Sanitary construction qualifications are a type of competence possessed by people involved in designing and managing construction work. Are they always needed? What are the benefits of having them and how to obtain them?
Check out the installation technique at the Onninen wholesaler
What construction and sanitary qualifications can you obtain?
Performing specific construction works requires having the appropriate qualifications. In Poland, the following types of qualifications are distinguished:
- construction and building (limited, e.g. to the implementation of works in facilities of a certain size, and unlimited);
- engineering (road, bridge, railway, hydrotechnical, demolition);
- installation — electrical or sanitary qualifications.
Depending on the scope of authorizations, one can obtain construction design authorizations, allowing one to develop construction projects. A person with executive authorizations can manage construction works. The law allows for the possibility of combining both options, then the person can prepare projects and supervise their execution.
Water, sewage and gas networks may be modernized and constructed only by persons with appropriate qualifications who have passed an examination and been entered on the PIIB list.
What opportunities do sanitary construction licenses provide?
Sanitary construction qualifications are necessary to carry out projects and supervise:
- work related to water and sewage networks, installations and devices;
- tasks including work on heating, ventilation and air-conditioning networks, installations and devices;
- work within gas networks.
The scope of authorizations may be full or limited. If it is narrowed, appropriate certificates define the scope of tasks, e.g. limitation in relation to the size of buildings or the power of devices.
In the case of heating , the need for PIIB qualifications depends on the scope of work. Installers should have appropriate professional qualifications, including appropriate SEP qualifications. However, preparing the installation project and supervising and managing construction works are works requiring PIIB qualifications.
What requirements must be met to obtain sanitary construction permits?
Sanitary construction qualifications are granted in accordance with the provisions of applicable law. In addition to the Building Law, these issues are specified by a number of detailed regulations. Examinations confirming qualifications are conducted by the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers.
The exam is open to people with higher education related to construction or environmental engineering. The degree of completed studies allows for obtaining full authorization (without restrictions - for graduates who have obtained a master's degree) and with restrictions (for people who have obtained the title of engineer).
The second criterion that determines the possibility of obtaining sanitary construction qualifications is professional experience. People applying for them are required to complete a professional internship, and its scope and duration depends on the type of qualification. In terms of scope, the internship includes internship related to the development of projects, on-site internship covering the implementation of works, and in the case of combined qualifications - both of the above-mentioned scopes.
People applying for unlimited restrictions must complete a total of 2.5 years of internships, whereby the duration of the internship related to design cannot be shorter than one year, and the internship on the construction site cannot be shorter than 1.5 years. If the authorizations are issued in a limited scope, then the required internship is shorter and must be at least one year (design and internship). It should be noted that the certificate of completion of the internship and its duration must be confirmed by a person with construction qualifications. Additionally, such a person must be entered on the list of PIIB members.
After meeting the formal requirements, the person applying for the qualifications may take the exam. It is organized by PIIB and consists of two parts - written and oral. The written part is a knowledge test. In addition to knowledge of construction law, there are also questions related to applicable technical standards and specialist knowledge, including installation and sanitary technology . During the oral part, the candidate's practical knowledge related to designing and implementing projects is tested.
Passing the exam is the first step to starting independent work. Each person completing the training and obtaining the qualifications must be registered with the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers, which involves paying a membership fee. In addition, before starting work, the person who has obtained the qualifications must purchase OC (civil liability) insurance, dedicated to people who perform work in construction independently.
Check out the installation technique at the Onninen wholesaler