Building Services Engineering Technician A competent Building Services Engineering Technician is expected to be able to demonstrate the following skills and competences: Systems design in the building services fields, Develop the various types of drawings encountered during the lifecycle of a project from the tender preparation stage to the production of asbuilt drawings, compile materials schedules and support the project team in material certification, Surveying and works measurement. 1. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Establish the typical HVAC requirements and design conditions for buildings Determine the heating loads and energy requirements for a range of proposed heating schemes Undertake the design of heating systems for a range of non-complex buildings Explore the design of air conveyance systems for a range of non-complex buildings Investigate the design of simple single-zone air conditioning systems for specific locations within a range of non-complex buildings Select heating, ventilation and air conditioning plant Prepare equipment specifications and schedules. Select the size of pipe-work installations. Establish commissioning, operational and maintenance requirements of heating installations and plant. 2. Plumbing Technology Describe the design processes, installation techniques and materials associated with the distribution of water supplies to a range of buildings Describe the design processes, installation techniques and materials associated with the above ground drainage systems to a range of buildings
3. Electrical Technology Investigate and describe the regulations and legislation relating to the provision of electricity in buildings Evaluate and describe a range of wiring techniques. Investigate types and applications of final circuits Describe the requirements for earthing electrical installations Investigate the principles of protection Investigate the provision made for the distribution of data, the provision of security and protection against fire for buildings.
The candidate applying to be trade tested for the Certificate of Competence should be in possession of the majority of the following knowledge, competencies & skills: Health and Safety Identify the employer s general responsibilities and the employee s specific responsibilities for health and safety in the workplace. Select methods of reducing the risks identified in the workplace. Use hazard identification to establish work practices or site conditions. Evaluate the role of the employee in accident prevention and the avoidance of dangerous conditions. Become familiar with the procedure to report and record accidents and incidents to those responsible for health, safety in the workplace. Become familiar with the personal protective equipment policy. Become familiar with procedures used. Development of Construction Projects Identifying and describing the various stages of the design process, the factors that affect progress towards the final design solution and the need to work with others to achieve the design solution. Examining the various stages of the planning process in construction projects. Written and Graphical Communication Exploring typical examples of effective written and graphical communication between the various members of the project team. Examining the client requirements and developing an initial brief to aid production of the design solution. Operating criteria for specification such as fitness for purpose, visual appearance, costs, resistance to degradation, and ease of working on site. Producing various options of sketch designs to satisfy a given brief that complies with financial, legal and environmental constraints. Producing specifications to meet the requirements of client. Extracting constructional and dimensional data from the specification, drawings, the project site and materials specifications. Producing formal drawings and documentation needed in the lifecycle of a project. Exploring the techniques used to prepare price estimates. Exploring tendering methods used for a variety of construction works and identifying the documentation associated with each method.
Measurement Calculating accurate quantities for the volume, area and lengths of items of construction works. Carrying out exercises to make linear, angular and height measurements in a variety of practical situations. Appreciating Design Conditions - comfort indices - internal and external design temperatures - infiltration rates for domestic, commercial/ and industrial applications - factors affecting infiltration and natural ventilation rates - effect of building exposure - regulations, codes of practice and standards Selecting practical U-values from tables and manufacturers data Determining heat losses by calculation or using rules of thumb Appreciating selection criteria for heat emitters based characteristics, operational features, installation requirements and application Designing Heating - pipework systems and arrangements for low pressure hot water (lphw) heating installations - features of good pipework circuit design, criteria for zoning installations - application of simple zone controls, types, operational features and application of circulating pumps for lphw heating - inter-relationship of cold feed, vent pipe and pumps, valve requirement - applying draining and removal of air, problems due to expansion of pipework and water - using methods for accommodating expansion - installation requirements of expansion devices - space requirements and noise problems Appreciate methods of specifying and selecting ventilation rates for specific locations - determination of air flow rates for mechanical supply and extract ventilation systems.
Appreciation of: - arrangements of ductwork systems used in ventilation installations - features of good ductwork circuit design, - accommodation needs of ductwork within buildings - use of ductwork design and installation standards and codes - criteria for zoning installations - measures used in the prevention of spread of smoke and fire due to ductwork installations - provisions for maintenance and testing of ductwork Selecting of ductwork materials, taking into consideration shape and jointing methods Appreciation of air-handling plant - types, characteristics, operational features and application of fans for air handling systems, installation requirements and ductwork connections - types, configurations and features of composite Air Handling Units (AHUs), control requirements and arrangements for ventilation and warm air heating installations, local exhaust ventilation systems and waste disposal Appreciation of Air-Conditioning Systems - construction, installation requirements, operation and application of central station and packaged unit air conditioning systems used in simple commercial and industrial buildings - principles, components and application of vapour compression refrigeration systems - operation, features and application of heat pumps - construction, operation and arrangement of refrigeration plant, cooling coils and humidifiers, types and properties of common refrigerants, control requirements and arrangements for simple air conditioning and refrigeration plant techniques for maximizig energy efficiency/economy Design of Air Conditioning Systems - supply air conditions and flow rates to maintain design - room conditions, summer and winter psychrometric cycles for simple air conditioning - applications
Ductwork Installations - mass and volumetric flow rates, - selection of duct sizes, using constant pressure drop and/or constant velocity methods - identification and total resistance of index circuits, total, static and velocity pressure, - methods of producing balanced systems and absorbing excess pressure at branches - use of manual calculations and computer software for ductwork sizing Air conditioning, Air Handling and Refrigeration Plant - operational sequences and safety checks - commissioning and planned maintenance requirements of simple air conditioning and refrigeration plant - maintenance schedules - refrigeration plant safety - condition monitoring techniques and equipment Investigation of Different Pipe-work Materials - copper tube - capillary fittings - compression fittings - push-fit and brazed joints - galvanized low carbon steel - threaded and compression joints - polyethylene and other acceptable plastic pipes - fusion welding - push-fit and compression joints Domestic Hot Water Supply and Storage preparation of typical layouts, including all valves, components and fittings for: - single-point instantaneous and storage water heaters up to 15 litres - instantaneous multi-point water heaters including combination boilers, self-contained cistern-type electric water heaters, - atmospheric direct and indirect domestic hot water systems incorporating a boiler, storage vessel and feed cistern
- cylinder tank systems of domestic hot water supply and storage - unvented domestic hot water systems Above Ground Drainage - Design and installation of above ground drainage systems suitable for domestic dwellings and small commercial or industrial buildings. - Requirements for a single stack system of above ground drainage. - Requirements for a modified single stack system. - Requirements for a ventilated stack system, a single ventilated system, a stub stack system. - Materials and techniques: common materials, methods of jointing and fixing. The application of Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) Regulations in commercial installations. Development of plan layouts taking into consideration: different types and capacity of containment methods - ducts, bus-bar, conduit, trunking. Segregation of different categories of circuits low voltage, extra-low voltage, safety and continuity of supply. Exposure to different types of cables taking into consideration details of construction (conductor material, insulation, armouring and sheating), capacity, support, protection, identification, jointing and termination of: - Low voltage cables:, Flexible cords, single-core and multi-core cables. - Extra low cables for audio and data transmission. Exposure to switching requirements: switch position, emergency switching and isolation Exposure to the application of: - Protective conductors: earthing, bonding, types, sizes - Residual current devices RCCB, RCBO Exposure to Different Types of Final Circuits for - socket-outlets - ring and radial circuits, - industrial socket outlets, - lighting, cookers, off-peak loads, - single and three-phase loads. Appreciation of maximum demand and diversity. Exposure to different types of protective overload and overcurrent devices fuse, mcb, mccb
Lighting - Explore: -manufacturers' literature for different types of lamps and luminaries and their efficacy - lighting circuits - lighting layout and design Fire Protection Explore: - Legislation and British Standards - levels of protection - types of automatic detectors and their operation - choice of detectors, manual call points, stand-alone smoke detectors - suitability of cables for fire protection circuits Security - types of detectors and their application - open and closed circuits Draw design specification for: - lighting and small power circuits - data - fire detection and alarm circuits by extracting information from the customer requirements - design brief, manufacturers literature, relevant standards and legislation
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA Trade Testing Board Assessment Criteria Building Services Engineering Technician 1. Introduction The following is a detailed description of the assessment criteria to be adopted by the Trade Testing Board (TTB) to reach a final decision on the award of a Certificate of Competence. 2. Trade Test Components As defined in the Standard Operating Procedure, the trade test is to be made up of the following components: In the specific case of the Building Services Engineering Technician, the written and practical exercises are combined in one session 1. The Written/Practical 2. The Interview
The Board has agreed on the sequence of the test and the markings allocated to each specific component as indicated below: Component Mark Pass Mark Written/Practical 150 50% Interview 100 50%
The Written / Practical Component The Board has agreed that candidates will sit for the written test which has duration of 3 hours The paper is divided into two sections: Section A This is designed to test the ability of the candidates to produce drawings using AutoCad in the building services fields. In this section each candidate is asked to produce three drawings from the six possibilities given. Care is taken that each candidate would have had exposure to at least three services either during the academic course or at work or both such that he will be able to produce at least the three drawings requested. Section B This is designed to test knowledge of the technologies used in the various building services. Again the candidates are to answer three questions out of six. The exam paper is designed such that candidates are required to propose solutions that meet a set of requirements. Often different solutions can be produced that satisfy the same set of requirements. This tests the ability of the candidate to produce solutions that are in accordance with good engineering practice but at the same time allows the candidate to produce a response that is commensurate with the knowledge possessed. This session will cover various aspects of the building services sector: 1. Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems 2. Hot and cold water systems 3. Fire fighting systems 4. Drainage systems 5. Electrical lighting and power systems
6. Fire alarm systems 7. Security alarm systems The Interview Component All candidates will be called to an interview so that the Board will be able to assess the proficiency of the candidate in this particular field. The duration of the interview will be from 20 to 30 minutes during which the Board will have the opportunity to put forward questions related to the various skill requirements and work elements. The interview questions will cover the following: How would the candidate go about to develop a solution given a particular set of requirements. What information would the candidate seek to obtain to produce his/her solution. How would the tender drawings be developed to enable the execution of a project Work experience The role of the Building Services Technician. Health and safety measures at the place of work. Technical questions The Board believes that the candidate should answer questions on the above topics with confidence while portraying technical skills and knowledge of the subject.