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We had the pleasure of interviewing Brad Lynk, a Red Seal Steamfitter/Pipefitter with over 20 years of experience in the field. As an instructor at Ashton College for our Red Seal Steamfitter/Pipefitter Exam Prep course, Brad brings valuable expertise and experience to our students. We were grateful for the chance to learn from Brad’s expertise and experience in the field.
I started as an apprentice pipefitter in 2001. A four-year apprenticeship allowed me to obtain my red seal credentials in the steamfitter/pipefitter trade. Most of the next 20 years I spent working in the oil and gas industry. Now, I work in a hospital setting.
We fabricate, we saw, we measure, we lay out piping systems and all sorts of other tasks. We often work with various trades as sometimes we need welding, sometimes we need crane work and more. You want to work according to industry standards as a professional. Piping can be high pressure, very hot, so you want to make sure it is up to standard and won’t cause anyone harm.
If you like working with your hands, problem solving and working together with others as a team then this is the job for you. Pipe side has a lot of bigger projects, lots of work with others from different trades. It can be very hard work, so if you like to work outdoors that will be a plus as a lot of the work happens outdoors.
First of all, it runs 2 hours every week for 11 weeks. It covers and follows the Red Seal standard, so it covers all the expected topics and knowledge that they expect apprentices taking the exam to know from either their apprenticeship and their education. (Check what the standards are)
It allows individuals who have experience in the field to get a refresher. The course allows individuals to relearn and practice the theory while allowing them an opportunity to ask questions. Whatever is required for them to obtain their red seal, Ashton does their best to provide. Some people may not have enough hours, some may not have done an apprenticeship, sometimes they need a refresher course for whatever reason.
You can travel anywhere in Canada and work. In my previous sector, oil and gas will always have a high demand for steam and pipefitters. As of right now, the shipbuilding industry in Halifax and Vancouver are looking for pipe fitters and steam fitters to help with the ship building. For the processing side, there are papermills and the commercial side includes areas such as hospitals, large schools, malls which will always need pipefitters. Almost every building has pipes in it, so it won’t be hard to look for opportunities. You can also work in the heating and cooling side if you aren’t having any luck.
For advancements you start off with an apprenticeship. Once you obtain the red seal certification, you’d become a journeyman. Then you can progress to being a supervisor or foreman, then into a superintendent. You can also end up becoming a project manager. Lot of different advancement possibilities within this field.
Personally, I believe that being a pipefitter is a great way to make a living, it has lots of opportunity and it is a rewarding job at the end of the day.
Learn more about our Red Seal Steamfitter/Pipefitter Exam Prep Course here
The information contained in this post is considered true and accurate as of the publication date. However, the accuracy of this information may be impacted by changes in circumstances that occur after the time of publication. Ashton College assumes no liability for any error or omissions in the information contained in this post or any other post in our blog.
