Plumbing Industry Overview

Plumbing is an extremely important industry in today's society. It is inevitable that wherever people settle in their residence, they will always eventually need a plumber. Good plumbing is not only vital to public health because it ensures clean drinking water, sanitation, and heating systems, it is also an integral part of modern daily life. Plumbers, pipe layers, pipe fitters and steamfitters specialize in installing and maintaining systems used for drinking water, sewage draining, heating and air-conditioning, venting or industrial process plant piping. They are responsible for installing and repairing fittings, fixtures, pipes and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution.They may also work on natural gas appliances, power turbine engines and solar heating systems. The plumbing industry offers a number of different career paths, good wages and the opportunity for individuals to start and run their own businesses. Many plumbers may eventually progress to consultancy, design, teaching and management.

Career Opportunities and Specialties

Workers generally specialize in one of five different areas of plumbing.Traditional plumbers install and repair the water, waste deposal, drainage and gas systems in commercial, industrial buildings, homes and apartment complexes.They also install plumbing fixtures such as showers, bathtubs, sinks, and toilets as well as appliances such as water heaters and dishwashers. Pipe layers lay concrete, clay, plastic or cast-iron pipes for drains, water mains, sewers and gas or oil lines.Pipe fitters repair and install high and low-pressure pipe systems used in the generation of electricity in manufacturing, and in the heating and cooling of buildings. They also install automatic controls that are now being used to regulate these systems. Some pipe fitters specialize in only one type of these systems.Steamfitters install pipe systems that move gases or liquids under high pressure. Pipe fitters and steamfitters are usually employed by industrial and power plants.Sprinkler fitters install various automatic fire sprinkler systems in large buildings.

Training and Required Skills

Plumbers, pipe fitters, pipe layers, and steamfitters may enter into the profession in a variety of ways. Most residential and industrial plumbers obtain their training at career and technical schools, at community colleges, vocational schools and from on-the-job training. Plumbing schools provide the necessary training needed in classical subjects, such as math, geometry, algebra, physics, and chemistry. Course material will usually cover safety issues and related building regulations and codes. Pipe layers, plumbers, pipe fitters, and steamfitters who mainly work for commercial enterprises are typically trained via apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship programs generally provide the most complete training available for these positions. They are given by either union locals or their affiliated companies or by non-union contractor organizations. Apprenticeships, both union and non-union, consist of a minimum of 144 hours per year of related classroom instruction in addition to 4 or 5 years of on-the-job training. Classroom subjects include local plumbing codes and regulations, drafting and blueprint reading, mathematics, applied physics and chemistry, and safety.

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