the project will take approximately two and a half months to complete, the impact of this initiative will last much longer. With input from numerous stakeholders and industry experts, the curriculum is expected to be relevant for the next two decades, with updates and new technologies being integrated along the way.
The establishment of the FTI Training Center’s elevated tank facilities underlines IUPAT’s commitment to providing exceptional training opportunities to its members and the wider industry. As other district councils express interest in using this unique resource, the center is poised to become a national center for advanced tank training.
BM/ST Stanley highlights the importance of elevated tank training, not only for IUPAT members and our industry, but to provide opportunities for their community:
“This is a monumental opportunity to train the next generation of elevated tank painters. This tank gives us so many opportunities to teach rigging, containment, surface preparation, coating application and inspection. I am proud that the West Virginia FTI is poised to become a national center for elevated tank training, and I look forward to the opportunity it provides to my community and IUPAT members across the country. “.
