What is a Pipefitter?


A pipefitter not to be mistaken for a plumber, is a tradesman who lays out, assembles, fabricates, maintains and repairs mechanical piping systems. Pipefitters usually go through a mix of apprentice and trade school training. Journeyman pipefitters/steamfitters deal with industrial process 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 precisely cutting, threading, grooving, bending and welding, whereas a plumber concentrates on piping systems for utility liquids potable water, sewage, drains, etc. in the commercial and residential atmosphere operating at lower pressures than high powered industrial systems. Read More