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Apprenticeship training course

Heat network maintenance technician (level 3)

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Information about Heat network maintenance technician (level 3)

Heat network technicians are responsible for the operation, planned maintenance and reactive repair of all equipment relevant to the district heat network. This will involve attending customer properties - both residential and commercial, as well as distribution substations and energy centres, generating heat and often electricity.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • Heat network systems: heat sources, materials and technology, scale and scope of networks, sustainability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
  • Types of heat networks: local, district and city-wide.
  • Awareness of legislative, regulatory frameworks and regulators: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, The Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE), Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM), Energy Ombudsman, Heat Networks (Scotland) Act, Heat Networks (Metering and Billing) Regulations.
  • Awareness of codes of conduct and technical standards: The Heat Trust, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) CP1.2, Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Manufacturers of Equipment for Heat Networks Association.
  • Planning, organising and time management techniques.
  • Awareness of health and safety regulations and the impact on role: Health and Safety at Work Act, Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, Electrical regulations, Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHOR), Construction Design Management Regulations (CDM), working at height, confined spaces and lone working.
  • Awareness of environmental and sustainability regulations and requirements: Environmental Protection Act, Pollution Prevention and Control Act, Clean Air Act, Radioactive Substances Act, Controlled Waste Regulations, Controls on Dangerous Substances and Preparations Regulations. Efficient use of resources. Recycling, reuse and safe disposal of waste.
  • Hazard identification techniques, control measures, risk assessment method statements (RAMs), risk management and the recording and reporting of incidents and accidents.
  • Environmental management and environmental management systems: ISO 14000, ISO 14004, ISO 14001.
  • Site management: work area preparation and maintenance techniques.
  • Awareness of principles of climate change, including causes and environmental impact and contribution of heat network industry to achieving carbon budgets and net zero.
  • Maintenance practices: planned, preventative, predictive and reactive methods. Maintenance techniques and standards, statutory inspection and industry standard SFG20.
  • Principles of asset management, maintenance systems and asset tagging.
  • Thermodynamics in heat networks: units of measurement, formulae including Q = mcΔT, properties of materials, relationship between energy, heat and power.
  • Principles of fluid dynamics in heat networks: units of measurement, formulae including Q = V/t and p=ρgh and hydrodynamics, and how they impact pressure, operational pressures, differential pressure and heat network efficiency issues.
  • Flow, pressure and temperature measurement techniques, portable measurement instruments, static pressure and differential pressure reading.
  • Electrical installation techniques and principles: circuit theory, capacitance in DC circuits, magnetism, single-phase alternating current (AC) theory, 3 phase wiring, hazards of electricity, safe isolation of circuits, testing for live or dead and minor works certification.
  • Engineering representations: design principles, piping and instrumentation diagrams, single-line electrical diagrams, control panel schematics, circuit and network diagrams.
  • Industrial plant and process control systems: characteristics, modes of control, tuning methods, hierarchical and advanced process control systems.
  • Water quality: the impact of poor water quality on heat networks, scale, corrosion, fouling and microbiology. Open and closed systems, chemical and chemical free systems, industry body and standard.
  • Water network system maintenance techniques: cleaning of strainer baskets and water sampling.
  • Pipe work: types and pipework common issues, riser and lateral pipework, stainless steel, carbon steel, barrel, plastic and copper pipe.
  • Pipe working techniques: repair and replacement, safe isolation, drain down and refill.
  • Documentation: methods and requirements - electronic and paper.
  • Problem solving techniques: diagnostics, root cause analysis, DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control), PDCA (Plan Do Check Act), 5 Whys’, Fishbone and Ishikawa.
  • Quality assurance requirements and monitoring processes.
  • Remote diagnostic techniques and supply system crossover impact: monitoring and test equipment, use and interpretation of results of fixed monitoring equipment for on and offline monitoring including continuous and semi-continuous data recording, flow rates, temperatures and distribution system.
  • Continuous improvement techniques: lean, 6-sigma, KAIZEN, 5 S (Sort, set, shine, standardise and sustain).
  • Team working principles.
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion requirements in the workplace.
  • Written communication techniques. Plain English principles. Engineering terminology. Report writing.
  • End to end process through a heat network upon a customer demanding heat (hot water or heating) within a property with indirect HIU (Heat Interface Unit).
  • Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience.
  • Tools and equipment used in district heat system maintenance. Requirements for cleaning, storage, care, and operational checks.
  • Visual inspection techniques.
  • Fault finding techniques.
  • Information technology: Management Information Systems (MIS), spreadsheets, presentation, word processing, email, virtual communication and learning platforms. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Planned and unplanned maintenance techniques: servicing, repair and replacement.
  • Distribution plant equipment: pumps, inverters, motors, fans, strainers, thermal stores, expansion and vibration bellows and plant heat exchangers.
  • Pressurisation plant equipment: pressurisation unit, expansion vessel, fill and spill unit, break tank and Automatic Air Vents (AAVs).
  • Water treatment plant equipment: de-gasser, chemical dosing pot, chemical auto dosing equipment, dirt air separator and water softener.
  • Valves and associated actuators: including Pressure Independent Control Valve (PICV), Differential Pressure Control Valve (DPCV), Non-Return Valve (NRV) temperature and pressure release valve (PRV), three port valves and isolation valves.
  • Building Management System (BMS) remote plant operation techniques: fault reset, heat generation asset commercial gas boilers, pumps, valves and pressurisation units.
  • Plant equipment control panels and local operation techniques: pumps and heat source.
  • E-Stops and safety circuits: operation and return to normal service techniques.
  • Heat network systems: heat sources, materials and technology, scale and scope of networks, sustainability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
  • Types of heat networks: local, district and city-wide.
  • Awareness of legislative, regulatory frameworks and regulators: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, The Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE), Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM), Energy Ombudsman, Heat Networks (Scotland) Act, Heat Networks (Metering and Billing) Regulations.
  • Awareness of codes of conduct and technical standards: The Heat Trust, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) CP1.2, Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Manufacturers of Equipment for Heat Networks Association.
  • Planning, organising and time management techniques.
  • Awareness of health and safety regulations and the impact on role: Health and Safety at Work Act, Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, Electrical regulations, Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHOR), Construction Design Management Regulations (CDM), working at height, confined spaces and lone working.
  • Awareness of environmental and sustainability regulations and requirements: Environmental Protection Act, Pollution Prevention and Control Act, Clean Air Act, Radioactive Substances Act, Controlled Waste Regulations, Controls on Dangerous Substances and Preparations Regulations. Efficient use of resources. Recycling, reuse and safe disposal of waste.
  • Hazard identification techniques, control measures, risk assessment method statements (RAMs), risk management and the recording and reporting of incidents and accidents.
  • Environmental management and environmental management systems: ISO 14000, ISO 14004, ISO 14001.
  • Site management: work area preparation and maintenance techniques.
  • Awareness of principles of climate change, including causes and environmental impact and contribution of heat network industry to achieving carbon budgets and net zero.
  • Maintenance practices: planned, preventative, predictive and reactive methods. Maintenance techniques and standards, statutory inspection and industry standard SFG20.
  • Principles of asset management, maintenance systems and asset tagging.
  • Thermodynamics in heat networks: units of measurement, formulae including Q = mcΔT, properties of materials, relationship between energy, heat and power.
  • Principles of fluid dynamics in heat networks: units of measurement, formulae including Q = V/t and p=ρgh and hydrodynamics, and how they impact pressure, operational pressures, differential pressure and heat network efficiency issues.
  • Flow, pressure and temperature measurement techniques, portable measurement instruments, static pressure and differential pressure reading.
  • Electrical installation techniques and principles: circuit theory, capacitance in DC circuits, magnetism, single-phase alternating current (AC) theory, 3 phase wiring, hazards of electricity, safe isolation of circuits, testing for live or dead and minor works certification.
  • Engineering representations: design principles, piping and instrumentation diagrams, single-line electrical diagrams, control panel schematics, circuit and network diagrams.
  • Industrial plant and process control systems: characteristics, modes of control, tuning methods, hierarchical and advanced process control systems.
  • Water quality: the impact of poor water quality on heat networks, scale, corrosion, fouling and microbiology. Open and closed systems, chemical and chemical free systems, industry body and standard.
  • Water network system maintenance techniques: cleaning of strainer baskets and water sampling.
  • Pipe work: types and pipework common issues, riser and lateral pipework, stainless steel, carbon steel, barrel, plastic and copper pipe.
  • Pipe working techniques: repair and replacement, safe isolation, drain down and refill.
  • Documentation: methods and requirements - electronic and paper.
  • Problem solving techniques: diagnostics, root cause analysis, DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control), PDCA (Plan Do Check Act), 5 Whys’, Fishbone and Ishikawa.
  • Quality assurance requirements and monitoring processes.
  • Remote diagnostic techniques and supply system crossover impact: monitoring and test equipment, use and interpretation of results of fixed monitoring equipment for on and offline monitoring including continuous and semi-continuous data recording, flow rates, temperatures and distribution system.
  • Continuous improvement techniques: lean, 6-sigma, KAIZEN, 5 S (Sort, set, shine, standardise and sustain).
  • Team working principles.
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion requirements in the workplace.
  • Written communication techniques. Plain English principles. Engineering terminology. Report writing.
  • End to end process through a heat network upon a customer demanding heat (hot water or heating) within a property with indirect HIU (Heat Interface Unit).
  • Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience.
  • Tools and equipment used in district heat system maintenance. Requirements for cleaning, storage, care, and operational checks.
  • Visual inspection techniques.
  • Fault finding techniques.
  • Information technology: Management Information Systems (MIS), spreadsheets, presentation, word processing, email, virtual communication and learning platforms. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Planned and unplanned maintenance techniques: servicing, repair and replacement.
  • Heat Interface Unit (HIU): single plate (direct or indirect heating system), twin Plate, electrical and mechanical. Cooling Interface Unit (CIU), Hot Water Cylinders and Fan Coil Units (FCU).
  • Tertiary system assets: radiator, Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs), heating control units, under floor heating systems, automatic air valves, lock shield, dynamic balancing valve, Direct Hot Water (DWH) systems and trace heating.
  • Tertiary system wiring, controls and metering: pre and post pay systems, 2 and 3 port (S and Y plan), valves, programmers, thermostats, heating circuit pumps, heating circuit and zone control.
  • Applied calculation techniques: HIU energy balance and efficient operation.
  • Balancing and flow optimisation techniques: radiators and underfloor heating.
  • Residential heat meters: removal and installation techniques, network communication and configuration.
  • Electrical, mechanical Heat Interface Unit (HIU) and space heating circuit commissioning techniques.

Skills

  • Plan and organise tasks including the selection and organisation of resources.
  • Comply with health and safety regulations and guidance.
  • Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and requirements, including safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials, and efficient use of resources.
  • Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace and apply control measures.
  • Prepare and maintain the work area.
  • Apply maintenance practices and standards.
  • Conduct thermodynamic calculations.
  • Complete calculations for cold fill pressure of building and differential pressure across pump.
  • Conduct flow, pressure and temperature measurements using portable instrumentation, including static pressure and differential pressure reading.
  • Test electrical system for live and dead.
  • Install and certify electrical wiring to three phase pump.
  • Interpret and use engineering representations.
  • Maintain water network systems, for example cleaning of strainer baskets and heat network water sampling ready for analysis.
  • Repair or replace pipework.
  • Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets and task list, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturer's documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists and waste environmental records.
  • Apply quality assurance procedures and monitoring processes.
  • Perform remote performance diagnostics.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Apply ethical principles.
  • Communicate in writing. For example, with colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Communicate with others verbally, for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
  • Check tools and equipment including calibration. Use and store tools and equipment.
  • Conduct visual inspection.
  • Apply problem solving techniques.
  • Apply fault finding techniques.
  • Perform maintenance on distribution plant equipment.
  • Operate plant equipment remotely through BMS using remote plant operation techniques, including switch duty of a duty standby pump, change lead heat source and valve operation.
  • Operate plant equipment locally from control panel, including pump and heat source.
  • Operate e-stop and safety circuits on equipment and return plant to normal service, including fire alarm re-activation.
  • Plan and organise tasks including the selection and organisation of resources.
  • Comply with health and safety regulations and guidance.
  • Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and requirements, including safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials, and efficient use of resources.
  • Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace and apply control measures.
  • Prepare and maintain the work area.
  • Apply maintenance practices and standards.
  • Conduct thermodynamic calculations.
  • Complete calculations for cold fill pressure of building and differential pressure across pump.
  • Conduct flow, pressure and temperature measurements using portable instrumentation, including static pressure and differential pressure reading.
  • Test electrical system for live and dead.
  • Install and certify electrical wiring to three phase pump.
  • Interpret and use engineering representations.
  • Maintain water network systems, for example cleaning of strainer baskets and heat network water sampling ready for analysis.
  • Repair or replace pipework.
  • Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, job sheets and task list, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturer's documentation, asset management records, work sheets, checklists and waste environmental records.
  • Apply quality assurance procedures and monitoring processes.
  • Perform remote performance diagnostics.
  • Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Apply ethical principles.
  • Communicate in writing. For example, with colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Communicate with others verbally, for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
  • Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
  • Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
  • Check tools and equipment including calibration. Use and store tools and equipment.
  • Conduct visual inspection.
  • Apply problem solving techniques.
  • Apply fault finding techniques.
  • Perform maintenance on residential heat network systems.
  • Conduct HIU energy balance and efficient operations calculations.
  • Apply balancing and flow optimisation techniques.
  • Apply techniques to remove, install, configure and set network communications for residential heat meters.
  • Perform commissioning of electrical HIU and mechanical HIU and a space heating circuit.

Behaviours

  • Prioritise health and safety.
  • Consider the impact on the environment when using resources and carrying out work.
  • Take responsibility for the quality of their own work.
  • Act professionally.
  • Act ethically.
  • Support an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture.
  • Committed to continued professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance competence in their own area of practice.
  • Respond and adapt to work demands and situations.
  • Prioritise health and safety.
  • Consider the impact on the environment when using resources and carrying out work.
  • Take responsibility for the quality of their own work.
  • Act professionally.
  • Act ethically.
  • Support an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture.
  • Committed to continued professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance competence in their own area of practice.
  • Respond and adapt to work demands and situations.
Apprenticeship category (sector)
Engineering and manufacturing
Qualification level
3
Equal to A level
Course duration
36 months
Maximum funding
£26,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Plant maintenance engineer
  • Residential engineer
  • District heat network maintenance technician

View more information about Heat network maintenance technician (level 3) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.