Archive for September, 2009
Stay with us while you’re training !
There are two big factors which have a deciding influence, as to which Construction Training Centre a prospective trainee will finally choose to enrol. The first is the flexibility of individual course training times and duration and secondly, distance and travelling time. The most often heard phrase is, “We really want to come and train at your centre, as there no decent ones near where I live, but I think you’re going to be too far away to travel every day”.
We invite prospective candidates to come and visit and spend time looking around our purpose-built workshops for electrical courses and plumbing training. In addition we have recently opened up a brand new ‘ Energy Efficiency’ Centre, now a key part of any plumbing or Gas training.
When candidates arrive and look around the training areas, speaking with staff tutors and course trainees, we are constantly being told there are building training centres springing up all over the place these days, yet none of them appear to offer anywhere near the same standard of facilities, qualifications tutoring or indications of official accreditation and approval status! But they are always the nearest travelling distance!
The good news is that, no matter where you live in the country, no one need miss out on undertaking to train with AbleSkills! You can come and stay with us for the entire course - we will provide you with purpose-built, private accommodation whilst you are training!
Specifically designed and exclusively designed for AbleSkills students only, you stay in a modern, purpose built detached house, with your own fully furnished room, which includes washing facilities, TV, bathroom/WC. There is a fully fitted modern kitchen and spacious dining area and for all car owners, their own allocated private parking space!
The property is regularly maintained to ensure that the property is kept clean, fully functional and is being looked after by the trainees whilst in residence. This ensures that all amenities are in good repair and always fully working. There is obviously nothing more welcome, and the cherry on top, than to be quickly back at the house after a satisfying days successful training, to take a hot shower whilst the kettle is brewing!
Able Skills has gone to considerable lengths to ensure that students training away from home enjoy a relaxing and comfortable experience, when they ‘clock off’ for the day! It’s another consideration that shows our commitment to training excellence, which you may just not find anywhere else!
Scrap your old boiler, cut emissions and boost jobs!
Plumbers and their suppliers are calling on Government to introduce a scrappage scheme for old, inefficient boilers and encourage their replacement with newer, more energy efficient models. Basically the idea is that a Boiler Scrappage Scheme would mirror the car scrappage scheme, which offers those buying new, fuel efficient vehicles the option of trading in their older models.
It makes even more sense than the car scrappage scheme to provide financial help for people to install new, energy efficient, boilers. This would result in reduced fuel bills for the householder, extra work for small plumbing firms and plumbers, more business for UK manufacturing companies (most boilers are made in this country), create jobs and plumbing training opportunities and would also reduce our energy consumption and CO2 emissions to help tackle climate change.
It is estimated that there are still 4.5 million old boilers that are rated at less than 70% efficient. Replacing these with modern condensing gas boilers and controls could save millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide pouring into our atmosphere each year. If everyone in the UK converted to high efficiency boilers, enough energy would be saved to heat 3.4 million homes, saving over 13 million tonnes of carbon.
The construction industry campaign to persuade the government to introduce a boiler scrappage scheme now has support of all the main political parties as well as from UK industries as rising fuel prices and the need to help families heat their homes affordably in the coming winter months are equally serious issues.
For those thinking about training to be a plumber or currently on on a Plumbing NVQ 6129 course, the effect of the Boiler Scrappage Scheme would be to significantly boost immediate work opportunities. Creating increased public awareness of environmental issues relating directly to their own home and inefficient energy use is now a priority. A plumbers responsibilities now involve training to provide energy assessments within domestic properties and knowing how to correctly and safely install the new energy efficient heating systems.
Renewable Energy – one application is all hot air, but another is down-to-earth!
Renewable energy - we hear this expression a lot and how important it is for the future of the planet, but do we know how this translates to our everyday lives and what it it means for those in the construction industries, especially those training to be a plumber, gas fitter or electrician.
Renewable energy is a source of energy that can never be exhausted. We can obtain renewable energy from the sun (solar energy), from the water (hydropower), from the wind (wind turbines), from hot dry rocks, magma, hot water springs (geothermal) and even from firewood, animal manure, crop residues and waste (Biomass).
The urgency of finding alternatives to fossel fuels and developing realistic, renewable energy sources. This is now considered the single most important global issue of concern today. The practical results must very quickly lead to the implementation of workable and affordable technologies for all of us to use at home and in the workplace.
In response to increasing enquiries, prompted by the Government initiative to reduce the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions, AbleSkills has unveiled a brand new Energy Saving Training Centre to provide the now, very necessary ‘green energy’ training, City & Guilds approved - from Energy Assessment to Solar Energy and both Air and Ground Source Heating installation.
Most recently, two ‘green energy’ sources have become popular as a most efficient method of heating the average domestic dwelling : Ground Source Heat Pumps and Air Source Heat Pumps. They reduce fuel bills, cut down on wasted electricity and save space.
Ground Source Heat Pumps - use pipes buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. Beneath the surface, the ground stays at a constant temperature, so a ground source heat pump can be used throughout the year - even in the middle of winter. This is usually used to warm water for radiators or underfloor heating systems. It can also be used to pre-heat water before it goes into a more conventional boiler. The only energy used is electricity to power the pumps, delivering 3 or 4 times as much thermal energy (heat) as is used by electrical energy to drive the system.
Air Source Heat Pumps - absorb heat from the outside air. They can be fitted outside a house or in the roof space and generally perform better at slightly warmer air temperatures to warm water for radiators or underfloor heating systems, or to warm the air in your home. The system is quickly more cost effective if it’s replacing electricity, or coal heating and are much better at powering underfloor heating systems or warm air heating than radiator-based systems.
Rising Damp? Don’t be a Rigsby – get a professional bricklayer!
When a DPC (Damp Proof Course) fails, the situation deteriorates rapidly and you must call in an experienced, qualified builder bricklayer who should assess the best solution. AbleSkills provides key bricklaying skills courses which offers the opportunity to undertake further building training leading to certificated qualifications right up to City & Guilds NVQ level.
Damp Proof Courses fail for all sorts of reasons – sometimes, a DPC was not installed in the first place, as with older brick and stone built properties. One of the most common causes for a bridged Damp Proof Course occurs when earth or other materials have been piled against an outside wall. Water from the pile seeps into the wall above the DPC and begins to rise. By simply removing the soil/debris, the wall will be able to dry out naturally. Another reason may be due to incorrect installation, ageing or use of incorrect or sub-standard materials.
Sometime debris, such as cement or mortar, falls away to the bottom of the cavity, forming a channel over the DPC for moisture to collect. Simply locating and removing the fallen debris should solve the problem. If the area is not found or immediately apparent due to a localised damp patch, it may be worth taking advice from a professional.
There are several methods of replacing a DPC:
Physical Replacement - the most expensive but also the most reliable. A mortar joint is cut out and an appropriate DPC material such as bituminised felt or heavy duty plastic sheeting is then inserted. This is highly specialist work involving structural alterations.
Chemical Damp Course - this is a popular method which involves drilling a horizontal series of holes in the wall just above the failed DPC or if there is none, roughly six inches above ground level. A specialised pumping system forces a waterproofing chemical into the brickwork, entering the tiny ‘pores’ in the bricks and mortar, curing and forming a plastic-like barrier. Newer types of chemical damp course are available as a ‘cream’, which is injected using either a small hand pump or cartridge type mastic gun.
An Electro-Osmotic Damp Course - a small electric current is passed into the wall, which flows downward, drawing water molecules in the same direction, and preventing damp from rising. A wire is installed, running along the wall with holes drilled at intervals to house metal anodes. A safe, low voltage current runs from the anodes through the wall to earth.
A Clay Pot or Clay Tube damp proofing system - larger holes are drilled into the wall at greater intervals than a chemical damp course. A porous, hollow clay tube is then inserted into the hole, which acts like a wick, drawing water out of the wall to evaporate and eventually drying
Gas Safe SWAT team target ‘Skills-Dodge City’ cowboys!
There doesn’t seem to be a week that doesn’t pass by without yet another news story about the activities of illegal, untrained and unqualified plumbers, gas fitters and electricians around the UK.
According to the latest survey conducted by the Gas Safe Register, ‘cowboy’ gas fitters are now carrying out a quarter of a million gas repairs or installations each year! More than half are sole traders and it is estimated at least 7,500 are a hard core without the mandatory approved gas training and qualifications.
It is even more worrying to discover that not only are they carrying out illegal gas work, around three quarters or more, will also undertake plumbing jobs, bathroom and kitchen fitting, a half will take on general building and even electrical work! They represent the most dangerous type of ‘rogue trader’ operating today and as the nations’ enemy No.1, are the main target of the Gas Safe Register’s national investigations team.
One in 10 of the illegal gas installations investigated in the last nine months have been categorised as ‘Immediately Dangerous’ and the appliances disabled straight away to make them safe. Almost half of these had faults that could have led to lethal carbon monoxide exposure plus there are many gas appliances still unaccounted for, left in a dangerous state.
A spokesman for Gas Safe, in a recent statement, said, “Different types of gas work require different qualifications. Just because someone is qualified and registered to work on one gas appliance, for example gas boilers, does not mean that they are automatically qualified to put in a gas fire. If they do this, the work is illegal and potentially life threatening. The work that engineers can legally do is listed on the back of their Gas Safe Register card - it’s so important you check this every time you have work done.”
It is a legal requirement to be properly trained and have received the statutory qualifications at the required levels to undertake the appropriate work, from an approved and accredited skills training establishment. In addition, all Gas Fitters must be Gas Safe registered, carrying the official Gas Safe card to carry out specific work.
Detecting the electrical bodge !
It goes without saying that it is dangerous for any one to work with electricity - you risk not only your own life but those living in the house – unless you are a trained and qualified electrician to the required knowledge level and thus, actually know what you are doing. It is also under the Part P Regulations, illegal! If you are not electrocuted you could be prosecuted!
A trained and qualified electrician always recognsies when a DIY job has been previously carried out by a householder! The tell-tale signs always show!
Below are some of the most common bodged electrical jobs, as reported by electricians when arriving to sort out a fault :
Fuse Box Installation - An electrical box installed too far out of the wall.
Wire Size – an added outlet or circuit too low rated.
Fuse Replacement - fuse or breaker replaced with a larger – and wrong – size.
Light Bulbs – higher wattage bulbs fitted above recommended limit. Danger of overheating and fire!
Wire Connections in a Box – incorrect wire lengths when making a connection in a junction box.
Loose Wire Connections – a stripped conductor and another wire wrapped around it to make a connection.
Loose Connections in Panels – especially a loose neutral ( causes flickering – and overheating)
Proper Wires Connected to Terminals - a wire connected to the wrong terminal !
Overloading Outlets – use of multi-outlet circuit extenders . Appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, all draw a lot of power and need their own supply.
Wire Straps - NM (Romex) wire straps nailed too tightly. Must be support ed securely to the wooden studs by nailing straps around the wire. This ensures the wire doesn’t hang loosely in the wall channel and so the wire doesn’t get pinched in the wall when drywall is installed.
There are a variety of short electrical courses always available and over weekends for gaining certificated knowlege of basic electrics. For those who wish to find out more and go on to higher NVQ level training, there are approved and accredited City & Guilds courses, starting with 5 or 10 day units and extending into set courses of longer duration.
Here Comes The Sun !
The latest announcement from one of the UK’s national Gas energy suppliers declares that they will not be passing on wholesale price cuts this winter and prices are likely to rise instead! For many, it may really be time to seriously think about replacement energy sources, which are both cheaper, cleaner and environmentally friendly.
One of the oldest forms of technology available harnesses the power of the sun! And today it is probably one of the most efficient methods to heat your water at home.
Clarence Kemp patented the first commercially available solar hot water heater in 1891, and since then, improvements in design, storage, and components have made solar water heaters the perfect starting point for homeowners looking to create a more sustainable home.
Already, over 50, 000 householders have converted to Solar Water heating and all of us are being encouraged to take greater responsibility for more efficient use of energy. Those training to become a plumber or are already are working as a plumber, knowing how to correctly install Solar Water heaters, is becoming an important part of your skillset as demand inevitably increases.
Solar water heaters are typically described according to the type of collector and the circulation system.
Batch collectors - also called Integrated Collector-Storage (ICS) systems - heat water in dark tanks or tubes within an insulated box, storing water until drawn. Water can remain in the collector for long periods of time if household demand is low, making it very hot. Batch collectors are incompatible with closed-loop circulation systems. Thus, they are generally not recommended for cold climates.
Flat-plate collectors - typically consist of copper tubes fitted to flat absorber plates. The most common configuration is a series of parallel tubes connected at each end by two pipes, the inlet and outlet manifolds. The flat plate assembly is contained within an insulated box, and covered with tempered glass.
Flat plate collectors are typically sized to contain 40 gallons of water. Two collectors provide roughly half of the hot water needed to serve a family of four.
Evacuated tube collectors - are the most efficient collectors available. Each evacuated tube is similar to a thermos in principle. A glass or metal tube containing the water or heat transfer fluid is surrounded by a larger glass tube. The space between them is a vacuum, so very little heat is lost from the fluid.
Able Skills is an approved CTIB training provider in the assessment and certification in Solar Domestic Hot Water, a 2 day course providing an entry level qualification for experienced domestic heating installers or plumbers - or for those with Plumbing City & Guilds NVQ level 2 - wishing to extend their work scope into solar heating.
Kitchen fitting – don’t let it drive you up the wall!
Yes – it really is a case of ‘call in the experts!’. Training to be a kitchen fitter can be a lucrative career move. Domestic builders get asked to carry out this staple task on a routine basis, more often than not when an enthusiastic DIY’er has botched the job! If you are trying to save money during the recession and want to take on the job yourself, the advice is always simple– especially with a less than straightforward task - take a training course and obtain all the practical inside knowledge from time-served industry experts in their field. It is money well spent and will save you both your hard earned cash and big headaches!
Planning to fit your kitchen properly is not just about getting a tape measure out and writing a few numbers on the back of an envelope ! Neither is it as easy as clicking onto a shiny software programme on a High Street kitchen designer’s PC. The correct procedure is to discuss, in detail, exactly what you need and how you want to live in your kitchen.
Think very carefully about the practical, everyday use - will the cups, mugs and kettle be near each other - and the tea, coffee, sugar? Are you able to have the saucepans, tinned food and pasta near the cooker? You need to realistically and honestly plan to put everything in the best place.
The process begins by splitting a kitchen into various zones to make it work properly:
• cooking zone
• preparation zone
• cleaning zone
• storage zone for consumables
• family dining area
At the same time , you need to think about how you are going to use your kitchen! You may think that’s obvious - but - is it a large enough space for children to play and do homework, or is it a social area where you entertain? Is the emphasis going to be on cooking and what space do you need for the fridge, dishwasher or freezer - or will that go in an utility room? Drawers are a great storage space that pull out without the need to bend into a cupboard . Have many do you have? Is that enough?
You should do all your homework and know what you want before you go looking at kitchen styles. Your kitchen fitter should advise on the regulations and installation requirements for gas, electrical with part P and plumbing.
Understanding the working triangle (the distance between the fridge, sink and cooker) is key. The final design should be both attractive, practical, on budget and most importantly, is what you want!
And remember – most mistakes occur because of incorrect measurements and poor planning. Check the design over very carefully and look at every item, check every detail and make sure you understand what is being installed. Any mistakes spotted before work begins are very easy to solve but can so easily become a nightmare problem once fitting is underway.
Calling all Women! Builders want you!
Even in the current economic downturn, it’s always useful to be reminded that the Construction industry employs around 1.4 million people throughout the UK. Construction is still one of the largest and most important of industries, estimated to be worth £1.5 billion, and providing a tenth of this country’s gross domestic product.
A recent report by the Equal Opportunities Commission found that while women make up 49% of the total UK workforce, they hold just 9% of all construction jobs.
Figures released show the following breakdown :
1% of trades-people
10% of those working in design and management
84% secretarial
2% are sole traders
4% are SMEs (employing 1-10 people)
Attracting women into the more heavy manual skills-based occupations, has of course steadily improved since the latter 1990s, but it’s interesting to note that with the construction industry still facing well publicised trained skills shortages, estimated to be roughly 234,000, why are we not seeing more women entering the trade professions? They still make-up only 4% of all construction managers.
Many trades that deal mainly with domestic users are desperately short of female qualified plumbers, to give one example.
Do old fashioned attitudes still linger so that women can’t see themselves working in a traditionally male dominated industry? Or do employers make a point of not recruiting women as they are seen as the ‘weaker sex’?
A Construction Recruitment organisation surveyed 3,000 construction companies and female employees to see whether the gender gap was being addressed. The research uncovered some interesting facts:
When asked what deters women from the construction industry, they themselves point to a mixture of the ‘male dominated environment’, ‘long hours’, ‘working conditions’ and ‘not child friendly’ culture.
However, when asked why they had chosen a career in construction, 85% referred to a fundamental interest in building and engineering, the good career prospects or just the fact that they wanted to do something a bit ‘different’ in life – all good indicators of enthusiasm and commitment for the choices they had made.
AbleSkills has always believed in the special skills women bring to the plumbing and electrical trades. As an Equal Opportunities training centre, female trainees have always been encouraged and this has led to them to see a dramatic increase in women enrolling on their courses, especially those looking for self-employment, rather than a job, at the end..
While it is acknowledged that employers should and do recruit on merit (rather than ‘positively discriminating’ for women) it is clear that many women may not apply to train for construction trade skills in the first instance, as they clearly believe that they are likely not to gain employment easily, or at all at their chosen new career.
The good news is that many companies are beginning to address the working hours / working environment issues on behalf of their female employees. But they do need to promote their enlightened attitude to future candidates if they want to benefit from a more diverse workforce.
Construction industry issues fresh reports of skills shortages.
Earlier this year it was widely reported that migrant building workers were returning to their own countries and this would have an immediate knock-on effect by increasing the UK skills shortage. Once again, it was being seen that there was an urgent requirement for properly trained and NVQ qualified plumbers, electricians, and other construction trade skills to undertake the many large scale projects around the UK.
Latest reports are now indicating that both the Olympic Delivery Authority and the London Development Agency will be investing up to £20 million on training people in order to meet the construction deadlines for the 2012 Olympics.
It appears that the issue of migrant workers returning home was only part of the problem. As timescales reduced and the industry looked to be seriously affected by the deepening recession, it was critical to not only address the problem in the short term but also look at the long term consequences by finding solutions to the skills shortage crisis. The investment will train British workers in skills which are most needed such as electrical work, and alongside this, a further 4, 000 people will be trained for specialist skills.
For those who wish to switch careers and train to enter the construction industry, there are various options which may not always be convenient or available to those wishing to take advantage of the opportunities opening up in the building sector. Able Skills training centre provides many different ways to train on courses, designed to suit all types of working lives and time availability. They are adapted especially for those whose route to fulltime training and employment chances are not necessarily going to be best fulfilled by applying to attend college or getting on to apprentice schemes.
Much mention has made in the press and elsewhere that for far too long, skills shortages in the UK construction industry were being relied upon to be filled by migrant workers. This has inevitably led to repeated reports about the lack of new homegrown trainees and young people entering the industry with the right training and qualifications to sufficiently high enough level. Everybody seems to be agreeing that for the industry to weather the duration of the recession, a great deal more effort is required to effectively solve the skilled manpower problem.
There is an abiding concern hovering over all concerned, to ensure that the 2012 Olympic village will be completed in time and thereby, averting spectacular humiliation on the world stage, because the number of skilled workers available to enable the completion of the project was not properly planned in advance!
