Building Services Engineering Technician

Also known as:

Engineering Technician, Building Services
Environmental Engineering Technician

Introduction

Building services engineering technicians help with the design, installation and maintenance of services in buildings. Services include lighting, heating, water supply, sound and security systems.

Back to Top

Work Activities

Building services engineering technicians help building services engineers with the design, installation and maintenance of services in buildings.

These services include:

• heating, lighting and power
• lifts
• ventilation and air conditioning
• refrigeration
• acoustics
• plumbing and water supplies
• phones and IT networks
• security and alarm systems
• fire control.

Building services engineering technicians survey existing buildings to find out their condition and to help recommend the services needed.

They use draughting and computer-aided design (CAD) skills to design layouts such as for replacing service pipes in an office block, or making minor changes to an existing heating system. (Note that chartered building services engineers usually work on the large-scale or complex designs.)

Building services engineering technicians may also estimate costs, check deliveries of materials on-site, examine installation work and write progress reports for building services engineers.

Building services engineering technicians may need to work outdoors in all weather conditions.

Back to Top

Personal Qualities and Skills

As a building services engineering technician you must be skilled at technical drawing, have a good understanding of maths and physics and enjoy solving technical problems.

You need good communication skills and you must be able to work as part of a team.

You should be physically fit as you will spend a lot of time on your feet and may need to climb ladders.

Back to Top

Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Building services engineering technicians earn in the range of £16,500 - £23,000 a year, rising to £25,000 - £29,000. Higher earners can make around £34,000 a year.

Technicians work a basic 40-hour week. However, you may need to work at weekends and do call-outs out of normal working hours.

Employers throughout the UK include consulting engineers who design systems, and large building services contractors who carry out design, installation, repair and maintenance work.

You may also work for central and local government departments, small building firms and building suppliers.

Back to Top

Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Colleges will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements. You should check the admissions policy of individual colleges.

Modern Apprenticeships may be available.

• 6% of building services engineering technicians work part-time.
• 31% have flexible hours.

Back to Top

New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as renewable energy, waste management, conservation or countryside management.