Assembling small bore non-ferrous pipework

URN: SEMMME3077
Business Sectors (Suites): Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering Suite 3
Developed by: Enginuity
Approved on: 30 Mar 2023

Overview

This standard identifies the competences you need to assemble small bore non-ferrous pipework, in accordance with approved procedures. In producing assemblies, you will be expected to select and use a range of equipment, hand tools and techniques appropriate to the operations being performed.

The assembly activities will include producing soldered joints, brazed joints and compression joints. The pipe assemblies produced will use a range of fittings which will include straight connectors, elbows, tee pieces, reduction pieces, tank connectors, tap connectors, valves and other fittings, as appropriate to the application.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the pipework assembly activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the equipment, materials or assembly activities that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you produce.

Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying small bore non-ferrous pipework assembly procedures. You will understand the pipework assembly, and its application, and will know about the assembly and soldering/brazing process, pipe components and materials used, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities, correcting faults, and ensuring that the work output is produced to the required specification.

You will understand the safety precautions required when working on the pipework assembly activities and with the associated tools and equipment. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.


Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
  2. follow the relevant instructions, assembly drawings and any other specifications
  3. ensure that the specified fittings are available and that they are in a usable condition
  4. use the appropriate methods and techniques to assemble the fittings in their correct positions
  5. secure the fittings using the specified connectors and securing devices
  6. check the completed assembly to ensure that all operations have been completed and the finished assembly meets the required specification
  7. deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. how to work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
  2. the personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used when assembling pipework
  3. the hazards associated with carrying out the pipework assembly activities and how to minimise them and reduce any risks
  4. how to extract and use information from engineering drawings and related specifications (to include symbols and conventions to appropriate standards) in relation to work undertaken
  5. how to interpret first and third angle drawings, imperial and metric systems of measurement, work reference points and system of tolerancing
  6. the preparation of pipework and fittings for the assembly operation
  7. the range of pipe fittings that can be used, and how to identify them
  8. the different types of fitting available
  9. how to determine the overall length of the pipework required, taking into account allowances for pipe fittings and bends
  10. how to identify the correct orientation of fittings with regard to flow, and the consequences of incorrectly orientating the fitting
  11. the methods used to prepare pipe ends and fittings for soldering or brazing, and why it is necessary to ensure that these preparations are carried out
  12. the various types of soldered connectors available
  13. the methods used to solder the joints, and how to recognise when the fitting is correctly soldered
  14. the precautions to be taken when using gas torches to form the joint, and the effect of overheating the joint
  15. the use of compression fittings; how the pipes are sealed; and the effects of over tightening the fittings
  16. the use of push-fit connectors, and their advantages and disadvantages
  17. methods of supporting pipework, and the types of fitting that are used
  18. the tools and equipment used when assembling small bore pipework
  19. the standards to be attained, and the company quality procedures
  20. the extent of your own responsibility and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve

Scope/range


Scope Performance

  1. Carry out all of the following during the pipe assembly activities:
    1. obtain and use the appropriate documentation
    2. adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment, personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations and procedures to realise a safe system of work
    3. check that all tools and equipment are in a safe and usable condition
    4. follow safe practice/approved pipe fitting and assembly techniques at all times
    5. ensure that the fittings and pipes used are free from foreign objects, dirt or other contamination before assembling them
    6. return all tools and equipment to the correct location on completion of the pipe fitting activities
    7. leave the work area and assembly in a safe and appropriate condition on completion of the activities
  2. Cut pipes and assemble them, using three of the following methods:
    1. compression fittings
    2. snap-on/push fittings
    3. soldered fittings
    4. brazed fittings
    5. other specific method
  3. Produce pipework assemblies which contain six of the following types of fitting:
    1. straight couplings
    2. elbows
    3. tee pieces
    4. reduction pieces
    5. valves
    6. blanking caps
    7. pipe clips/supports
    8. drain/bleeding devices
    9. screwed fittings (such as tank, tap, pump, gauges)
  4. Produce assembled pipe work which contains two of the following features:
    1. angular bends
    2. offsets
    3. bridge sets
  5. Assemble pipework using six of the following:
    1. soft solder
    2. flux
    3. pipe cutters
    4. sealing tapes, seals or compounds
    5. silver solder
    6. hand tools
    7. gas torches
  6. Assemble pipework using all of the following methods and techniques:
    1. securing pipework supports to structures
    2. connecting pipe-to-equipment
    3. fitting pipework supports
    4. using gaskets, seals or jointing compounds
    5. connecting pipe-to-pipe
    6. alignment/levelling equipment
    7. hand tools
    8. torque loading of fasteners
  7. Produce pipework assemblies which comply with one of the following quality and accuracy standards:
    1. BS, ISO or BSEN standards
    2. customer standards and requirements
    3. company standards and procedures
    4. specific system requirements

Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

31 Mar 2028

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Enginuity

Original URN

SEMMME3077

Relevant Occupations

Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Technicians

SOC Code

3113

Keywords

Engineering; manufacturing; mechanical; assemble; pipe; small bore pipe; soldered joints; brazed joints; compression joints; snap on joints