Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 7213
Boilermaker
A boilermaker is a person who uses a range of equipment and machinery to build water and steam boilers and to replace their tubing, carrying the work through every stage of manufacture. The boilermaker cuts, gouges and forms metal plate and tube to the required dimensions with oxy-acetylene torches, assembles them by manual metal arc, MIG or MAG, or TIG welding, and finishes them using the appropriate machine tools, power tools and coatings.
Check yourself in a minute: boilermaker
Rate 5 of the 22 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
apply arc welding techniques
record production data for quality control
operate welding equipment
troubleshoot
operate precision measuring equipment
About boilermaker
The pressure in the vessel is what makes this trade exacting. A boiler holds steam or hot water under pressure, so the welds have to be strong and tight, and they are examined accordingly.
Cutting and forming come before any welding. The boilermaker operates the oxy-fuel cutting torch, handles the gas cylinders, works from a knowledge of gaseous fuel and of metal types, and forms plate and tube to dimensions that have to meet at the joint without being forced.
Welding is chosen rather than applied. Each process suits a different material, thickness and position, so the boilermaker selects the filler material and the method together. Soldering and brazing equipment is used where welding is not appropriate. Test runs and troubleshooting close the work, so that defects are found before the boiler goes into service.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (22)
fuel gasfuel gasThe various qualities, hazards and applications of gaseous fuels, such as oxy-acetylene, oxy-gasoline, oxy-hydrogen and others.types of metaltypes of metalQualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.quality standardsquality standardsThe national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.manufacturing of heating equipmentmanufacturing of heating equipmentThe manufacture of electrical ovens and water heaters by metalworking processes.flammable fluidsflammable fluidsThe behaviour of liquids and gases that represent a serious explosion and fire danger, and their appropriate handling systems and effective storage.metal smoothing technologiesmetal smoothing technologiesThe various technologies used for the smoothening, polishing and buffing of fabricated metal workpieces.apply arc welding techniquesapply arc welding techniquesApply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of arc welding, such as shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, and others.record production data for quality controlrecord production data for quality controlKeep records of the machine's faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.operate welding equipmentoperate welding equipmentUse welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel, wearing protective eyewear during the working process.troubleshoottroubleshootIdentify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.operate precision measuring equipmentoperate precision measuring equipmentMeasure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment such as a caliper, a micrometer, an...perform test runperform test runPerform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, ...handle gas cylindershandle gas cylindersGrip gas cylinders in a safe manner and ensure they are compliant with safety and health regulations.wear appropriate protective gearwear appropriate protective gearWear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.read standard blueprintsread standard blueprintsRead and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.ensure equipment availabilityensure equipment availabilityEnsure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.operate oxy-fuel cutting torchoperate oxy-fuel cutting torchOperate a cutting torch fueled by oxyacetylene gas safely to perform cutting processes on a workpiece.apply precision metalworking techniquesapply precision metalworking techniquesComply with precision standards specific to an organisation or product in metalworking, involved in processes such as engraving, precise cutting, welding.smooth burred surfacessmooth burred surfacesInspect and smooth burred surfaces of steel and metal parts.ensure correct metal temperatureensure correct metal temperatureEnsure the necessary, usually constant, temperature of processed metal workpieces during metal fabrication processes.operate soldering equipmentoperate soldering equipmentUse soldering equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel, such as a soldering gun, soldering torch, gas-powered iron, and others.select filler metalselect filler metalSelect optimal metal used for metal joining purposes, such as zinc, lead or copper metals, specifically for welding, soldering or brazing practices.
Optional (38) — show
riveting machine typesriveting machine typesThe various types of machines used for riveting purposes, their qualities and applications, such as the impact riveting machine, radial riveting machine, orbital riveting machine, rollerform riveting ...cutting technologiescutting technologiesThe variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc.3D printing process3D printing processThe process of reproducing 3D objects by using 3D printing technologies.printing on large scale machinesprinting on large scale machinesMethods, processes, and restrictions related to printing on machines that produce large quantities and sizes of graphic print materials.printing techniquesprinting techniquesThe techniques and processes to reproduce text and images using a master form or template such as letterpress printing, gravure, and laser printing.ferrous metal processingferrous metal processingVarious processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.printing materialsprinting materialsThe materials, such as paper, film, metal foils, and glass, on which texts or designs can be transferred by applying ink through direct pressure or with intermediate rollers.metal forming technologiesmetal forming technologiesThe variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.maintenance operationsmaintenance operationsThe preservation and restoration of products and systems, and the methods and logistics of these practices.types of metal manufacturing processestypes of metal manufacturing processesMetal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.rivet typesrivet typesThe various types of rivets used in manufacturing, such as solid head rivets, blind rivets, drive rivets, semi-tubular rivets, oscar rivets, flush rivets, and others.mechatronicsmechatronicsMultidisciplinary field of engineering that combines principles of electrical engineering, telecommunications engineering, control engineering, computer engineering, and mechanical engineering in the ...maintenance of printing machinesmaintenance of printing machinesUpkeep procedures and technical working of machines that produce printed graphical material.casting processescasting processesThe various practices used in the casting of metal, plastics and other cast materials, including mould filling, solidification, cooling, and others, all relating to varying approaches in case of diffe...roboticsroboticsThe branch of engineering that involves the design, operation, manufacture, and application of robots. Robotics is part of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science and over...automation technologyautomation technologySet of technologies that make a process, system, or apparatus operate automatically through the use of control systems.types of drill press oilstypes of drill press oilsTypes of oil such as (sulphurarised) cutting oils, WD-40, 3-IN-ONE and others used in the drilling process to function as a lubricant that facilitates a smooth drilling process, keeps the drill bit co...manufacturing of steam generatorsmanufacturing of steam generatorsThe manufacture of steam or other vapour generators, the manufacture of auxiliary plant for use with steam generators: condensers, economisers, superheaters, steam collectors and accumulators. The man...operate automated process controloperate automated process controlOperate process control or automation system (PAS) used to control a production process automatically.repair heating equipmentrepair heating equipmentRepair, by use of welding techniques applied to cut and formed metal sheets, boilers, heat exchangers, fired heaters, tanks, reactors and other pressure vessels, and others.supply machine with appropriate toolssupply machine with appropriate toolsSupply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose. Monitor the stock and replenish when needed.determine suitability of materialsdetermine suitability of materialsWhile designing products, determine if materials are suitable and available for production.monitor gaugemonitor gaugeOversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.spot metal imperfectionsspot metal imperfectionsObserve and identify various kinds of imperfections in metal workpieces or finished products. Recognise the best fitted manner of fixing the problem, which could be caused by corrosion, rust, fracture...perform product testingperform product testingTest processed workpieces or products for basic faults.dispose of cutting waste materialdispose of cutting waste materialDispose of possibly hazardous waste material created in the cutting process, such as swarf, scrap and slugs, sort according to regulations, and clean up workplace.maintain robotic equipmentmaintain robotic equipmentDiagnose and detect malfunctions in robotic components and systems and remove, replace, or repair these components when necessary. Execute preventative equipment maintenance tasks, such as storing rob...monitor automated machinesmonitor automated machinesContinuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment...tend punch presstend punch pressTend a punch press, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.maintain mechatronic equipmentmaintain mechatronic equipmentDiagnose and detect malfunctions in mechatronics components and systems and remove, replace, or repair these components when necessary. Execute preventative equipment maintenance tasks, such as storin...perform machine maintenanceperform machine maintenancePerform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.operate drill pressoperate drill pressOperate a semi-automated, semi-manual drill press to drill holes in a work piece, safely and according to regulations.operate printing machineryoperate printing machineryOperate machinery for various types of printed documents, adjusting the font, paper size, and weight. This allows ascenders and descenders to be correctly placed.supply machinesupply machineEnsure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.consult technical resourcesconsult technical resourcesRead and interpret technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.keep records of work progresskeep records of work progressMaintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.set up the controller of a machineset up the controller of a machineSet up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.operate 3D computer graphics softwareoperate 3D computer graphics softwareUse graphical ICT tools, such as Autodesk Maya, Blender which enable digital editing, modelling, rendering and composition of graphics. These tools are based in mathematical representation of three-di...
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Frequently asked questions
What does a boilermaker do?
Boilermakers operate a variety of equipment and machinery to create, repipe and retube hot water and steam boilers, producing them in all steps of the production process. They cut, gouge and shape the metal sheets and tubes for the boilers to size, using oxy-acetylene gas torches, assemble them by shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding or gas tungsten arc welding, and finish them by the appropriate machine tools, power tools and coating.
What skills does a boilermaker need?
A boilermaker needs 22 essential skills, including fuel gas, types of metal, quality standards, manufacturing of heating equipment, flammable fluids.
Will AI replace boilermaker jobs?
The AI disruption score for boilermaker is 40/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: record production data for quality control, monitor gauge, quality standards. Most resilient: riveting machine types, operate welding equipment, handle gas cylinders.
AI Replacement Risk
40/ 100
Moderate Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
ISCO GroupMetal, machinery and related trades workers
Essential Skills22
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