Program Description

Sheet Metal workers make and install sheet metal ducts for air conditioning, heating, and ventilating systems, kitchen equipment and counters, as well as stamped metal for roofing, siding, downspouts, and gutters. They also make and install machine guards, restaurant and hospital equipment, brewery and dairy equipment, metal partitions and lockers, cabinets and shelving, lab and air filtering equipment, store fronts, and heat reclaiming equipment.

They are employed in the following industries: construction, aircraft, space, shipbuilding, sign making, and solar energy. Sheet metal workers may elect to specialize in shop work, on-site installation, or may choose to do both. Working from blueprint specifications, sheet metal workers measure, cut, bend, shape and fasten pieces of sheet metal to various foundations.

Their tools include tapes, steel rulers, hand shears, hacksaws, power saws, drills, hammers, heavy steel presses, punches, and power shears. Sheet metal work is generally less seasonal than other construction work because most of the work is done inside.