Sprinkler fitters install and maintain sprinkler systems in homes, businesses, and other structures. Sprinklers are complex fire suppression systems that must be installed in new structures in order to comply with fire codes. A sprinkler fitter will design the system to meet these requirements, and he or she will install it during the building’s construction. The system can also be installed in existing buildings to bring them up to code and help prevent fires from spreading.
A sprinkler fitter will be a member of a labor union in many parts of the world, which means that people who want to work in this field can enroll in an apprenticeship program. While in some parts of the world no formal education is required, a candidate for a sprinkler fitter apprenticeship is likely to have completed at least a high school education. Even if a high school diploma is not required, having one will improve a candidate’s chances of landing an apprenticeship and becoming a sprinkler fitter. College degrees aren’t always required, but work experience in the construction industry or a related field can help boost a candidate’s chances of landing a job.
The fitter will work with a variety of materials, with steel or iron piping being the most common. He or she will need to be able to read building schematics and have a working knowledge of local fire code laws and regulations. The sprinkler fitter must design a system that complies with local laws and ordinances, and he or she must be physically fit because heavy lifting is a requirement of the job. The fitter should also have a good understanding of what kinds of systems are best for a given structure; water systems are probably the most common, but there are many others.
The sprinkler fitter’s duties also include inspection and diagnostic testing of sprinkler systems. Because most structures do not catch fire, the system is unlikely to be used frequently once it is installed. The system must, however, be ready to use at all times, which means the fitter must inspect it to ensure it is in good working order and address any issues that could prevent the system from activating in the event of a fire.