Steamfitter Apprenticeship

This diverse trade offers a wide range of specialized career opportunities. Just a few examples: pipe welding, power plant, temperature control, steam heating, piping systems, hydronic heating, nuclear power, gasoline and oil piping, hydronic cooling, food process piping, combustion equipment piping and hydraulics. You will work under the supervision of a journeyman steamfitter while on the job at an industrial plant or publicly owned facility. Employers determine the length of apprenticeships, but they normally take four to five years.

Courses taught at ECAM:

STEAM-552, Refrigeration (2 credits/64 hours)
Principles of refrigeration are reviewed and basic system types discussed with particular attention given to the operation and installation of vapor compression systems. You will install various components to make a working refrigeration system. System charging, evaluation, and refrigerant recovery procedures are covered. Troubleshooting of systems also is covered, including electrical controls and mechanical problems.

STEAM-555, Steam Applications (1.5 credits/48 hours)
Learn about the installation and theory of operation of the various types of steam heating systems. Also covers the use of steam in converters and the process use of steam. Emphasis is on proper piping practices as applied to pumps, boilers, terminal units, coils, and boiler controls. Prerequisite: STEAM-550.

STEAM-565, Air Conditioning Systems (1 credit/32 hours)
This course covers the practical application of air conditioning system design, installation and troubleshooting of the air and refrigeration sides of the systems. Psychrometrics involving heat loss and heat gain are used in the calculation and measurements of proper air flow and distribution. Prerequisite: STEAM-555.