Profession boilermaker

Boilermakers operate a variety of equipment and machinery to create, repipe and retube hot water and steam boilers, producing them in all steps of the production process. They cut, gouge and shape the metal sheets and tubes for the boilers to size, using oxy-acetylene gas torches, assemble them by shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding or gas tungsten arc welding, and finish them by the approprate machine tools, power tools and coating.

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Personality Type

  • Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

  • Fuel gas

    The various qualities, hazards and applications of gaseous fuels, such as oxy-acetylene, oxy-gasoline, oxy-hydrogen and others.

  • Types of metal

    Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.

  • Flammable fluids

    The behaviour of liquids and gases that represent a serious explosion and fire danger, and their appropriate handling systems and effective storage.

  • Quality standards

    The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.

  • Manufacturing of heating equipment

    The manufacture of electrical ovens and water heaters by metalworking processes.

  • Metal smoothing technologies

    The various technologies used for the smoothening, polishing and buffing of fabricated metal workpieces.

Skills

  • Operate oxy-fuel cutting torch

    Operate a cutting torch fueled by oxyacetylene gas safely to perform cutting processes on a workpiece.

  • Ensure correct metal temperature

    Ensure the necessary, usually constant, temperature of processed metal workpieces during metal fabrication processes.

  • Conform to health and safety regulations

    Carry out all work in accordance with relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements and company policies. Take the necessary health and safety precautions during work including posture the body well, safely operate tools and machinery, and wear the right clothes and protection for the climate.

  • Smooth burred surfaces

    Inspect and smooth burred surfaces of steel and metal parts.

  • Operate welding equipment

    Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel; wear protective eyewear during the working process.

  • Ensure equipment availability

    Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.

  • Apply precision metalworking techniques

    Comply with precision standards specific to an organisation or product in metalworking, involved in processes such as engraving, precise cutting, welding.

  • Record production data for quality control

    Keep records of the machine's faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.

  • Perform test run

    Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.

  • Troubleshoot

    Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

  • Read standard blueprints

    Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.

  • Operate soldering equipment

    Use soldering equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel, such as a soldering gun, soldering torch, gas-powered iron, and others.

  • Handle gas cylinders

    Grip gas cylinders in a safe manner and ensure they are compliant with safety and health regulations.

  • Select filler metal

    Select optimal metal used for metal joining purposes, such as zinc, lead or copper metals, specifically for welding, soldering or brazing practices.

  • Apply arc welding techniques

    Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of arc welding, such as shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, and others.

  • Operate precision measuring equipment

    Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment such as a caliper, a micrometer, and a measuring gauge.

  • Wear appropriate protective gear

    Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.

Optional knowledge and skills

repair heating equipment monitor automated machines ferrous metal processing tend punch press supply machine with appropriate tools types of metal manufacturing processes keep records of work progress supply machine cast metal spot metal imperfections dispose of cutting waste material metal forming technologies manufacturing of steam generators casting processes cutting technologies set up the controller of a machine perform machine maintenance monitor gauge rivet types consult technical resources types of drill press oils operate drill press riveting machine types perform product testing

Common job titles

  • Boilermaker
  • A-mechanic boilermaker
  • Sandblaster/painter
  • Tool room attendant
  • Maintenance mechanic
  • Boilermaker - industrial
  • Boilermaker foreman i
  • Helper 6
  • Pipefitter-bolt up