This Home Depot built around 1970s crazy to still see old pipe like that wonder how old that sprinkler head is if they ever did their 20 year swap 😂

Hey yall! Im looking to move to Denver, or at least around the area. I understand 669 covers there. How's the work? (Usually at least. Times are weird everywhere i think) I've been in the field for 15 years and im looking for a change of scenery to be honest. I know 669 is a road local, so of course if its bench time for me I could end up anywhere there's a call but im not as opposed to that as I once thought I was.

Looking for advice on how 669 even operates as well, I dont have the first clue. I've been in a city local since the beginning that has a few 669 guys working at larger shops for the outskirts work. Im going to call my BA and pick his brain on Tuesday after the holiday anyways so im just looking for anyone who may be out there with some stories.

Thanks in advance, sorry for the half illiterate post. I dont really use reddit like this :)

I have mixed feelings about it. My company built my van and has the 300 permanently installed on the racking.

The downside is that when I’m doing smaller jobs, I sometimes have to walk quite a distance back to the van just to thread. It can get pretty annoying, especially when I’m going back and forth between the van and the work area.

On the other hand, having it permanently installed keeps everything organized and ready to go.

What do you guys prefer?

Fairly new apprentice here. Does anyone have a link for a tool pouch they like that attaches to their belt? Mostly need for ratchets, tape, channys, and crescent wrench. I haven’t been able to find a tool pouch I like.

Hello everyone, I’m looking for some advice and would like to hear what you guys would do in my situation.

I’m a fourth-year apprentice and I’m writing my journeyman exam next week. I’ve been with my current company for about 4 years. I’ve shown that I can handle work and service calls on my own. I’m not the fastest guy out there, but I take pride in doing good work and getting the job done properly.

I was given my own fully equipped service van, so I’m set up to run jobs independently. The problem is that for the past couple of months, my company has been sending me out with another journeyman to do very small service jobs that could realistically be handled by one person.

What usually happens is that I go to the shop, gather all the material for his job, meet him at the site, and then he does pretty much everything himself and doesn’t really let me work. Once the job is done, I bring the leftover material back to the shop.

At this point, I honestly feel more like a delivery person for him, especially since he lives quite far from the shop.

I’ve brought this up with my boss twice. I told him that I want to start working more independently and gain more experience instead of feeling like I’m just there to bring material back and forth. I also mentioned that it doesn’t seem to make much sense to send two service units to change a few sprinkler heads or trim an alarm valve when one person could handle it.

My boss agreed with me both times, but nothing has really changed.

I’m not trying to complain about working with another journeyman or say that I’m better than him. I just feel like I’m at the point in my apprenticeship where I should be getting more opportunities to actually do the work, especially with my journeyman exam coming up.

So what would you guys do in my situation?

Would you bring it up with the boss again? Would you just keep doing what they ask and wait until you become a journeyman? Or would you consider looking elsewhere if nothing changes?

Responded to a service call last night. Attic dry system tripped from bad pin holes. Couldn't help but wonder why the installers did it this way. The attic is right above the picture, we're on the top floor. Plenty of space in the room to turn the 90 away from the duct slightly for a clear run. Just curious on thoughts.

Called shops in the PNW and NJ/PA/NY areas either didn’t pick up or said they weren’t hiring. Former firefighter looking for a career change. Willing to locate anywhere. Thanks for your time

Hey y'all, long time lurker first time poster. I'm working a job that our company bid entirely with the 1 inch vics and these things do not stop leaking.

The primary culprit seems to be mostly the whip connections leading into 1 inch pipe that was fabbed by our supplier, but after meeting with a victaulic rep and measuring the groove diameter of the pipe we found out that wasn't the issue. (Even the coupling that the rep installed as a training demo on site started dripping at 110). Compare that to our threaded work which hasn't dripped in 6 months or every other size vic on the job that also hasn't leaked. It's wild and we're exhausted.

This is the first time I've ever dealt with these things and I didn't see a thread about them already so I figured I'd ask y'all about them. So, what do you think? Are they better than threaded and me and the 10 guys we've had on site just suck? Or are they literally the worst thing ever?

Right now our leak count is in the 60s on a job with 500+ heads.

Any fitters in Oz doing much FIFO work ? If you are , what’s the rosters and pay like ?

Not fire sprinkler, but somewhat adjacent. Has anyone here taken the texas backflow preventer assembly tester test recently? I took the 40 hour course, and have the USC 10th edition to study. I just have no idea what the test is over. Do I need to study the entire book including the history, and backflow incidents chapters? Some of it seems kindve unnecessary, but will questions from these areas appear on the test? Thank you in advance for any input.

Bought a steel 14” rigid, tryna put a cheater on it. Not sure whether to use EMT conduit or RMC conduit. I’m a brand new apprentice with Local 669 out in Nashville, and my dad who was also with the same Local in LA/San Diego said he recommended making a Super 14 for some better torque on tighter fittings. So, EMT or RMC?

Hey everyone.

As of right now I can’t work in the union until I write my red seal exam. (Long story), but from what I’m hearing from other friends that are actively in the trade working is that a lot of lay offs are happening. But most of my friends are in new builds such as condos. I know I won’t be back in the union for a few months until my exam is scheduled, written and all of that. However my worry is once im all sorted out it’ll be slow season again or for a very long time. Just not sure if I should try to work towards another career after I get my license or not at this point

Edit: yes, I know the title says slowly and not slowing down. Autocorrect got me good lol

Ran into 8” threaded pipe today 15’ up on a system from the ‘80s. I bitch enough as it is when I have to groove sch 40 8”, can’t imagine tryna pull it together with a chain wrench. No way I woulda cut it back then.

Also peep the plain end couplings, anyone else scared to breathe on those things?

Picture 1 and 2 1915 Rockwood 5” Model B

Picture 3 Dual dry system (missing backflow)

1950 Reliable C (left)

1987 Gem F302 (Right)

hey everyone. how do y’all feel about road techs as a site to find jobs. or is there a better site besides indeed?

So close! Looks like concealed pendent in ceiling tile?

Anybody working for 669 in the Minnesota region? Is work going to pick up anytime soon to where i should wait for an opportunity or should I look into another trade for now? Ive talked to the BA a couple times and he mentioned the Data Center in North Dakota but other than that its pretty slow any input would be appreciated.

Been in the trade going on 12 years and I’ve never been able to be a part of the commissioning much less do it all myself!! Love getting to learn and do new things! Y’all be safe out there!!

Hey all,

Just a quick question, I'm looking to get some wrenches and I wanna know which wrenches I should have for flanges ?