Plumbing Apprentice

Profile of Craft

Plumbing

Construction / Engineering

Plumbing work involves the installation and maintenance of plumbing, heating and mechanical services on domestic, commercial and industrial projects, including houses, schools, hospitals, office blocks, apartment blocks, factories, as well as pharmaceutical, chemical and food / drink processing facilities.

These installations comprise of a wide range of services including pipefitting, welding, soldering on central heating systems, air handling systems, solar heating, hot and cold water supplies, sanitary appliances and sanitation systems, gas pipelines and appliances, compressed air, fire control, steam, chilled water systems and process pipework.

At the end of the apprenticeship, the Craftsperson will be able to demonstrate competence in the following:

Core Skills

• Use of plumbing tools and materials

• Pipe fitting

• Pipe bending

• Inspection and testing of pipework

• Fault diagnosis

Design and installation of central heating systems including:

• Solid fuel

• Gas

• Oil fired boilers

• Flues and ventilation

• Fuel storage and distribution

Design and installation of plumbing systems including:

• Mains water supply

• Water treatment

• Domestic and multi storey hot and cold water supply

• Storage tanks, cylinders, calorifiers

• Sanitary appliances and discharge pipework and systems

Installation of:

• Gas appliances

• Fire fighting systems

Specialist Skills

Installation of:

• Underfloor heating

• Solar heating

• Steam heating

• Compressed air systems

• Vacuum systems

• Biomass heating

• Ground source heat pump heating

• Greywater systems

Commissioning and servicing of:

• Boosted cold water systems

• Unvented hot water systems

• Boilers

• Burners

• Gas appliances

• Pumps

Knowledge of:

• Heating controls

• Air handling units and air conditioning systems

• Industrial and process gases and liquids