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A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable (drinking) water, sewage, drainage, or industrial process plant piping. In many jurisdictions the piping for HVAC, fire protection, and industrial systems are installed by 'steam-fitters', 'pipe-fitters', or 'gas-fitters' tradespeople. Years of training and/or experience are needed to become a skilled plumber; some jurisdictions also require that plumbers be licensed. A Master Plumber is one who has demonstrated mastery of the trade of plumbing. This type of "Master Plumber" may have worked in a single area of the trade as a whole for many years, or may have experience in multiple areas of the plumbing trade. Persons recognized, either formally, or informally, as a Master of their trade provide consultancy to developers, and even assistance to new plumbers in the trade, while overseeing plumbing projects.
Plumbing codes are very strict, and need for quality plumbing work is high because of the historical health and safety problems associated with poor water supply and sewage removal.
Plumbers in the United Kingdom generally undertake the installation of domestic internal hot and cold water pipe work, sanitary fittings and related soil and waste pipe work systems. Domestic, commercial and Industrial gas-fired (central) heating installation, servicing and repair works, and works related to all other gas fired appliances, although undertaken by plumbers, also involves the use of other 'sub-trades' such as pipe fitters, gas fitters etc and (in the case of gas fired appliances) is regulated by CORGI (a registration organization).
Oil fired heating appliance installation, servicing and maintenance works must be undertaken by OFTEC registered individuals and Companies in order to operate in the UK.
Because air conditioning design and installation is seen as too complex for plumbers to undertake, air conditioning is a separate trade in the UK.
Plumbers install and repair pipes, fittings, fixtures, and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution, waste water disposal, and venting in residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings. Many plumbers begin their careers in plumbing as helpers to established plumbers, while others enter formal training institutes. Although formal training is desirable to becoming a Master Plumber it is not required. Training under a master plumber may be substituted in lieu of formal training.
Some states of the U.S.A. require a plumber to be licensed in order to contract for work.
The word plumber dates from the Roman Empire. In Roman times, some roofs were made of lead, or plumbum in Latin (hence the periodic table of the elements symbol of Pb for lead). Lead roofs were waterproof, and the workers on such roofs were what are now called "plumbers." Roman baths later used lead for piping and for the main baths. Thus, a person with expertise in working with lead was known as a Plumbarius, eventually shortened to plumber.
Some needed skills, interests, and values
- Reading blueprints, drawings, and specifications to determine layout of water supply, waste, and venting systems
- Installing, repairing and maintaining domestic, commercial, and industrial plumbing fixtures and systems
- Locating and marking positions for pipe connections, passage holes, and fixtures in walls and floors
- Measuring, cutting, bending, and threading pipes using hand and power tools or machines
- Testing pipes for leaks using air and water pressure gauges
- Awareness of legal regulations and safety issues
- Ensuring safety standards and build regulations are met.
Plumbers in politics
See also: White House Plumbers- The term "plumbers" was a popular name given to the covert White House Special Investigations Unit established on July 24th, 1971 during the presidency of Richard Nixon. Their job was to plug intelligence leaks in the U.S. Government relating to the Vietnam War (i.e. the Pentagon Papers); hence the term "plumbers". In the early morning hours of June 17th, 1972, the "plumbers" were arrested while breaking into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C. The resulting Watergate Scandal and cover-up led to the eventual resignation of President Richard Nixon on August 9th, 1974.
- During the 2008 US presidential election campaign, "Joe the Plumber" became a political rallying cry for John McCain after Samuel Joe Wurzelbacher, a plumber, questioned Barack Obama's proposed tax plan.
Plumbers in popular culture
- The father in Weird Science
- Nintendo's most famous characters, Mario and Luigi of Super Mario Bros. fame, are both plumbers
- Terry Gilliam's film Brazil features Robert De Niro and Bob Hoskins as battling plumbers
- Famous rocker Ozzy Osbourne was a plumber apprentice
- James Denton's character on Desperate Housewives, Mike Delfino, poses as the friendly neighborhood plumber
- McCain's reference to Joe the Plumber was used in the 3rd and last Presidential debate for the 2008 election
- The Polish Plumber is a symbol for cheap labour coming from Eastern to Western Europe
- Josephine the Plumber, a television advertising character played by Jane Withers
- In the Ben 10 animated series, a secret group of alien hunters/intergalactic police which was in action years ago is called the Plumbers. Ironically, the character of Grandpa Max (who was once a member of the group) is also a regular plumber.
See also
- Pipefitter
- Plumbing
- Piping
- HVAC
- Fire sprinklers
- White House Plumbers -- Watergate era
- World Plumbing Council
- Worshipful Company of Plumbers -- UK
References
- The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering
- Howard C. Massey (1998). Plumber's Handbook. Craftsman Book Company. ISBN 1572180560.
- Pulsifer, Notes For a History of Lead, New York University Press, 1888 pp 132, 158
- http://www.ila-lead.org/factbook/annex.pdf
- http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=plumber