Fitter profession
A fitter is at once a qualified builder, a talented constructor, and a creative designer, in a word, he is an irreplaceable specialist at any construction site.
Average salary: 27,000 rubles per month
Profession rating
Demand 74% Payability 51% Competition 46% Entry barrier 48% Perspectives 54% A reinforcement fitter is a skilled worker who prepares metal frames to create reinforced concrete structures. The name of the specialty comes from the Latin word armature, which means “equipment”. ContentHistory of the professionDescription of the professionWhat specialties are better to studyThe best colleges for trainingResponsibilities at workWho suitsHow much getHow to build a careerProfession prospectsRelated VideosComments
History of the profession
The armature profession appeared in the 19th century. It was then that experiments were carried out in Great Britain and France to strengthen concrete walls and ceilings with metal rods, houses, churches, bridges, individual structures and various objects (boats, tubs, swimming pools, railway sleepers, pipes) were built. The new material, called “reinforced concrete”, was patented in 1867.
Since then, the rapid construction of structures of various complexity from reinforced concrete began. Technologies were developed for creating slabs, floors, arches, beams, from which high-strength structures were then composed. In the 20th century, reinforced concrete became the most commonly used material in construction, and it took a large number of trained craftsmen to create it.
Description of the profession
Let’s dwell on what the fitter does. His work consists in creating a metal base, which will then be poured with concrete and, after hardening, will acquire its specific properties that are highly valued in the construction of various structures:
durability;manufacturability;fire resistance;high level of resistance to loads.
The algorithm for manufacturing a reinforced concrete product as a whole looks like this:
preparation of reinforcement (selection of the desired steel, its cutting, alignment or bending);formwork works;reinforcement (drawing up and fastening the frame, installing it in the right place);concrete pouring and care of the hardening mixture.
In Russia, an annular profile on a rod is most often used, while a sickle-shaped one is used abroad. Also, four-sided (clubs) and mixed types of reinforcing steel have been developed. A good specialist who knows all the advantages and disadvantages of each type of profile can find a job both in our country and abroad. There are rope, wire and bar reinforcement, from which meshes and frames are made, rigid elements are also used in massive structures with a high load: angles, channels and rolled I-beams.
Reinforcement workers work at enterprises (precast concrete factories) where precast concrete is prepared, that is, various slabs, pipes, columns and other structures, which are then transported and used during the installation of the structure. They are also in demand on construction sites when the solution is poured directly on site (monolithic reinforced concrete). Often such craftsmen work on a rotational basis at large-scale facilities (for example, creating infrastructure for the Sochi Olympics) or in remote regions of the Far North.
What specialties are better to study
The master who creates the frame of the supporting element of the house or bridge has a huge share of responsibility for its quality. If he does his job poorly, it can threaten the collapse of the structure and the death of people. You can get the necessary knowledge and skills in a specialized secondary educational institution, after graduating with the profile of “master of general construction works”.
They enter the secondary school through a certificate competition – no exams are required to pass. Only men are hired for this direction, since the work is hazardous to health and physically difficult.
The best colleges for training
Most of the colleges that train fitters are located in large cities or industrial centers, where there are jobs for graduates, for example:
College of Modern Technologies. Hero of the Soviet Union M.F. Panov (Moscow).Kuzbass College of Architecture, Geodesy and Construction (Kemerovo) offers a number of working specialties with subsequent employment at the largest enterprises in the region.Krasnoyarsk Construction College. Students of the specialty “master of general construction works” receive the skills of performing reinforcement, concrete, stone, assembly, furnace and welding works.The Perm College of Industry Technologies is the largest secondary school in the region, graduates of which work in all local companies.The Bashkir College of Architecture, Construction and Utilities (Ufa) trains assemblers of reinforced concrete products, electric welders and hero essay conclusion bricklayers directly in the capital of the republic and in its Beloretsk branch.Volgograd Construction College offers to get the profession “manufacturer of reinforcing meshes and frames” with the qualification of a welder-reinforcement fitter. Graduates are helped with job placement, and often their first job is the firms in which they had their internship.
Training does not last long: after grade 11, you can master a specialty in just 10 months, after grade 9 – in 2 years and 10 months.
Responsibilities at work
The duties of the fitter are prescribed in his job description. They depend on the specifics of the work of the enterprise, as well as on the category of the worker.
Main functions:
cleaning reinforcing steel from rust, sorting it depending on the section and grade, stacking in racks and stacks;unwinding from the coil by manual or electric winch and straightening;cutting and bending reinforcement using manual or semi-automatic machines;knitting of flat frames weighing up to 100 kg;markings for placing the base in the formwork;installation of anchor bolts;fabrication and tension of bundles of rods;installation of meshes and frames of varying complexity.
Many reinforcement workers are also concreting and welding specialists. Accordingly, in such cases, their responsibilities are expanded to include pouring mortar and fastening steel structures using manual electric arc welding or spotting machines.
Who suits
The profession of a fitter is for physically strong and hardy men who can work with their hands. Typically, employers have the following requirements for a candidate for a position:
knowledge of the types of steel reinforcement and understanding which brand is better to use in a particular case;methods of its processing (unwinding, bending, cutting);rules for storage and transportation of already made frames;principles of operation of manual, semi-automatic and driven machines and their device;the ability to read complex drawings and create simple sketches on your own;methods of fastening, installation and assembly of reinforced structures;knowledge of permissible deviations in the manufacture of frames and safety measures.
In addition, the fitter must have the following qualities:
readiness for physical activity;responsibility and hard work;accuracy and precision;endurance and patience;working capacity;technical mindset.
Often you have to do work at high altitudes, so you can’t do without a fair amount of courage. And, what is especially important, it is necessary to be able to work in a team, since only a team of highly qualified specialists can complete such complex tasks as creating a frame.
How much get
On average, a high (5–7) grade fitter gets 50-60 thousand rubles in Russia. Most employers are willing to pay foremen in Krasnoyarsk, Samara, Kemerovo, Barnaul, Rostov-on-Don, as well as in the remote northern regions, where they usually work on a rotational basis. The largest number of vacancies is in Moscow and the Moscow region. A beginner employee of the 2-3 grade can count on 25-30 thousand rubles.
How to build a career
The qualifications of fitters are classified from grade 1 to 7. The higher the category, the more skills and experience the specialist has. The level of training is reflected not only in his demand and salary, but can also contribute to the appointment to the position of a foreman. To move up the career ladder, you will need to get additional education. Having a command of a foreign language at least at the everyday level (best of all, English), you can find a job abroad, where there is also a great need for working hands.
Profession prospects
Large-scale residential, industrial and infrastructural construction requires qualified employees in the production of reinforced concrete. Since the middle of the 20th century, technologies for non-metallic reinforcement with fiberglass have been developed and introduced, but most of the structures are being built using traditional reinforcing steel. To expand his competence, it is desirable for a modern fitter to perform a wider range of works. It is best to master the related professions of a welder, concrete worker or installer, this is taught in colleges and technical schools.