plumber

The work

Plumbers install, service and repair hot and cold water supplies, heating systems and drainage networks. Their work plays an essential role in modern life, providing everything from clean drinking water to central heating. 

Plumbers can work on plumbing systems in domestic, industrial or commercial premises. Their key duties include:

• fitting and repairing hot and cold water systems, tanks, pipework, taps and valves
• fitting and servicing gas- and oil-fired central heating systems, boilers and radiators
• installing and repairing domestic appliances, such as showers, washing machines and waste disposal units 
• installing and servicing air-conditioning and ventilation units
• preparing and fitting weather-proof sheeting, joints and flashings on roofs, chimneys and walls
• fixing and clearing drainage and guttering.

Some plumbers specialise in sheet metal work on industrial, commercial and historical buildings. This type of work involves cutting, shaping and fitting sheeting materials made from aluminium, copper, lead and zinc.

Plumbers must make sure that their work complies with relevant Building Regulations and legal requirements.

Hours and Environment

Plumbers work 40 hours a week but overtime is common. Some plumbers offer a 24-hour call-out service.

As a plumber, you work both indoors, often in confined spaces, and outdoors in all weathers. Work on the outside of buildings is usually at heights.

Skills and Interests

To be a plumber you need:

• the ability to follow technical drawings and plans
• good practical and problem-solving skills
• a careful and methodical approach to work
• normal colour vision (for some work)
• a reasonable level of fitness
• an awareness of safety issues and legal regulations
• the ability to work as part of a team and alone
• good customer care skills.

Entry

To be considered a qualified plumber, SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering in the UK, recommends that you gain the NVQ (or SVQ in Scotland) Level 2 and 3 in Mechanical Engineering Services (MES): Plumbing (Domestic).

Entry routes into plumbing differ depending on where you train in the UK (see regional variations below). If you are already working in the industry but do not have the NVQ/SVQ, please refer straight to the Training section below. 

England and Wales 
If you are not already working in plumbing, you will need to gain the following qualifications:

• City & Guilds (6129) Technical Certificates Level 2 Basic Plumbing Studies and Level 3 Plumbing Studies – you can take these certificates if you do not have any work experience. 
  
• City & Guilds (6089) NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Mechanical Engineering Services (MES): Plumbing (Domestic) – you can only move on to the NVQ once you have gained work experience, either through employment or a work placement.

The technical certificates (6129) do not prove occupational competence as a plumber, only the full NVQ qualification can do this. The technical certificates are open to people of all ages but competition for places is strong. They cover the theory and some practical skills needed to move on to the NVQ qualification, including:

• hot and cold water systems
• sanitation systems
• central heating pipework
• health and safety.

Colleges and training centres set their own entry requirements, which are likely to include an aptitude test. Due to health and safety regulations, colour-blind applicants may not be able to take a training course. You should check with the training provider about restrictions and whether they offer a colour vision assessment test.

Contact SummitSkills in Further Information for details about entry routes into plumbing, training providers and qualifications.

The Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE) in Further Information also has some useful information for anyone looking to train as a plumber; and the Women in Plumbing Group actively encourages women to consider plumbing as a career. They can send out a factsheet about how to get into plumbing.

Short courses
There are organisations offering short intensive training courses and some offering home-study options. To be industry-recognised, the courses must be accredited by City & Guilds (C&G) and lead to the technical certificate (6129) or NVQ (6089). You can check if they do by contacting your regional C&G office with the course and training provider's details. Visit City & Guilds to find your regional contact. You should also check to see what happens if you fall behind or drop out of an intensive course. For example, could you carry on with training at a later date.

Work placements 
Industry bodies strongly recommend that you gain a placement or employment with a plumbing firm as soon as possible after starting the technical certificates, so that you can complete the NVQ. Your training provider may help with placements but you can also contact plumbing firms directly.

Apprenticeships in England and Wales (including Adult apprenticeships)
You may be able to start as an apprentice with a plumbing or engineering company. Most apprentices start at 16 to 19, but entry may be possible up to 24, depending on availability of places (see Training section for contacts). There is currently very little provision for Adult Apprenticeships in England for this option but there are limited pilot schemes in Wales. Check with local employers, colleges and training centres for details, or visit the government's apprenticeships sites for  England and Wales.

Scotland
Separate technical certificates are not available in Scotland, so the SVQ Level 3 is the main route in to the industry. Follow this link for details about apprenticeships in  Scotland or see the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers' Federation (SNIPEF) in Further Information.

Northern Ireland
Entry into plumbing follows a similar pattern to training in England and Wales and is normally through the apprenticeship scheme for Northern Ireland, which is part of the Government's Jobskills programme. For more details about the apprenticeship training schemes and training colleges in Northern Ireland, contact ConstructionSkills (NI) and SNIPEF in Further Information.

Overseas qualified plumbers
If you are qualified from outside the UK, contact the Joint Industry Board for Plumbing for details about how to register as a qualified plumber. You will need your qualification details from your home country. 

Training

If you are already employed within the industry, you can work directly towards:

• NVQ in Mechanical Engineering Services –  Plumbing (6089) at Level 2 and
• NVQ/SVQ Mechanical Engineering Services – Plumbing (6089) at Level 3.

As well as assessing your practical skills, the NVQ incorporates the technical certificates. The NVQ/SVQ is normally available on a part-time or day-release basis through colleges and training centres.

The Level 3 NVQ/SVQ contains three additional assessments:

• Water Regulations (Bye-Laws in Scotland)
• Unvented Hot Water Systems
• ACS gas safety (required for CORGI registration).

To convert from domestic to commercial gas plumbing or vice versa, you have to retake the corresponding ACS assessment, as they differ for each field. 

You can become a trainee member of the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE) if you are taking a recognised qualification. If you are already qualified, you can apply for full membership. The IPHE's Women in Plumbing Group supports women already working in the industry and runs training workshops on a range of topics, for example business development and legislation. See the IPHE website below.

The British Plumbing Employers' Council (BPEC) Services offers a variety of training publications including ACS assessment preparation and practical business guides. See the BPEC website in Further Information for details.

If you install, service and repair oil-fired appliances and heating systems, you can register with the  Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) and take their training and accreditation scheme.

Part L of the Building Regulations – Energy Efficiency
Part L states that plumbers and heating engineers fitting new boilers must hold the City & Guilds Certificate in Energy Efficiency for Domestic Heating (6084). This certifies that you are qualified to carry out the work in line with Part L requirements. Contact the Energy Efficiency helpline (in Further Information) or visit the Skills4business website for more details.

Part P of the Building Regulations - Electrical Safety 
Part P states that  certain types of household electrical work must be approved by a certified contractor or building inspector. You can certify your own work by completing a short Part P training course. See the Part P contacts in Further Information for details about certification training schemes, entry requirements and information about the electrical work that requires approval.

There may be some entry requirements for the certification course, depending on your qualifications and experience. Some providers offer additional training if needed, for instance 16th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS7671); some do not. Please check with the providers.

These short courses, relating to Building Regulations, should be considered as professional development for existing plumbers. They do not in themselves lead to qualification as a plumber.

Opportunities

As a plumber you could work for a plumbing or mechanical engineering services company, a building contractor or a public sector body. If you are a qualified plumber you will find work opportunities throughout the country.

You can work in a number of areas, including:

• heating
• ventilation
• refrigeration
• gas fitting
• air-conditioning
• kitchen and bathroom fitting.

Promotion options depend on the size of your company but can include moves into estimating, CAD design and contract management. Many plumbers opt for self-employment due to the flexibility it offers.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only. Rates vary regionally, with the highest average salaries in London and the south-east.

Starting salaries for newly qualified plumbers range between £16,500 and £21,000.
Experienced plumbers can earn between £21,000 and £30,000 a year.
Plumbers with supervisory duties can earn up to £35,000.

Self-employed plumbers negotiate their own rates.

Further information

2 Walker Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7LB Energy Efficiency Helpline
Tel: 08080 100222 (incl Women in Plumbing Group)
64 Station Lane
Hornchurch
Essex
RM12 6NB
Tel: 01708 472791 17 Dundrod Road
Nutts Corner
Crumlin
Co Antrim
BT29 4SR
Tel: 0800 587 2288 2 Walker Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7LB
Tel: 0131 225 2255 Tel: 08000 688336

Part P Self-Certification Schemes
NICEIC Domestic Installer Scheme
Tel: 0870 013 0382
www.niceic.org.uk

BRE Certification
Tel: 0870 609 6093
www.partp.co.uk

ELECSA
Tel: 0870 749 0080
www.elecsa.org.uk

British Standards Institution (BSI)
Tel: 01442 278607
www.bsi-global.com

National Association of Inspectors & Testers
Tel: 0870 444 1392
www.napit.org.uk

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