A skilled trades worker who fabricates, assembles, and maintains mechanical piping systems. Unlike plumbers who focus on low-pressure water and sanitary systems, pipefitters work with high-pressure steam, chemicals, gases, and fuels in industrial settings. The work heavily involves welding, threading, and rigging large-diameter steel or alloy pipes.
We need a pipefitter to tie in the new steam line before they fire up the boiler.
Getting called a plumber is a common annoyance for pipefitters, as fitting requires different certifications and often involves structural welding.
Also heard as
- fitter
Do not mix it up with
- Plumber: Plumbers work on domestic water and waste systems, while pipefitters handle high-pressure industrial lines like steam and chemicals.
Related terms
Plumber
A professional who installs and repairs systems for drinking water, sewage, and drainage.
Pipe bender
A manual or hydraulic tool used to form smooth curves in metal tubing without kinking the walls.
Mainline
The primary underground sewer pipe that connects a building drainage system to the municipal sewer or septic tank.