Plumbing & Services RPL

The plumbing and services scope of work you've outlined covers a comprehensive range of tasks essential for plumbing professionals across various domains. Here's a breakdown of the key responsibilities and activities mentioned:

1. Handling and Storage of Plumbing Materials: Involves the proper management, handling, and storage of plumbing materials such as pipes, fittings, fixtures, and other related components to ensure they remain in good condition and are readily accessible for use during plumbing installations or repairs.
2. Utilizing Hand and Power Tools: Plumbing tasks often require the use of a variety of hand tools (e.g., wrenches, cutters, pliers) and power tools (e.g., drills, saws, pipe threaders) specific to plumbing work. Proficiency in using these tools is crucial for executing plumbing tasks accurately and efficiently.
3. Executing Flash Penetrations: Involves creating flash penetrations through roofs and walls to accommodate plumbing elements such as pipes, vents, or conduits. Proper execution of flash penetrations is vital for maintaining the structural integrity and weatherproofing of buildings.
4. Welding Polymer Pipes: Utilizing the fusion method to weld polymer pipes, ensuring secure and leak-free joints in plumbing systems where polymer piping materials are used, such as PVC or HDPE pipes.
5. Fabricating and Installing Non-Ferrous Pressure Piping: Involves the fabrication and installation of non-ferrous pressure piping systems, which are commonly used for water supply, gas supply, or other fluid conveyance applications.
6. Installing On-Site Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants: Includes the installation and setup of domestic wastewater treatment plants and disposal systems on residential properties, ensuring proper functionality and compliance with environmental regulations.
7. Placing Gas Pressure Control Equipment: Involves the positioning and installation of gas pressure control equipment such as regulators, valves, and meters as part of gas supply systems in residential or commercial buildings.
8. Planning Residential Sanitary Plumbing Systems: Encompasses the design and layout planning of residential sanitary plumbing systems, including the arrangement of fixtures, pipes, drains, and vents to ensure efficient and code-compliant wastewater disposal and drainage.
9. Crafting and Installing Sanitary Stacks: Involves the fabrication, assembly, and installation of sanitary stacks, which are vertical pipes that carry wastewater and sewage from plumbing fixtures to the main drainage system or sewage treatment facility.
10. Connecting and Installing Storage Tanks: Includes the connection and installation of storage tanks, typically for domestic water supply purposes, ensuring proper connections, fittings, and compliance with relevant standards and regulations.

These tasks collectively highlight the diverse skill set, technical knowledge, and attention to detail required in the plumbing profession, whether it's in residential, commercial, or industrial settings. Plumbers must be proficient in a wide range of tasks to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable functioning of plumbing systems and related infrastructure.

To meet the requirements for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program in plumbing and services, candidates should have at least three years of relevant industry experience. This experience should cover a wide range of plumbing work and be predominantly acquired within the ten years preceding the application date. Additionally, there is a specific requirement of 24 to 36 months of experience gained within Australia to ensure familiarity with local standards and practices.

The relevant industry experience may include tasks such as installation, maintenance, repairs, compliance activities, and working with various plumbing systems and components. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their skills, knowledge, and competency in areas such as:

1. Handling and storing plumbing materials.
2. Using hand and power tools specific to plumbing.
3. Executing flash penetrations through roofs and walls.
4. Welding polymer pipes using the fusion method.
5. Fabricating and installing non-ferrous pressure piping.
6. Installing on-site domestic wastewater treatment plants and disposal systems.
7. Placing gas pressure control equipment.
8. Planning layouts for residential sanitary plumbing systems.
9. Crafting and installing sanitary stacks.
10. Connecting and installing storage tanks to domestic water supplies.

Candidates should also be prepared to provide documentation and evidence of their industry experience, such as work records, employer references, training certificates, and relevant qualifications or licenses. This documentation will be used during the assessment process to evaluate the candidate's skills and determine their eligibility for recognition in plumbing through the RPL program.