Gas diploma (domestic) - SWAATswaat.co.uk/gasqualhandbook.pdf · Gas Diploma (domestic) ... In relation to working on downstream domestic gas installations, you will know ... 4 Trace

Gas diploma (domestic)

© Cert-ain Certification Ltd.

Qualification handbook

© Cert-ain Certification Ltd. Qualification Handbook (Dom) Page 2 of 16 Issue 1.0

Introduction

Cert-ain Certification Ltd. is a certification body accredited by the appropriate

regulatory bodies to offer a range of qualifications for operatives working in the

building services engineering sector.

Our qualifications are designed to encourage learning and achievement, providing

operatives with the appropriate knowledge and skills to help them progress in their

chosen career.

The Cert-ain Certification Ltd. qualifications are designed to be user-friendly for both

the assessment centres and those undertaking them. Our aim is to keep things as

simple as possible whilst at the same time, maintaining the highest possible quality

standards.

Gas Diploma (domestic)

The aim of this handbook is to provide the necessary information for those wishing

to undertake the Gas Diploma.

The handbook also aims to provide assessment centres with details of the

requirements for delivering the Gas Diploma.

Contents

Introduction 2

Gas diploma (domestic) 2

Summary 3

Eligibility 3

Training 3

Reference material 3

Off–the-job training 4

On-the-job work experience 5

Assessment criteria 6

Assessment process 15

Assessors 15

Internal verifiers 16

Centre approval 16

External verifiers 16

Contact details 16


Gas Diploma

Summary

The Cert-ain Certification Ltd. Gas Diploma has been approved by the Gas Industry

Standard Setting Body, Energy and Utility Skills.

Individuals holding the Cert-ain Certification Ltd. Gas Diploma are recognised as

being eligible to undertake relevant domestic gas assessments for the Nationally

Accredited Certification Scheme for Individual Gas Fitting Operatives (ACS).

All succesful individuals will be issued with a Cert-ain Certification Ltd. certificate.

Eligibility

There are no pre-requisites for applicants wishing to undertake the Gas Diploma;

however they should possess reasonable levels of English and Mathematics.

Applicants will be required to gain and provide evidence of a range of relevant gas

work experience under the supervision of a Gas Safe registered installer.

Individuals with any disabilities that may affect their ability to successfully complete

the Gas Diploma should inform the assessment centre on application. Assessment

centres shall consider any reasonable requests for any aids or equipment that are

designed to alleviate any disability providing that the required assessment standard

is not compromised.

Off–the-job training

Assessment centres deliver a training programme focussing on the contents of a

number of key ‘normative’ documents, e.g.:

• Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations

• Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure

• British Standards

• Codes of Practice

• Etc.


Guided Learning Hours

The minimum guided learning hours (GLH) for each unit are detailed below:

GLH Unit Page

35 Safety, Legislation and Standards 6

14 Gas Emergency Actions and Procedures 6

28 Products and Characteristics of Combustion 7

21 Ventilation for Gas Burning Appliances 8

35 Installation of Pipework and Fittings 8

21 Tightness Testing and Purging 9

14 Checking and/or Setting Meter Regulators 10

21 Unsafe Situations, Emergency Notices and Warning Labels 10

7 Operation and Positioning of Emergency Isolation Controls and Valves 11

14 Checking and Setting Appliance Burner Pressures and Gas Rates 11

21 Operation and Checking of Appliance Gas Safety Devices and Controls 12

14 Chimney standards 12

21 Chimney Installation, Inspection and Testing 13

14 Re-establish Existing Gas Supply and Re-light Appliances 13

280 Total

GLH Unit Page

14 Central Heating Boilers (Wet) 14

7 Ducted Air Heaters 14

7 Water Heaters 14

7 Fires and Wall Heaters 14

7 Cookers 14


On–the-job work experience

The candidate will be required to gain real world, gas work experience under the supervision of a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. This must include (but shall not be limited to) the following elements: Testing for tightness

Purging

Pipework installation

Checking ventilation

Testing safety controls

Inspection of flue systems

Testing of flue systems

Re-establishing gas supplies and re-lighting appliances

Identification of appliance or pipework faults/defects

Working on appliances relevant to the work categories undertaken

The candidate will be required to produce a ‘portfolio of evidence’ which details the

real world, gas work experience. All evidence provided shall be witnessed and verified by the qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.

Facilitation of work experience

The work experience can be facilitated in one of two ways:

1

The portfolio of work experience must provide evidence representative of a minimum of 12 weeks work experience and cover the elements specified above.

If after 12 weeks experience some elements have not been met, with the

consent of the training provider, up to 2 elements could be covered in a simulated environment

2 Where all the elements of the specified work experience have been met on more than one occasion and this has been endorsed by a suitable quality management system, the minimum time element can be reduced to 8 weeks


Assessment criteria

1. Safety, Legislation and Standards Performance

In relation to electrical supplies, tools and components you will be able to:

1 Prove safe electrical isolation before working on gas appliances, systems and

components

2 Measure voltage and resistance values using appropriate test instruments

3 Visually inspect electrical power tools for safe condition before use

Knowledge and Understanding

In relation to working on downstream domestic gas installations, you will know and understand:

1 Application of the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations

2 Asbestos related hazards and application of adequate safety measures

3 Safety precautions when other hazardous materials are encountered whilst working in the downstream gas industry

4 Your responsibilities regarding health, safety and the environment

5 Use of personal protective equipment

6 Information available to Gas Safe registered operatives:

6.a Legislative Normative and Informative Document List

6.b Industry Standard Updates

6.c Safety Alerts

6.d Technical Bulletins

2. Gas Emergency Actions and Procedures Knowledge and Understanding

In relation to emergency actions, you will know and understand:

1 Priorities and actions when dealing with a gas escape.

2 Properties of Natural Gas


3. Products and Characteristics of Combustion Performance

In relation to complete and incomplete combustion, you will be able to:

1 Identify correct and incorrect flame pictures

2 Identify signs of incomplete combustion within and in the locality of an

appliance installation

In relation to carbon monoxide (CO) detectors and indicators, you will be able to:

3 Identify, install and commission different types of CO detectors

In relation to combustion performance analysis, you will be able to:

4 Undertake combustion performance analysis on a range of appliances


In relation to complete and incomplete combustion, you will know and understand:

1 Combustion equations for complete and incomplete combustion

2 Air requirements for complete combustion

3 Causes of incomplete combustion

In relation to carbon monoxide (CO) detectors and indicators, you will know and understand:

4 CO poisoning and detection

In relation to combustion performance analysis, you will know and understand:

5 Actions to take when undertaking combustion performance analysis


4. Ventilation for Domestic Gas Burning Appliances

Performance

In relation to providing ventilation for domestic gas burning appliances, you will be able to:

1 Measure the free area of a range of different types of ventilation air vents and grilles

2 Identify correct and incorrect ventilation provision


In relation to providing ventilation for domestic gas burning appliances, you will know and understand:

1 Factors affecting ventilation.

2 Design and types of ventilation provision.

3 Calculating ventilation requirements.

4 Ventilation labels and notices.

5. Installation of Pipework and Fittings

Performance

In relation to the installation of domestic pipework and fittings, you will be able to:

1 Joint pipework using soldered, threaded, washer, union and compression fittings

2 De-commission metered gas installations, tee in to existing copper pipework and re-commission installation on completion

3 Demonstrate correct use of temporary continuity bond

4 Identify a range of installation pipework safety defects


In relation to, the installation of domestic pipework and fittings you will know and understand:

1 Factors to consider when installing gas installation pipework

2 Copper and mild steel pipe and fittings standards, suitability and use

3 Jointing and cleaning agents for jointing copper and threaded pipework fittings

4 Restrictions on use of union and compression fittings

5 Requirements for supporting and clipping gas installation pipework

6 Pipework protection, sleeving and sheathing requirements

7 Pipe sizing

8 Medium pressure gas supplies


6. Tightness Testing and Purging

Performance

In relation to testing and purging domestic natural gas installations, you will be able to:

1 Test domestic low pressure gas installations for tightness using air

2 Test domestic low pressure gas installations for tightness using gas

3 Purge domestic low pressure gas installations

4 Trace and repair a gas escape

5 Test existing domestic natural gas installations for tightness with a medium pressure gas supply without a meter inlet valve

6 Test existing domestic natural gas installations for tightness with a medium

pressure gas supply with a meter inlet valve


In relation to testing and purging domestic natural gas installations, you will know and understand:

1 Types of pressure gauge and perceptible movement

2 Application of permissible pressure drops

3 Electronic token meter tamper devices

4 Dealing with let by

5 Actions to take when a smell of gas persists after a satisfactory test or after the

ECV has been turned off

6 Calculating installation and purge volumes

7 Testing pipework of diameter > 35 mm or total IV > 0.035 m³

8 Testing before working on an installation


7. Checking and/or Setting Meter Regulators

Performance

In relation to checking and/or setting domestic meter regulators on natural gas installations, you will be able to:

1 Measure and record the installation standing pressure

2 Measure and record the installation working pressure

3 Determine if the installation working pressure is correct or incorrect

4 State the actions to take if the working pressure is incorrect


In relation to checking and/or setting domestic meter regulators on natural gas installations, you will know and understand:

1 The effects of low and high flow rates on a meter regulator

2 The effects of pressure absorption across primary meter installation

3 The operation of a gas meter regulator

4 Identifying a medium pressure meter/regulator installation

8. Unsafe Situations, Emergency Notices and Warning Labels

Performance

In relation to unsafe situations, emergency notices and warning labels, you will be able to:

1 Identify and classify different categories of unsafe situations

2 Demonstrate the procedure to follow for each classification of unsafe situation

3 Complete, explain and issue appropriate warning/advisory notices


In relation to unsafe situations, emergency notices and warning labels, you will know and understand:

1 Gas Industry Unsafe Situation Procedure (GIUSR)

2 Situations reportable under RIDDOR

3 Correct use of notices and labels


9. Operation and Positioning of Emergency Isolation Controls and Valves

Performance

In relation to the operation and positioning of emergency isolation controls and valves, you will be able to:

1 Identify incorrectly positioned emergency isolation controls and valves

2 Identify correctly positioned emergency isolation controls and valves

3 Demonstrate dealing with incorrectly positioned emergency isolation controls and valves

4 Identify the correct labels to attached emergency isolation controls and valves


In relation to the operation and positioning of emergency isolation controls and valves, you will know and understand:

1 Inside and outside meter positions

2 Multi-occupancy building installations

10. Checking and Setting Appliance Burner Pressures and Gas Rates

Performance

In relation to checking and setting appliance burner pressures and gas rates,

you will be able to:

1 Measure appliance operating pressure

2 Measure appliance gas rate


In relation to checking and setting appliance burner pressures and gas rates, you will know and understand:

1 Requirements for range rated appliances

2 Causes and effects of pressure loss

3 Use of electronic pressure gauge


11. Operation and Checking of Appliance Gas Safety Devices and Controls

Performance

In relation to gas safety devices and controls, you will be able to:

1 Identify gas safety devices and controls

2 Check gas safety devices and controls for correct operation and carry out any corrective action where necessary

3 Explain the operation of gas safety devices and controls


In relation to gas safety devices and controls, you will know and understand:

1 The principles of operation of gas safety devices and controls

2 The sequence of operation of gas safety devices and controls

3 Information required for spare part identification

12. Chimney Standards


In relation to chimney standards you will know and understand the requirements for installing gas appliances to the following flue systems:

1 Existing solid fuel chimney

2 Pre-cast flue

3 Individual natural draft open flue

4 Fanned draft open flue

5 Shared open flue

6 Room sealed natural draft

7 Room sealed fanned draft

8 Balanced compartments for open flue appliances

9 Shared room sealed flue

10 Flue systems for condensing appliances

11 Vertex flue systems


13. Chimney Installation, Inspection and Testing

Performance

In relation to chimney testing, you will be able to:

1 Visually inspect chimney systems to confirm correct and incorrect installation

2 Perform a flue flow test on an open flue system

3 Perform a spillage test on an appliance connected to an open flue system

4 Perform a spillage test on a room sealed fan assisted positive pressure appliance

5 Inspect a concealed fanned flue installation


In relation to chimney installation inspection and testing, you will know and understand:

1 Causes of leakage of combustion products from room sealed positive combustion chamber pressure appliances

2 Installation and testing appliances when MIs are not available

3 Actions to take when inspection hatches are not available for flues in voids

4 Chimney information requirements

14. Re-establish Existing Gas Supply and Re-Light Appliances

Performance

In relation to re-establishing an existing domestic gas supply and re-lighting the appliances, you will be able to:

1 Check the installation is gas tight

2 Purge the installation and appliances of air

3 Establish a stable flame on each appliance

4 Visually inspect each appliance and identify any unsafe situations

5 Confirm satisfactory operation of user controls


In relation to re-establishing an existing domestic gas supply and re-lighting

the appliances, you will know and understand:

1 Actions to take when an un-commissioned appliance is identified

2 Actions to take if pipework and appliance(s) are not tested (commissioned) when the gas supply is re-established


Domestic Appliances Performance

In relation to domestic gas appliances, for each appliance, you will be able to:

1 Install the appliance to a prepared point

2 Commission the appliance to MIs

3 Service the appliance to MIs

4 Identify gas related safety defects

5 Undertake combustion performance analysis (where applicable)

For appliance categories that can incorporate an air/gas ratio valve you will be able to:

6 Check the air/gas ratio valve is set correctly at high and low limits in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and adjust if necessary


In relation to domestic gas appliances, for each appliance you will need to know

and understand:

1 How to identify and diagnose gas safety faults.

2 Suitable and unsuitable room/space locations.

3 Clearances– proximity of combustible materials – fire proofing of compartments.

4 Operation of gas safety control devices

5 Condensate removal and disposal (where applicable)

6 When to carry out combustion performance analysis

For appliance categories that can incorporate an air/gas ratio valve you will

need to know and understand:

7 The principle of adjustment of air/gas ratio valves


Assessment process

Throughout the learning programme, candidates will undergo a number of tests to confirm their progress – these tests will include multi-choice examinations and practical assessments. The pass-rate is 100%, candidates are allowed up to 3

attempts.

Theory

1. The pass rate for the theory examination is 100%

2. If the candidate does not achieve 100% on the first attempt, they will be

allowed a second attempt on at the questions that they got wrong on the first

attempt

3. If the candidate does not achieve 100% on the second attempt, providing they

have achieved over 80%, they will be orally questioned by the assessor to

establish their competence

4. Candidates not achieving 80% after the second attempt or 100% after oral

questioning will be deemed to be unsuccessful

5. Unsuccessful candidates will be required to retake the assessment in its

entirety

Practical

1. The pass rate for the performance assessment is 100%

2. If the candidate does not achieve 100% on the first attempt, they will be

allowed a second attempt at the tasks that they failed to complete successfully

3. If the candidate does not achieve 100% on the second attempt, at the

assessors’ discretion, they will be orally questioned by the assessor to establish

their competence

4. Candidates not achieving 100% after oral questioning will be deemed to be

unsuccessful

5. Unsuccessful candidates will be required to retake the assessment in its

entirety

Assessors

Assessors shall be approved by Cert-ain Certification Ltd. They must be occupationally competent and meet the competence requirements for assessors laid

down by the scheme rules for the Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme for Individual Gas Fitting Operatives (ACS).

Assessors must also hold one of the following assessor qualifications:

• D32 or A1

• Level 3 certificate ‘assessing vocationally related achievement’ or suitable

equivalent


Internal verifiers

Internal verifiers shall be approved by Cert-ain Certification Ltd. They must be occupationally competent and hold or be working towards one of the following internal verifier qualifications:

• D34 or V1 • Level 4 award ‘internal quality assurance of assessment processes and

practice’ or suitable equivalent

Centre approval

All centres delivering the Gas Diploma are subject to approval and monitoring to ensure that they have the appropriate personnel and facilities in place to deliver a fair and impartial training and assessment process.

The Cert-ain Certification Ltd. external verifier shall carry out quality assurance of the training, assessment and internal verification process. This includes sampling of:

• training and assessment facilities

• candidate records

• assessment decisions

External Verifiers

External verifiers shall hold or be working towards one of the following qualifications:

• D35 or V2

• Level 4 certificate ‘external quality assurance of assessment processes and

practices’ or suitable equivalent

Contact details

If you would like any further information relating to the Cert-ain Certification Ltd. qualifications, please contact:

Cert-ain Certification Ltd.

58a High Street

Melbourne

Derbyshire

DE73 8GJ

Tel. 01332 987220

Fax: 01332 895989

Email [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Gas diploma (domestic) - SWAATswaat.co.uk/gasqualhandbook.pdf · Gas Diploma (domestic) ... In relation to working on downstream domestic gas installations, you will know ... 4 Trace