Stationary engineer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (March 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

A stationary engineer is a licensed operator of boilers, steam turbines, auxiliary equipment (ie. air compressors/pumps) or refrigeration machinery. He or she works in factories, offices, hospitals, warehouses, ships or any other locations requiring the use that equipment. A stationary engineer has various titles. For example, boiler operator, power plant operator and/or watch engineer. In addition, they have various designations (first class, second class and third class).

Stationary engineers are a member of a trade group which emerged in the industrial revolution. The group includes railroad engineers and marine engineers. Famous people who began their working lives in this trade include George Stephenson and Henry Ford. The early steam engines developed by Thomas Savery and Thomas Newcomen which drew water from mines and the industrial steam engines perfected by James Watt and others employed the ancestors of today's engineers. Railroad engineers operated early steam locomotives and continue to operate trains today. The traditions and classification of the engineer were developed to the greatest extent by marine engineers who worked in the engine rooms of the great ocean liners in the 19th and 20th century.

The use of the title "engineer" by these tradespeople has been challenged in court by today's university educated professional engineers, however they have been unsuccessful to date. The job of today's engineer has been greatly changed by computers and automation as well as the replacement of steam engines on ships and trains. Workers have adapted to the challenges of the changing job market.

Many Stationary engineers are becoming more involved with the technical aspect of the job as it has shifted toward a dependence on building automation. Building and central plant operations are now relying heavily on direct digital controls; and as such the engineer is required to be much more computer literate to work with the BAS (Building Automation System).

Stationary engineers may also choose to be unionized; many larger cities are very reliant on the services of organized employees. Non-union buildings may blend their engineers with general maintenance staff, and as such may be required to also provide general building services such as cleaning or other non-skilled duties.

These trades still remain a career choice that is vital to industry and transportation.