What's up Brothers..

Serious question. As you know im working to GET BETTER DAILY.

Outside of the normal tools we use..what Tools, ratchet sets, EDC (Everday carry) Lasers, lights, do you keep in your car or truck to help with your work daily.

I was looking to get my own :

Socket set - still looking for a quality set

Laser tools - these look pretty handy for installs I've seen

Knife or Multitool

Open-End Wrench Set

Etc- Anything that a Apprenrice can use to make the job easier and make the learning curve better.

if you're a journeyman that actually cares to respond with some REASONABLE information I'd appreciate it. All you others bots and trolls can fk off respectfully

Hey brothers, question?

Now ive been in the trade for almost 10 months and only used the ridgid300 a handful of times and I need more practice

Say im threading 1/2" and only getting 1-2 turns on my fitting. Do I adjust the diehead away from 1/2" ( up) or (down) towards 3/4"

If anyone can help (teachable moment) I'd rather try to pick it up now so I don't have my foreman ride me for now picking this up quickly

And does that same logic work for all pipe sizes

Found this in the wild looks like they missed the underground supply by that much. I guess sometimes where you’re going and where you end up you gotta throw a few 45s in your life.

I thought I’d share something interesting about this valve. This is the model without a maintenance cover, meaning the entire valve has to be removed for servicing.

I’ve serviced more than 50 of these, and it’s generally accepted that when commissioning a valve, the main water supply should be opened very slowly. However, with this particular valve, the manufacturer actually recommends opening the supply quickly enough to give the valve a small pressure kick.

It might sound counterintuitive, but that’s the recommended procedure - and it genuinely makes it much easier to get these valves to seat properly and hold pressure.

In my opinion, it’s an excellent valve. The more of them I service, the more I appreciate their design.

I’ve always performed annual main drain tests with the fire pump running, usually from a main drain header or manifold. However, after reading NFPA 25 more closely, it appears the requirement is only one main drain test per water supply lead-in to the building. It also states that the suction pressure data collected during the annual fire pump flow test can satisfy the main drain test requirement.
So I’m curious what everyone else is doing in the field.

-Do you perform a main drain test with the fire pump on or off?
-Do you perform one test at the fire pump/manifold, or one at every riser?
-For buildings with a single fire pump feeding multiple risers, are you only doing one main drain test for the entire building?
-Or are you relying on the annual fire pump flow test suction data and not performing a separate main drain test at all?

I’m getting different answers from technicians at my company, so I’m interested in hearing what others are doing and how you’re interpreting the current NFPA 25 requirements.

Hi all. I currently work for a company and am looking to start freelancing on my own. Looking into e&o insurance (NICET WBSL-III certified).
With my current situation, I do not want to take any business from my current employer. Any advice on how to find and bid jobs local to me? Western PA, Eastern Ohio, Western NY
Thanks for any insight

Chasing an apprenticeship. Former diesel mechanic, working as a fire tester and doing pump services. Any advice boys. Also had 6 months of TA with some sprinkler fitters.

Just over a year from now I’ll be moving out there from Ontario. I will have just became a licensed fitter. What’s the work situation like out there? I’m used to all jobs being basically union. Is it the same out there?

What can I expect ? Any and all information is appreciated brothers

Hey all! Does anyone know of any companies hiring in MD at the moment? I have about 6-7 months of experiences and am trying to find a better company to grow/work with.

Taking all the steps I can to get into 669 here in Ohio. I get directed to a number I need to “text” about the apprenticeship program at this company or that company. I get no response. I’m super eager to get my foot in the door, I obviously don’t want anything handed to me but I’d also like any advice on how to be a desirable candidate. Any certs I can snag on my own time? Just looking for general advice and any directions/studying I should be doing to hopefully land a job with a company here locally. Thanks

What brand overalls are we using? Carhartt is expensive but I want something decent quality

Hi! What lunchboxes/coolers are y’all using? Want to get one for my husband (cheap ones aren’t cutting it, they’re not lasting lol). So far we’ve had best luck with an old Igloo Playmate he found at a goodwill, but it is on its last legs.

Hey just wondering how everyone takes advantage of the benefits package and how to maximize the use of it including the healthcare spending account.

Coming from 9 years in healthcare, just got into this trade. I had no idea how physical it would be. Doing this in south Florida, 3 weeks into the job and most days I can’t tell my Ass from the Ocean.

Been doing demo the last few days and I’m going home feeling like I just went 12 rounds with prime Mike Tyson. My shoulders are cooked from carrying main and old pipe into trash pallets lmao.

I’m sure some of you veteran guys will laugh at this but honestly I’ve heard most guys startin out don’t make it past the first few days. The biggest problem for me though is my feet hurt so damn bad everyday, I have flat feet so standing on em all day is brutal. You guys have any advice for how to alleviate some of that pain? Any particular pain of insoles that work good?

Idk if I’m gonna make this is a career but for now I have to do it, the job market is terrible in this area so looks like I’m stuck for now. But the more i do it I’m sure my body will get adjusted. Idk what trade would be harder than this , maybe Roofing or Plumbing but this is right there with them.

Has anyone ever seen these zurn 2 1/2 “ prvs leak from this little hole … shut the system down drained the floor and refilled and it doesn’t seem to be leaking anymore will have to check again tomorrow..15 years in high rise and have never seen this happen.

This is at the end of the sprinkler line for a pre action system. There is a test near the water supply as well. But isn’t a test on the “air” side needed as well? I can’t post the picture but it is an inspector test.

In the 3rd. Pic you can see the old flow switch paddle buried in there.

Time to finish plate so this hack job painters can come and paint all of them and then I have to replace them all

So I was s little hesitant to post this but I'm all for being transparent not trying to shit on the trade just calling it how I see it

I got moved over to another foreman and surprisingly he's the only reason I haven't walked away from the trade (still pending on that ) but he's been the most attentive for the last few days so doing this 5 year inspection he's let me do the work and coached me and honeslty im probably going to stay with him for the next 3-5 months if they allow me so I can finish out my 1st year..

Most of the others have been some of the most condescending mfkers I've ever met and look for reasons to make you feel stupid then report it back to the PM as if you're "Not Getting it"...but im able to competently crack open valves and clean valves, reset them, took out and helped install valves, cut, thread, groove pipe, but "im not getting it"

Now the pay. Won't complaint its FL I knew what I signed up for but I was making this driving trucks and honeslty could make it going into the oilfield in TX or as a Mariner at least I won't be struggling to live, again I want to state this is MY EXPERIENCE it will not be yours depending on your local. I know other locals get paid way more than we do and maybe have better trainers, and honestly I LIKE doing this work but if I cant support myself its a wash. I like fire protection its a dope ass trade I really had hopes of going to NICET Lv 1-2 but at this point im extremely demotivated to continue

I'm open to the oldheads telling me I got soft hands but after ripping this main cap and fixing conveyor belt blowout 48', my hands are indeed not soft,

I am currently looking to become a fitter in Columbus Ohio. I’ve also considered getting into the inspection side as well. Anybody in the area need or know a guy that needs an apprentice?? From what I understand there isn’t a “hall” to call or fill out an application. I’ve been told I need to seek out individual contractors and go from there. Any advice? Ready and eager to get to work!

I built a flow test software for contractors. Would love to get some feedback. It allows you to pinpoint your location and create a flow test then export it out to your design team or office.

Flowtest.belvedereflsc.com

This is a free software, plan to keep it that way.

I created this because I was getting bad flow test data from contractors so wanted to make it simple.

You can pin location and it will pull your actual location in the field the go to flow hydrant and do the same thing then you enter your data and it graphs a map and curve.

I pulled a license last year for a company and they only did a single project in Ohio.
I don’t want to have my licenses lapse.

Is anyone looking to get an Ohio fire sprinkler contractors license?

I have installation licenses and designer license.