A plumber installs and maintains water, sewage, and drainage systems. The term dates back to ancient Rome, where lead pipes were used for drainage and water systems, and those who worked with lead became known as plumbers. Plumbers require training and licensing to work, and their tasks involve reading plans, detecting issues, installing and repairing pipes and fixtures, and ensuring work meets safety standards. Licensing requirements vary by location.

1. Plumber
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Plumber (disambiguation).
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable
(drinking) water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems.[1] The term dates from ancient times,
and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum".
Contents
1 History
2 By country
2.1 Plumbers in the United States
2.2 Plumbers in the United Kingdom
3 Other uses
4 Notable plumbers
5 See also
6 References
History
The word "plumber" dates from the Roman Empire.[2] The Latin for lead is plumbum. Roman roofs
used lead in conduits and drain pipes[3] and some were also covered with lead, lead was also used
for piping and for making baths.[4] In medieval times anyone who worked with lead was referred to
as a plumber as can be seen from an extract of workmen fixing a roof in Westminster Palace and
were referred to as plumbers "To Gilbert de Westminster, plumber, working about the roof of the
pantry of the little hall, covering it with lead, and about various defects in the roof of the little
hall".[5] Thus a person with expertise in working with lead was first known as a Plumbarius which
was later shortened to plumber.

2. By country
Years of training and/or experience are needed to become a skilled plumber; some jurisdictions also
require that plumbers be licensed.
Some needed skills, interests, and values
Reading drawings, and specifications to determine layout of water supply, waste, and venting
systems
Detecting faults in plumbing appliances and systems, and correctly diagnosing their causes
Installing, repairing and maintaining domestic, commercial, and industrial plumbing fixtures and
systems
Locating and marking positions for pipe connections, passage holes, and fixtures in walls and floors
Measuring, cutting, bending, and threading pipes using hand and power tools or machines
Joining pipes and fittings together using soldering techniques, compression fittings, threaded
fittings, and push-on fittings.
Testing pipes for leaks using air and water pressure gauges
Awareness of legal regulations and safety issues
Ensuring safety standards and build regulations are met.
Plumbers in the United States
Each state and locality may have its own licensing and taxing schemes for plumbers. There is no
federal law establishing licenses for plumbers.[6]
Plumbers in the United Kingdom

3. Plumbers in the United Kingdom are required to pass Level 2 and Level 3 vocational requirements of
the City and Guilds of London Institute.[7]
Other uses
The term "White House Plumbers" was a popular name given to the covert White House Special
Investigations Unit established on July 24, 1971 during the presidency of Richard Nixon. Their job
was to plug intelligence "leaks" in the U.S. Government relating to the Vietnam War (i.e. the
Pentagon Papers); hence the term "plumbers".
Notable plumbers
John Braden (politician)
John Calley (engineer)
Don Cameron (Victorian politician)
Frank Courtnay
Thomas Crapper
Martin Patrick Durkin
Tom Finney
Joseph-Achille Francoeur
Colin Furze
Leon Griffith
Philip Haas (Inventor)
George Jennings
Leslie McMahon
Mike O'Mara (politician)
Shawn Nelson
Harry Patch
Joe the Plumber - During the 2008 US presidential election campaign, Samuel Joe Wurzelbacher
questioned Barack Obama's proposed tax plan. The Republican McCain-Palin campaign later applied
"Joe the Plumber" as a metaphor for middle-class Americans.[8]
William J. Spencer
Leonard Susskind

4. Richard Trethewey
Alphonse Verville
Orlando Zapata
See also
Pipefitter
Piping
References
^ The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering
^ Pulsifer,Notes For a History of Lead, New York University Press, 1888 pp. 132, 158
^ Middleton, The Remains of Ancient Rome, Vol. 2, A C Black, 1892
^ Historical production and uses of lead. ila-lead.org
^ EW Wedlake; J Britton (1836). "Westminster Palace". The history of the ancient palace and late
Houses of Parliament at Westminster. J B Nichols and son. p. 122. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
^ Conry, Tara. "13 More Things Your Plumber Won't Tell You". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 11
February 2013.
^ "Plumbing Regulations in the United Kingdom". Emergency Plumber UK. Retrieved 11 February
2013.
^ "Doubts raised on US 'plumber Joe'". BBC News. 2008-10-17. Retrieved 2008-10-29. Joe
Wurzelbacher, 34, found himself at the center of a media frenzy on Thursday after "Joe the plumber"
was mentioned 26 times during the final debate.
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