UK-PHMES Grading

Guide to UK-PHMES Grading

The purpose of grading is to ensure that plumbers, domestic heating fitters and mechanical pipefitters are suitably recognised for the trade skills and qualifications they possess.

The responsibility for operative grading has now been taken by the UK Plumbing, Heating & Mechanical Engineering Services Registration Scheme (UK-PHMES). This is the first time that Grading in England & Wales has been harmonised with Grading in Scotland & Northern Ireland.

Grading is an addition to the UK-PHMES Registration Card scheme.

Registration cards are based only on an operative's qualifications. The UK-PHMES Advanced and Technician grades are awarded on the basis of skill and experience as well as qualifications. They are recognised and supported by JIB-PMES participant employers to determine rates of pay, allowances and benefits.

JIB-PHMES Grades

Basic Grade: Plumber, Domestic Heating Fitter, Mechanical Pipe Fitter.
  • All holders of Blue or Gold UK-PHMES Registration Cards are automatically given the basic grade as a trained plumber, Domestic Heating Fitter or Mechanical Pipe Fitter
Advanced Grade: Plumber, Domestic Heating Fitter, Mechanical Pipe Fitter.
  • Must have at least two year's experience working as a plumber, domestic heating fitter or mechanical pipefitter.
  • Must possess particular and productive skills and be able to work without supervision in the most efficient and economical manner.
  • Must be able to set out jobs from working drawings and specifications and requisition the necessary installation materials and have technical and supervisory knowledge beyond that expected of a plumber, domestic heating fitter or mechanical pipefitter.
Technician Grade: Plumber, Domestic Heating Fitter, Mechanical Pipe Fitter.
  • Must have obtained such academic qualifications or other such qualifications as are acceptable to UK-PHMES.
  • Must have superior technical skill, ability and experience beyond that expected of an Advanced Plumber, Domestic Heating Fitter or Mechanical Pipefitter.
  • Must be able to lay out and prepare contract work in accordance with Building Regulations and Water Regulations/Bye-Laws.
  • Must be able to take off quantities and measure work.
  • Must be able to assess labour requirements and control/supervise all manner of plumbing or other relevant installations in the most economic and effective way while achieving a high level of productivity.

Relationship between UK-PHMES Registration and Grading.

Registration cards

UK-PHMES/CSCS Registration cards are a national standard recognised throughout the industry.

CSCS rules stipulate that the colour of the Registration Card issued to operatives is based solely on their qualifications.

If an applicant has achieved NVQ/SVQ Level 2 the card colour can only be BLUE. If an applicant has achieved NVQ/SVQ Level 3 the card colour can only be GOLD.

Grading

UK-PHMES Grades are recognised primarily by JIB-PMES participant employers to determine pay, allowances and other benefits.

Grading is an addition to UK-PHMES/CSCS registration and is based on experience as well as qualifications.

Holders of Plumber Blue and Gold cards (i.e. those who have NVQ L2 or Plumbing Craft qualifications) are automatically given the basic Plumber grade. They can be upgraded to the Advanced or Technician Plumber grades depending on the skills they are able to demonstrate and their work experience. This also applies to Heating Fitters, Mechanical Pipe Fitters and Gas Fitters. ( Holders of the gold Supervisor card are excluded ).

The award of a grade does not change the colour of a UK-PHMES Registration Card. An operative who has achieved NVQ/SVQ Level 2 may be awarded an Advanced or Technician grade as a result of experience in the industry, but will still carry a Blue Registration Card.

Initial Grading

There is now absolutely no need to apply for Initial Grading. You will be automatically graded as a trained operative when you receive a craft Registration Card.

With a Plumbing Level 2 NVQ or equivalent qualification, you will have the basic grade of Plumber, assuming you fulfil the grading requirements:

Grading requirements for basic Plumber, Heating Fitter, Mechanical Pipe Fitter, Gas Fitter.

  • Must have obtained one of the following:
    • National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) – MES Plumbing Level 2
    • Equivalent City & Guilds of London Institute (CGLI) Craft Certificate
    • Such other qualifications as are acceptable to the Board.
  • Entry by way of a recognised and registered form of training (usually a 4 year term as a JIB registered apprentice) or other accepted method of entry into the Industry.
  • Must have undergone a minimum of 3½ years training experience in the Plumbing Industry
  • Must be able to carry out all such installation and maintenance work to the recognised standard and level of productivity expected from an Operative working under minimum supervision.

Optional Upgrading

If you are employed by a JIB Participant Employer your Graded Status is important as it determines your hourly rates of pay and allowances.

With a Plumbing Level 2 NVQ or equivalent qualification your grade will be the basic grade of Plumber, Heating Fitter, Mechanical Pipe fitter or Gas Fitter. However, you may feel that although you only have a Level 2 NVQ, your experience in the Plumbing Industry should entitle you to a higher Advanced or Technician Grade.

You may apply for a Specific Upgrade at any time, or at the same time as you apply for a registration card. You must be able to meet all the requirements for the new grade: click here for the advanced grade requirements, or the technician grade requirements.

Download the upgrading application form here

Upgrading an Apprentice/Trainee Red card to a Blue or Gold card

An apprentice or trainee who finishes training and becomes qualified is entitled to upgrade to a Blue card ( NVQ Level 2) or a Gold card ( NVQ Level 3 ).

We need a completed application form for the appropriate Blue or Gold card, photocopies of your NVQ certificates, and a new pasasport-sized photograph.

The NVQ certificate will provide exemption from taking the JIB/CSCS Health & Safety test for a period of two years from the date on the certificate, after which the test would have to be taken in order to renew the card.

For employees of a JIB Participant company the new card is free of charge. see fees for upgrading & registration

Fees

Grading is free if your employer is purchasing JIB-PMES Holiday Credits or Holiday Stamps on your behalf. see fees for grading & registration

Advanced Grade requirements

Advanced Plumber, Advanced Mechanical Pipefitter, Gas Service Engineer & Heating Engineer

i) Must have obtained one of the following: qualifications relevant to their specific craft:

  • NVQ-MES Plumbing Level 3
  • NVQ-MES Heating & Ventilating (Installation) Level
  • NVQ-MES Heating & Ventilating (Rectification of Systems) Level 3
  • NVQ-Domestic Natural Gas Installation and Maintenance Level 3
  • NVQ-MES Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Level 3
  • ECITB Welding – Pipework Level 3
  • ECITB Installing Plant and Systems – Pipefitting Level 3
  • ECITB Installing Plant and Systems – Instrument Pipefitting
  • or equivalent City & Guilds of London Institute (CGLI) Craft Certificate
  • or equivalent EMTA Awards Limited (EAL) qualification
  • or such other qualifications as are acceptable to the Board.

ii) After achieving the appropriate NVQ-MES/Level 3 qualification, must have at least two year's experience working as a Plumber, Mechanical Pipe Fitter, Gas Service Fitter or Heating Fitter.

iii) After obtaining the CGLI Advanced Craft Certificate or other such qualifications as are acceptable to the Board must have as a MINIMUM at least two year's experience working as a Plumber, Mechanical Pipe Fitter, Gas Service Fitter or Heating Fitter.

iv) Entry by way of a recognised and registered form of training (usually a 4 year term as a JIB-PMES registered apprentice) or other accepted method of entry into the industry.

v) Must possess particular and productive skills and be able to work without supervision in the most efficient and economical manner and must be able to set out jobs from working drawings and specifications and requisition the necessary installation materials and/or have technical and supervisory knowledge and skill beyond that expected of a Plumber, Mechanical Pipe Fitter, Gas Service Fitter or Heating Fitter.

Technician Grade requirements

Technician Plumber, Mechanical Pipe Technician, Gas Service Technician & Heating Technician

i) Entry by way of a recognised and registered form of training or other accepted method of entry into the Industry.

ii) Must have obtained such academic qualifications or such other qualifications as are acceptable to the Board.

iii) Must have superior technical skill, ability and experience beyond that expected of an Advanced PHMES Operative in the relevant craft and be able to lay out and prepare contract work in accordance with the Building Regulations and Water Bye-laws, take off quantities and measure work, assess labour requirements and control and supervise all manner of plumbing heating and mechanical engineering services or other relevant installations in the most economic and effective way and achieve a high level of productivity.

AND EITHER

iv) Must have had, as a MINIMUM, at least five years experience as an Advanced PHMES Operative with a minimum of three years in a supervisory capacity in charge of plumbing or other relevant installations of such a complexity and size as to require wide technical experience and organisational ability.

OR

v) May not have the Minimum full experience as required in (iv) but is otherwise fully qualified in accordance with (i), (ii) and (iii) and the present Employer wishes to have the operative graded as an Operative Technician, in which event he may be granted this grade by the Board.

GRADING EXCEPTIONS

The JIB-PMES Board and Grading Panel are able to consider exemptions from grading requirements in exceptional cases.

jib-pmes, August 30th, 2011.