A pipefitter or steamfitter[1] is a tradesman who installs, assembles, fabricates, maintains, and repairs mechanical piping systems. Pipefitters usually begin as helpers or apprentices. Journeyman pipefitters deal with industrial/commercial/marine piping and heating/cooling systems. Typical industrial process pipe is under high pressure, which requires metals such as carbon steel, stainless steel, and many different alloy metals fused together through precise cutting, threading, grooving, bending, and welding. A plumber concentrates on lower pressure piping systems for sewage and potable tap water in the industrial, commercial, institutional, or residential atmosphere. Utility piping typically consists of copper, PVC, CPVC, polyethylene, and galvanized pipe, which is typically glued, soldered, or threaded. Other types of piping systems include steam, ventilation, hydraulics, chemicals, fuel, and oil.[2]
In Canada, pipefitting is classified as a compulsory trade, and carries a voluntary "red seal" inter-provincial standards endorsement. Pipefitter apprenticeships are controlled and regulated provincially, and in some cases allow for advance standing in similar trades upon completion.
In the United States, many states require pipefitters to be licensed. Requirements differ from state to state, but most include a four- to five-year apprenticeship. Union pipefitters are required to pass an apprenticeship test (often called a "turn-out exam") before becoming a licensed journeyman. Others can be certified by NCCER (formerly the National Center for Construction Education and Research).
Pipefitters install, assemble, fabricate, maintain, repair, and troubleshoot pipe carrying fuel, chemicals, water, steam, and air in heating, cooling, lubricating, and various other process piping systems. Pipefitters are employed in the maintenance departments of power stations, refineries, offshore installations, factories, and similar establishments, by pipefitting contractors.[3]
In North America, union pipefitters are members of the United Association. Wages vary from area to area, based on demands for experienced personnel and existing contracts between local unions and contractors. The United Association is also affiliated with the piping trades unions in Ireland and Australia.
Differences between pipefitting and pipelaying
Pipefitters should not be confused with pipelayers. Both trades involve pipe and valves and both use some of the same tools.[4] However, pipelayers usually work outside, laying pipe underground or on the seabed, whereas pipefitters typically work inside, installing piping in buildings, aeroplanes, or ships.[4] One author summarizes the different tasks this way:
Pipe layers operate the backhoes and trenching machinery that dig the trenches to accommodate the placement of sanitary sewer pipes and stormwater sewer drainpipes. They use surveyor’s equipment to ensure the trenches have the proper slope and install the pieces of pipe in the trenches, joining the ends with cement, glue, or welding equipment. Using an always-open or always-closed valve called a tap, pipe layers connect them to a wider system and bury the pipes.
Pipe fitters plan and test piping and tubing layouts; cut, bend or fabricate pipe or tubing segments; and join those segments by threading them, using lead joints, welding, brazing, cementing, or soldering them together. They install manual, pneumatic, hydraulic and electric valves in pipes to control the flow through the pipes or tubes. These workers create the system of tubes in boilers and make holes in walls and bulkheads to accommodate the passage of the pipes they install.[4]
Pipe fitters are often exposed to hazardous or dangerous materials, such as asbestos, lead, ammonia, steam, flammable gases, various resins and solvents including benzene and various refrigerants. Much progress was made in the 20th century toward eliminating or reducing hazardous materials exposures. Many aspects of hazardous materials are now regulated by law in most countries, including asbestos usage and removal and refrigerant selection and handling.
Other occupational hazards include exposure to the weather, heavy lifting, crushing hazards, lacerations, and other risks normal to the construction industry.
pipefitter, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, june, 2022, lea. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pipefitter news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message A pipefitter or steamfitter 1 is a tradesman who installs assembles fabricates maintains and repairs mechanical piping systems Pipefitters usually begin as helpers or apprentices Journeyman pipefitters deal with industrial commercial marine piping and heating cooling systems Typical industrial process pipe is under high pressure which requires metals such as carbon steel stainless steel and many different alloy metals fused together through precise cutting threading grooving bending and welding A plumber concentrates on lower pressure piping systems for sewage and potable tap water in the industrial commercial institutional or residential atmosphere Utility piping typically consists of copper PVC CPVC polyethylene and galvanized pipe which is typically glued soldered or threaded Other types of piping systems include steam ventilation hydraulics chemicals fuel and oil 2 Large scale piping system in an HVAC mechanical room In Canada pipefitting is classified as a compulsory trade and carries a voluntary red seal inter provincial standards endorsement Pipefitter apprenticeships are controlled and regulated provincially and in some cases allow for advance standing in similar trades upon completion In the United States many states require pipefitters to be licensed Requirements differ from state to state but most include a four to five year apprenticeship Union pipefitters are required to pass an apprenticeship test often called a turn out exam before becoming a licensed journeyman Others can be certified by NCCER formerly the National Center for Construction Education and Research Contents 1 Occupational summary 1 1 Scope of work 2 Trade groups 3 Differences between pipefitting and pipelaying 4 Occupational hazards 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksOccupational summary EditPipefitters install assemble fabricate maintain repair and troubleshoot pipe carrying fuel chemicals water steam and air in heating cooling lubricating and various other process piping systems Pipefitters are employed in the maintenance departments of power stations refineries offshore installations factories and similar establishments by pipefitting contractors 3 Scope of work Edit Blueprint reading Detailing CAD drawing coordinators Layout Pipe threading Pipe grinding Plasma cutting Gas arc cutting Rigging Brazing Soldering Mitering Tube bending Valve installation and repair Mechanical pipe cutting and grooving Supports and hanger installation Preparation and installation of medical gas piping Welding GMAW TiG SMAW Orbital Trade groups EditIn North America union pipefitters are members of the United Association Wages vary from area to area based on demands for experienced personnel and existing contracts between local unions and contractors The United Association is also affiliated with the piping trades unions in Ireland and Australia Differences between pipefitting and pipelaying EditPipefitters should not be confused with pipelayers Both trades involve pipe and valves and both use some of the same tools 4 However pipelayers usually work outside laying pipe underground or on the seabed whereas pipefitters typically work inside installing piping in buildings aeroplanes or ships 4 One author summarizes the different tasks this way Pipe layers operate the backhoes and trenching machinery that dig the trenches to accommodate the placement of sanitary sewer pipes and stormwater sewer drainpipes They use surveyor s equipment to ensure the trenches have the proper slope and install the pieces of pipe in the trenches joining the ends with cement glue or welding equipment Using an always open or always closed valve called a tap pipe layers connect them to a wider system and bury the pipes Pipe fitters plan and test piping and tubing layouts cut bend or fabricate pipe or tubing segments and join those segments by threading them using lead joints welding brazing cementing or soldering them together They install manual pneumatic hydraulic and electric valves in pipes to control the flow through the pipes or tubes These workers create the system of tubes in boilers and make holes in walls and bulkheads to accommodate the passage of the pipes they install 4 5 Occupational hazards EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed June 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Pipe fitters are often exposed to hazardous or dangerous materials such as asbestos lead ammonia steam flammable gases various resins and solvents including benzene and various refrigerants Much progress was made in the 20th century toward eliminating or reducing hazardous materials exposures Many aspects of hazardous materials are now regulated by law in most countries including asbestos usage and removal and refrigerant selection and handling Other occupational hazards include exposure to the weather heavy lifting crushing hazards lacerations and other risks normal to the construction industry See also EditPiping and plumbing fittingReferences Edit www tru ca Thompson Rivers University Steamfitter Pipefitter School of Trades and Technology Thompson Rivers University Retrieved 2019 02 19 https tradesecrets alberta ca trades occupations profiles 0074 Steamfitter Pipefitter Trade Profile Alberta Trade Secrets 1995 2010 Explore Careers by Occupation Job Bank 0 hrsdc gc ca 2017 01 31 Retrieved 2017 02 23 a b c Will Charpentier Pipe Layers vs Pipe Fitters Demand Media Naperville Plumber Saturday 30 July 2022External links EditPipe Hangers amp Support Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pipefitter amp oldid 1129127316, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
