Where will this course lead?

This course is for learners currently employed in the plumbing and domestic heating industry. The purpose of this course is to be able to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to design, plan select, install, commission, maintain, service and repair air and ground source heat pumps within the Building Services Engineering (BSE) renewables sector. Recognised as a demonstration of competence for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) as an installer of heat pumps.

The Water Regulation course will give the candidate the knowledge required to apply to join their local Water Industry Approved Plumber Scheme (WIAPS).

The Low Temperature Hot Water Heating Systems course will help individuals in the installation, maintenance, and optimization of heating and hot water systems in residential settings that are designed to work at 55 deg. C and below. Recognised as a demonstration of competence for the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) as a designer for heat pumps.

What will I study?

As part of the course, you will study a range of courses and modules including:

Water Regulations & Byelaws Manual (WRWB)

• The course covers the latest industry standards and regulatory framework relating to the Water Regulations (1999)

Low Temperature Hot Water Heating Systems qualification

• The course covers the latest industry standards and regulatory framework relating to heating design
• The requirements for undertaking a room by room heat loss for a property
• Correctly size heat emitters for low temperature heating systems
• Correctly size pumps and pipework
• Correctly size a domestic hot water system
• Basic design principles of system configurations

Air Source Heat Pump Systems

• The preparation and installation of air source heat pumps.
• The hydraulic emitter circuit of air source heat pumps
• Installation of an air source heat pumps
• Testing, commissioning and handover of an air source heat pump.
• Requirements for routine service and maintenance of an air source heat pump system installation
• Fault finding

Ground Source Heat Pump Systems

• Background to market
• Heat pump collector types
• Heat distribution
• Pre-installation requirements
• Installation materials and methods.
• Filling flushing and testing
• Setting to work, commissioning
• Servicing and fault finding.

Heat Pump Systems

• The principle of the vapour compression system and system components
• The principles of heat pump efficiency and operational characteristics.
• The sizing of domestic hot water systems.
• Heat pump controls
• Installation of heat pumps
• Testing, commissioning and handover of a heat pump.
• Requirements for routine service and maintenance of a heat pump system installation
• Fault finding

How will this course be delivered?

The heat pump bootcamp is a 2-week programme.

What qualifications will I get?

• Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations Certificate
• Domestic Air Source Heat Pump (NOS)
• Domestic Ground Source Heat Pump (NOS)
• Low Temperature Hot Water Heating Systems

How will I be assessed?

Multiple choice test, written exam and practical exam.

How do I get a place on the course?

Interview with the course team.

What are the entry requirements?

Trainees should have a minimum of one of the following:

• N/SVQ Level 2/3 in Plumbing or equivalent earlier certification
• N/SVQ Level 2/3 in Heating and Ventilating (Domestic Installation) or equivalent earlier certification
• N/SVQ Level 2/3 in Heating and Ventilating (Industrial and Commercial Installation) or equivalent earlier certification
• N/SVQ Level 2/3 in Oil-Fired Technical Services or equivalent earlier certification
• N/SVQ Level 2/3 in Gas Installation and Maintenance or equivalent earlier certification
• Heating installers with minimum 3 years of experience installing wet central heating systems, evidenced either by manufacturer courses certification or Gas Safe Register, OFTEC, MCS or HETAS registration

AND if not included in one of the above qualifications

• Water Regulations/Water Byelaws

Stand-alone technical certificates/Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQ) (non-competency based) are NOT acceptable

What else do I need to know?

The course will require substantial time in self-study to keep on top of the number of assignments that are on the programme. Time management is key as well as 100% attendance to ensure that no content is missed.

*Free subject to eligibility criteria.

What can I do after this course?

After this course, you will be accredited to be able to install heat pump systems.