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.
Installers follow instructions to plan and install pipework, bracketry and components of systems such as 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.
Installers will have a fundamental understanding of the systems and their components.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to complete assigned work tasks to install pipework and fit components. The installer will assist in pre-commissioning testing, and be responsible for testing installed pipework and components, and the de-commissioning and dismantling of the system pipework and components.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with other members of the installation team and site managers.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for, under close but not constant supervision, health, and safety appropriate to their work. They will take charge of the quality of their job and will take into account 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 installer 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. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K9 K12 K13 K14 K16 K18 K25 K30 K31 |
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Duty 2 Plan, and organise to undertake the installation of industrial and commercial systems pipework, components and fittings, in ways which uses resources to complete allocated work tasks |
K6 K7 K8 K11 K12 K15 K19 K20 K29 K30 K31 K33 K36 K38 S9 S13 S14 S16 S21 S23 S24 S27
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Duty 3 Prepare work areas to undertake allocated pipework, components and fittings installation work tasks |
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Duty 4 Apply pipework fabrication, installation and jointing techniques |
K3 K10 K15 K17 K18 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 |
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Duty 5 Undertake allocated work tasks in the testing of pipework installed |
K3 K7 K8 K13 K14 K17 K18 K21 K22 K23 K24 K26 K27 K28 K29 |
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Duty 6 Communicate and liaise with own project team, and those in other teams, such as clients or specialist contractors. |
K1 K2 K7 K8 K19 K20 K24 K30 K31 K32 K33 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38 S14 S23 S24 S27 S28 S29 S30 S31
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Duty 7 Restore work area to a safe and reliable condition, to prescribed standards of cleanliness on completion of installation work. |
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Duty 8 Complete relevant work documentation in accordance with organisation policy and procedures |
K2 K19 K20 K21 K24 K30 K31 K33 K34 K35
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Duty 9 Develop and maintain skills in using a range of practical and workshop techniques |
K3 K15 K17 K19 K21 K22 K23 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K37 K38 |
K1: Hierarchy of a construction team and the roles within the building services industry.
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K2: Health and safety regulations, relevance to the occupation and the installers responsibilities. Health and Safety at Work Act 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 and fire extinguishers.
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K3: Hazards and risks that occur in the workplace.
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K4: Purpose of standard operating procedures (SOP), company, site induction and toolbox talks.
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K5: Safe systems of work, risk assessments, method statements and control measures.
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K6: Building service engineering installation: regulations and legislation, purpose, and compliance.
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K7: Principles of building services engineering: measurements, force and pressure, heat, and power.
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K8: Properties and principles of materials used in building service engineering installations including limitations.
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K9: Building fire safety legislation: purpose, application, and impact.
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K10: Environmental and sustainability regulations and guidance. Recycling reuse and safe disposal of waste.
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K11: 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 and hydro aiming for net zero energy in use. System efficiencies.
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K12: Operating principles of 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 and hydro aiming for net zero energy in use.
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K13: Manual handling techniques including material handling equipment (MHE).
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K14: Health and safety control equipment: personal protective equipment (PPE).
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K15: Hand tools, power tools and equipment: use and storage techniques.
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K16: Work area preparation and setting out techniques.
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K17: Materials, system components and bracketry used in pipework system installations.
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K18: Work planning and pre work checking, requirements, and techniques.
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K19: Pre commissioning practices and techniques applicable to building service engineering installations.
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K20: Commissioning practices and techniques applicable to building service engineering installations.
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K21: Principles and techniques for pipework fabrication including bending and jointing.
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K22: Principles and techniques for pipework installation and testing.
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K23: Decommissioning practices and techniques applicable to building service engineering installations.
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K24: Handover procedures for commissioned systems.
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K25: Quality management standards. Quality assurance principles and practice.
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K26: Heating system installation techniques: low temperature and medium temperature systems.
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K27: Water system installation techniques: hot - open vented, unvented, indirect, secondary circulation, instantaneous. Cold - indirect and direct. Air conditioning, heat rejection, chilled beams, fan coil units and air handling units.
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K28: Fire protection system installation techniques: wet and dry risers. Hose reel assemblies.
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K29: Electrical safety procedures in building services systems.
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K30: Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Adapting style to audience. Barriers in communication and how to overcome them. Sector specific terminology.
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K31: Written communication techniques: paper based and digital. Plain English principles. Sector specific terminology.
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K32: Collaborative working techniques: customers, colleagues, internal and external stakeholders and other trades
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K33: Methods of interpreting relevant information from drawings, specifications and system schematics.
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K34: Information technology and digital systems used to support building service engineering operations. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
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K35: Documentation: methods and requirements – electronic and paper, for example, text, data, job card, work instructions, risk assessments, method statements, operation manuals, permits to work.
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K36: Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
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K37: Limits of authority and escalation procedures.
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K38: Team working and wellbeing principles.
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S1: Comply with building services engineering industry regulations, standards, and guidance.
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S2: Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and practices.
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S3: Identify and report hazards and risks in the workplace. Take action to mitigate hazards and risks.
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S4: Comply with safe systems of work and apply control measures.
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S5: Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).
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S6: Follow environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
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S7: Move, lift, and handle materials.
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S8: Select and use personal protective equipment (PPE).
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S9: Use and store hand tools, power tools and equipment.
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S10: Prepare work area and complete set out requirements.
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S11: Maintain a safe working area.
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S12: Select materials, components, and fittings required to complete the work tasks.
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S13: Plan order of works and carry out pre-work checks.
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S14: Carry out pre commissioning activities for building service engineering installations.
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S15: Fabricate system pipework including pipe bending.
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S16: Test fabricated pipework system.
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S17: Install pipework system, including pipework, bracketry and components of pipework systems, not including the energy source.
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S18: Use pipework jointing techniques.
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S19: Test installed pipework.
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S20: Apply decommissioning practices, for example draining pipework system.
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S21: Complete system handover activities.
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S22: Complete a final quality inspection.
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S23: Communicate with others verbally including internal and external customers, colleagues using sector specific terminology.
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S24: Communicate with others in a written context including internal and external customers, colleagues using sector specific terminology.
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S25: Interpret drawings from drawings, specifications, and system schematics.
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S26: Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
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S27: Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and polices.
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S28: Follow equity, diversity, and inclusion policies.
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S29: Work within limits of authority and escalate issues.
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S30: Collaborate with others including customers, colleagues, internal and external stakeholders and other trades.
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S31: Apply team working and wellbeing principles.
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B1: Prioritise health, safety, and wellbeing.
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B2: Considers the environment and sustainability.
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B3: Contributes to equity, diversity, and inclusivity in the workplace.
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B4: Team-focus to meet work goals.
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B5: Respond and adapt to work demands and situations.
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B6: Committed to maintaining and enhancing competence of self through continued professional development (CPD).
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English and maths qualifications form a mandatory part of all apprenticeships and must be completed before an apprentice can pass through gateway. The requirements are detailed in the current version of the apprenticeship funding rules.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Occupational standard, end-point assessment and funding band revised. | 01/08/2024 | Not set |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 24/03/2016 | 31/07/2024 |
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