WinchesterPlumber.com
Trevor Pilcher
Phone 07932 165157
Plumbers specialise in installing and maintaining systems used for
drinking water,
sewage, drainage,
venting, heating and
air-conditioning, or industrial process plantpiping. In most
jurisdictions the piping for HVAC, fire protection, and industrial systems
are installed by 'steam-fitters', 'pipe-fitters', or 'gas-fitters' tradespeople. Many in these trades are
members of organised labourgroups, while many are nonunion. Years of training and experience
are needed to become a skilled plumber; most jurisdictions also require that plumbers be licensed. A Master
Plumber is one who has demonstrated mastery of the trade of plumbing, has worked in the field for many years,
is certified in different areas of plumbing, typically trains new plumbers in the trade, and oversees large
plumbing projects.
Plumbingcodesare very strict, and need for quality plumbing work is high
because of the historical health and safety problems associated with poor water supply and sewage
removal.
Unusually, in the United Kingdom the plumbing trade still
remains virtually ungoverned; there are no effective systems in place to monitor or control the activities of
unqualified plumbers or those home owners who choose to undertake installation and maintenance works
themselves, despite the health and safety issues which arise from such works when they are undertaken
incorrectly. Furthermore, despite having in place an infrastructure dedicated to formally training plumbers
and various Statutes, Regulations and Bye-laws designed to dictate and control how and in what manner
plumbing works are undertaken, there is nothing to stop anyone without any training whatsoever working as a
plumber, safe in the knowledge that it is unlikely that their lack of technical know-how will ever be
found-out. Such people are referred to as Cowboys.
Plumbers in the United Kingdom generally undertake the
installation of domestic internal hot and cold water pipe work, sanitary fittings and related soil and waste
pipe work systems. Domestic, commercial and Industrial gas-fired (central) heating installation, servicing
and repair works, and works related to all other gas fired appliances, although undertaken by plumbers, also
involves the use of other 'sub-trades' such as pipe fitters, gas fitters etc and (in the case of gas fired
appliances) is ineffectively regulated by by an organisation called CORGI (with whom such individuals and
organisations are supposed to be registered before working in this sphere), which although entrusted by the
UK Government to control works related to this field, have no direct means of controlling or policing such
works and are generally only involved in issues arising after the works are completed (and invariably, an
accident has occurred). As a consequence there is a large quantity of work undertaken by unregistered,
unqualified individuals, which is invariably a risk to the health and welfare of the
user.
Oil fired heating appliance installation, servicing and
maintenance works must be undertaken by OFTEC registered individuals and Companies in order to operate in the
UK and due to the complexity of this type of installation and the relatively small number of oil burning
appliances (compared to gas usage) this type of licensing is generally effective in this instance, despite
OFTEC generally operating in the same way as CORGI.
Furthermore, due to the fact that air conditioning design
and installation is perceived to be too complex for plumbers to undertake and legislation related to the use
and correct disposal of refrigerant for use in the air-conditioning field, air conditioning is considered to
be a separate trade in the UK.
Plumbers install
and repair pipes, fittings, fixtures, and other plumbing equipment used for water
distribution, waste water disposal, and venting in residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial
buildings. Plumbing is a traditional field that typically pays well, has good job security, and currently has
need of qualified individuals in many locations worldwide Many plumbers begin their careers in plumbing as
helpers to established plumbers, while others enter formal training institutes.
The word plumber dates from the Roman Empire. In Roman
times, pipes were made of lead, or plumbum in Latin (hence the periodic table of the
elements symbol of Pb for lead). Thus, a person with expertise in working with pipes was known as a
Plumbumber, which was eventually shortened to plumber.
Some needed skills, interests, and
values
- Reading blueprints, drawings, and specifications to
determine layout of water supply, waste, and venting systems
- Installing, repairing and maintaining domestic,
commercial, and industrial plumbing fixtures and systems
- Locating and marking positions for pipe connections,
passage holes, and fixtures in walls and floors
- Measuring, cutting, bending, and threading pipes using
hand and power tools or machines
- Testing pipes for leaks using air and water pressure
gauges
- Communicating with co-workers, other tradespeople and
subcontractors, and management
- Planning and performing complex calculations for
specialized projects
- Providing time and cost estimates of the work to be
performed (both labor and materials)
- Awareness of legal regulations and safety
issues
- Being comfortable when working in confined spaces or
at great heights
- Ensuring safety standards and build regulations are
met.
Plumbers in popular
culture
See also
Adapted from
Wikipedia see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumber

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