Dark Green occupationConstruction and the built environment
Low carbon heating technician
Skilled heat pump installer.
Summary
This occupation is found in the Building Services Sector of the Construction Industry.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to plan, select and size, install, commission, service and maintain (including fault finding, diagnosis and repair) zero carbon central heating and hot water systems in buildings including dwellings and industrial and commercial premises. Zero carbon heat sources may include but are not limited to Ground and Air Source Heat Pumps and Solar Thermal Collectors. The occupation includes work on both new build and existing properties and typically involves the installation, service, fault finding and repair of zero carbon heating and hot water appliances, storage vessels, pipework, heat emitters and associated components and their mechanical and electrical control systems.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with customers and end users, and as such requires a high level of customer service. The role is physical in nature and involves the manual handling of heavy equipment, working at height and in confined spaces.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for working both independently with a minimum of supervision and also as a member of a team involving close liaison and cooperation with site and line management, colleagues and other trades.
Typical job titles include
- Heat pump installer/technician/engineer | Renewable heating installer/technician/engineer | Solar thermal installer/technician/engineer
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
Health and safety legislation, approved codes of practice and guidance and safe working practices applicable to work in the building services and wider construction industry.
K2:
Principles of sustainability, energy efficiency, reuse of materials and recycling. Principles of control and management of emissions and waste. Efficient use of resources and legislation.
K3:
Common installation practices and techniques used in the installation and maintenance of low carbon heating and hot water systems (air source, water source and ground source heat pumps, solar thermal systems, unvented hot water systems, connections to cold water systems, lower temperature wet central heating).
K4:
Scientific and mechanical principles applicable to how low carbon heating, cooling and hot water systems work, including coefficient of performance (COP) and seasonal performance factor (SPF).
K5:
Roles and responsibilities of persons within the low carbon heating and hot water systems industry and related trades.
K6:
Legislative requirements and sources of information applicable to low carbon heating and hot water system installation, service and repair.
K7:
Communication techniques used with different audiences.
K8:
Layout features, working principles and legislative requirements of cold water systems connected to low carbon heating and hot water systems.
K9:
Layout features and working principles of low carbon heating and hot water systems.
K10:
Sustainability: sources of renewable and non-renewable energy, current energy efficiency advice and guidance, UN Sustainability Development Goals, decarbonisation.
K11:
Testing and commissioning practices and techniques applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems.
K12:
Installation practices and techniques of electrical and electronic control systems applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems.
K13:
Testing and commissioning practices and techniques of electrical and electronic control systems applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems.
K14:
Decommissioning practices applicable to heating and hot water systems including limitations to operative competence with regard to other fuel systems supply, components and appliances.
K15:
Decommissioning practices of electrical and electronic control systems applicable to heating and hot water systems.
K16:
Routine service and maintenance practices and techniques applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems.
K17:
F-Gas regulations: purpose and application
K18:
Routine service and maintenance practices and techniques of electrical and electronic control systems applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems.
K19:
Fault finding, diagnosis and rectification practices and techniques applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems.
K20:
Fault finding, diagnosis and rectification practices and techniques of electrical and electronic control systems applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems including safe isolation procedures.
K21:
Planning, sizing and selecting practices for low carbon heating and hot water systems and components.
K22:
Processes and procedures of electrical supply and control systems applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems and work including limits to operative competence.
K23:
Well-being: mental and physical health considerations in self and others and how to access support. Impact of mental health on the construction industry.
K24:
Risk assessments, method statements and work programmes: production methods and requirements.
K25:
Collaborative and ethical working, relationship management with clients and stakeholders and mutual problem-solving techniques.
K26:
Electrical safety: working with electricals in low carbon heating and hot water systems. Understanding limits of competence, what not to do, and when to engage a competent electrician, as well as other trades.
Technical Educational Products
- FA0001: Building service engineering foundation apprenticeship (Level 2)
Technical education progression
- ST1020: Low carbon heating technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery Technical education progression
- Reference:
- OCC1020
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £35,963 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5315 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5315/00 Plumbers and heating and ventilation installers and repairers
S1:
Operate in a safe working manner by complying with health and safety legislation, approved codes of practice and guidance and applying safe working practices.
S2:
Apply environmental and sustainability principles.
S3:
Produce work programmes for tasks within low carbon heating and hot water industry.
S4:
Produce risk assessments and method statements for the low carbon heating and hot water systems work.
S5:
Install, low carbon heating and hot water systems.
S6:
Test, commission and handover low carbon heating and hot water systems, including providing operational advice.
S7:
Install electrical and electronic control systems applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems.
S8:
Test and commission electrical and electronic control systems applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems.
S9:
Service, maintain, diagnose faults and rectify low carbon heating and hot water systems, including safe isolation of supply.
S10:
Perform routine service, maintenance, fault diagnosis and rectification procedures and techniques on electrical and electrical control systems applicable to low carbon heating and hot water systems including carrying out safe isolation procedures.
S11:
Decommission heating and hot water systems.
S12:
Decommission electrical and electrical control systems applicable to heating and hot water systems.
S13:
Plan, size and select low carbon heating and hot water systems.
S14:
Communicate with others verbally and in writing.
S15:
Works collaboratively with clients or stakeholders to solve problems.
Technical Educational Products
- FA0001: Building service engineering foundation apprenticeship (Level 2) Technical education progression
- ST1020: Low carbon heating technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery Technical education progression
- Reference:
- OCC1020
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £35,963 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5315 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5315/00 Plumbers and heating and ventilation installers and repairers
B1:
Takes personal responsibility for and promotes health and safety.
B2:
Considers the environment and sustainability.
B3:
Collaborates and promotes teamwork.
B4:
Takes responsibility for completing work.
B5:
Supports an inclusive culture.
B6:
Committed to continued professional development (CPD).
B7:
Act ethically.
Technical Educational Products
- FA0001: Building service engineering foundation apprenticeship (Level 2) Technical education progression
- ST1020: Low carbon heating technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery Technical education progression
- Reference:
- OCC1020
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £35,963 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5315 Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5315/00 Plumbers and heating and ventilation installers and repairers
