Trades Specialist; Sheet Metal

Distinguishing Characteristics

Trades Specialist (Sheet Metal): non-competitive; designs, lays out and fabricates various articles from sheet metal, working with metals such as steel, iron, aluminum and copper, and using tools such as shears, brakes, riveters, welders, soldering guns, grinders, and anvils. Trades Specialists (Sheet Metal) manufacture and repair cabinets, tables, laboratory equipment, and air ducts. Typically, incumbents are the sole Trades Specialist (Sheet Metal) within a facility and may supervise others in this work including semiskilled and unskilled workers.

Trades Specialist (Sheet Metal): non-competitive; designs, lays out and fabricates various articles from sheet metal, working with metals such as steel, iron, aluminum and copper, and using tools such as shears, brakes, riveters, welders, soldering guns, grinders, and anvils. Trades Specialists (Sheet Metal) manufacture and repair cabinets, tables, laboratory equipment, and air ducts. Typically, incumbents are the sole Trades Specialist (Sheet Metal) within a facility and may supervise others in this work including semiskilled and unskilled workers.

Related Classes

Trades Specialists (Roofing) perform similar activities and tasks described in this standard as well as performing activities and tasks in connection with repair and construction of roofs. Positions of Trades Generalist as skilled workers in a number of trades may perform some of the activities and tasks described in this standard.

Maintenance Assistants and Facility Operations Assistants 1 perform the routine and repetitive tasks of the sheet metal trade and learn practical techniques of the trade under the guidance of a skilled tradesperson. Their tasks include cutting and soldering metal, bending material to specifications, and moving materials to work sites.

• Repairs, manufactures and installs a variety of sheet metal ware such as air ducts, cabinets, and laboratory equipment.
• Determines the gauge and type metal necessary and dimensions of article to be made, according to specifications, plans, descriptions and instructions.
• May requisition material from storehouse.
• Marks dimensions and reference lines on metal.
• Uses shears, brakes, and bending rolls to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal.
• Shapes metals over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer.
• Solders, welds, or rivets metal together to form desired articles.
• Smooths seams, joints, and burred surfaces using files, portable grinders, or buffers.
• Inspects completed articles for conformance with instructions, plans, or diagrams.

Trades Specialists (Sheet Metal) are supervised by higher-level building trades positions such as Trades Supervisor (Plumber & Steamfitter) or Maintenance Supervisors. Generally, work priorities are prescribed, material is furnished, the nature and extent of the work to be performed is given, and detailed plans, diagrams, and specifications are provided. In the absence of such direction, the Trades Specialist (Sheet Metal) sets priorities, requisitions materials, determines the work that has to be done, and lays out the work.

Although the work of Trades Specialists (Sheet Metal) is periodically inspected by a supervisor, incumbents are expected to work with considerable independence that is typical of the skilled tradesperson.

The nature of a Trades Specialist’s (Sheet Metal) activities generally restricts relationships to other employees within the maintenance department of a facility. However, incumbents may be expected to orally communicate with the administrators or others on the facility staff to obtain specifications and descriptions of articles to be manufactured and to provide reasons why work is being accomplished in the manner selected.

Trades Specialists (Sheet Metal) may supervise a maintenance staff. Such relationships are characterized by frequent oral communications in assigning work and providing instructions. Written and oral communications with the general public are not typical of this class. The activities of this class are basically thing oriented and communication with others is not a…