B.C. Scholarships

Plumber

Plumbers install, repair and maintain plumbing fixtures and systems, including water, steam, chemical, medical gas, process piping, irrigation and fuel piping systems. They are employed by plumbing contractors, maintenance departments of manufacturing, commercial, health care and educational facilities, and by plumbing service companies. They may also be self-employed. Plumbers install piping and equipment in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. They may also install specialized equipment such as medical gas equipment, compressed air equipment, residential fire systems, water conditioners, sewage and water treatment, and storage and flow systems for toxic waste.

Plumbers interpret blueprints, refer to layouts of existing services, and review applicable codes and specifications to determine work details and procedures. They locate and mark positions for fixtures, pipe connections and sleeves, then cut openings to accommodate pipe and fittings. Plumbers use a variety of tools and equipment, including power tools, welding and soldering/brazing equipment, and hoisting and lifting equipment to perform the tasks in their trade. They work with a variety of piping materials including copper, steel, plastic, glass, cast iron, asbestos-cement pipe and specialty pipe. Before assembling and fitting pipe sections, tubing and fittings, the pipes must be measured, cut and bent as required. Joining pipe may be done by various means, including threading, mechanical joints, welding, soldering/brazing and using fastening materials and compounds. Once the system is in place, plumbers test pipes and plumbing fixtures to detect and locate leaks.

There is an inherent risk of injury when working with sharp edges, power tools, pipe-joining equipment and chemicals. Special considerations must be taken to avoid serious injury when working with pressurized fluids, gases and steam. Other hazards include exposure to the elements, electrical shocks, burns, heavy lifting and exposure to hazardous waste. While performing their duties, plumbers are also required to do considerable standing, climbing, and kneeling. They must often work at heights and in cramped, awkward positions. Key attributes for people entering this trade are good mechanical, mathematical and spatial visualization skills. Plumbers also need good communication skills to communicate with clients and co-workers. Good analytical skills are required to interpret building plans and inspect plumbing systems.

With experience, plumbers may act as mentors and trainers to apprentices in the trade. They may move into other positions such as instructors, estimators and project managers. This analysis recognizes similarities or overlaps with the work of gas fitters, steamfitters/pipefitters and sprinkler system installers.

Back

Recently Added Resources

The Canadian Nursing Students' Association
The Canadian Nursing Students Association (CNSA) is the voice of nursing students in Canada. For over thirty years, CNSA has represented the interests of nursing students to federal, provincial, and international governments and to other nursing and health care organizations. More >
Alberta Volunteer Centres
Banff Volunteer Centre 302 Buffalo Street, Box 5148 Banff AB, T1L 1G3 Telephone: 403.762.4466 Fax: 403.762.4463 info@volunteerbanff.ab.ca www.volunteerbanff.ab.ca Volunteer Calgary Suite 1170, Kahanoff Centre 1202 Centre St SE Calgary, AB T2G 5A5 Telephone: 403.265.5633 Fax: 403.265.8981 info@volunteercalgary.ab.ca www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca Volunteer Centre of Camrose and District 3, 4516 â?? 54 Street Camrose,... More >
Sprinkler System Installer
The occupational title "Sprinkler System Installer" defines persons who, because of their knowledge, training and abilities, are capable of installing, testing, maintaining, and repairing fire protection systems. Sprinkler System Installers are usually, but not exclusively, found in industrial, institutional, commercial, and residential situations, such as: plants, factories, office buildings, hotels,... More >
Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental)
Ironworkers (structural/ornamental) install and reinforce structural/ornamental steel components, precast structural concrete members and glued laminated timber products (glulam) in commercial, industrial, institutional and large residential buildings, towers, bridges and stadiums. They erect pre-engineered buildings and ornamental ironwork such as curtain walls, metal stairways, catwalks, railings and metal doors. They also... More >
Financial Support for skills training to Employment Insurance eligible individuals
Am I eligible for participation in Skills Development? To be eligible for participation in Skills Development (SD), you must be an unemployed individual ("insured participant") as defined by Section 58 of the Employment Insurance Act. This means that you are an individual for whom: a) an unemployment benefit period has... More >
Pascal, Cayley and Fermat Math Contests
The Pascal, Cayley and Fermat math competitions are an opportunity for students to have fun and to develop their mathematical problem solving ability. Details are available in the full information brochure. More >
National Health Sciences Students' Association
The National Health Sciences Students' Association was established in 2005 and is the first national interprofessional student association in the world. NaHSSA is a network of local university and college-based chapters that promote interprofessional education and practice within Canada. NaHSSA enables students to advocate for and learn from this form... More >
Canadian Architecture Students Association
Canadian Architecture Students Association is a non-profit organization who is composed of a collection of students across the nation who are committed to being the voice of the architectural student body across Canada. This Association, though often besieged by geography, experiment and discover new methods of communication without bounds. They... More >

Featured Scholarships

Browse All