Get to know F&S: Patricio Torres

Sprinkler fitter foreperson Patricio Torres is accustomed to the unpredictability of his job.

“Fire safety is life safety—it’s important,” he said. 

Torres is a member of the Fire Prevention team. He supervises the maintenance and testing of all sprinkler systems on the St. George campus.  

Torres says he fell into sprinkler fitting by chance, starting his apprenticeship at the University of Toronto in 2014. One of his first jobs, a large retrofitting project, became a memorable experience for him. Torres and his team replaced the fire pump and piping system in the Chestnut Residence and Conference Centre. “It was the first time in my life that I had done anything like that,” he said.  

The magnitude of the work and his manager’s expertise inspired him. “He would let you try to figure it out on your own,” Torres recalled. 

Now a foreperson, Torres’ own expertise and initiative have left an impact on the campus.  

“He’s a self-starter who is well-informed and not afraid to take on institutional challenges,” said Steve Barratt, senior property manager.  

Torres’ work brings him all around—from UTL at Downsview to the Dentistry Building. “The best part of my job is that it’s not cookie-cutter,” he said.   

Torres’ team maintains systems in the 130 buildings on the St. George campus, which have tens of thousands of sprinkler heads.  

Their top priority is to ensure that there is a consistent flow of water to the sprinkler system year-round.  

In the spring and summer, they conduct annual fire pump testing, ensuring that hundreds of gallons of water are available in case of an emergency. In the fall, they purge water build-up from the summer to prevent freezing and pipe damage in the winter. They also install backflow preventers, which separate water from the sprinkler system from the university’s drinking water supply.  

Torres also works on various construction projects on campus, draining the sprinkler systems to ensure that contractors can do their work without setting off any sprinkler heads.   

The unpredictability of maintenance work makes teamwork essential, according to Torres.  

“The thing about our job is that you can’t really lose focus. Something could happen and everything goes out the window and you’ve got to pull together,” Torres said. “Luckily, everybody here understands that.”  

Torres feels lucky to work with manager Denise Rose and the team of six sprinkler fitters. 

Outside of work, Torres enjoys soccer, golfing, reading, and spending time with friends and family.