steamfitters
High-pressure pipe workers
Steamfitters are skilled tradespeople who install and maintain piping systems that carry steam, hot water, or other fluids under high pressure—typically for heating, cooling, or industrial processes.
The work overlaps with plumbing but involves higher pressures and more specialized materials: The steamfitters union sent a crew to retrofit the hospital's heating system.
Indoor climate management
- boilersWater-heating pressure vessels
- chillersWorks designed to frighten
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
- hydronicsLiquid-medium thermal transfer systems
plumbing · ventilation · compressors · condensate · cogeneration
Heat-fusing metal pieces
- brazingFiller-metal bonding process
- solderingLow-temp metal fusion
- threadingPassing strand through opening
- torqueRotational force measurement
blueprint · gauge · flowmeter · rigging · alignment · layout · measuring · leveling
Tubes for fluid transport
- flangeProjecting attachment rim
- valveFluid flow controller
- couplingJoint between systems
- elbowArm's middle joint
tee · reducer · union · joint · bend · cross · adapter · bushing
Transferred thermal energy
- insulationThermal transfer prevention
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- pressureForce upon contact
- BTUHeat measurement abbreviation
thermodynamics · conduction · convection · combustion · expansion · contraction · jacketing · lagging
Joining into one
- journeymanQualified trade worker
- apprenticeshipLearning trade through employment
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- pipefittersTradespeople installing piping systems
plumbers · local · vocational · licensing · contractor · foreman · superintendent · indenture
HVAC
Indoor climate management
- boilersWater-heating pressure vessels
- chillersWorks designed to frighten
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
hydronics · plumbing · ventilation · compressors · condensate · cogeneration
welding
Heat-fusing metal pieces
- brazingFiller-metal bonding process
- solderingLow-temp metal fusion
- threadingPassing strand through opening
torque · blueprint · gauge · flowmeter · rigging · alignment · layout · measuring · leveling · cutting
piping
Tubes for fluid transport
elbow · tee · reducer · union · joint · bend · cross · adapter · bushing · nipple
heat
Transferred thermal energy
- insulationThermal transfer prevention
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- pressureForce upon contact
BTU · thermodynamics · conduction · convection · combustion · expansion · contraction · jacketing · lagging · tracing
union
Joining into one
- journeymanQualified trade worker
- apprenticeshipLearning trade through employment
- certificationAttestation of qualification
pipefitters · plumbers · local · vocational · licensing · contractor · foreman · superintendent · indenture
- fitterspipefitter, pipefitters, gasfitter
steamfittersoffice workers
Indoor professional employees
white-collar workers · executives · desk jockeys · paper pushers · accountants
steamfittersplumbers
Pipe installation tradespeople
electricians · HVAC technicians · welders · pipefitters · carpenters