Who is a plumber and what do they do? The plumber’s work consists of preparation, fitting, testing, repairing and reconstructing service piping systems (water/gas) and sewers and equipment connected with these systems (e.g. tap mixers, valves, bathtubs, toilet bowls, gas appliances, etc.).
What are the activities of the plumber? Work activities typically include cutting, bending and welding of pipes, thread-cutting at their ends, making holes for pipes to go through walls, installation, stripping and repairing of pipework, fixtures and fittings (e.g. tap mixers, valves, bathtubs, toilet bowls, gas appliances, etc.) to domestic houses and other premises, installation and adjustments of gas appliances, repair and maintenance of these installations, pressure and leak testing by relevant test methods, installation, repair and maintenance of service systems and equipment in chemical plants and laboratories etc.
Where is it done and under what conditions? This job is typically done in, and outside, buildings and on building sites, in domestic houses, industrial plants, workshops and laboratories where there may be unpleasant working conditions such as dirt, grease, objects that are hard to get at and work on, and, at times, changing weather conditions.
What tools/equipment do they use? Typical tools and equipment are plumber’s hand tools and equipment (vices, spanners, pipe thread-cutters, saws), chisels, pressure-test gauges. You also need manual dexterity. Metals are the mostly commonly used materials, with plastic increasingly replacing them in many cases.
What do you need to succeed? You need to have vocational training, manual dexterity, technical imagination, spatial vision, reliability and accuracy.