Trades Specialist Plumber & Steamfitter

Plumbing Technician

Primary Duties And Responsibilities:

Repairs, maintains, and installs plumbing fixtures and appliances such as sinks, shower baths, commodes, drinking fountains, dishwashers, valves including pneumatic controls, gas and water meters, gas hot water heaters, and other gas appliances, heating systems and controls, and various steam equipment used in laundries, kitchens and cafeterias, water pumps, irrigation, and hydrotherapy equipment.

In cases of malfunction or breakdown, discusses problem with user, visually inspects the fixtures or equipment, and uses appropriate test equipment such as pressure and vacuum gauges to determine cause and location of trouble.

Following technical manuals, codes, diagrams and previous experience, plans work procedures to make repairs and orders replacement parts indicating quality and type and any other materials required.

Makes necessary repairs or adjustments or directs others in performing such activities.

Installs or directs the installation of plumbing fixtures and appliances following diagrams, codes and previous experience.

Plans and lays out the installation, alteration, and repair of high- and low-pressure pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases.

Plans new installations, alterations to existing installations, and major repairs consistent with specifications, plans and plumbing codes.

Reviews building plans and working drawings to determine work aids required, and sequence of installation.

Locates and marks position of pipes, pipe connections, and passage holes for pipes in walls and floors and cuts openings required to accommodate pipes and fittings.

According to plan, measures, cuts, threads, and bends pipe to required angle.

Assembles and installs a variety of metal and nonmetal pipe and pipe fittings.

Joins piping by means of threaded, caulked, wiped, soldered, brazed, fused, or cemented joints.

Tests pipe system for leaks by filling with liquid or air and reading pressure gauges.

May weld holding fixtures to steel members.

May draw rough sketches or prepare plans to scale from oral or written instructions to accomplish the project.

From blueprints or specifications, may estimate labor, materials, tools and equipment necessary for the project. Assembles materials, tools, and equipment required to complete the work according to plans.

May supervise and instruct others in performing plumbing and steamfitting work.

Assigns work to plumbing crew.

Gives verbal instructions and/or demonstrates proper plumbing techniques and the use of plumbing and steamfitting tools and equipment.

Observes and inspects the work while in progress and when completed to ensure that the work is done properly.

Minimum Qualifications:

Non-competitive:

Four years of full-time experience in plumbing under a skilled tradesperson; which would provide training equivalent to that given in a training, apprenticeship, or equivalent program, OR an equivalent combination of experience and training gained by completion of technical courses in plumbing at a school, institute, or branch of the Armed Services; OR successful completion of the two-year Trades Specialist Plumber & Steamfitter traineeship or a two-year plumbing training, apprenticeship, or equivalent program* such as the New York State Civil Service Employees Association-Partnership Applied Skilled Trades Traineeship and Certificate Program.

* Successful completion of the traineeship and the training program includes a total of 288 hours of trade-specific classroom instruction, 45 hours of technical math course work, 45 hours of technical communications course work, and 15 hours of blueprint/schematic reading course work. Course work must be completed with an average of "C" or better. Additionally, successful completion of the traineeship also includes 4,000 hours of on-the-job training.

When required to operate motor vehicles, candidates must possess a valid New York State driver's license appropriate for the type of vehicle to be operated.

Trades Specialist Plumber & Steamfitter Trainee 1, NS (equivalent to SG-9):

Full-time permanent service in a position allocated at Grade 12 or below which is primarily engaged in the performance of unskilled and/or semiskilled labor and trades tasks; must be 18 years of age or older; possess a High School diploma or general equivalency diploma recognized by the New York State Education Department; and be proficient in English and math.

Trades Specialist Plumber & Steamfitter Trainee 2, NS (equivalent to SG-11):

Successful completion of a 52-week probationary period as a Trades Specialist Plumber and Steamfitter Trainee 1; OR completion of 45 hours of technical math coursework and 15 hours of blueprint reading/schematics coursework or passage of an equivalency exam or proof of successful completion of equivalent training, 144 hours of plumber and steamfitter trade-specific instruction, and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. Trainees must maintain a "C" or better average in their coursework. When required to operate motor vehicles, candidates must possess a valid New York State driver's license appropriate for the type of vehicle to be operated.