Extras · 1 of 4

A typical day

Shop days: cut and bend duct and fittings on a plasma table, shear and brake, then seam and assemble them. Field days: on a construction site by 7am, hanging duct runs from the ceiling on a scissor lift, fitting them to rooftop units and diffusers, sealing joints, reading the mechanical drawings to stay clear of pipes and wires. Roofing crews spend the day outside fitting metal panels and flashing. Loud, dusty and physical, with a lot of overhead work.