Steam & Pipe fitters build, install and maintain piping systems that carry almost every fluid that can be carried through a pipe but generally they include oil and gas products, water, steam, chemicals and even wood chips. Steam & pipe fitters are the only trade that specializes in design, planning, and installation of high and low pressure steam systems and installation methods for steam. This includes working on heating and cooking systems for processing and manufacturing up to installation of piping for nuclear reactors, crude oil cracking processes, offshore platforms, and many other types of steam powered processes.

The Steam & Pipe fitter tradesperson completes planning, layout, assembly, and installation of pipe and piping systems for installation in facilities that include oil refineries, pulp and paper mills, nuclear power plants, food and beverage manufacturing plants and the automotive industry to name a few. Their work includes specialty piping systems that are composed of stainless steel, chrome-moly, nickel, Monel and Inconel that require special joining techniques. The systems that these experts can work on are the highest pressure and temperature applications anywhere and they require a thorough knowledge of scientific principles to complete this work safely.

​

Industry Changes

The Steam & Pipe fitter is constantly learning and updating their knowledge. With new technology on the rise in manufacturing, improving piping and pressurization knowledge will always be incredibly important.

The government has recently set targets for greater energy efficiency to combat climate change. With further training, you may be able to install and maintain renewable energy technologies like solar powered heating systems. Steam & Pipe fitters must continue to further educate themselves for higher end technology. The demand should also be high for those who stay informed about new developments in this field, such as alternate fuels technology.

Over the next ten years, the employment outlook is considered to be excellent. The lack of trained and qualified Steam & Pipe fitters and the expected increased retirement rate in this trade over the next decade highlight the opportunities within the industry for good potential jobs.

This trade is becoming increasingly complex, so Steam & Pipe fitters who have had formal training may find the most opportunities.

 

Safety

Safe working practices and accident prevention are the primary importance to the health and safety of all person(s) at any or all work place environments. All person(s) including employee, employer and government, share this responsibility in order to keep everyone free of any dangers or accidents that may cause an individual(s) serious bodily harm or death.

The Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations, should be consistently reviewed and enforced in every work place environment. Educating and understanding these regulations is everyone’s responsibility in order to keep a safe work place environment.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) has contributed to a safer work place environment. Health and safety has become a high priority in the workplace due to increased awareness of dangers and the identifications of hazardous materials.

Practicing health and safety is a tremendous contribution to a safe and accident free work place environment.

 

Job Tasks

• Assembles

• Blueprint reading

• Bonds

• Brazing

• Cutting

• Drilling

• Electrical

• Erecting

• Gas arc cutting

• Heats metal

• Layouts

• Machining

• Measuring

• Medical gas piping

• Pipe installation

• Pipe threading

• Pipe grinding

• Plasma cutting

• Rigging

• Torches

• Tube bending

• Valve installation and repair

• Welding

Tools

• Adjustable wrench

• Allen keys

• Ball peen hammer

• Chipper hammer

• Clamps

• Combination square

• Crow bar

• Grinders

• Electrical multi-meter

• Face shield

• Hack saw

• Hammer

• Lathes

• Measuring tape

• Micrometers, calipers and thickness gauges

• Mig welder

• Mini pipe cutters

• Multi meter

• Needle nose pliers

• Safety equipment (goggles, boots, face shield etc)

• Screw driver set

• Shapers

• Socket set

• Sparking igniter

• Spot welder

• Square

• Tig Welder

• Tin snips

• Torches

• Vice grips

• Welder gloves and jacket

• Welder mask

• Wrenches

• Wire strippers

• …and much more

 

Skills

• Critical Thinking

• Decision Making

• Analytical Thinking

• Numerical

• Oral Communication

• Problem Solving

• Reading Blueprints and schematics

• Writing

• Computer Knowledge

 

General Wages

• Average -   $23.50

• Minimum -  $16.75

• Maximum - $34.40

​

Sample Q&A

 

1. What is the proper procedure to repair a broken fitting on a hydronic heating system using CPVC pipe?

a. Isolate, drain remove joint solvent weld to new spool and fitting and install

b. Drain, isolate remove joint apply primer solvent weld to new spool and fitting and install

c. Isolate, drain remove joint apply primer to new spool and fitting and install

d. Isolate, drain remove joint  apply primer solvent weld to new spool and fitting and install

Ans.  D

 

2. Which type of gasket is most frequently used in a high-pressure hydraulic system assembled with socket weld flanges?

a. spiral flange

b. crush ring

c. “O” ring

d. Split ring

Ans C

 

3. What is the cut-in pressure on a low-pressure steam boiler has a set operating pressure 5 psig below the maximum allowed by the ASME code. The differential of the pressuretrol is 4 psig?

a. 14 psig

b. 4 psig

c. 6 psig

d. 18 psig

Ans. C

 

4. Which type of check valve is installed and what is the best location when the condensate side of a steam trap is piped into an overhead condensate main?

a. Lift check valve at the mid point.

b. Non-slam check valve close to the main connection.

c. Swing check valve close to the trap location.

d. Stop-and-check valve at the mid point.

Ans. C

 

5. Before breaking open the pipe joints for repair, what should be done with the isolation valves on a high pressure steam system?

a. Remove the valve handles so the valves can't be operated.

b. Open the valves fully to equalize the pressure with the system.

c. Check that the valves are closed, tagged and locked out.

d. Determine the pressure in the mains ahead of the isolation valves.

Ans. C

 

6. What piece of equipment is required on a large water tube boiler with inadequate gravity circulation?

a. Vacuum/condensate pump.

b. De-aerator storage drum.

c. Inline down-comer circulator.

d. Base-mounted pump.

Ans. C

 

7. When the boiler is firing and no water is visible in the sight glass, what is the first action taken?

a. Reset the low water cut-off switch.

b. Shut off the fuel supply to the boiler.

c. Shut off the steam supply to the system.

d. Prove that the sight glass is operational.

Ans. B