Level 2 Diploma in Plumbing & Heating

The foundational knowledge every plumber needs before going near a pipe. You’ll cover the metals used in plumbing (ferrous, non-ferrous, alloys), how heat treatment affects them and how corrosion works.

You’ll also learn the construction methods used in domestic buildings, such as damp proofing, load-bearing walls, flooring, ceilings and roof types, so you can plan installations that respect the property’s structure.

The practical toolkit unit. You’ll cover the full range of hand tools, battery-operated tools and 110V/230V power tools you’ll use every day on site.

The unit also covers the safety checks before tool use, PAT testing, and the correct methods and drill types for working through metal, copper, brick, concrete, Thermalite block and stud walls.

The underpinning theory that makes everything else make sense. You’ll cover the properties of water, force and pressure, velocity and flow rate, heat and temperature, complete and incomplete combustion of gas, carbon monoxide awareness and the three modes of heat transfer.

The unit that brings everything together as a working tradesperson. You’ll learn how to plan and prepare for plumbing work, introduce yourself to customers and agree the job.

The unit also covers identifying and resolving problems on site, building effective working relationships and taking responsibility for your own learning and development.

Everything from the water main in the street to the tap in the kitchen. You’ll cover direct and indirect cold water systems, pipe sizing, backflow prevention, storage cisterns and the components you’ll fit and service.

The practical element takes you through installing pipework, soundness testing, decommissioning and the jointing of copper, plastic and low carbon steel.

The full spectrum of domestic hot water systems and how to install, commission, service and maintain them. You’ll cover vented and unvented systems, direct and indirect storage, combi boilers, thermal stores and design temperatures throughout.

Practically, you’ll site cylinders, joint pipework, perform soundness tests, commission point-of-use and vented systems, and hand them over to customers.

The full range of domestic central heating systems and the components that make them work. You’ll cover one-pipe and two-pipe circuits, sealed and open systems, the main heat sources, system configurations and all the system controls (valves, thermostats, smart controls).

Practically, you’ll connect pipework to boilers, valves and heat emitters, commission systems, repair leaks and carry out routine maintenance.

The sustainability side of the trade, increasingly important as the UK moves to net zero. You’ll cover Building Regulations Part L, the three categories of building energy and the working principles of environmental technologies (solar thermal, biomass, heat pumps, solar PV).

The unit also covers waste management, hazardous waste handling and water conservation including rainwater harvesting and grey-water systems.

The electrical knowledge a plumber legally and practically needs. You’ll cover supply, circuits, earthing arrangements and the wiring of central heating controls, shower pumps and immersion heaters.

The heart of the unit is safe isolation to make sure circuits are dead before work using approved voltage indicators, locking off, and applying earth bonding when cutting into metallic pipework.

How waste leaves the building. You’ll cover sanitary appliances (WCs, baths, basins, showers, sinks, macerators), the four main types of sanitary pipework system, trap seal loss and air admittance valves.

Practically, you’ll fit baths, basins and WCs, joint pipework, connect into existing systems and test completed installations.

The optional unit that broadens your skill set into gravity rainwater systems. You’ll cover gutter materials and profiles, how to size a gutter system based on rainfall and roof area, and the purpose of every component.

Practically, you’ll fix brackets, install PVCu gutter, form joints, fit rainwater pipework and connect into existing drainage systems.

A Level 3 unit sitting within the Level 2 Diploma. You’ll cover fitness-for-purpose, water tightness, contamination prevention, the five fluid categories and backflow prevention. The unit also covers cisterns, hot water systems, drinking water points and the rules for water supplied for outside use.

This is also the unit that links directly to WRAS Water Regulations certification, which is required for joining WIAPS and similar Approved Plumber Schemes.

Please note that this unit doesn’t give you the WRAS qualification upon completion.