B&V details EPC operations for infrastructure projects

Black and Veatch (B&V) recently released a report detailing the importance of engineering, global procurement, construction, commissioning (EPC) and startup in infrastructure related projects.

In the report, B&V said the initial processes are often overlooked in favor of later stages in an infrastructure project. For contracts that B&V takes on, they aim to take EPC processes within all stages of the project.

“If you haven’t planned for commissioning during the design phases you’re often going to be hit with some unexpected issues during the actual commissioning that you never planned for,” B&V's water business Senior Vice President of Design-Build Blake Childress said. “Engineering stays involved in the project all the way through construction, just as construction stays involved in the engineering phase all the way through the design phase. That’s the total integration. It helps to provide best value both for the EPC/design-builder and for the owner.”

The company employs approximately 200 startup and commissioning specialists. Within the design and construction process of any kind of plant, B&V said the training of future plant personnel is also a crucial step.

"It requires the eventual operating team members to be out in the field, shown the various systems, the equipment and the order in which the plant will be started up," Childress said. "Our operator training team is there hand-in-hand with the client through the startup process, and they’re observing and watching. Then, ultimately, the client’s personnel take it over and they’re doing it. When they’re comfortable, that is when you can best turn the project over.”