Explore Careers - Job Market Report

Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers (NOC 7252)

Vancouver Island and Coast Region

Additional information on Description, Titles, Duties and Related Occupations

Description | Titles | Duties | Related Occupations

Steamfitters and pipefitters lay out, assemble, fabricate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair piping systems carrying water, steam, chemicals and fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating and other process piping systems. Sprinkler system installers fabricate, install, test, maintain and repair water, foam, carbon dioxide and dry chemical sprinkler systems in buildings for fire protection purposes. Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers are employed in maintenance departments of factories, plants and similar establishments, and by pipefitting and sprinkler system contractors, or they may be self-employed.

Included Job Titles

apprentice pipefitter-steamfitter, fire protection mechanic, fire sprinkler fitter, marine pipefitter, pipefitter, sprinkler system fitter, sprinkler system installer, sprinkler system installer apprentice, steamfitter.

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Job Duties

Steamfitters and pipefitters perform some or all of the following duties:

Read and interpret drawings, blueprints and specifications to determine layout requirements
Cut openings for pipe in walls, floors and ceilings using hand or power tools or machines
Select type and size of pipe required
Measure, cut, thread and bend pipe to required shape using hand and power tools
Weld, braze, cement, solder and thread joints to join pipes and fabricate sections of piping system
Install supports, valves, piping and control systems
Test system for leaks using testing equipment
Clean and maintain pipe units and fittings and flush system
Remove and replace worn components and reactivate system
May prepare cost estimates for clients.

Sprinkler system installers perform some or all of the following duties:

Read and interpret drawings, specifications and fire codes to determine layout requirements
Install clamps, brackets and hangers to support piping system and sprinkler and fire protection equipment, using hand and power tools
Select, measure, cut, ream and thread pipe, install sprinkler heads and mount prepared pipe in supports
Join pipes and piping sections using soldering and welding equipment
Connect piping system to water mains, supply tanks, pumps, compressors and control equipment
Installs valves, alarms and associated equipment
Test system for leaks using air or liquid pressure equipment
Service and repair sprinkler system
May prepare cost estimates for clients.

Related Occupations

Additional information on included Cities in Region and Service Canada Offices

Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Included Cities in this region

Victoria, Campbell River, Colwood, Courtenay, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni, Comox, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Port McNeill, Qualicum Beach, Sidney, View Royal, Cumberland, Sooke

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Service Canada Offices

View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers in Vancouver Island and Coast Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

National Outlook – 10-Year Projection (2011-2020)

This section provides labour demand and labour supply projections for this occupation over the 2011-2020 period.

Note: The tables, graphs and middle paragraph shown under this section display updated 2011-2020 projection results. The remaining narrative text (2009-2018 projections) will be updated shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The data in the following table are derived from HRSDC’s Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS). COPS uses a variety of models to produce a detailed 10-year labour market projection per broad skill level and per occupation at the national level, which focuses on the trends of labour supply and labour demand over the next ten years.

This occupation (Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers) is part of a larger occupational group called Plumbers, Pipefitters and Gas Fitters (NOC 725).

Table on the demographic profile for your chosen occupation at the national level.
Occupations in this group	Plumbers (7251) Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers (7252) Gas Fitters (7253)
Employment (non-student) in 2010	71,531
Median Age of workers in 2010	38
Average Retirement Age in 2010	64

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation experienced an increase in employment on par with the average, but it also experienced a significant increase in the unemployment rate, which was 12.5% in 2010. The average hourly wage increased on par with all occupations, and remains high in relation to other trade occupations. According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was sufficient to fill job openings in this occupation.

Over the 2011-2020 period, an occupation will be in excess demand (a shortage of workers) if the projected number of job openings is significantly greater than the projected number of job seekers. An occupation will be in excess supply (a surplus of workers) if the projected number of job openings is smaller than the projected number of job seekers. For Plumbers, Pipefitters And Gas Fitters, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 22,680 and 31,686 job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill the job openings.

Based on projections and considering that labour supply and demand in this occupation were balanced, it is expected that the number of job seekers will remain sufficient to fill job openings over the 2011-2020 period. Approximately half of the job openings will arise from retirements over the projection period, despite a low retirement rate, which is due to the fact that workers in this occupation are generally younger than the overall average and retire later than those in other occupations. Consequently, the gap between the average age of workers and the retirement age is greater than average. The other half of job openings will arise from economic growth, but will be far fewer than during the 2001-2010 period, during which the construction industry was stimulated by the building of new housing units, a substantial increase in renovation spending and, more recently, the increase in non-residential construction spending. However, the recent economic recession and a slowdown in population growth will result in a decrease in demand for housing and, therefore, a drop in the number of new job openings for plumbers, pipefitters and gas fitters. In terms of supply, nearly all job seekers will come from the school system. However, over the 2011-2020 period, many workers will leave this occupation to work in others because of the slowdown in the construction industry.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.

Table of job opening projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category	Openings	%
Expansion Demand	9,428	42%
Retirements	10,167	45%
Other Replacement Demand	1,485	7%
Emigration	1,600	7%
Projected Job Openings	22,680	100%

Table of job seeker projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category	Seekers	%
School Leavers	29,715	94%
Immigration	2,115	7%
Other	-144	-0%
Projected Job Seekers	31,686	100%

[ Source: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) ]

In which industry or sector do people in this occupation find jobs in Canada?

This table shows the industry and sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.

This table shows the industry sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.
Industry / Sector	%
Construction	51.50
Manufacturing	20.00
Mining and oil and gas extraction	11.70
Other services (except public administration)	3.70

[ Source: 2006 Census - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What percentage of people in this occupation are self-employed?

The graph displays the percentage of people in this occupation who are “self-employed”, according to the 2006 Census, in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

As shown in the graph, according to the 2006 Census, 5% of people in this occupation were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 12%.

The Labour Force Survey also gives us some information about self-employment. This occupation (Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers) is part of a larger group called Plumbers, Pipefitters and Gas Fitters (NOC 725). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 11% of workers in this group were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 16%.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What percentage of people in this occupation are members of a union?

This occupation (Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers) is part of a larger group called Plumbers, Pipefitters and Gas Fitters (NOC 725). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 49%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.