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Published:
17 June 2014
Category:
News
The BCIA and NET have together launched a new professional assessment for apprentices and ‘practising operatives’ involved in all aspects of building controls and Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS). By James Hunt:
The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has, with National Electrotechnical Training (NET), launched the Building Controls Professional Assessment (BCPA). This is an assessment, say the two organisations, of occupational competence for apprentices and practicing operatives within the controls industry.
NET, which is represented at Board Level by representatives from the ECA, SELECT and UNITE the Union, and which is the independent industry charity that oversees the AM2 assessment of competence for electricians, has played a crucial role in developing the BCPA.
An assessment of knowledge and competence in the installation, commissioning and testing of building controls and Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS), the BCPA has been developed as a compulsory part of the BEMS NVQ Diploma. The BCPA is also an end-of-course assessment of occupational competence, taking in all aspects of the Diploma.
Having completed the BEMS NVQ, apprentices will then take an Assessment of Occupational Competence (AOC). This will ensure that each student is assessed on the most important aspects of their future work.
This new assessment, which is a combination of practical assessment and multiple- choice examination, comprises 18 mandatory units that will provide new students with suitable knowledge to undertake building controls installations, including an understanding of relevant legislation, procedures and technical principles.
Designed by the BCIA membership and NET on behalf of the building controls industry to form the Assessment of Occupational Competence for the BEMS NVQ Level 3 Diploma, the BCPA is also available for practising operatives in the controls sector. A number of companies are looking to the BCPA as a method to assess the current knowledge of their engineers to identify areas for training and development.
Note that the BCPA will also be a compulsory assessment for those who are taking the Diploma via the Approved Prior Learning route.
Commented BCIA President Steve Harrison: “The BCPA is an excellent example of BCIA member companies working together to improve the industry. By working together we are raising standards.” One of these member companies is Voltimum manufacturing partner Siemens.
Said NET CEO Iain Macdonald: “NET will act as the guardian of the BCPA and will oversee all assessment centres, which it will licence. Our aim is to help the BCIA ensure a robust and high-quality measure of professional competence in the controls industry.”
Another BCIA joint initiative
In a second team-up, the BCIA is joining forces with B&ES to provide a joint event that will focus on ensuring that building engineering services operate as effectively and efficiently as possible during the lifetime of a building.
The aim of this conference, which will cover the design, procurement, installation, commissioning and control of intelligent building services, is to help building owners and managers understand where efficiencies can be made in both new and existing buildings.
During the design and construction phases of commercial buildings, much emphasis is placed on the capital costs. However, lifetime costs which include energy use, maintenance and refurbishment, are far greater – around 80% compared to only 10% – and are often overlooked. These are important subjects that the new conference will tackle.
Terry Sharp (pictured), Chair of the BCIA Marketing Working Group, is leading the coordinated approach. He said: “Building services typically account for 80% of energy used in non-domestic buildings and that equipment should be correctly controlled for optimum performance.
“By working with the service and facilities specialists within B&ES we aim to put intelligent building services, with energy efficient controls at the top of the energy-saving agenda, where they rightly belong,” concluded Sharp.
However, at the time of going to press, we could not establish the date of this new conference, nor whether it is likely to include the fast-growing and important topic of Building Information Modelling (BIM) as a subject, but it seems likely – please use the link below to obtain more information from the BCIA, NET and BIM.