Are you interested in a career that involves knowing how to properly assemble parts? Do you have physical strength and aren't afraid of heights? If safety is important to you, then you might be suited for a career as a field heat treatment technician. In this profession, you will set up and perform controlled heat treating to counteract the high temperature effects of welding.

Responsibilities of Field Heat Treatment Technicians

Field heat treatment technicians, also known as Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) technicians or stress relievers, are responsible for heating workpieces such as pipes or vessels to high temperatures in a controlled manner and maintaining those temperatures for a specified time. They then cool the workpieces at prescribed rates to achieve the desired properties. Various heat treatment methods, including electrical resistance heating, combustion fuel firing, and electrical induction heating, are used by field heat treatment technicians.

Additional Tasks and Skills Required

In addition to heat treating, field heat treatment technicians may also perform other heat-related tasks like hydrogen bake outs, pre-heating, refractory curing, heat alignments, and lower temperature line heating.

Key Duties and Job Description

As a field heat treatment technician, you will:

  • Analyze job requirements and technical documents for heat treatment applications.
  • Load, assemble, disassemble, and maintain heat treating equipment.
  • Fasten, secure, or weld thermocouples to workpieces using capacitor discharge units.
  • Install and remove thermal heating pads, electrical resistance heaters, induction coils, and insulation.
  • Distribute and connect power cables to heating elements and thermocouples.
  • Control and monitor measurement equipment, digital process controllers, and computer-operated systems.
  • Operate portable and mobile control systems, including generators.
  • Interpret codes and quality control programs for heat treatment applications.
  • Troubleshoot heat treatment equipment and installations.
  • Interpret drawings related to piping systems, vessels, and workpieces.

Career Prospects and Growth Opportunities

Field heat treatment technicians typically provide their services on a contract basis to clients involved in the construction, maintenance, or operation of facilities with welded structures, piping, or vessels. This can include industries like refineries, power plants, fabrication facilities, pipelines, mining, and steam-assisted gravity drainage operations.

To excel in this profession, you will need to have a safety-conscious attitude, as well as strength and stamina. Effective communication skills, both oral and written, are essential for keeping records and explaining procedures. You should be comfortable working at heights and be able to work independently or collaboratively with others. The nature of the job will require you to work at various work sites and in different conditions.

Consider a Career as a Field Heat Treatment Technician

If you are considering a career as a field heat treatment technician, the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes may be helpful:

  • 2006 NOC: Geological and Mineral Technicians (2212.2)
  • 2006 NOC-S: Geological and Mineral Technologists and Technicians (C112)
  • 2011 NOC: Geological and mineral technologists and technicians (2212)
  • 2016 NOC: Geological and mineral technologists and technicians (2212)
  • 2021 NOC: Geological and mineral technologists and technicians (22101)

With an average salary of $46.23 per hour and a demand of approximately 2,800 technicians per province each year, a career as a field heat treatment technician offers both stability and opportunities for growth.

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