fully qualified plumber in two weeks.

[GQuigley67]

ok well I've got a question for you tamz regarding the signing off of electrics, my mates a sparky but works for another firm but is self employed, if I gave him some sparky work would he be able to sign it off ?

 

[Plum Bob 66]

Is that based one one your own ??

You will undoubtedly have a ceiling down at some time😉



No, but it still needs signed off.




Agree with this 100%. Level 3 is the minimum recognised qual in Scotland. Think it is more about the money tho hence so many tech cert only "plumbers" who will never be employable🙁



If they had been at it for 15+ years you can be sure they "know" more than they let on.
Some guys just need led tho.



This is not really correct. It's an age thing.
The time however is undoubtedly coming when the trade will be split into sections like gas. More money for the so called "training" establishments.

 

[kirkgas]

Why does everyone seem to keep harping on about 'LEVEL 2', this is only a 'base' qualification! All 'Plumbers should endevour to complete 'LEVEL 3' or 'Advanced Craft' as in my old one. Why don't so called 'trainees' do the LEVEL 3? Too hard? Don't want anymore studying? Want to do something a bit quicker and 'easier'? All prof bodies state Level 3 should what all 'PLUMBERS' achieve and I agree, but, as far as I'm concerned you MUST be on the tools whilst doing them to call yourself a PLUMBER. Sorry to sound like a 'gumpy' but I really can't see how you can without both!!!!!!! Wouldn't call yourself a 'car mechanic' if you'd never worked in a garage with other experienced mechanics for a decent period of time, would you? Oh yes Mr Bloggs, were going to service your nice expensive car with a bloke who's done a few weeks training!!!! Yeah alright!!!

ok lets take a step further, why didnt you study and achieve technician Level, too hard for you? if some guys get level 2 then work damn hard and learn tons by doing it to make a wee life for their families what are they doing wrong, a lot of jobs we do now dont require technician or advanced level, nothing gets fixed now all things just get binned and renewed like for like, and these days how many people are required to design a full install of 20 whbs and wc's over 4 levels

 

[tamz]

ok well I've got a question for you tamz regarding the signing off of electrics, my mates a sparky but works for another firm but is self employed, if I gave him some sparky work would he be able to sign it off ?

If he is a member of Select he can self cert. Otherwise he needs to go the building control route. In reality i doesn't happen

 

[tamz]

Is that based one one your own ??

Do it long enough and it happens to everyone at some point.
The plumber who says he has never has a leak come through a ceiling is a liar.😀

 

[tamz]

ok lets take a step further, why didnt you study and achieve technician Level, too hard for you? if some guys get level 2 then work damn hard and learn tons by doing it to make a wee life for their families what are they doing wrong, a lot of jobs we do now dont require technician or advanced level, nothing gets fixed now all things just get binned and renewed like for like, and these days how many people are required to design a full install of 20 whbs and wc's over 4 levels

Out of curiosity Kirk. What level does your place offer as standard?

 

[kirkgas]

Out of curiosity Kirk. What level does your place offer as standard?

we only do gas, unvented, energy efficiency and moving into renewables

 

[tamz]

we only do gas, unvented, energy efficiency and moving into renewables

You are well out it then😉😀

 

[REDSAW]

Marion lol

i used to have a mate called marlon!

 

[Resolute]

This is not really correct. It's an age thing.
The time however is undoubtedly coming when the trade will be split into sections like gas. More money for the so called "training" establishments.

I appreciate and fully agree that time is the biggest teacher and there's no substitute for experience but there is definitely certain specialised areas in plumbing.

 

[tamz]

there is definitely certain specialised areas in plumbing.

As in?

 

[tamz]

i used to have a mate called marlon!

My first teenage fantasies were about a Marlon. Next door neighbour, probably about 25, with some set on her😀

I digress lol

 

[stevetheplumber]

you couldnt have completed the test pieces we had to do for a craft cert in 2weeks i only just finished them all in 3 years of day release and lots didnt

 

[Resolute]

As in?

I was thinking more along the industrial and renewables.

 

[REDSAW]

ok lets take a step further, why didnt you study and achieve technician Level, too hard for you? if some guys get level 2 then work damn hard and learn tons by doing it to make a wee life for their families what are they doing wrong, a lot of jobs we do now dont require technician or advanced level, nothing gets fixed now all things just get binned and renewed like for like, and these days how many people are required to design a full install of 20 whbs and wc's over 4 levels

i agree, this is where i am.
started in '77' on apprenticeship got sacked by my uncle.lol.
later did the nvq 2 & tech 3 and thought why do i need system planning for large projects, buisness planning, stock ordering?. unless i wanted a job in the offfice.
nvq 3 dont make you a better plumber than a nvq 2,
experience does.imo.

also, i disagree that a nvq 2 is a basic level and nvq 3 advanced, as your what the o.p is saying that there is no intermediate level. now c&g 2&3 i would say is a basic level off plumbing knowledge but not skill.imo.

 

[tamz]

The hardest thing about "renewables" is the spelling.

If you go into industrial it is actually easier. It is all designed for you and you just do your job. Fit pipes from A to B. All pretty basic principles on a bigger scale with no worries.

If you want to get into design, technician level (or whatever it is called these days) gives you the basics but you need to go for a minimum HNC or degree. It is mainly maths and can be extremely boring unless you like algebra.
Nothing much new in those routes. That has always been the way.

 

[fuzzy]

i agree, this is where i am.
started in '77' on apprenticeship got sacked by my uncle.lol.
later did the nvq 2 & tech 3 and thought why do i need system planning for large projects, buisness planning, stock ordering?. unless i wanted a job in the offfice.
nvq 3 dont make you a better plumber than a nvq 2,
experience does.imo.

also, i disagree that a nvq 2 is a basic level and nvq 3 advanced, as your what the o.p is saying that there is no intermediate level. now c&g 2&3 i would say is a basic level off plumbing knowledge but not skill.imo.

C&G call it basic and advanced. if you have the advanced you have more knowledge and skills

 

[Plum Bob 66]

Lol, never had a leak come through a roof, your right on there tamz. Last year it did happen to me.Forgot to tighten up a compression fitting on a trv. Went to refill the system and heard this gushing noise upstairs. Ive never moved so quick. Fortunately got it dried out with no dmage done, but it was a lesson learnt, check and check again if not sure.

 

[fagsanbooz]

ok lets take a step further, why didnt you study and achieve technician Level, too hard for you? if some guys get level 2 then work damn hard and learn tons by doing it to make a wee life for their families what are they doing wrong, a lot of jobs we do now dont require technician or advanced level, nothing gets fixed now all things just get binned and renewed like for like, and these days how many people are required to design a full install of 20 whbs and wc's over 4 levels

Yeah, tried, but firm said at time I had to do at least a minimum of 3 years post gaining my advanced (JIB grading stated you had to do 2 years after apprenticeship to be considered 'advanced') before they would consider 'technician' level as this was only for the ones identified as 'supervision material'.
About 6 or 7 from my class done it but hey were mostly council plumbers.
Not at all having a go at them but the attitude in the whole industry itself. This is not just confined to 'fast trackers' but others in trade as well. People should be encouraged by others in trade, good colleges and the government funding the courses properly.
Anyway, on the NVQ 3 front, spoke to couple of college lecturers friends of mine today and got this approximate info below about the current NVQ3 course.
Time on course 1 to 1.5 year this is going to college 1 day per week 9-5 etc.
40% is just 'Gas', content is the same as ccn1 and the appliances elements
25% is Central Heating and most of it is all domestic sealed and vented systems, Part L stuff, wiring s & y plans, boilers and so on.
15% is Unvented systems with quite a bit of practical
10-15% is water regs and cold and hot water
Only a small amount of soils, wastes and drains etc
10% is 'planning' but most of that was calculating rads, boilers, heating loads, expansion vessels, building regs, specifying controls to part L, pipe sizes etc

Seemed a really good course to me, with really up to date stuff, cannot think why some 'duck out' and apparently the new nvq will have gas and renewables as part of it.

 

[Dormouse]

Hi, first post, be gentle....

I am new to the industry & a 'fast tracker'😎, I've just spent the last 8 months doing a Gas ACS, CPA1, Energy Efficiency (Part L) a week at Baxi Main Potterton & days at Vokera, Vaillant, Viessmann, Glow Worm, Honeywell etc. I'm in the process of starting an NVQ2 at college to learn the water side.

Reading the last post regarding the NVQ Level 3, the only thing I'm missing is the water regs, soils & unvented!!

Have I done them the wrong way round? 😕