Pipefitters install, maintain and repair various piping systems using advanced technical expertise and highly specialised skills.
They create safe and stable systems to ensure leak-free transportation of liquids/gases from the source to the point of use.
These substances range from essential utilities to high-pressure steam, hydraulic fluid, and highly volatile chemicals.
Pipefitters work in industrial environments like refineries, factories, and energy plants. They also provide valuable support to critical settings such as hospitals.
A lot of skills are needed in pipefitting, including:
Primarily working in commercial, industrial and manufacturing settings, Pipefitters are responsible for installing, assembling, maintaining, and repairing piping systems.
They often plan systems and use various methods to install the pipe according to required specifications, typically in carbon steel, stainless steel, and metal alloys.
The engineers will also perform troubleshooting and repairs to ensure the system is fit for use.
Pipefitters use many skills to assemble and repair pipes, such as:
The pipe fit process is often in live buildings, meaning they work closely with the site management to coordinate logistics and accommodate others.
A pipefitters daily workload can differ depending on their speciality and where they work.
A typical day could look like this:
Pipefitters work with cooling, fuel transport, heating, scorching water, hydraulics, steam, and ventilation.
When the project involves pipe installation and assembly, they may be expected to shape the correct metals to fit that specific industrial use.
The engineers typically create a sketch of the pipe installation. The plan usually consists of pipe sizing and type.
Once completed, a pipefitter will do the initial work to organise the pipes for welding.
This may include cutting, spacing, or grinding to provide smooth and even edges.
Then, a pipefitter skilled in pipe welding will join the pipes together.
Typically, pipe welders have some essential welding skills that help them install and repair pipes. However, highly specialised welders will perform more complicated welds.
Pipefitting and pipe welding are distinct career paths, but both need to understand how metals fit together.
A pipe welder specialising in welding might put down the welds after a pipefitter has cut and prepared the joints. It all depends on the specific job.
There are many different welding types used in pipe fitting today, such as:
Pipe welders need to observe the proper welding procedure for each job. For example, preparing a joint for arc welding is not the same as preparing a joint for TIG welding.
For more information on Welding, please visit our Welding Services page.
Pipefitters use a variety of tools to shape, cut and connect pipes.
Here are some of the more common tools used:
These are some fundamental skills for pipefitters to have:
Pipefitters can work on various projects, meaning their work environment continually changes. Some projects may also mean travelling to different work sites throughout the day.
They might work at the location where a piping system is being installed. Or they might be the team planning and fabricating the pipe needed for the site in the workshop.
Typically, pipefitters work in the industrial and manufacturing industries. They visit sites like:
Pipefitters work with various specialised power tools, heavy equipment, and welding equipment, each with risk factors.
Pipefitters are liable for providing the highest safety standards in the workplace according.
Some of the gases and fluids they might encounter may be toxic. Therefore, wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary.
PPE is equipment designed to protect engineers against health and safety risks in the workplace.
Safety is essential in any operation but is crucial in an industry such as fabrication. Welding alone presents a constant risk from heat, radiation, and ricochet.
There are many types of PPE that Pipefitters can use to provide safe working, such as:
You can get into this job through:
You can do a college course, which may help you get a trainee pipefitters job. Courses include:
You’ll usually need:
City And Guilds offer courses for Pipefitters.
For more information, please visit the National Careers website.
Varlowe Industrial Services has a talented team of on-site pipefitters. We cover everything from minor pipe changes to complete pipework restructures nationwide.
We are able to pre-fabricate most pipework at our workshop. As a result, it can keep site disruption low.
Please call us on 01902 861042 or visit our Pipefitter page for more information.