What does a sprinkler fitter do?
A sprinkler fitter is responsible for installing, inspecting, and repairing sprinkler systems. Your duties will typically include installing plumbing fixtures, fixing and replacing defective and outdated sprinklers, and soldering and welding pipes, tubes, and fittings designed for sprinklers. Additionally, you are expected to test sprinkler systems to ensure that they are well functioning as they wear and tear over time. As a sprinkler fitter, you may also be tasked to educate the public about the importance of having functional sprinklers as part of fire prevention measures.
Sprinkler fitter responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real sprinkler fitter resumes:
- Maintain OSHA and company record of on-site safety training.
- Supervise, and run gas lines
- Wire up bell and pressure switches.
- Install dryers, stoves furnace and water heaters.
- Follow all regulations including OSHA, safety, PPE.
- Repair and maintain fire sprinkler systems in OKC area.
- Install and reconfigure piping, correspondence to change order, per NFPA specifications.
- Install underground iron and pvc pipe including installing fire hydrants and PVC valves.
- Prepare shop drawing packages, submit to local AHJ, apply for permits.
- Employ mechanical skills including soldering, brazing, welding, and pipe fitting.
- Fit grooved pipe, ductile, copper, and PVC in various mechanical systems.
- Read blueprints, install sprinklers, measure length and circumference of pipes to be install
- Use of a variety of equipment such as scissor lifts, hydraulic lifts, ladders, safety equipment, etc.
- Start up and shut down equipment in line with company safety procedures for equipment under OSHA requirements.
- Require skills include welding, soldering, brazing, tacking, pump installation, and pipe bending.
Sprinkler fitter skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Sprinkler Fitters are proficient in Fire Protection, Hand Tools, and Ladders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Dexterity, and Troubleshooting skills.
We break down the percentage of Sprinkler Fitters that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Fire Protection, 24%
Fire Sprinkler Fabricator Universal Fire Protection Fabrication of fire sprinkler systems.
- Hand Tools, 13%
Operated heavy machinery and other equipment (Pipe threading equipment, hand tools, JLG lift, and fork lift).
- Ladders, 13%
Worked off of lifts, ladders, scaffolds to install piping to proper areas according to design and fire sprinkler code.
- OSHA, 6%
Checked and drained systems on an annual basis; maintained systems following State of Arizona, Federal, and OSHA regulations.
- Fire Sprinkler Systems, 4%
Certified to install fire sprinkler systems in residential and commercial applications.
- NFPA, 4%
Performed Journeyman level duties in pipe fabrication, installation, and fitting per NFPA codes in residential and commercial construction projects.
Most sprinkler fitters use their skills in "fire protection," "hand tools," and "ladders" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential sprinkler fitter responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a sprinkler fitter to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "plumbers must be able to direct workers, bid on jobs, and plan work schedules." Sprinkler fitters often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "worked in close communication with home and business clients throughout the installation process to ensure their needs were met. "
Dexterity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling sprinkler fitter duties is dexterity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "plumbers must be able to maneuver parts and tools precisely, often in tight spaces." According to a sprinkler fitter resume, here's how sprinkler fitters can utilize dexterity in their job responsibilities: "performed installation by climbing to heights and scaffolding while lifting all equipment. "
Troubleshooting skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of sprinkler fitters is troubleshooting skills. This skill is critical to many everyday sprinkler fitter duties, as "plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters find, diagnose, and repair problems." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "hand tools, pipe threader, air-testing, and system turn-ups, punch and troubleshooting"
Mechanical skills. For certain sprinkler fitter responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "mechanical skills." The day-to-day duties of a sprinkler fitter rely on this skill, as "plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters choose from a variety of tools to assemble, maintain, and repair pipe systems." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what sprinkler fitters do: "fitted grooved pipe, ductile, copper, and pvc in various mechanical systems. "
Physical strength. Another common skill required for sprinkler fitter responsibilities is "physical strength." This skill comes up in the duties of sprinkler fitters all the time, as "plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters must be able to lift and move heavy tools and materials." An excerpt from a real sprinkler fitter resume shows how this skill is central to what a sprinkler fitter does: "installed and then tested installed pipe lines; used pressure gauges, hydrostatic testers, physical observation, and other methods. "
The three companies that hire the most sprinkler fitters are:
- APi Group55 sprinkler fitters jobs
- Western States Fire Protection18 sprinkler fitters jobs
- The Hiller Companies9 sprinkler fitters jobs
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Compare different sprinkler fitters
Sprinkler fitter vs. Journeyman pipe welder
A pipe foreman oversees the daily operations of piping projects, from planning to execution, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They manage different teams, supervise the installation and maintenance of pipes, prepare and process documentation, set objectives and guidelines, delegate tasks and schedules among staff, liaise with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, and maintain an active communication line with clients or representatives. Moreover, a pipe foreman monitors all activities while implementing the company's safety standards and policies for a safe and efficient workflow.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, sprinkler fitter responsibilities require skills like "fire protection," "ladders," "osha," and "fire sprinkler systems." Meanwhile a typical journeyman pipe welder has skills in areas such as "tig welding," "mig," "tig," and "grinders." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, journeyman pipe welders reach similar levels of education than sprinkler fitters. Journeyman pipe welders are 2.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Sprinkler fitter vs. Pipe bender
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, sprinkler fitter responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "fire protection," "hand tools," "ladders," and "osha." Meanwhile, a pipe bender has duties that require skills in areas such as "mig," "ran," "tape measure," and "customer specifications." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Pipe benders tend to reach similar levels of education than sprinkler fitters. In fact, they're 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sprinkler fitter vs. Pipe installer
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a sprinkler fitter is likely to be skilled in "fire protection," "ladders," "osha," and "fire sprinkler systems," while a typical pipe installer is skilled in "install pipe," "water lines," "copper pipe," and "ran."
Pipe installers typically earn similar educational levels compared to sprinkler fitters. Specifically, they're 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Sprinkler fitter vs. Pipe foreman
Types of sprinkler fitter
Updated January 8, 2025
