2 week Practical Plumbing and Heating

Syllabus

There are Four Sections to your Courses as listed below-

1. Introduction to the Basics of Plumbing

2. Plumbing Projects

3. Maintenance & Repairs

4. Central Heating

Section One - Introduction to the Basics of Plumbing

Induction :

Introduction to the Plumbing Course; Health & Safety; NVQ paperwork; NVQ Portfolio; Issue and instruction to your Toolkit.

Course Objectives - what we expect you to be able to achieve after completing the course.

Dedicated Questions & Answers session.

Soldering :

Theory & Practical on how to solder Capillary fittings. Use of Fluxes and differences in Solder wire, to Water Board Regulation Standards.

Pipe Bending :

How to bend pipes of various sizes using your pipe bender.

Instruction on bending 90, 45 & 30 degree bends including Sets and Cross Overs.

Why and when to use these particular bends and in what plumbing situations.

First Test Piece Exercise :

From a template you will produce a test piece incorporating the skills just learnt. On completion, the exercise is pressure tested to 4 Bar (60 P.S.I.). Any leaky joints encountered will provide the opportunity to pick up specific 'how to fix' techniques.

Compression Fittings and Valves :

This session introduces you to the various shut off (isolation) valves used in domestic plumbing including the correct use of compression fittings, plastic plumbing - tube and fittings. We also cover a session on BSPT fittings.

Second Test Piece Exercise - Compression Fittings:

From a template you will construct an exercise using a variety of valves, compression fittings & plastic plumbing which on completion is pressure tested to 4 Bar.

Soil & Waste Pipe & Fittings :

This involves a lecture on all aspects of the correct way to install Soil & Waste from the main sewer to sanitary appliances i.e. Baths, Toilets, Basins etc

Plastic Plumbing :

This session involves looking at the many variables available to you with different makes of pipe and fittings, how to put together, tips and problems to look for.

Section Two - Practical Plumbing Projects

Cold Water Storage Tank & Hot Water Cylinder :

On this project you will fit all the pipework required to enable you to fill the storage tank and hot water cylinder.

You will also onward run domestic hot and cold water supplies.

Bathroom Installation :

You will install a complete bathroom suite including plumbing in a separate Shower and then connect it to the previous Tank & Cylinder project.

Kitchen Sink Installation :

Here you will connect water supplies from a Combination Hot Water Cylinder to a Sink with valves fitted for a Washing Machine / Dishwasher connection.

Second Bathroom Installation :

This installation is slightly different to the above bathroom.

On this project you will connect your bathroom supplies to a Combination Boiler.

This also includes the connection of a Manual Shower.

Shower & Shower Tray Installation :

An Electric shower is connected and discussion on fitting shower trays.
The electrical side can no longer be done by you as new regulations that came into force in Jan 05 prohibit this.

Section Three - Maintenance and Repairs

Toilet Repairs :

Problems involving all aspects of WC & Cisterns to include Pan Connectors; Flush Pipes; Ball Valves & Flusher mechanisms.

Tap Replacement & Tap Repairs :

How to go about replacing taps. Tap Re-Seating; Re-Washering and common faults.

Immersion Heaters :

Changing Elements & Thermostats; Fault Finding.

Unblocking Drains & Waste Pipes :

How to and where to use Drain Rods. Common problems and how to fix them.

Central Heating Problems :

Pump replacement; Zone & 3 port Valve replacement.

Radiator Valves replacement; Removal of Air Locks.

De-Scaler & inhibitors - Why & How to carry out.

Water Softeners & Conditioners.

Section Four - Central Heating

Combination Boiler System :

This exercise comprises of fitting all the pipework (except gas) from the boiler to the Radiators.

You also run Domestic Hot & Cold water to a WashHand Basin.

Your combination bathroom is also plumbed into this configuration. The pipework here is an extension of the combination bathroom you have already plumbed.

Once completed the entire system is water tested and the boiler fired up and tested for safe operation.

Any leaks encountered are corrected and the above procedure carried out again until everything is fully operational.

Conventional Boiler with Open Vented Heating System :

This exercise comprises fitting pipework to the Boiler; Feed and Expansion tank; Pump and 3 Port motorised valve.

Then connecting pipe to a Hot Water Cylinder and onward to the Radiators.

The system is filled with water and radiators bled. The Boiler is switched on; fired up and then the system heat tested.

Conversion of Open Vented to a Sealed System :

This exercise consists of converting the Open Vented system you have just installed to a Sealed system.

After this is completed, the above testing procedure is run through again until everything is fully operational.

Central Heating Calculations :

Working from an architects diagram of a large house, this exercise will enable you to calculate the Radiator and Boiler sizes for a complete house; extensions and individual rooms.

This exercise also incorporates a costing exercise enabling you to reach a full quote covering everything for presentation to, and acceptance by, the Course Director.

Is this ALL achievable ?

Whilst this may all seem daunting and you may wonder how we fit this all in to the duration of the course, experience has shown us that, Yes it is ! Even to students that have not done any plumbing work before.

However if you were to run over slightly, then this is not an issue to us.

Literature is freely available for you to take home to study, covering all that you have done during the course.

In addition to the above exercises, you will be taught a lot of theory not found in books, based on many years operating in the plumbing trade.

We are confident that anyone completing the course will have gained enough skill and knowledge to confidently tackle the majority of plumbing projects they will be asked to perform.

Please note - It is illegal for anyone to undertake gas work without the appropriate training and assessment of a registered training centre.