What a pipefitter does
Pipefitters install, assemble and maintain piping systems that carry water, steam, chemicals, fuel and other fluids. Their work appears in commercial heating and cooling systems, hospitals, manufacturing plants and energy facilities. They read drawings and isometrics, cut, thread and join pipe, install supports and valves and test systems for leaks before they go into service. In Ontario, this trade is often certified as steamfitter.
Pipefitting covers a wide range of systems and pressures, so matching experience matters. Finch asks about the systems, materials and joining methods your work involves, from grooved and threaded pipe to welded steel, then screens candidates for that background. We also check safety training for industrial sites and confined spaces, and confirm with past supervisors how candidates performed on similar projects.
Typical responsibilities
- Reading drawings and isometrics to lay out piping runs
- Cutting, threading, grooving and joining pipe in steel, copper and other materials
- Installing pipe supports, hangers, valves and fittings
- Pressure testing systems and correcting leaks
- Maintaining and repairing existing piping systems
- Working with welders, millwrights and other trades on installations
Qualifications and credentials
- A Skilled Trades Ontario certificate of qualification as a steamfitter, or a completed apprenticeship, depending on your work
- Experience with the piping systems and materials your projects use
- Ability to read isometric drawings and specifications
- Safety training such as WHMIS, Working at Heights and confined space awareness where relevant
- Welding tickets are an asset for roles that include pipe welding
Who hires a pipefitter
- Mechanical contractors
- Industrial construction companies
- Manufacturing and processing plants
- Hospitals and institutional facilities
- Energy and utility contractors
Where we recruit pipefitter candidates
We fill pipefitter roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Systems experience, such as hydronic, steam, process or fuel piping
- Certificate or apprenticeship status
- Joining methods used, including threading, grooving and welding
- Safety training for industrial sites and confined spaces
- References from mechanical contractors or plant supervisors
Interview questions to ask
- What types of piping systems have you installed, and at what pressures?
- How do you work from an isometric drawing to lay out a run?
- Tell me about a pressure test that failed. How did you find and fix the problem?