Plumbing & Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship

This apprenticeship covers various areas including hot and cold systems, central heating systems, rainwater systems, sanitisation systems, environmental systems and domestic fuel systems.

Candidates will have the option to specialise in either environmental, natural gas, solid fuel or oil systems.

Throughout the course, apprentices learn about health and safety practices, core plumbing systems, electrical components and control systems, plumbing science and processes, principles of environmental technology systems, principles of fossil fuels, customer service, and effective communication.

There are five assessment methods for this apprenticeship as outlined below.

Multiple choice test:

This test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions that are centrally set and marked. The questions cover various knowledge areas, and the test draws from an assessment bank that encompasses the full range of knowledge. The duration of this test is 90 minutes.

Design project:

The design project takes place at an assessment centre and is externally set and marked. The apprentice is provided with building plans, a job specification, manufacturer’s information and data, as well as British Standards and regulations. The task for the apprentice is to complete a heating, hot water, and cold water design that meets the given job specification. The duration of this project is 7 hours.

Practical installation test (underpinning skills assessment):

In this test, apprentices are required to fabricate a pipework frame using different materials and pipework components, employing various jointing techniques. The duration for this test is a maximum of 6 hours.

Practical application test (applied skills assessment):

This test focuses on the apprentice’s ability to inspect a pre-installed unvented cylinder that functions with electrical components and controls. The assessor intentionally introduces faults in different components within the system. The apprentice has 2 hours to identify and repair the faults, followed by re-commissioning the system. Additionally, the apprentice must complete a service as per the manufacturer’s instructions within one hour. The maximum duration for this test is 3 hours.

Professional discussion:

This assessment method involves a discussion with the apprentice to assess optional pathways and behaviors. The discussion is supported by the production of a workplace logbook that the apprentice completes during the endpoint assessment period. The maximum duration for the professional discussion is 30 minutes.

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.

• LPG
• Combi Fault Finding
• Unvented Hot Water
• Water Regs
• Energy Efficiancey
• Commercial Catering
• Commercial Laundry & Heat Pumps

Institute for Apprenticeships

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