Award in LPG Installations for Certified Installers and Fitters

Applications are open for the November course. Please note that there are few places left and bookings will be honored on a first-paid first-served basis. 

Details and Schedule: 

This course will certify tradesperson to install LPG systems to the required standards stipulated by the Malta Resource Authority regulations. This course is intended to fill a gap that was not really considered for many years. The aim is to have a workforce that can install and test LPG systems, ready for inspection by certified engineers.

This is a 51 hrs of guided learning course.  Students need to invest further hours in the course, which will include private study and home assignments. Lessons are held as indicated on the prospectus and website.

Learners will be guided to review and evaluate standards and legislation to meet different LPG systems installation scenarios. Knowledge and practical skills are assessed in the class room environment as well as at LPG sites. During the course, legislation is reviewed thoroughly and candidates are expected to follow and learn how to communicate LPG installation procedures with LPG system engineers.

Learning Outcome 1:  Define basic composition and properties of common gases

Unit Content

Composition and properties of common gases; characteristics of gases: Chemical Formulae, Boiling Point, Specific Gravity, Calorific Value (CV) Gross and Net, Flammability Limits, Air/ Gas Ratio, Oxygen/ Gas Ratio, Flame Speed, Ignition Temperature, System Operating PressureDefine basic terms of gases:

Learning Outcome 2:  Assess LPG system requirements and performance parameters

Unit Content

Ventilation requirements for Natural Gas and LPG Systems; Gas Flame: Post-aerated flame, Pre-aerated flame, Flame Lift and Lighting Back, Retention Flames, Flame Chilling; Atmospheric Burners: injector, primary air port, mixing tube and burner; Pre-mix Burners: Forced Draught Burner, Induced Draught Burner, Tunnel Burners; Gas Pressure and Flow: Gas Flow in Pipes, Factors affecting Pressure Absorption; Gas Pressure readings: Maximum Incidental Pressure (MIP), Maximum Operating Pressure (MOP), Operating Pressure (Working Pressure), Maximum Pressure Absorption Across the Installation (Pressure Loss/ Drop), Pressure Absorption Across the Natural Gas Meter, Appliance Operating Pressure (Burner Pressure), Standing Pressure; Estimating Pipe Sizing: Domestic, Commercial, Considering pressure drop; Measurement of Gas: Displacement meters; Positive displacement meters; Rotary displacement meters; inferential meters, turbine meters, Orifice meter, Ultrasonic Gas Meter; Gas Control Valves: Plug Cock or tap, Ball Valves, Butterfly Valves, Safety Interlock, Disk Valve, Gate Valve, Diaphragm Valve, Needle Valve, cooker safety cut-off valve, plug-in Quick release Valve, appliance Plug Tap, Solenoid Valve; Safety Shut-off Valve: Electro-hydraulic, Electro-mechanical; Heat Operated Gas Control Valves: Thermal Cut-off, Heat Motor, Pressure Stat, Thermistor Thermostat; Pressure Operated Controls Valves: non-return valve, Gas Relay Valve; low and high Pressure Cut-off Devices: Low Pressure Cut-off Device, Under Pressure Shut-off Valve (UPSO), High Pressure or Overpressure Shut-off Valve (OPSO); Pressure Regulators: Constant Pressure Regulator, Compensated Pressure regulators; High-to-low Pressure Regulator; Flame Supervision devices: Bi-metalic Strip FSD, Liquid Expansion FSD, Thermo-electric FSD, Flame Rectification FSD, Photo-electric FSD; Thermostatic Control: Rod-type Bi-metallic Thermostat, Liquid Expansion Thermostat; Ignition Devices: Piezo-electric Ignition, mains Ignition Transformer, Electronic Pulse Ignition; Vitiation Sensing Devices: Oxygen Depletion System (ODS), Atmospheric Sensing Devices (ASD); Pressure and Flow Proving Devices: Pressure Switch, Flow Switch, Transducer

Learning Outcome 3:  Identify and describe LPG Storage systems

Unit Content

Primary Storage, and secondary storage(gas tanks) installations; Multiple cylinder installations with automatic change over system; Customer bulk Storage for LPG: Above ground tank, Underground Tank, Mounded Tank;

Learning Outcome 4:  Evaluate LPG regulations and procedures

Unit Content

MRA COP; outdoor installations: manifolds, regulators, pipe work, accessories, basic pipe sizing, pipe installation, leak & pressure testing, system certification; indoors installations; Commissioning Gas Installations; Gas Installer Responsibility; Gas industry Unsafe Situations; Responsibilities of the Gas User (Responsible Person for the Premises); Responsibilities of the Gas Operative (not on site); Responsibilities of the Gas Operative (on site)

Learning Outcome 5:  Demonstrate proficiency in the installation of LPG systems

Unit Content

Polyethylene Pipe Joining: Fusion welded joints, Electro-fusion welded joint, Compression joint; Copper pipe jointing: Capillary joints, Compression joints, Press fitting joints; mild Steel Pipe jointing; Semi-rigid and Flexible Pipe Connections: Flexible Stainless Steel, Flexible Hoses, Appliance hoses, LPG supply hoses; Gas service Pipework: Protection of service pipework Below Ground, Protection of service pipework above ground, service Pipework Insulation, Equipotential Bonding at the meter, Emergency Control Valve; Connection to High Rise Buildings; Gas Meter Installations: Meter Location, Meter Boxes, multi-occupancy Buildings, removal of the Gas Meter, Meter By-pass; Commercial Gas Installations: reading and producing line diagrams, Identification and marking of pipework, Purge point, Secondary and check meters; internal installation pipework: Pipework laid in floors, Pipework laid in walls; pipe work support and allowance for movement; LPG supply pressure reduction, LPG Supply to block of flats; LPG Cylinder Installation Location of Cylinders, Care with Empty Cylinders, Transportation of Cylinders; LPG Bulk Tank Installation: Storage Vessel Sitting, Firewall Protection, Warning Notices, Storage Vessel Fittings; Gas Supplies from a Bulk Tank Installation: Additional Storage Vessel Fittings; Pipe sizing LPG Installations

Tightness Testing and Purging: Pressure testing Apparatus: Pneumatic testing, Hydraulic testing; Pressure Detecting Devices: Manometer, High Specific Gravity Test, Bourdon gauge;  Metering Devices: Volumetric Devices, Flow metering; Gas Sampling Equipment and Detectors; Electronic Equipment and Calibration Certificates; Tightness Testing with Air (Domestic) Procedure; Tightness testing and Purging with LPG (Domestic); Strength testing for Commercial Pipework; Direct Purging Commercial Pipework; Indirect Purging Using Nitrogen;

The following Pre-Requisites will be considered as an asset to a smooth learning process

• Hands on experience under the supervision of a qualified technician;
• Possession of Functional, Analytical and Communication skills
• Level 3 Tradesperson Certificate in a related area — as supported through a Reference Letter from a certified Engineer.

Course participants may be awarded either an MCAST Certificate of Attendance or an MCAST Certificate of Achievement.

MCAST Certificate of Attendance

• • An MCAST Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to those candidates who attend at least 80% of the lessons.

MCAST Certificate of Achievement

• • An MCAST Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to those candidates who satisfy the 80% attendance criteria AND ALSO choose to sit and pass the course assessment/s.

• • Students who opt not to sit for the assessment/s or fail (the assessment/s) will however be awarded an MCAST Certificate of Attendance provided that they fulfill the minimum attendance criteria as stated above.

If the student intends to obtain a Certificate of Achievement, she/he is required to sit for an assessment/s.  Assessment/s may take various forms such as a home assignment, class assignment, practical test and time constrained test.  However, the assessment/s is not compulsory and an applicant may choose not to sit for it.

There are no extra costs to pay or special materials / equipment to bring.