Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship

Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician apprentice helps with planning, selecting, installing, servicing, commissioning and maintaining all aspects of plumbing and heating systems.

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  • Entry Requirements

    • 16 years or over
    • GCSE grade 4 and above in English & maths
    • Passing an aptitude assessment
    • Employer completion of a range of work documentation
  • Typical Job Titles

    • Plumber
    • Domestic Heating Engineer Domestic Heating Installer
    • Plumbing and Domestic Heating Installer
    • Plumbing and Domestic Heating Engineer
  • Duration

    48 months months (this does not include EPA period)

  • Levels

    3

  • Delivery

    A minimum of 30 hours of on the job training at work place per week including a day/ block release to study theory at the college campuses including either Harrow or Uxbridge campus

  • Employers involved in creating the standard:

    Seddon Construction Ltd, Millside Heating Services Ltd, Parker Bromely Ltd, E C Merrett Ltd, Arthur Padgett Ltd, Coulson Building Group, Gasway, Leaks and Locks, Andrew Crookes Plumbing & Heating, Mitie

Occupational profile

Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians plan, select, install, service, commission and maintain all aspects of plumbing and heating systems. Plumbing and domestic heating technicians can find themselves working inside or outside a property. Customer service skills and being tidy and respectful are important qualities as they can often find themselves working in customers’ homes as well as on building sites.

As a competent Plumbing and Heating Technician, the installation of plumbing and heating systems includes accurate measuring, marking, cutting, bending and jointing metallic and non-metallic pipework. Appliances and equipment can include gas, oil and solid fuel boilers as well as pumps, heat emitters, bathroom furniture or controls as part of a cold water, hot water, and central heating or above ground drainage and rainwater systems. Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians are at the forefront of installing new and exciting environmental technologies like heat pumps, solar thermal systems, biomass boilers and water recycling systems. It is important for a plumbing and heating technician to be able to work independently or as a team and use their knowledge and skills to ensure that both the system and appliances are appropriately selected and correctly installed, often without any supervision, and done so in a safe, efficient and economical manner to minimise waste.

Link to professional registration:

By the end of this apprenticeship the candidate will have satisfied the requirements for registration as EngTech by the Engineering Council through The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) and or The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

On completion of the health and safety assessment, as determined, by the assessment plan the candidate will have satisfied the requirements to obtain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Card through the Joint Industry Board for Plumbing and Mechanical Engineering Services (JIB-PMES) at the appropriate grade.

Core Knowledge and Skills Requirements

Knowledge What is required
Health and safety Understand health and safety legislation, codes of practice and safe working practices
Core plumbing systems Understand selection, planning, installation, testing, commissioning and de-commissioning, service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair techniques on cold water, hot water, central heating, above ground drainage and rainwater systems
Electrical components and control systems Understand installation and testing techniques for electrical components and control systems on plumbing and domestic heating systems
Plumbing science and processes Understand scientific plumbing, domestic heating and mechanical principles
Principles of environmental technology systems Understand the principles of domestic mechanical environmental technology systems
Principles of fossil fuels Understand the principles of fuel combustion, ventilation and fluing arrangements within a domestic environment
Customer service Understand the principles of high quality customer service and establishing the needs of others (colleagues, customers and other stakeholders). Respect the working environment including customer’s properties
Communication Understand different communication methods, how to communicate in a clear, articulate and appropriate manner and how to adapt communication style to suit different situations

 

Skills What is required
Safe working Operate in a safe working manner by adhering to health and safety legislation, codes of practice and applying safe working practices
Core plumbing system techniques Apply selection, planning, installation, testing, commissioning and de-commissioning, service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and repair techniques on cold water, hot water, central heating, above ground drainage and rainwater systems
Electrical components and control systems techniques Apply installation and testing techniques for electrical components and control systems on plumbing and domestic heating systems
Supervisory skills Take responsibility for own work and safety and welfare of others Oversee and organise the programme of work and work environment Carry out work and manage resources in an environmentally friendly manner 


Options

In addition to the core skills and knowledge requirements, Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technicians must choose to undertake one of the following specialisms:

Option Knowledge Skills
Option 1 (Fossil Fuel – Natural Gas) Understand the principles of selection, installation, testing,       commissioning and service and maintenance techniques on  domestic downstream natural gas pipework systems and appliances Select, install, test, commission, service and maintain domestic downstream natural gas pipework systems and appliances
Option 2 (Fossil Fuel - Oil) Understand the principles of selection, installation, testing, commissioning and service and maintenance techniques on domestic oil storage, pipework and appliances Select, install, test, commission, service and maintain domestic oil storage, pipework and appliances
Option 3 (Fossil Fuel – Solid Fuel) Understand the principles of selection, installation, testing, commissioning and service and maintenance techniques on domestic solid mineral fuel, wood burning and biomass appliances Select, install, test, commission, service and maintain domestic solid mineral fuel, wood burning and biomass appliances
Option 4 (Environmental Technologies) Understand the principles of selection, installation, testing, commissioning and service and maintenance techniques on solar thermal, heat pumps and water recycling systems Select, install, test, commission, service and maintain solar thermal, heat pumps and water recycling systems

 

Behaviours What is required
Honesty and Integrity Develop trust with customers and colleagues by undertaking responsibilities in an ethical and empathetic manner
Dependable and responsible Show conscientiousness through being punctual, reliable and professional. Take responsibility for own judgements and actions. Aware of the limits of their own competence
Enthusiasm and positive attitude Demonstrate drive and energy in fulfilling requirements of role
Quality focus Be quality focussed in work and in personal standards
Willingness to learn Identify own development needs and take action to meet those needs. Keep up-to-date with best practice. Maintain and enhance competence
Work with others Work effectively and collaborate with colleagues, other trades, clients, suppliers and the public
Sustainable working Give consideration to appropriate use of resources and own actions taking into account the impact on environmental, social and economic factors