Water supply and wastewater disposal are complex technological processes that require constant qualified technical support. Communal services provide comfortable living for millions of citizens by organizing communications services in apartment buildings (MKD). At every stage, from water intake to sewerage, specially trained people - plumbers - work. Residents rarely experience inconvenience due to accidents if the management company employs responsible repairmen of water supply and heating networks. The article will talk about the professional training of plumbers and the competent organization of work in the pipeline maintenance area in the housing and communal services sector.
Qualification requirements and professional standards
The prestige of the plumber profession is gaining momentum. The desire of apartment owners to protect themselves from leaks motivates them to do plumbing repairs. Management companies (MCs) are interested in highly qualified specialists in the installation and maintenance of heating, water supply and sewerage systems. Competition in the struggle for the market for the provision of public utility services stimulates improvements in the quality of work, and this is impossible without appropriately qualified personnel.
Available forms of training. Secondary vocational education institutions offer the following professions:
- master in housing and communal services system
- repair and maintenance of engineering systems in housing
- installation and operation of internal plumbing devices, ventilation and air conditioning
The period of study ranges from 1 year - if you have completed secondary education, to 4 years - when entering study after 9th grade. Training centers offer vocational education as a plumber for a fee. The program is designed for 256 hours. You can take part in the course on your own or at the direction of your employer. You won’t have to pay if you learn a profession from the Employment Center.
Upon successful completion of the course, the graduate receives a worker's diploma of 2 or 3 categories. A former student can easily find work at an industrial enterprise, as part of a team of plumbers servicing pipelines, or in an institution, as an on-duty plumber with the task of inspecting and carrying out minor repairs. You can work, but the prospect of career growth is unlikely.
Working as a plumber in housing and communal services is another matter. You can gain experience as a worker in a management company or a municipal enterprise, including as a mechanic for emergency repair work. The initial level of qualifications involves the assignment of the least responsible work, and, therefore, not the highest salary. If you have the ability and the desire to develop, you can achieve professionalism in the public service.
Competencies in accordance with the professional standard
The professional standard “Fitter of house sanitary systems and equipment” was approved by order of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation dated December 21, 2015 No. 1076n. He describes:
- characteristics and examples of plumbing work
- functional responsibilities
- list of required knowledge and skills
- requirements for basic and additional education
In addition to the document regulating the work of mechanics of house plumbing systems, housing and communal services use the professional standard “Fitter for emergency repair work on water supply and sewerage networks,” approved by order of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection No. 397n, in which the position of a plumber is also classified as a basic group.
Prom-Nadzor.ru
An engineer operating equipment for gas facilities must know: - the Constitution of the Russian Federation; - laws and other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation on the work performed; - technical characteristics, rules for servicing and maintaining the normal technological operating mode of gas facilities, equipment and apparatus; - technical characteristics and the design of the instrumentation used, automation and telemechanics; - physical and chemical properties of gases and rules for working in a gas hazardous environment; - research methods, rules and conditions for performing work; - preparation technology and rules for performing special work at the facility; - operational procedure equipment testing; - equipment, methods and diagnostic tools; - modern computer technology, communications and communications; - basic labor legislation; - environmental protection rules
Advanced training and additional training
By working in a department that performs sanitary work, graduates of vocational schools and colleges acquire additional skills. For a plumber to be entrusted with highly paid functions, this is not enough. You can improve your grade by passing the theoretical and practical tests at the enterprise commission. But only if it has a license to teach this profession. If this is not possible, you will have to contact a special training center.
Highly qualified installation and repair operations on life support systems are associated with the maintenance of high-risk industrial facilities. For example, heating boilers, including those running on gas. To work fully, a plumber will have to obtain the appropriate permit to work on power plants.
A mechanic's certificate for repairing boiler room equipment is issued after completing training in a specialized educational organization, followed by annual certification. You may also need:
- a document indicating the presence of the required electrical safety group
- permission to work with lifting mechanisms
Training and certification in occupational health and fire safety is mandatory for all plumbers.
III. Rights
A housing and communal services plumber has the right:
1. Request and receive the necessary information, as well as materials and documents related to issues of their activities.
2. Improve your qualifications, undergo retraining (retraining)
3. Take part in the discussion of issues included in his functional responsibilities.
4. Make suggestions and comments on how to improve activities in the assigned area of work.
5. Require the management of the organization to provide assistance, including ensuring organizational and technical conditions and execution of the established documents necessary for the performance of official duties.
6. Make independent decisions, guided by qualification requirements and job responsibilities
7. ___________________________________________________________
The procedure for forming the staff of the plumbing department in housing and communal services
Engineers for organizing and regulating labor in housing and communal services calculate personnel needs, guided by Gosstroy documents:
- Resolution dated 27.09. 2003 No. 170 “On approval of the Rules and Standards for the technical operation of the housing stock”
- Order No. 139 of December 09, 1999 “On approval of recommendations for standardization of labor for workers involved in the maintenance and repair of housing stock”
Based on these documents, the Institute of Labor under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has developed standard standards for the service and number of plumbers in a residential building
Table. Example of application of standard standards
The table shows some of the labor intensity indicators. The normalized labor intensity is multiplied by the number of units serviced and summed up for all types of devices. The resulting indicator – Tsan, per person/hour is divided by the annual working time of one person – Fg, per hour. For example, the conditional number of man-hours on an annual basis for all types of work in an apartment building is 1950 hours.
1950 hours / (248 days a year * 8 hour shift) = 1950 / 1984 = 1 person.
Number of workers – 1 person. The category is established depending on the job function, using the professional standard of a plumbing fixture repairman.
Prom-Nadzor.ru
N 652n; Model industry standards for the free issuance of special clothing, special footwear and other personal protective equipment to workers in the mining and metallurgical industries and metallurgical production of other industries, approved. Resolution of the Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation of December 8, 1997
N 61; Model standards for the free issuance of certified special high-visibility signaling clothing to workers in all sectors of the economy, approved. By order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation of April 20, 2006.
A person with a higher professional (technical) education is appointed to the position of ventilation engineer, without presenting
The main tasks of a housing and communal services plumber
In current activities, the job responsibilities of a specialist in the maintenance and repair of heating, water supply and sewerage systems include:
- Periodic inspection of plumbing fixtures and equipment to monitor serviceability. During the inspection, problems are identified that are eliminated on our own or with the involvement of additional employees.
- Implementation of the preventive repair plan (PPR) for water pipelines. Gaskets are replaced, drains are sealed, blockages are cleared, mixers, drain tanks and other equipment are adjusted
- Maintenance of heating and hot water supply systems. Possible types of work: replacing radiators, cleaning air collectors, valves, shut-off valves, insulation repair, securing devices and pipes
- Participation in preparation for the heating season. System audit
The plumber records the inspection results, corrected problems, and preventive maintenance measures in a special journal. Mechanics of the 4th category must be able to understand drawings, other technical documentation, and conduct hydraulic tests.
Job responsibilities
A plumber performs the following functions:
2.1. ensures the good condition, trouble-free and reliable operation of the serviced central heating, water supply, sewerage and drainage systems, their correct operation, timely high-quality repairs;
2.2. studies the operating conditions of these systems, identifies the causes of premature wear, takes measures to prevent and eliminate them;
2.3. takes part in troubleshooting systems, their repair, installation, adjustment and testing;
2.4. takes part in the development of measures to improve the reliability and quality of operation of maintained central heating, water supply, sewerage and drainage systems;
2.5. participates in drawing up requests for materials, spare parts, tools and ensures their storage, economical and rational use;
2.6. in emergency cases (acute unforeseen situations), the cooperative employee is obliged to carry out urgent orders of the chairman of the board.
Responsibility for dishonest performance of duties
The plumbing equipment repairman is responsible in cases of an emergency through his fault. An emergency situation may arise:
- due to late inspection
- from no action to troubleshooting
- due to failure to report the problem to the manager
- due to a faulty tool or its loss
- in case of non-use of protective equipment during work
- in connection with a disciplinary offense
Types of responsibility are prescribed in the employment contract and job description
General provisions
The section includes job description items:
- The holder of this position will directly report to the head of the management organization, his deputy and the chief engineer;
- appointment to a position and removal from it occurs by order of the boss;
- a plumber must be guided by the current regulatory framework and documents regulating the activities of the enterprise;
- comply with regulations governing work safety;
- workplace - an assigned area and a metalworking workshop.
The submitted instructions are agreed upon, signed and kept by the head of the management organization.
How to write a job description for a plumber in housing and communal services
In order to eliminate or reduce the risk of disruptions to shift assignments and improper performance of labor functions, it is necessary to familiarize each worker with production duties, against signature.
The development of the plumber's instructions is carried out by the immediate supervisor. In this case: foreman, site manager or foreman. Methodological assistance is provided by HR specialists. We must understand that the tasks of workers with different categories will be different. If everyone does the same work, then there will be a single rank and list of responsibilities for everyone. The structure of the document is in accordance with standard production instructions. But the text should be as close as possible to the actual work. It is necessary to clearly state:
- labor function using the standard
- serviced equipment and facility addresses
- tools and devices that are used in the process and must be retained by the employee
- financial liability
- frequency of equipment inspections
- procedure for filling out work logs
- deadlines for completing requests and arrival times when called
- liability for failure to pass certification
- wearing special clothing, PPE and undergoing medical examinations
The fact that some clauses duplicate the employment contract and labor safety instructions is not a violation, but will be a good reminder to the employee. In addition, rights and responsibilities will be listed under responsibilities. Mandatory within the framework of current legislation.
We must remember that plumbing is present in houses for the comfort of residents. High-quality maintenance of equipment can be performed by workers with a high level of qualifications, developed technical thinking and golden hands. Finding and organizing specialists is the task of housing and communal services managers.
How to call a plumber to your home
The housing and communal services management company services apartment buildings in accordance with the approved regulations. Workers of the housing maintenance department (HOE) carry out inspections with established regularity and take preventive measures. What to do if the owner or tenant of the premises has an urgent need to solve a problem with plumbing equipment. We will tell you and teach you how to call a plumber from housing and communal services and what to expect.
What plumbing services are paid for with a receipt?
In the line in the housing and communal services receipt “Maintenance of housing stock,” a payment is calculated, which depends on the area of the premises. It’s worth considering how much work this option involves, in particular for maintaining the water supply, sewerage and heating systems.
Residents often believe that in case of any leak, it is easier to contact a private company. The master will come, do his job and get paid. Meanwhile, there is a list of repairs that housing department plumbers will carry out free of charge. And it’s not their fault that people don’t know this and apply for a paid service.
The list of free services is specified in the contract with the company that manages the residential building. You can get acquainted with it at the office of the management company or at your place of residence, at the board of the HOA. Although, where the board actually works, the list of free services is communicated to all members at the general meeting and posted on the information stand. The housing department plumber will eliminate problems in an apartment of any form of ownership that arise:
- on the heating riser, within the limits before the start of wiring
- on hot and cold water risers up to the first shut-off valve
- on the drainage system (riser, pipes, plugs, tees) to the point of connection of the apartment drainage pipe
- with water metering devices installed on a section of pipe belonging to the common property of the house
In simple words, common house plumbing installations running through the apartment are repaired under the heading “Maintenance of the housing stock.” For other services of a plumber in housing and communal services or management companies, there is a price list approved in the prescribed manner. The company must ensure that residents are aware of the prices.
Homeowners' associations (HOA) have the right to independently hire a specialist to service the plumbing equipment of the house, and pay him a salary from the funds paid by residents for utilities. This is convenient if the partnership has one house. A sample employment contract with a HOA plumber can be viewed on the website. The job description specifies services for which no fee is charged.
How to call a plumber for the management company
The category of mandatory services of housing and communal services includes work prescribed in Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 491 of August 13, 2006 and the Housing Code of the Russian Federation.
The management company is obliged to take measures to prevent emergency situations. To do this, they create a 24-hour dispatch service or enter into an agreement for this with a third-party organization. Information on how to call a plumber is placed in a visible place. It’s right when every resident has an emergency recovery service number. Serious management companies print the dispatcher's phone number on the receipt.
If in an emergency situation the call and voice message were not answered, and the call was not returned within 5-10 minutes, you should complain to the State Housing Inspectorate. The party affected by the accident has a real chance of receiving compensation for material losses at the expense of the person at fault. All cases where the dispatcher’s phone did not answer should be reported to his management.
Troubleshooting deadlines
Resolution of the State Construction Committee dated September 27. 2003 No. 170 “On approval of the Rules and Standards for the Technical Operation of the Housing Stock” established deadlines for completing applications from residents:
- faucet leaks, toilet leaks, other minor faults - during 1 shift
- leaks in ceilings between floors – no more than 3 days
- if there is a risk of an emergency, report immediately
The emergency dispatcher is given 30 minutes to clarify the circumstances. After this time, the applicant must receive information about the time the accident will be eliminated.
Circumstances when a locksmith from a management company is more reliable
The question often arises: if a housing maintenance repairman has to pay for plumbing work on indoor equipment, why not call a private contractor. You will have to invite a private plumbing specialist if:
- dispatch service is not responding
- the call is made, but the repairman is in no hurry
- it is known that the professional qualities of a particular management company employee are not up to par
- the blockage or breakdown happened on holidays or weekends, but you don’t want to wait
In other cases, the advantage is on the side of a specialist from the management company or a locksmith hired by the HOA. He has access to the pipe overlap area. If there is a leak in the common part of the pipe, it will be repaired free of charge. The housing and communal services plumber will leave documents confirming the repair, and this is equivalent to a guarantee. In addition, if the repairs were done poorly and water got to the neighbors, the company will be responsible.
Payment methods for fixing plumbing breakdowns
There are 2 ways to pay for the services of a housing department employee.
- Pay in cash. The customer comes to the office and pays through the cash register. A check is issued in hand
- Cashless payments. The receipt can be paid at a bank or post office. It is possible to make a payment through mobile banking. In any case, the check remains in hand
You should not accept the repairman’s offer to pay past the cash register. The money will go away, but there will be no document left about the repairs performed.
Management company guarantees for services provided
Repairs made to plumbing and heating equipment should be confirmed by an act, protocol or receipt. If the work is paid for through a cash register or a receipt, then the act will be an accounting document. Consequently, the management company will send a specialist with a form to the task. The apartment owner’s task is to accept the result, sign the document, date it and receive his copy in his hands. In case of a defect, the document will confirm that the company’s plumber came to the call.
Where to complain about housing and communal services mechanics
It happens that the customer of services has claims against the contractor. For example, a plumber from housing and communal services:
- didn't come on time
- made poor quality repairs
- supplied used spare parts
- was rude to the owners, demanded payment in cash, without a cash register
It is worth writing a written complaint to the Criminal Code. If there are still victims of the negligent employee in the HOA, file a collective claim. In the appeal, indicate methods for transmitting information about the measures taken.
Skills and knowledge of a plumber
In order to perform the assigned job functions, a plumber must meet a number of requirements. The most common ones are skills and knowledge in:
- the basic principles of operation of heating pipelines, water supply and drainage and methods for eliminating deficiencies;
- purpose and types of main components and fastening elements, pipeline connections;
- options for carrying out work on making holes in walls for laying pipes;
- rules governing the safety of working and transporting acetylene and oxygen cylinders;
- general purpose of tools and work with them;
- basics of first aid;
- compliance with safety during the performance of assigned official functions;
- execution of the established schedule and accepted routine of the organization.
