Learn the Fundamentals of Plumbing
- Tools, Equipment and Materials
- Techniques including ways to work with pipes to install, maintain and repair plumbing installations
- Applications for plumbing and gas fitting in residential, commercial, and industrial contexts.
Who is this Course For?
- Anyone starting out ( Alone this course doesn't make you a plumber, but it may make you attractive to be employed somewhere in the plumbing industry e.g. as a plumbers assistant, in a plumbing supplies business or elsewhere.)
- Home owners or home renovators
- People working in related industries (eg. construction, architecture, property management, irrigation, landscaping, gas supply, etc) who are seeking to supplement their knowledge for their own professional development, or perhaps staff training.
"How to" videos online may be able to show you how to do anything, but they don't teach the foundation knowledge that underpins what you are working on. The video or instructions you are following will rarely flag all the options for doing a job. Tools keep changing, materials change, however, if you understand materials, design principles and functions of tools, you'll know how to use them properly and more broadly.
ACS trade course are designed to bring confidence to work more broadly, you will develop understanding of equipment repair and adapt this to machines and equipment in your work or interest area. Study and experience gives you an ability to see and compare options when you confront a problem.
Do not make the mistake of discounting a good education!
Lesson Structure
There are 10 lessons in this course:
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Introduction to Plumbing - Materials & Techniques
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Use of Pipes
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Transporting Gases
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Transporting Liquids
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Scope and Nature of Plumbing Work
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Pipe Materials
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Ferrous Metal Pipes
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Carbon steel
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Stainless steel
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Cast iron
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Non-ferrous Metal Pipes
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Copper
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Brass
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Nickel
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Aluminium
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Plastic Pipes
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PVCs
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CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) Pipe
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PVC-U (Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride) Pipe
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HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) Pipe
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PP (Polypropylene) Pipe
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PE (Polyethylene) Pipe
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PEX (Cross-linked Polyethylene) Pipe
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PE-RT (Polyethylene of Raised Temperature Resistance) Pipe
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Other Pipes
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Cement/concrete
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Fibreglass
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Glass
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Wood
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Pipe Dimensions
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Terminology
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Plumbing Tools & Equipment
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General Hand Tools
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Accessory Plumbing Tools & Equipment
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Power Tools & Machines
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Safety Guidelines for Using Power Tools
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Working with Piping Materials
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Selection of Pipe Materials
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Flow Rate
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Type of Fluid
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Temperature of Fluid
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Pressure of the Fluid
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Properties of the Material
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Location of Pipework
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Other Influencing Factors
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Availability
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Cost
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Ease of Installation
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Working with Ferrous Pipes
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Cutting Ferrous Metal Pipes
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Working with Non-Ferrous Metal Pipes
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Cutting Non-Ferrous Metal Pipes
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Copper pipe cutter/pipe slice (auto cut tool)
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Joining Non-Ferrous Metal Pipes
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Working with Plastic Pipe
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Working with Other Types of Pipes
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Safety Issues
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Mains Gas & Water Supply and Sewage Removal
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Residential Mains Systems
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Residential Mains Gas Supply
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Residential Water Supply
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Sources and Treatment Processes
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Hot water systems
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Water metering and pressure management
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Sewage removal
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Systems and Maintenance
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Water Safety Guidelines
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Common Plumbing Tasks
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Introduction to Routine Tasks
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Regulations
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Routine Maintenance of Water Systems
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Plumbing Repairs
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DIY Aspects of Fixing Leaks
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Guttering and Downpipes
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Rainwater tank collection, bottled gas, sewerage tanks/grey water
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Introduction
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Repairing & replacing damaged fittings
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Filtration systems
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Residential rainwater collection
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Bottled Gas Systems
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Sewerage Tanks
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Greywater Tanks
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Plumbing for Outdoors – Gardens, Pools, Irrigation
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Overview of Installation, Pipework and Runoff
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Swimming pool installation
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Types of Swimming Pool and their Features
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Construction Process and Key Considerations
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Regulations and Permits
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Pipework for Swimming Pools
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Runoff Zones and Drainage
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Managing Storm water and Excess Pool Water
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Safety and Compliance
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Irrigation
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Air conditioning & Heating units and systems
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Overview Buildings and Greenhouses
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Cooling and Refrigeration Systems
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Refrigeration Components in Vapour Compression Systems
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Compressors
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Condensers
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Evaporators
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Interconnecting Pipework: Suction, Discharge, Liquid Drain and Liquid Lines
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Applications for Plumbing in Industrial and Commercial Contexts
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Water Supply System in Industrial Settings
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Sources, Purification, Distribution, Conservation, Monitoring
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Wastewater Management
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Plumbing Systems in Commercial Buildings
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Specialised Commercial & Industrial Systems
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Fire Protection
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Hospitals and Healthcare Settings
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Plumbing Maintenance & Regulations
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Machinery Applications
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Gas and Liquid Management in Cars an Engines
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Cooling, Fuel Supply & Lubrication Systems
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Hydraulic Systems
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Sealants
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Sustainability and innovation for Plumbing
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Awareness of Products and Techniques
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Innovative Thinking
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Geothermal Heating Systems
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Solar Heating Systems
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Greywater Heat Recovery Systems
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Systems of Conservation
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Off-Grid Systems
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Resources Conversation
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
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Discuss the scope and nature of plumbing and gas fitting work, including materials and techniques used.
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Describe plumbing tools.
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Describe common plumbing systems used for supply and removal of gas, water, and sewage.
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Describe the routine work tasks which a plumbers and gasfitters undertake.
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Describe the work of plumbers and gasfitters in collecting, holding, and treating liquids and gases including water and sewage.
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Describe the work of plumbers and related occupations in the installation, operation and maintenance of pools, irrigation systems and spas.
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Explain plumbing work involved in the installation and maintenance of heating and cooling systems for environmental control in residential properties, factories, commercial, industrial and agricultural situations.
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Explain industrial and commercial applications for plumbing and gas fitting
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Discuss different innovative and sustainable solutions used with use/operation/management of gasses and liquids.
GET TO KNOW THE WORK
Plumbing work can involve any of installation, maintenance, or repair. Maintenance of plumbing is important to prevent problems from occurring. On a small scale, work can be relatively simple and straight forward, such as replacing a washer in a leaky tap. On large scale and with big industrial systems it can be complex and may often need to be at scheduled times when it causes the least inconvenience e.g., after work hours. Repairs may be identified during routine maintenance or during emergencies. If repairs are needed, parts of systems may need to be temporarily shut down or disconnected.
Plumbers and other people who install and use plumbing fittings have a responsibility to ensure that any installation and the fittings and materials used comply with current regulations within the jurisdiction they operate. Many plumbing jobs can be undertaken by knowledgeable people even if they are not registered plumbers; but some tasks are regulated, more so in some countries; and require a licensed tradesman.
Routine maintenance for example, on cold water systems may involve the following amongst other things:
- Checking for leaks.
- Changing washers and reseating taps and fittings.
- Changing washers in float operated valves and drain valves.
- Checking the correct operation of stop valves.
- Checking flow rates at outlets.
- Cleaning filters – to remove scale and sediment.
- Cleaning cisterns and adjusting water levels.
Instances that require people with specialist knowledge, training, and certification may include making alterations or repairs to certified plumbing systems e.g., particularly gas systems, water systems in buildings that are non-residential.
Health and safety procedures need to be recognised and always followed as plumbing work can involve dangerous materials and equipment. With proper procedures though, the work is safe. It should be noted that any water system, hot or cold, and may contain disease organisms such as the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. Legionella develops mainly in stagnant water or water that has been left standing for a long period e.g., disused branches of water piping systems. The bacteria cause legionnaires disease. It can be fatal if ingested by breathing in water droplets. Care must be exercised when dealing with such systems. Decisions about what to do with any jobs needs to be made in full knowledge of the system materials and equipment you are working with.
While it may be preferable to use an experienced and certified tradesman; it is often neither practical or cost effective to do so, Many tradesmen employ semi skilled people to assist them. Many people who own or manage properties need to attend to plumbing emergencies or even routine maintenance when it isn't cost effective or timely to use a plumber. These and other reasons make knowledge of plumbing a valuable commodity in a wide range of circumstances.
If you can see value for yourself in having more knowledge and skills in plumbing; this could be a very useful course for you.
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