10/18/2019
Today is my Birthday- the big 30. Super excited and happy to be where I am. Tons to be grateful and appreciative for including lessons learned. I’m looking forward to the adventure ahead and even more knowledge gained in my professional and personal life.
Yesterday I was walking site with my Superintendent (new addition to our small team). We were chatting and discussing activities/oddball items as I took site photos of the six levels we are renovating. Cool tenant improvement (TI) downtown Minneapolis in the AT&T Tower. He was pointing out different things and asking questions. I realized very quickly how annoyed I was, not knowing the answers to some of his questions. Sure, this is my fourth week on the project and I don’t have the 10+ years of experience he does. Still! Very frustrating. One thing he brought up sparking intrigue was the difference between the pipes being installed. He asked “what lines get insulated”? My internal response was based on the hangers, looking for larger hangers, room for insulation to wrap around the pipe then sit. He confirmed precisely my thought as he kept going on about the lines. His next statement turned my gears. The Superintendent inquired if I knew the difference between a Tin Knocker (Sheet Metal) and Steamfitter. Sure- I thought. One is more of a plumber, specific to running cold water, sewer lines etc. for utilities such as restrooms and sinks. Tin Knocker (Sheet Metal) specializes in MEP, think Hot Water Heaters, Condensers. He commented on how Installers always wear denim shirts, or Canadian Tuxedos ::laughing::
My limited knowledge caused me to question what I did know. In general, my primary background is in fabrication/manufacturing. My construction experience is a mosh of residential from my childhood as cheap labor for my father and my three years in construction management. When I was in High School I was offered an opportunity to work in Sheet Metal Shop for a summer. I learned how to bend sheet metal, forming the various systems making up an HVAC system and how to frame duct-work. A buddy of mine had the same opportunity and continued to join the union once he turned 18. My struggle with Sheet Metal is the limited welding. Most of what Tin Knockers do is taking sheets of different gauge and metal (majority galvanized steel, aluminum, and in some rare, expensive cases stainless). Cutting, stamping, and bending into shapes (mostly box or rectangle) and/or installing these formed pieces. This includes working at high elevations to raise and level out duct-work.
High-level breakdown between Fitters and Tin Knockers: Fitters split into technically two categories: Pipe and Steam Fitters. Pipe fitters are more central to Industrial Operations such as Refineries or Processing plants. Main tasks of a Pipe fitter include lining the pipe up (fit up). This means the pipe is level and set with correct gap for type and x number pass welds. This can also include flange connections (bolt up). Fit ups are dependent on the system and pressure needed for the gas or liquid to pass through. Blinds can be included at specific points in a line for maintenance or emergency shut off. Pipe fitters focus on low and high-pressure systems. They also integrate electrical generation including controls to manage (switches and sensors).
Steamfitters focus on systems that transport slurries, gases, and liquids which is a more dangerous and risky. Sheet Metal Installers or Tin Knockers support the install of an HVAC system. This ranges in scale depending on the job and demand of the scope. Industrial to Commercial your sizing will go from a more traditional small duct work, like what you see in a home to massive crane weight duct that takes special procedures and plans to fit up. Don’t forget about plumbers. They get thrown in with fitters. Similar in some ways but really quite different. Both manage the piping that runs through a structure. Think kitchen sink, hot and cold water, geothermal systems (off grid heating and cooling). Both types of fitters are responsible for getting these systems installed and operational.
Commercial building tends to use much smaller systems. Less welding is involved, assembly includes more fittings and hangers. Even this reality shifts based on the type of projects. Larger more specialized operations such as a Refinery has a good mix of pipe fitters. A mix of welders who stick or TIG weld large and small bore pipe. Part of their scope includes installation of pipe lines that eventually make up Hydrogen, Sulfate, Oxygen, and other diverse piping systems, to successfully operate a refinery. Take a moment and think about what a refinery is; a large system that converts x to y then z. Specifically in Richmond at Chevron, it was a hydrogen plant. Hydrogen plant is step away from traditional processing, instead of separating crude oil like more traditional plants, they use “cleaner” operations to transform the oil into gas. Simply stated from Today in Energy "Refineries use hydrogen to lower the sulfur content". Overall, the breakdown between Tinner and Fitter is more in depth. Some curiosity and research lead me to learn a little bit more then before. Resources below are for additional insight.
Resources:
Ben Franklin Plumbing (2020). Difference Between Plumbers and Plumbing Contractors and Specialty Plumbers. https://www.benfranklinplumbingauburnal.com/about-us-2/auburn-blog/113-difference-between-plumbers-and-plumbing-contractors-and-specialty-plumbers
Careers in Construction (2020). Sheet Metal Worker. https://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/career/sheet-metal-worker
Career Trend (2018, December 27). Differences Between Steamfitters & Pipefitters. https://careertrend.com/list-7562435-differences-between-steamfitters-pipefitters.html
Chron (2019, March 9). Steamfitter Job Duties. https://work.chron.com/steamfitter-job-duties-11064.html
Efficient Business (2020, February 10). Effective Communication=Better Construction Managment. https://www.isqft.com/start/blog-effective-communication-better-construction-management/
Electrician Talk (2020). Nicknames for Different Trades. https://www.electriciantalk.com/f17/nicknames-different-trades-18515/
Going Pro (2020). A Day in a Life of a Plumber. https://www.going-pro.com/a-day-in-the-life/plumber-pipefitter-steamfitter/
Modern Mec (2020). https://www.modernmec.com/careers/
SMACNA (2020). https://connect.smacna.org/home
Today in Energy (2016, January 20) Hydrogen for refineries is increasingly provided by industrial suppliers. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=24612#:~:text=Refineries%20use%20hydrogen%20to%20lower%20the%20sulfur%20content%20of%20diesel%20fuel.&text=Refineries%20also%20produce%20some%20by,fraction%20of%20their%20hydrogen%20needs.
Warner Service (2018, September 4). HVAC System Basics for Beginners. https://www.warnerservice.com/hvac-system-basics-for-beginners
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