This occupation is found both on construction sites and in existing buildings. Building services engineering ensures that buildings function properly. It is a specialised branch of engineering in the construction industry.
A craftsperson undertakes the planning, installation, testing, pre-commissioning, commissioning, and decommissioning of systems heating, chilled water, hot water, and cold-water systems. These systems are used within a variety of locations, including workplaces, businesses, schools, and hospitals.
The systems operate by circulating temperature-controlled water throughout the buildings. This provides heating and cooling. They could be powered by either fossil fuels or renewable energy sources.
A craftsperson has a detailed knowledge of the systems operating principles.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to set, identify and establish the requirements of the job whether from drawings or clients ither instructions. The craftsperson will design and plan work programmes for installation, install pipework systems, test installed pipework and components, and carry out pre-commissioning work, along with de-commissioning and dismantling the system pipework and components. They will contribute to the adjusting the configuration of the systems as they are installed.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with other members of the installation team and site managers.
A craftsperson can work within new build construction sites and existing buildings on their own and without supervision, in the most efficient and economical manner. They must adhere to safe working practices without endangering themselves or others. They will take charge of the quality of their job and will consider environmental concerns.
Disclaimer: the definition of the term "system" relates to the pipework and the components and does not include the energy source. A building services engineering craftsperson is not responsible for connection to the energy source.
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Comply with health, safety, and environmental regulations; building regulations; industry guidance notes and relevant codes of practice |
K2 K4 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K23 K25 K27 K31 K45 |
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Duty 2 Plan, and organise to undertake the installation of systems in ways which use resources effectively to complete work, with consideration for material, quality, safety, security and environmental impact, within relevant legislative requirements, codes of practice and industry recognised practices |
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Duty 3 Prepare work areas in both new or existing sites to undertake building services engineering installation, ensuring safe and is maintained; materials, tools and equipment are stored and positioned safely and to allow efficient workflow |
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Duty 4 Apply pipework fabrication and jointing techniques for example prefabricated, modularised components or distribution systems |
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Duty 5 Identify improvements in the installation against the design. |
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Duty 6 Apply installation, testing, pre-commissioning, commissioning and decommissioning techniques for including cold water systems; hot water systems, heating systems, chilled water systems |
K2 K9 K17 K19 K20 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 K33 K35 K36 K39 K45 K46 |
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Duty 7 Instruct, communicate and liaise with own project team, and those in other teams, such as clients or specialist contractors, and with stakeholders. |
K3 K20 K22 K30 K31 K37 K39 K40 K41 K42 K43 |
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Duty 8 Ensure that work area is restored to a safe condition, to prescribed standards of cleanliness on completion of installation work |
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Duty 9 Prepare and complete relevant work documentation, and handover stages in accordance with organisation policy and procedures and any other relevant information and guidance |
K3 K5 K7 K17 K21 K30 K36 K37 K42 K43
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Duty 10 Plan and project manage building engineering services work to ensure quality of outcomes |
K3 K12 K16 K17 K18 K19 K21 K22 K24 K33 K34 K36 K37 K38 K39 K41 K42 K43 K44 |
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Duty 11 Develop and maintain skills in using a range of practical and workshop skills |
K3 K11 K21 K24 K25 K27 K32 K33 K34 K36 K39 K44 K45 |
K1: Roles and responsibilities within the building services industry, how they relate to one another and their hierarchy.
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K2: Health and safety regulations and procedures, relevant to the occupation and the craftsperson’s responsibilities. For example, Health and Safety at Work Act – responsibilities; Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH); Working at height. Working in confined spaces. Situational awareness. Isolation and emergency stop procedures. Emergency evacuation procedures. Slips, trips, and falls. Safety equipment; guards, signage, fire extinguishers. Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER); Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
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K3: Limits of authority, when to escalate tasks and issues, and to whom.
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K4: Building services engineering related procedures, processes, standards, and codes of practice.
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K5: The purpose, function and roles involved with site inductions and toolbox talks.
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K6: Methods of safe working including risk assessments, method statements, control measure application and safe systems of work.
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K7: Principles of risk assessments, for example hierarchy of risk.
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K8: Methods of hazard identification and risk management.
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K9: Health and safety control equipment including personal protective equipment (PPE).
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K10: Building fire safety legislation: purpose, application and impact.
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K11: Manual handling techniques including material handling equipment (MHE).
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K12: Waste management techniques: recycling, reuse and safe disposal of waste.
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K13: Environmental and sustainability regulations and guidance. Environmental management systems standard. Environmental Protection Act.
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K14: Mechanical sustainable energy systems: carbon reduction, solar, rainwater and heat recovery.
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K15: Energy sources: low carbon (Combined heat and power (CHP), biomass ground source heat pumps (GSHP)) zero carbon heat and power, wind, solar photovoltaic or thermal, hydro aiming for net zero energy in use. System efficiencies.
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K16: Principles of planning work programmes: order, resource and time management, stages and needs.
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K17: Work area and task preparation, setting out techniques.
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K18: Principles and techniques of efficient use of resources: cost, time, quality, safety.
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K19: Principles of securing and storing equipment and tools.
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K20: Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from drawings, specifications and work instructions.
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K21: Principles of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Building Information Modelling (BIM).
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K22: Project management techniques and styles for building services engineering.
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K23: Design principles for installation of new heating systems: industrial and commercial, low temperature and medium temperature systems.
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K24: Principles and techniques for pipework fabricating, including jointing: compression, screwed, crimped and bending for prefabricated or modularised components and distribution systems.
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K25: Water system installation and pre-commissioning techniques: hot - open vented, unvented, indirect, secondary circulation, instantaneous. Cold - indirect and direct.
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K26: Air conditioning, heat rejection, chilled beams, fan coil units, air handling units.
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K27: Operating principles for testing of new and existing industrial and commercial systems including electrical and electronic components, hydraulic and pneumatic methods.
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K28: Commissioning practices and techniques applicable to building service engineering.
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K29: Operating principles for decommissioning and disassembly of new and existing industrial and commercial systems.
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K30: Operating principles and requirements of installations containing environmental energy sources: low carbon (Combined heat and power (CHP), biomass ground source heat pumps (GSHP)) zero carbon heat and power, wind, solar photovoltaic or thermal, hydro aiming for net zero energy in use.
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K31: Operating principles and requirements of gas, oil and solid fuel systems.
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K32: Materials, equipment and fittings used to install building services engineering systems.
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K33: Fire protection system installation techniques. Sprinklers: wet, dry, alternative wet and dry. Hose reel: wet riser. Dry riser, foam installations, gas extinguishers, carbon dioxide.
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K34: Types of faults on systems and how to diagnose them; electrical, hot, and cold water, heating and ventilation.
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K35: Principles underpinning building services engineering: measurement, force and pressure, heat and power.
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K36: Quality management standards. Quality assurance principles and practice.
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K37: Handover procedures for commissioned systems.
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K38: Factors that delay the completion of planned work and mitigation techniques.
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K39: Team working and collaboration principles.
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K40: Principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Unconscious bias.
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K41: Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience. Barriers in communication and how to overcome them. Sector specific terminology.
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K42: Written communication techniques: paper based and digital. Plain English principles. Sector specific terminology.
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K43: Documentation, including methods and requirements, electronic and paper: energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, operations manuals, handover documents and manufacturers’ documentation, work instructions, checklists, waste environmental records, permits to work and any legal reporting requirements.
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K44: Information technology and digital systems used to support building service engineering operations. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
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K45: Electrical safety testing techniques.
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K46: Techniques for configuring systems.
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S1: Apply safe working practices and comply with safe working methods including method statements.
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S2: Produce risk assessment.
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S3: Select and use personal protective equipment (PPE).
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S4: Identify and report hazards and risks in the workplace. Take action to mitigate hazards and risk.
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S5: Move, lift and handle materials safely.
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S6: Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and standards.
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S7: Apply waste management techniques.
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S8: Interpret information from, for example, drawings, specifications, and system schematics.
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S9: Apply design techniques.
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S10: Plan work activities and order.
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S11: Apply resource management techniques and principles when planning work.
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S12: Prepare area of work for setting out and work activities for self and others; carry out prework checks.
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S13: Anticipate and minimise delays to planned work.
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S14: Select materials, components, fittings and bracketry required to complete work tasks.
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S15: Secure and store equipment and tools.
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S16: Carry out pre commissioning activities.
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S17: Fabricate pipework systems including pipe bending.
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S18: Install systems for example cold water, hot water, return, heating, chilled.
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S19: Use pipe-jointing techniques.
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S20: Carry out the testing of a system following installation.
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S21: Diagnose faults on systems.
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S22: Apply electrical safety testing techniques.
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S23: Complete a final quality inspection.
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S24: Apply decommissioning and disassembly practices.
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S25: Complete system handover activities.
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S26: Apply team working principles.
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S27: Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
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S28: Communicate verbally and in written form, including internal and external customers and colleagues, using sector specific terminology.
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S29: Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
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S30: Record or enter information – paper based or electronic.
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S31: Collaborate with others including customers, colleagues, internal and external stakeholders, other trades.
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S32: Investigate problems to identify the underlying cause and solution.
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S33: Work within limits of authority and escalate issues.
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S34: Conduct toolbox talks and site inductions.
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S35: Apply configuration techniques.
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S36: Apply commissioning practices and techniques.
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B1: Prioritise health and safety for themselves and others.
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B2: Takes personal responsibility for their own sustainable working practices.
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B3: Predicts and pre-empts problems with a proactive approach.
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B4: Promote an inclusive workplace for example, respectful of different views.
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B5: Collaborate and promote teamwork within the team and across disciplines.
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B6: Committed to maintaining and enhancing competence of self through continued professional development (CPD).
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Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | Occupational standard, end-point assessment and funding band revised | 01/08/2024 | Not set |
| 1.1 | End-point assessment plan revised | 06/02/2023 | 31/07/2024 |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 06/06/2017 | 05/02/2023 |
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