Ironworker – Structural and Ornamental
An Ironworker – Structural and Ornamental fabricates and installs both structural and ornamental steel and iron works and components, as well as precast structural concrete members and laminated timber products in all buildings and structures including but not limited to residential, commercial, industrial, institutional buildings, towers, bridges and stadiums. Specifically, an Ironworker – Structural and Ornamental:
- fabricates, assembles, installs, erects, alters, repairs, hoists and dismantles structural ironwork, precast and pretentioned concrete as well as all metallic materials in curtain walls, ornamental and other metal work (including specialty metals)
- operates and maintains hand and power tools, including welding and cutting equipment
- assembles and erects cranes, rigs and hoists; moves and installs components, materials, heavy equipment and machinery needed to perform ironwork, including installation of all falsework and shoring
- erects structural members and bridges, and installs and fastens curtain walls and glass systems
Red Seal trade
Apprenticeship Resources
Apprenticeship Training Standard (PDF) Curriculum Training Standard – Levels 1, 2 & 3 (pdf) Trade ReportAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and in-school training. The Registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario, under the authority of section 14 of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021, has set the hours of apprenticeship training for the trade Ironworker- Structural and Ornamental at 6,000 (approximately three and a half years), which consists of 5,280 hours on the job work experience and 720 hours of in-school training. These hours are consistent with apprentice training hours previously set out in regulation under the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act, R.S.O 1990.
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
An apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker, or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed are set out by the trade’s Apprenticeship Training Standard and are recognized by the industry as being essential to the practice of the trade.
As these essential skills are developed, the apprentice’s sponsor or trainer signs the relevant sections of the training standard to indicate that the apprentice has met the individual training objectives by demonstrating the skills required of a skilled worker, or journeyperson, in the trade.
IN-SCHOOL TRAINING
An Ironworker – Structural and Ornamental apprenticeship includes three levels of theoretical training, which includes but is not limited to instruction in:
- protect self and others
- applied trade calculations
- welding
- rigging
- structural steel and platework
- cranes
- machinery moving
- ornamental and miscellaneous ironwork
- curtain wall
- installs automated materials handling systems
Depending on the training delivery agency, in-school training may be available in one of the following ways:
- block release (full-time, for a set number of weeks)
- day release (one day per week from September to June)
- part-time (night-school programs)
- alternative delivery (online, correspondence, etc.)
Ironworker – Structural and Ornamental is a trade named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021.
This trade has an apprenticeship program that is administered by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, the Ministry issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship.
This trade has a certifying exam. When the certifying exam is passed, Skilled Trades Ontario will issue a Certificate of Qualification in this trade. Because this trade is non-compulsory, this certificate does not have to be renewed, and the information of individuals practicing this trade will not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.
In Ontario, the trade is part of the Interprovincial Red Seal Program—the national standard for the trade across Canada— under the title Ironworker (structural/ornamental): www.red-seal.ca.