Pipefitter

Department of Veterans Affairs•Salem, VA

32d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Salem VA Medical Center (VAMC), in the Maintenance and Repair Section of Facilities Management Service (FMS). The primary duties of the position involve the installation, maintenance, and repair of high temperature water and high-pressure piping systems such as hydraulic, nitrogen, oxygen, steam heating, and steam-generating systems.

Responsibilities

Installs, modifies, repairs, and maintains high temperature water and high pressure piping systems such as hydraulic, nitrogen, oxygen, steam heating, and steam generating systems. Installs and repairs such items as steam generators, vacuum, air, water, and condensate pumps, radiators, automatic and manual valves and flash and expansion tanks.
Piping systems include water, natural gas, high/medium/low pressure steam and condensate, medical gases, compressed air, heating and cooling, sewer, fire protection, irrigation, and de-ionized water.
Sets up system routes, places and cuts route openings, installs regulating devices, and places hangers for proper pitch and elevation.
Determines and installs risers, flexible branches, expansion joints, pumps, gauges, and pressure regulators in the combination needed to support the pressures of the systems and that ensure the proper operation of the systems.
Reads and interprets blueprints, layout sketches, manufacturers' literature and specifications for sizing, estimating, installing, and repairing new or existing piping systems.
Replaces sections of pipe, repairs steam traps and relief and control valves.
Cuts, threads, and connects pipes by means of union, flanges, and sweating.
Fits pipe sections by screwing, bolting, brazing, welding, gluing, fusing, soldering, and caulking connections by forcing oakum and molten lead into joints.
Tests systems and equipment for proper operation, circulation, flow, pressure, and leak-free joints.
Traces and troubleshoots pipe lines, systems, and equipment to locate and repair leaks and trouble spots.
Performs safety and preventive maintenance inspections of systems and equipment. Installs, troubleshoots, repairs and modifies plumbing systems and fixtures.
Other related duties as assigned.