T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction (Plumbing & Heating Engineer)

This two-year T Level develops the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to install, commission and maintain the water, drainage and heating systems that every building depends on.

Every home, school, hospital and workplace relies on a safe supply of water, effective drainage and efficient heating. As the UK works towards net zero, the way buildings are heated is changing rapidly and the industry needs skilled engineers who understand both traditional systems and the low-carbon technologies replacing them.

This T Level provides training in the planning, installation, commissioning, maintenance and fault-finding of plumbing and heating systems, delivered in industry-standard workshops. Learners work with modern technologies including unvented hot water systems, underfloor heating, smart heating controls and rainwater harvesting and study renewable solutions such as heat pumps and solar thermal.

Every learner completes a minimum of 45 days’ industry placement with a regional employer, gaining valuable workplace experience. The qualification is equivalent to three A Levels, providing progression to a plumbing and domestic heating apprenticeship, employment as a trainee technician or higher education.

Course content includes:

Year 1 – Building Services Engineering

The first year covers a broad foundation across the construction and building services sector, giving learners an understanding of how every part of a building project fits together.

• Health and safety in construction – Learners study the legislation and safe systems of work that protect people on every site, including risk assessments, method statements, permits to work and the safe isolation of water, gas and electrical supplies
• Construction science – Learners will apply scientific principles to real engineering problems, including heat transfer, heat loss calculations, pressure, the properties of materials and the effects of corrosion and expansion
• Design and building technology – Learners explore how buildings are designed and constructed, including the RIBA Plan of Work, the Building Regulations and the coordination of services within a project
• Sustainability and the low-carbon future – Learners examine renewable and low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps, solar thermal and heat recovery, along with water conservation and energy efficiency, preparing them for an industry at the centre of the UK’s transition to net zero
• Digital technology in construction – Learners are introduced to building information modelling (BIM), digital engineering and smart building technology, which are transforming the way projects are planned, delivered and maintained
• Measurement, information and data – Learners develop the ability to interpret drawings and specifications, carry out accurate measurements and calculations, and manage technical information with confidence
• Business and professional relationships – Learners gain an understanding of how construction businesses operate, how projects are costed and managed and how to communicate professionally with clients, colleagues and stakeholders
• Building services systems, maintenance, tools and materials – Learners study the full range of building services systems and the principles of planned and reactive maintenance, together with the correct selection and use of tools, equipment and materials

Year 2 – Plumbing and Heating Engineering specialism

In the second year, learners focus on the specialist skills of the plumbing and heating technician, working in fully equipped workshops with operational water, drainage and heating systems.

• Pipework technology – Learners develop precise skills in working with copper, plastic and steel pipework, using techniques including machine bending, soldering, press-fit and compression jointing
• Plumbing systems – Learners install cold and hot water systems, including boosted supplies and unvented hot water cylinders, together with sanitary appliances, above- and below-ground drainage, rainwater systems, rainwater harvesting and grey water re-use
• Heating systems and controls – Learners install fully pumped central heating systems, radiators and underfloor heating and configure modern heating controls, from programmers and thermostats to smart controls that improve comfort and efficiency
• Commissioning, maintenance and fault diagnosis – Learners commission systems to manufacturers’ instructions and industry standards, carry out servicing, and develop a logical approach to diagnosing and rectifying faults
• Decommissioning, documentation and handover – Learners safely decommission systems, complete technical records and reports, and explain the safe and efficient operation of systems to clients at handover