DONCASTER: Polypipe Ventilation has written the first industry-recognised accredited training programme for domestic ventilation installers.
With the 2010 revision to Approved Document F of the Building Regulations, which come into force 1 October, there is a need to establish a qualification for the trade.
The two-day independent training course to meet the requirements of the revised Building Regulations Part F, Ventilation was written by Polypipe Ventilation's technical manager Jon Hill and has been independently assessed by Ian Andrews Associates.
The scheme is being run by independent training company BPEC, an industry – recognised training organisation. It already provides ACS, OFTEC, ECS and other renewable certification.
The training course will also be open to colleges across the UK and is being supported by Polypipe Ventilation with a comprehensive training kit.
The course combines theoretical training and practical exercises to provide delegates with the information and skills to install any of the common types of domestic ventilation systems in the UK safely and efficiently.
The course also covers the inspection, test and commissioning of these systems as well as the provision of customer operation and maintenance information.
At the end of the course, there is a theory and practical assessment in which each candidate must pass.
Delegates will be expected to have a background in plumbing, heating or electrical engineering, either with a number of years experience, or with (or working towards) a formal qualification at NVQ Level 3 in these subject matters.
Said Polypipe Ventilation's managing director, Neil Tilsley: "With an increasing uptake in mechanical ventilation systems, this type of course has never been more important.
"The requirement for an independent training course to meet the needs of the new Building Regulations was an obvious next step and we were ideally placed to take up the mantle."
The first courses will take place in October at Polypipe centres around the UK.
