What Knowledge & Skills should a new Plumber have?

[Welder]

Maybe we should leave the use of tools & installation etc cos although I would expect some basic technique's to be taught most would be learnt & perfected thought out the site training & is mainly down to the trades people they will be working with.
Should they still be taught screwed iron ?

How about just the college theory side, what do you think should be taught as part of the course?
Is this the knowledge you would want from your training?

1. Cold & hot water systems - should this include the Water Reg's & Part G (unvented so that they have the tickets on completion) Should it include sizing pipes & storage vessels.
2. Above ground drainage systems - should this include below ground as well ? at least they should be able to ID separate systems, combined & surface water. How about grease traps, should guttering & RW systems be included ?
3. Heating systems - should they still learn about gravity systems, how about heatloss calculations manually ? Low Lost Headers & hydraulic separation? Controls - should we be teaching WC / load compensation or just limiting it to the S & Y plan & combi plus ?
4. Electrical - clearly it is such an everyday part of our work but to what extent? should they understand house wiring systems or just how to connect to a FCU ? Should they be able to understand & wire up an S plan & then fault find on it or is this just too much for them at this stage?
5. Business studies - should they know how companies are set up & run / managed? Taxed? The high end skills that Dave is after would be wonderful but not sure they could be taught at such a young age although the personal skills could be pushed more, the rest I think come with age & experience.

What have I missed?

My son is a Plumber but doesn't want to clear a blocked bog, instead passes it over to the drainage side What is the world coming to?

Dont blame your lad one iota Ive had septicaemia through dealing with sh1te. Not fun i can assure you

 

[Last Plumber]

Dont blame your lad one iota Ive had septicaemia through dealing with sh1te. Not fun i can assure you

That's a near death experience! or can be.
Did you cut yourself?

 

[Welder]

That's a near death experience! or can be.
Did you cut yourself?

It was 'apparently', I thought I was fine, Drs however prepared the wife for 'worst'. Like all good Yorkshireman tho, a bit o sh1te can't kill me! Had it three times now. Can assure you it's not fun.

No cut that I'm aware of. Probable just not good enough hygiene. One however was a feral cat - that's a story for a few beers... Last seen flying over neighbour's fencing (2 doors away)

 

[Last Plumber]

@2roger22

How can you disagree with a question?
Or was it a mistake?

 

[Jerry]

Hmmm
How about-

• Honest and reliable
• Turns up on time
• Willingness to learn

I have also heard to 'hire talent, train skill'

 

[chris watkins]

I was really after subject areas for the Plumbing qualification Jerry.

• Honest and reliable
• Willingness to learn
• Turns up on time

Your suggestions aren't normally taught at college, it is maybe down to you to improve your selection / interview techniques for the top two & possible your management for the bottom one.

 

[Jerry]

I was really after subject areas for the Plumbing qualification Jerry.

• Honest and reliable
• Willingness to learn
• Turns up on time

Your suggestions aren't normally taught at college, it is maybe down to you to improve your selection / interview techniques for the top two & possible your management for the bottom one.

Agreed

 

[WC1]

The one thing that can only be learnt on the job- how to communicate with customers. Can't learn it from a book, can't practice it in a classroom. Such as How to reassure a worried cust. How to calm down an angry cust. How to get the info you need to diagnose a fault e.g. open vs leading questions. How to develop a rapport. I'd say it is possibly the most important skill of any tradesperson. IMO

 

[chris watkins]

The one thing that can only be learnt on the job- how to communicate with customers. Can't learn it from a book, can't practice it in a classroom. Such as How to reassure a worried cust. How to calm down an angry cust. How to get the info you need to diagnose a fault e.g. open vs leading questions. How to develop a rapport. I'd say it is possibly the most important skill of any tradesperson. IMO

Agree but after you can walk the walk you learn to talk the talk !!
I would just say I do try to give them pointers on this but maybe it should be pushed a be more.
In your early twenties few will be able to but we can give them examples.

 

[CHRISX]

Hello All,

Good advice from Members.

On a lighter note - I copied the wording below from one of our Members some time ago - unfortunately I did not make a note of who posted it but I do agree with their comments - what do other Members think ?

HEATING ENGINEER & PLUMBER JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF OUR WORK:

The job description should contain words like: 'acrobatic contortionist with immense strength, night vision and huge brain, required to deal with every possible scenario imaginable to mankind in any given position'.

I hope that the Member who originally posted that will not mind me re-posting it without being able to attribute the wording to them by name.

Chris

 

[chris watkins]

"The new ‘Trailblazer’ Plumbing Apprenticeship overall structure is excellent it ensure that all apprentices will be working at a Level 3 standard however, an integral part of the four year programme means each candidate must select a compulsory fuel or renewable option they are; Natural Gas, Oil, Solid fuel and Solar/Heat pumps".
"This means that any apprentice or trainee that is employed just carrying out ‘Plumbing’ work and not one of the fuel or renewable options will not be able to ‘pass’ the apprenticeship due to the on-site evidence requirements".
"Up to half of our current apprentices are employed on building sites, 1st fixing risers, installing multiple pipework systems and plant rooms, installing HIU’s in new build flats, 2nd fixing commercial washroom areas etc or indeed working on maintenance contracts for schools, hospitals, office complex’s, modern apartment blocks and shopping centres etc etc".
"Why are we now deciding that anyone who performs ‘Commercial Plumbing work’ or ‘Plumbing work without Gas’ is not eligible?

Who decided that in order to be a skilled and qualified Plumber, you ‘must’ be working on gas appliances or installing solar panels"?
So asks Mr Neil Samuels at a proper training centre in South London

Most would applaud the inclusion of the various fuels and renewables within the scheme, but surely there must be some space for those that are working within non-domestic properties or not able to gain gas related site evidence?

The fear is that there will be a large downturn in Plumbing Apprenticeship registrations and subsequently this will only exasperate the acute shortage of skilled and qualified tradespeople that we are currently experiencing.

This is why I was asking what you would want to see in the new Plumbing qualification, so few company where prepared to have an input 5 years ago we have ended up with the above situation.

 

[WC1]

Another module might be "how to spot customers who aren't going to pay the bill" - essential for newbies