Gas Engineering Operative Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard

Those who work within gas engineering must have the core requirements below and demonstrate the technical requirements in one setting – domestic or non-domestic. They must be registered on the Gas Safe® Register for four appliances.

Core Requirements – Knowledge

1. Current Health, Safety and Environmental legislation and regulations applicable to work in the gas industry
2. Safe gas and electrical installation, commissioning, decommissioning and/or ongoing service and repair procedures of gas installations and appliances needed to establish the safe operation of the equipment and installation in accordance with industry standards
3. Gas and electrical theories and procedures involved in the practical installation, commissioning, decommissioning and/or ongoing service and repair of gas installations, appliances and associated equipment
4. Relevant electrical/mechanical principles and how they are applied in work processes and procedures
5. Up-to-date energy efficiency advice and guidance to be given to the customer
6. Product knowledge to assist discussions and advice for the customer
7. Current regulatory compliance, current Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations and the current Electricity at Work Regulations
8. Company rules, policies and procedures as defined by the employer

Core Requirements – Skills

1. Undertake and document rigorous risk assessments to ensure the safety of all affected by the work activities
2. Take personal responsibility for maintaining safety standards and achieving job objectives
3. Use and maintain tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) in a safe and appropriate manner
4. Safe gas and electrical installation, commissioning, decommissioning and/or ongoing service and repair of gas installations and appliances needed to establish the safe operation of the equipment and installation in accordance with industry standards
5. Work with focus and clear purpose in all conditions and locations, covering business requirements, including lone working and safely adapting working methods to reflect changes in working environments
6. Work on customer premises/property showing appropriate care and respect whilst focusing on safety
7. Use a variety of appropriate and effective communication methods to interact with customers and others to give/receive information accurately, in a timely and positive manner, in order to deliver the best possible service
8. Identify where situations or conditions do not meet safe standards and take appropriate actions within the apprentice’s range of competency
9. Achieve individual and team tasks which align to overall work objectives, be self-motivated and disciplined in the approach to work activities
10. Work effectively and efficiently with people from different trades/disciplines, backgrounds and expertise to accomplish an activity in a safe manner, on time, to meet customer expectations
11. Identify, organise and use resources effectively and sustainably to complete the task with consideration to cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact
12. Be able to read and follow technical documentation associated with equipment and installation requirements

Technical Requirements – must be completed in either a domestic or non-domestic setting carrying out service and repair and/or installation

Technical Requirements – Knowledge

1. Electrical awareness and be able to carry out safe isolation essential electrical safety checks
2. Combustion, combustion analysis, gas properties, carbon monoxide (CO), and types of burners
3. Flues and ventilation principles
4. The necessary safety checks following gas work on an appliance (regulation 26/9)
5. The range and suitability of appliances
6. The statutory and normative documentation including building regulations, water regulations and electrical regulations
7. Emergency procedures, including gas escapes, report of fumes and unsafe situations
8. A knowledge and understanding of four appliances
9. System design, location, controls, flue types for appliances and smart controls
10. An awareness of green technologies
11. The properties of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
12. An awareness of fuel storage – tanks and bottles (Liquid Petroleum Gas – LPG)

Technical Requirements – Skills

1. Carry out safe isolation essential electrical safety checks
2. Carry out flue testing
3. Undertake the necessary safety checks following gas work on an appliance (regulation 26/9)
4. Work in compliance with statutory and normative documentation including building regulations, water regulations and electrical regulations
5. Access and comply with technical guidance, bulletins and safety alerts e.g. Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedures (GIUSP)
6. Demonstrate tightness testing, purging and relight procedures on gas installations
7. Demonstrate pipework installations/pipework skills, pressure and flow/pipework sizing, and meter installations
8. Demonstrate ambient air testing/carbon monoxide/dioxide atmosphere testing
9. Identify gas safety controls and prove their safe operation
10. Complete records and maintain records accordingly
11. Identify faults and take the appropriate action
12. Undertake the installation and/or repair and maintenance of four appliances
13. Reinstate following completion of works, cleaning up and making good

Applicants will normally have gained a minimum of 3-5 GCSEs (grade A-C) or equivalent, preferably including English, Mathematics and a Science or should have relevant / appropriate experience. Individual employers can set the selection criteria for their apprenticeship and this will include a recognised background check, equivalent to Criminal Record Bureau/Disclosure and Barring Service (CRB/DBS) systems.

If the apprentice is progressing from a Plumbing Level 2 Apprenticeship, Level 2 English, Maths and ICT should already have been achieved.

An apprenticeship standard requires the employer to offer support, training and guidance so that the apprentice can record at least 20% of their time on the programme as training relating to the standard. This includes training both at College and on-site.

The apprentice will be required to build on the skills learnt in College while in the workplace and collect evidence in their portfolio to prove 20% of their time was covered by training, before they can take the End-Point Assessment.

1. Ensure personal wellbeing and the safety of customers and others as a priority
2. Be risk aware, showing the desire to reduce risks through systematic monitoring and checking information and through strict compliance with appropriate regulations and normative documents
3. Demonstrate an awareness of how the work impacts on others in the work environment
4. Confidently deliver a polite, courteous, professional service to all customers and members of the public whilst safeguarding customer welfare and recognising vulnerability, equality and diversity
5. Undertake Continuous Professional Development to enhance knowledge and skills to maintain competence
6. Recognise personal and professional limitations and seek appropriate advice when necessary
7. Display self-discipline and self-motivated approach
8. Exercise responsibilities in an ethical manner

• Gas Engineering Operative Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
• Registration with Gas Safe® Register for four appliances
• Apprentices without Level 2 English and Mathematics will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment.

In achieving a Pass or a Distinction in this apprenticeship, the successful apprentice will be eligible to apply for membership of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) and professional registration as an Engineering Technician (EngTech).

Work Log

As the apprentice progresses through their training, they are required to gather evidence on the full range of skills, knowledge and behaviours required by the standard and to be assessed on particular tasks or procedures or items of equipment. 

Safe isolation of operational equipment for maintenance is one example of this type of competency assessment, applicable to those working in gas engineering. It is industry practice that assessments are recorded in a work log. The work log must be sufficient to evidence that the apprentice can apply skills, knowledge and behaviours required in a variety of tasks. Progress review documentation should also be included.

The apprentice’s supervisor will typically support the development of the work log in accordance with company policy and procedures, although assessment organisations will provide guidance on the content of the work log.  A summative assessment of the work log will form part of the end-point assessment portfolio assessment – see below.

Suggested Observation of Behaviours and Skills

Apprentices work in an environment where their safety, the safety of those around them and the equipment they work on are of paramount importance. Therefore, observation of behaviours and approach are an integral and developing part of the apprentice’s progression throughout the programme and should be assessed using existing supervisory practice and as part of the on-going assessment.

Suggested Training/Development Review Meetings

Training and assessment is agreed and documented in a personal training/development plan. Regular review meetings should be programmed to ensure training/development needs are met and supported. This could include additional training, or ways of accelerating learning, as required by the apprentice. This will typically be an interview with the apprentice’s line manager, but may include colleagues from Human Resources. Feedback from mentors and team members may be included to contribute towards individual personalised training/development plans.  Review documentation should be included in the apprentice’s work log – see above.

End-Point Assessment

Successful achievement of the end-point assessment will lead to final certification of the apprenticeship and will demonstrate that the apprentice is a fully authorised competent worker who can work safely and confidently to install, maintain or repair at least four types of appliance. It uses the following assessment tools:

• Portfolio assessment, incorporating Gas Safe® registration, competency test and work log review, which includes an interview. This will be marked by technical experts usually sourced from the apprentice’s employer (weighting 70%).
• Knowledge assessment, independently marked by an Apprentices Assessment Organisation (weighting 30%).

The end-point assessment may be completed over a three-month period to accommodate work scheduling and cost-effective planning of resources.

Your apprentice will need to come into College at least one day per week and possibly one evening during the academic year and in line with term times.

Your apprentice will need to be equipped with their own PPE such as boots, hi-vis and gloves. Tools will be supplied in College but not in the workplace.

Further Study

In achieving a Pass or a Distinction in this apprenticeship, the successful apprentice will be eligible to apply for membership with the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) and professional registration as an Engineering Technician (EngTech).

They can progress to supervisory, management or professional and technical courses and qualifications.

• Plumber
• Domestic Heating Engineer
• Domestic Heating Installer
• Plumbing and Domestic Heating Installer
• Plumbing and Domestic Heating Engineer

You may already have someone in your organisation or someone has come to you direct asking for an apprenticeship, but if you don’t we have a free recruitment service to help you hire the best candidate for your organisation from our talent pool and external advertising through social media and the national apprenticeship services website

If you are an employer and you would like to know more, please email businessenquiries@derby-college.ac.uk or call 01332 387421