Heat pumps skills gaps survey

Question Title

* 1. How important are the following additional KNOWLEDGE areas for an experienced RACHP technician who would want to work specifically on Heat Pumps? (select all that apply)

	Not needed	Useful	Very Important	Essential
Health and safety, PPE, site risk assessment etc for heat pump equipment	Health and safety, PPE, site risk assessment etc for heat pump equipment Not needed	Health and safety, PPE, site risk assessment etc for heat pump equipment Useful	Health and safety, PPE, site risk assessment etc for heat pump equipment Very Important	Health and safety, PPE, site risk assessment etc for heat pump equipment Essential
Schematics and diagrams understanding	Schematics and diagrams understanding Not needed	Schematics and diagrams understanding Useful	Schematics and diagrams understanding Very Important	Schematics and diagrams understanding Essential
Pipework - site fabrication techniques inc jointwork, pipebending fixing and supports	Pipework - site fabrication techniques inc jointwork, pipebending fixing and supports Not needed	Pipework - site fabrication techniques inc jointwork, pipebending fixing and supports Useful	Pipework - site fabrication techniques inc jointwork, pipebending fixing and supports Very Important	Pipework - site fabrication techniques inc jointwork, pipebending fixing and supports Essential
Sizing and calculations	Sizing and calculations Not needed	Sizing and calculations Useful	Sizing and calculations Very Important	Sizing and calculations Essential
Documentation hand over	Documentation hand over Not needed	Documentation hand over Useful	Documentation hand over Very Important	Documentation hand over Essential
Explaining functioning to system owner	Explaining functioning to system owner Not needed	Explaining functioning to system owner Useful	Explaining functioning to system owner Very Important	Explaining functioning to system owner Essential
Electrical controls and settings	Electrical controls and settings Not needed	Electrical controls and settings Useful	Electrical controls and settings Very Important	Electrical controls and settings Essential
Understanding and skills in different jointing techniques used for heat pumps	Understanding and skills in different jointing techniques used for heat pumps Not needed	Understanding and skills in different jointing techniques used for heat pumps Useful	Understanding and skills in different jointing techniques used for heat pumps Very Important	Understanding and skills in different jointing techniques used for heat pumps Essential
Environmental and efficiency awareness	Environmental and efficiency awareness Not needed	Environmental and efficiency awareness Useful	Environmental and efficiency awareness Very Important	Environmental and efficiency awareness Essential
Function of key components such as compressors, condensers, expansion devices, etc	Function of key components such as compressors, condensers, expansion devices, etc Not needed	Function of key components such as compressors, condensers, expansion devices, etc Useful	Function of key components such as compressors, condensers, expansion devices, etc Very Important	Function of key components such as compressors, condensers, expansion devices, etc Essential
Knowledge of different heat pump types (eg air to water, air to air etc)	Knowledge of different heat pump types (eg air to water, air to air etc) Not needed	Knowledge of different heat pump types (eg air to water, air to air etc) Useful	Knowledge of different heat pump types (eg air to water, air to air etc) Very Important	Knowledge of different heat pump types (eg air to water, air to air etc) Essential
Knowledge of refrigerants used in heat pumps	Knowledge of refrigerants used in heat pumps Not needed	Knowledge of refrigerants used in heat pumps Useful	Knowledge of refrigerants used in heat pumps Very Important	Knowledge of refrigerants used in heat pumps Essential
Knowledge of building legislation and standards	Knowledge of building legislation and standards Not needed	Knowledge of building legislation and standards Useful	Knowledge of building legislation and standards Very Important	Knowledge of building legislation and standards Essential

Question Title

* 2. How important are the following SKILLS areas for an experienced RACHP technician who would want to work specifically on Heat Pumps? (select all that apply)

	Not needed	Useful	Very Important	Essential
Pipework - site fabrication techniques inc jointwork, pipebending fixing and supports	Pipework - site fabrication techniques inc jointwork, pipebending fixing and supports Not needed	Pipework - site fabrication techniques inc jointwork, pipebending fixing and supports Useful	Pipework - site fabrication techniques inc jointwork, pipebending fixing and supports Very Important	Pipework - site fabrication techniques inc jointwork, pipebending fixing and supports Essential
Electrical safety, isolation and connection	Electrical safety, isolation and connection Not needed	Electrical safety, isolation and connection Useful	Electrical safety, isolation and connection Very Important	Electrical safety, isolation and connection Essential
Sizing and calculation of heat pump equipment	Sizing and calculation of heat pump equipment Not needed	Sizing and calculation of heat pump equipment Useful	Sizing and calculation of heat pump equipment Very Important	Sizing and calculation of heat pump equipment Essential
Strength and Tightness testing	Strength and Tightness testing Not needed	Strength and Tightness testing Useful	Strength and Tightness testing Very Important	Strength and Tightness testing Essential
Testing and fault finding	Testing and fault finding Not needed	Testing and fault finding Useful	Testing and fault finding Very Important	Testing and fault finding Essential
Commissioning heat pumps and components	Commissioning heat pumps and components Not needed	Commissioning heat pumps and components Useful	Commissioning heat pumps and components Very Important	Commissioning heat pumps and components Essential
Maintenance and repair of installed heat pumps	Maintenance and repair of installed heat pumps Not needed	Maintenance and repair of installed heat pumps Useful	Maintenance and repair of installed heat pumps Very Important	Maintenance and repair of installed heat pumps Essential
Electrical controls and settings	Electrical controls and settings Not needed	Electrical controls and settings Useful	Electrical controls and settings Very Important	Electrical controls and settings Essential
Selection of components and their operation	Selection of components and their operation Not needed	Selection of components and their operation Useful	Selection of components and their operation Very Important	Selection of components and their operation Essential
Refrigerant leakage rectification and leak testing	Refrigerant leakage rectification and leak testing Not needed	Refrigerant leakage rectification and leak testing Useful	Refrigerant leakage rectification and leak testing Very Important	Refrigerant leakage rectification and leak testing Essential
Skills in different jointing techniques	Skills in different jointing techniques Not needed	Skills in different jointing techniques Useful	Skills in different jointing techniques Very Important	Skills in different jointing techniques Essential
Insulation of pipework	Insulation of pipework Not needed	Insulation of pipework Useful	Insulation of pipework Very Important	Insulation of pipework Essential
Ability to use efficiency calculations to set or reset systems	Ability to use efficiency calculations to set or reset systems Not needed	Ability to use efficiency calculations to set or reset systems Useful	Ability to use efficiency calculations to set or reset systems Very Important	Ability to use efficiency calculations to set or reset systems Essential
Use of Psychometic charts	Use of Psychometic charts Not needed	Use of Psychometic charts Useful	Use of Psychometic charts Very Important	Use of Psychometic charts Essential
Use of pressure enthalpy diagrams	Use of pressure enthalpy diagrams Not needed	Use of pressure enthalpy diagrams Useful	Use of pressure enthalpy diagrams Very Important	Use of pressure enthalpy diagrams Essential
Calculating cooling capacity	Calculating cooling capacity Not needed	Calculating cooling capacity Useful	Calculating cooling capacity Very Important	Calculating cooling capacity Essential
Able to carry out brazing effectively	Able to carry out brazing effectively Not needed	Able to carry out brazing effectively Useful	Able to carry out brazing effectively Very Important	Able to carry out brazing effectively Essential

Question Title

* 3. How should training be offered for existing RAC technicians who work on heat pump installation, service and maintenance areas?

	Not needed	Online learning	Classroom training
Knowledge of heat pump system operation	Knowledge of heat pump system operation Not needed	Knowledge of heat pump system operation Online learning	Knowledge of heat pump system operation Classroom training	Knowledge of heat pump system operation
Calculating sizing and efficiency of heat pumps etc	Calculating sizing and efficiency of heat pumps etc Not needed	Calculating sizing and efficiency of heat pumps etc Online learning	Calculating sizing and efficiency of heat pumps etc Classroom training	Calculating sizing and efficiency of heat pumps etc
Carrying out installation, commissioning and fault finding of heat pumps	Carrying out installation, commissioning and fault finding of heat pumps Not needed	Carrying out installation, commissioning and fault finding of heat pumps Online learning	Carrying out installation, commissioning and fault finding of heat pumps Classroom training	Carrying out installation, commissioning and fault finding of heat pumps
Understanding of water side of heat pump systems	Understanding of water side of heat pump systems Not needed	Understanding of water side of heat pump systems Online learning	Understanding of water side of heat pump systems Classroom training	Understanding of water side of heat pump systems

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* 4. Are there any additional skills related to heat pump sizing, installation, commissioning , service and maintenance have not been covered above?

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* 5. Which areas do you currently work in

Heat Pump installation

Heat Pump specification

Heat Pump service and maintenance

Refrigeration and air conditioning as well as heat pumps

I dont currently work with heat pumps

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Please add your email if you would be available for us to contact you about heat pump skills in the future