CAMPUS UTILITIES PIPEFITTER / STEAMFITTER [PLUMBER/PIPE/STEAMFITTER]

Job Description

UW Facilities manages the University’s buildings, infrastructure and land, with more than 1,100 employees in a variety of fields. The Asset Management group includes Capital & Space Management, Real Estate, Sustainability and other teams responsible for planning and workload management. The Operations group includes Project Delivery, Maintenance & Construction, Campus Energy, Utilities & Operations, Building Services, Transportation Services and Safety. Supporting these groups are the Business Intelligence & Information Technology group and the Finance & Administration group. 

We have an outstanding opportunity for a Campus Utilities Pipefitter / Steamfitter.

Under the direction of the supervisor and lead, perform journey-level pipefitting and steam fitting in support of the safe and continuous operations, maintenance, and repair of high energy thermal distribution utility systems including: High pressure steam (185 PSIG/380 Deg F), low pressure steam (10 PSIG/240 Deg F), and associated condensate return systems to provide heat to the campus; High pressure Campus Chilled Water (CCW) distribution system, providing cooling to the campus; High pressure compressed air distribution system that serves much of the campus’s building controls systems; UW Natural Gas Distribution System; and other campus utility piping systems at the University of Washington Seattle Campus. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities 

• Troubleshoot, maintain, inspect, operate, and repair underground high energy thermal energy distribution systems, including pipelines, main service entrances/’headers’, meter-sets, pressure reducing stations or PRV’s, steam traps (F&T and Bucket), safety relief valves, isolation valves, condensate receivers and other related equipment and apparatus

• Monitor and operate isolation valves and metering systems to control and regulate the flow of thermal energy; isolate and route low pressure and medium pressure steam, condensate, and chilled water distribution as necessary for maintenance and repair

• Maintain and keep records of current and active Lock-Out/Tag-Out procedures

• Prepare thermal energy distribution systems to be worked on by contractors, including de-energizing low pressure and high-pressure steam and condensate, venting and verifying zero-energy, issuing LOTO procedures, and monitoring procedures utilized by contractors

• Repair and replace various types of steam expansion joints and steam and chilled water isolations valves. Troubleshoot ‘fail to hold’ situations to safely proceed with repairs

• Cut, fit, fabricate, and assemble variety of pipe and piping systems, including large diameter pipe; and work with a variety of piping and system components

• Construct various types of pipe joints for high or low-pressure systems, including threading, brazing, soldering, or welding. 

• Install, connect, operate and maintain a variety of mechanical equipment including pumps, condensate receivers, expansion tanks, expansion joints, isolation valves. 

• Troubleshoot and repair mechanical system and thermal energy system failures relating to steam hammer caused by failed steam traps, failed condensate receivers, or failed heat exchangers

• Safely operate ‘hot tap’ equipment on live systems including low pressure steam, condensate, and chilled water distribution systems

• Repair and/or replace isolation valves, expansion joints, other mechanical equipment and appurtenances while under a mechanical line stop or line freeze. Coordinate safe work procedures with qualified line stop or line freeze operator at all times. 

• Troubleshoot, test, and repair pressure relief systems and other safety devices in the thermal energy distribution system; prepare and implement test plans

• Maintain and update high pressure steam, low pressure steam, condensate, chilled water, and natural gas distribution system drawings and schematics

• Perform duties in accordance with safety standards and procedures outlined in WAC 296-803

• Research and coordinate technical issues related to requests for shutdowns of, campus steam distribution systems, building heating systems, and other systems to avoid or minimize disruptions of service to the campus. 

• Work collaboratively with other skilled trades’ leads, supervisors, managers and department heads, students and outside vendors in a courteous and professional manner with particular attention to customer service 

• Assist construction contractors with connection of new buildings and renovated buildings to the thermal energy distribution systems

• Perform all work in accordance with applicable safety rules, environmental regulatory req