Master of Heating Technology Planning (HFP)  (Region Basel):
1 Provider

The following requirements must be met for the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE):

• Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (Federal VET Diploma) as a building technology planner for heating and at least 4 years of professional experience
• or Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (Federal VET Diploma) as a building services engineer for plumbing, ventilation or refrigeration systems and at least 5 years of professional experience
• or Federal Diploma of Higher Education as head fitter for heating, sanitary planner or master plumber and at least 3 years of professional experience
• or federal diploma as a heating engineer and at least 2 years of professional experience

In addition to the above requirements:

• Required module qualifications or certificates of equivalence

To be on the safe side, check with the educational institute of your choice.

Training to become a master heating engineering planner takes between two and 3.5 years, depending on the provider. It takes place on a part-time basis. In the shorter version, there are training blocks that take a total of 23 weeks. Enquire directly with the training provider of your choice about the exact duration.

Industrial heat technology refers to heat that is a by-product of industrial processes and is currently released into the environment unused, but could be of benefit to industry and society in the future. Here, too, there is potential for the energy transition.

Heat technology planners often work very independently, for example when developing concepts. During implementation, however, collaboration with other specialists, e.g. with clients or architects, is central. Their work takes place both in the office and on the construction site. They often take on managerial roles in planning and engineering offices as well as in companies in the building technology sector. It is also possible to run your own company. The job market situation is generally very favorable due to the promotion of sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. The rapid technological and, in some cases, legal developments require continuing education, further training.

With surface heating systems, heat is emitted via floors, ceilings or walls. Heating pipes or other hollow profiles are laid in these, through which water flows as a heating medium. The warm water heats the surfaces, which transfer the heat to the room as radiant heat. The heat emission also influences the room climate.

Heat generation is the process by which thermal energy is obtained from natural or artificial sources and used for heating purposes. Various methods are used, such as solar thermal energy, geothermal energy or the combustion of fossil fuels.

Heat engineering is the branch of engineering, or more precisely energy engineering, that deals with heat (thermal energy) in technical applications. The main topics are the generation, storage and transfer of heat on a technical scale. The greatest advantage of heat technology is the reduction of CO² or CO² neutrality (when using photovoltaics).

The term building technology covers all permanently installed technical equipment inside and outside buildings that

• serve the material supply (e.g. gas and water),
• energy supply (e.g. electricity and heat),
• the provision of data and communication connections and
• for the disposal of wastewater and waste.

Building services engineering thus ensures the operation and general use of buildings. Heating technology is therefore part of energy technology within building services engineering.

Infrared heaters are efficient heating systems that emit even heat and quickly reach the desired temperature. This keeps electricity consumption and costs comparatively low. In view of the high electricity prices, it makes sense to rely on efficient infrared heating systems.

There are the following requirements for working in an engineering office for heating technology:

• knowledge of structural engineering
• Technical understanding
• networked thinking and acting
• Systematic way of working
• Precise working method
• Negotiating skills
• Good general education

In order to distribute the heat generated by a heating system throughout the building, an efficient distribution system must be installed. In order for the heat generated by the heating system to heat the living spaces, some kind of transport system is required. The most important transport media for heat are water and air. The heat distribution system has a significant influence on the level of heating costs. Efficient heat distribution is therefore more cost-effective.

A heating technology planner carries out the following activities:

• advises customers on thermal engineering systems and explains complex issues to them in an understandable way
• ensure that the planning complies with the state of the art, legal regulations, industry-specific norms and standards and customer requirements
• promote environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solutions and the use of renewable energies in planning
• create planning concepts and technical calculations and draw complex plans and diagrams
• manage and monitor thermal engineering projects

In heating technology and electrical engineering, electric heat and electric heating are collective terms for heat or thermal energy that is obtained by converting electrical energy. One disadvantage of using direct heating by burning a fuel such as wood, coal, gas or oil is the efficiency chain resulting from the conversion of different types of energy, as well as line-related transportation losses. Electric heating technology is more efficient in this respect.

In the AFPE master heating engineering planning course, you learn the following:

• Advice on and design of heating systems
• Creating calculations for thermal systems
• Creating and checking planning documents
• Determining and controlling project costs
• Managing and monitoring projects
• Leading project teams and apprentices