Industrial Plumber Course

Lesson 1 • Hand Tools and Power Tools

Identifies, selects, and maintains all standard plumbing hand and power tools. Proper tool use reduces injury and improves installation quality.

Lesson 2 • Blueprint Reading for Plumbers

Reads isometric and plan-view plumbing drawings, symbols, and schedules. Blueprint literacy is essential for accurate material takeoffs and installations.

Lesson 3 • Jobsite Safety and Hazard Control

Applies personal protective equipment, lockout/tagout, and confined-space protocols. Safety compliance is mandatory before any hands-on work begins.

Lesson 4 • Plumbing Codes and Inspections

Explains the purpose of model plumbing codes, permit processes, and inspection stages. Code compliance protects public health and ensures project approval.

Lesson 1 • Solvent Cement and Fusion Joining

Applies solvent cement to PVC and CPVC and performs butt and socket fusion on polyethylene. Correct cure times and fusion parameters prevent joint failure.

Lesson 2 • Ferrous Pipe Materials

Covers cast iron, carbon steel, and galvanized steel pipe properties and applications. Material selection directly affects system longevity and code compliance.

Lesson 3 • Threaded and Mechanical Joints

Teaches pipe threading, NPT standards, and grooved mechanical coupling assembly. Threaded and grooved joints are dominant in industrial steel systems.

Lesson 4 • Soldering, Brazing, and Welding

Performs sweat soldering on copper and silver brazing on refrigerant-grade tubing. Welding fundamentals prepare students for high-pressure steel pipe joints.

Lesson 1 • Offsets and Rolling Offsets

Calculates travel, run, and set for 45-degree and rolling offsets using trigonometry. Offset math eliminates trial-and-error fitting and speeds installation.

Lesson 2 • Prefabrication and Spool Assembly

Organizes pipe spools for shop fabrication, labeling, and staged delivery to the jobsite. Prefabrication reduces field labor hours and improves quality control.

Lesson 3 • Pipe Bending and Forming

Bends conduit-style and hydraulic pipe benders for copper and small-diameter steel. Bends reduce fittings, lower cost, and minimize potential leak points.

Lesson 4 • Pipe Cutting and Reaming

Operates pipe cutters, band saws, and plasma cutters to produce square, burr-free cuts. Clean cuts are prerequisite to leak-free threaded and welded joints.

Lesson 1 • Venting Methods and Design

Designs individual, wet, circuit, and air-admittance venting configurations. Proper venting maintains trap seals and equalizes system pressure.

Lesson 2 • Cleanouts and Maintenance Access

Positions and installs cleanouts per code spacing requirements for all drain configurations. Accessible cleanouts reduce long-term maintenance costs.

Lesson 3 • Drain Line Sizing and Slope

Uses fixture unit tables to size branch drains, stacks, and building drains. Correct slope prevents solids buildup and sewer gas backflow.

Lesson 4 • Drainage System Principles

Explains gravity flow, hydraulic gradient, and self-scouring velocity in drain lines. These principles govern every sizing and slope decision in the chapter.

Lesson 1 • Valves, Meters, and Controls

Selects and installs gate, ball, check, and pressure-reducing valves for system control. Correct valve placement enables isolation, regulation, and maintenance.

Lesson 2 • Pipe Sizing for Water Distribution

Applies pressure-loss calculations and fixture unit demand to size water mains and branches. Undersized pipe causes low pressure and fixture performance failure.

Lesson 3 • Water Supply System Overview

Describes municipal supply, pressure zones, and the path from meter to fixture. Understanding supply architecture guides all sizing and layout decisions.

Lesson 4 • Hot Water Systems and Recirculation

Installs storage and tankless water heaters and designs recirculation loops for large buildings. Recirculation eliminates wait time and reduces water waste.

Lesson 1 • Pump Types and Selection

Compares centrifugal, submersible, and positive-displacement pumps by application and duty. Correct pump selection prevents cavitation, overload, and premature failure.

Lesson 2 • Pressure Relief and Safety Valves

Installs and tests pressure relief valves on vessels, boilers, and piping systems. Relief valves are the last line of defense against catastrophic overpressure.

Lesson 3 • Pump Installation and Alignment

Installs base-mounted and inline pumps with correct suction and discharge piping geometry. Misalignment causes vibration, seal failure, and bearing damage.

Lesson 4 • Control Valves and Actuators

Selects globe, butterfly, and ball control valves and pairs them with electric or pneumatic actuators. Control valves regulate flow, pressure, and temperature in process systems.

Lesson 1 • Compressed Air Piping

Installs compressed air distribution loops with correct sizing, dryers, and drop-leg drains. Moisture and undersized pipe degrade tool performance and corrode equipment.

Lesson 2 • Chemical and Process Fluid Piping

Selects corrosion-resistant materials and installs chemical process lines with proper containment. Chemical compatibility prevents pipe failure, spills, and worker exposure.

Lesson 3 • Steam Distribution Systems

Designs and installs low- and high-pressure steam mains with proper pitch, drip legs, and traps. Steam system errors cause water hammer, equipment damage, and injury.

Lesson 4 • Pressure Testing and Commissioning

Performs hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure tests and documents results for code compliance. Commissioning verifies system integrity before process fluids are introduced.

Lesson 1 • Water Quality and Treatment Issues

Identifies scale, corrosion, and biological growth problems and selects appropriate treatment. Water quality directly affects pipe life, heat transfer, and health safety.

Lesson 2 • Systematic Diagnostic Methods

Applies root-cause analysis and fault-tree logic to plumbing system failures. Structured diagnosis prevents repeat failures and reduces unplanned downtime.

Lesson 3 • Pipe Repair and Rehabilitation

Executes clamp repairs, epoxy lining, and pipe bursting for deteriorated systems. Rehabilitation extends asset life without full replacement cost.

Lesson 4 • Preventive Maintenance Programs

Builds inspection schedules, lubrication intervals, and replacement cycles for plumbing assets. Preventive maintenance reduces emergency repairs and extends equipment life.