The Future Homes Standard is one of the biggest regulatory shifts that the plumbing and heating industry has seen for generations. Harry Budd, Marketing Director at Logic4training, explains how plumbers can become multi-skilled with training and qualifications that meet the needs of the future.
The Future Homes Standard (FHS) is a set of building regulations that requires all new homes in England to emit 75–80% less carbon than older properties. The Approved Documents were published in March 2026, the new rules come into force in March 2027 and a 12-month transitional period runs until 24th March 2028.
In practice, FHS legislation mandates low carbon heating in new build homes from 2028. Gas boilers and fossil fuel heating are out and heat pumps will become the default heating source for new homes, alongside solar PV, tighter fabric standards and, in many cases, mechanical ventilation.
Build the foundation
To become a qualified plumber in the UK, learners typically need to complete a Level 2 Plumbing Diploma and the Water Regulations qualification (WRAS). The next step is a Level 2 Plumbing NVQ which will enable you to apply for a JIB Plumbing Skills Card and/or WRAS/WIAPS Approved Plumber Status.
With these qualifications, together with manufacturer training and experience working in the field, ideally alongside an expert mentor, plumbers have all the pre-requisites needed to upskill, as well as a wealth of transferable skills and experience that mean they are ideally placed to join the multi-skilled future heating workforce.
Here are 5 ways plumbers can upskill to meet the needs of future homes.
1. Heat pump installation and maintenance
Heat pumps are the centrepiece of the FHS. The FHS opens up the new build market to heat pumps and is one of the key legislative mechanisms designed to reach government targets of 450,000 installations a year by 2030.
Plumbers moving into this space typically take a Level 3 qualification in Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installation and maintenance (non-refrigerant circuits), with Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) training available as a top-up.
Due to the urgent need for more heat pump installers, upskilling candidates can get help and subsidies. The Heat Training Grant (HTG) provides £500 towards the cost of training for sole traders and SMEs that are registered with a competent person scheme (CPS). We also work with Alto Energy to get installers registered under their MCS umbrella scheme and carrying out their first install with Start at Home.
2. Low-temperature heating and underfloor heating design
Under the FHS, all homes are designed to run at low flow temperatures, even gas boilers. Plumbers will need to install larger radiators, or more commonly, underfloor heating, plus take a different approach to heat loss calculations and system design.
The Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water Systems Design course from LCL Awards has been designed with CIPHE and the Heat Pump Association (HPA) to ensure installers are maximising the energy efficiency of heating systems from the outset. It does not only apply to heat pump installations, but all heating systems, including gas, oil, LPG and Biomass, supporting the move in the Building Regulations towards low temperature design for all heating systems, regardless of the source.
It really is a deep dive into the practice of low temperature design, from industry standards, regulatory frameworks and best practice to room-by-room heat loss calculations, correct sizing, core design principles and configuring heating systems for optimum comfort and energy efficiency.
3. Unvented hot water and renewables-integrated cylinders
FHS homes still need hot water, and increasingly that means unvented cylinders integrated with a heat pump or solar thermal panel rather than a combi boiler. Installing and maintaining these systems safely, covering pressure relief, thermal stores, twin-coil cylinders and legionella control, falls under Part G/G3 of the Building Regulations.
A recognised Hot Water Systems and Safety (HWSS) qualification is generally required before an installer can join a CPS for self-certification, and it’s also a prerequisite for MCS registration wherever a heat pump install includes an unvented cylinder, which most will.
4. Water efficiency and ventilation
Homes built under the FHS must be more airtight to meet high energy efficiency standards. Reduced flow fittings, greywater and rainwater harvesting, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) are all becoming part of the standard specification for new low-carbon homes.
Plumbers who add WRAS water regulations training and ventilation-specific training to their CV are positioning themselves for the broader whole-house skill set that contractors are increasingly looking for.
5. Solar thermal and renewables integration
Solar thermal has its heyday under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), funding for which needed in 2022. However, it can still be a low-cost solution for homeowners with a 0% VAT rate until at least March 2027. Solar thermal is often paired with unvented cylinders to preheat domestic hot water and take some of the load off a heat pump.
While solar PV installation itself typically sits with electricians, plumbers who understand how solar technologies integrate with whole home heating, energy storage and microgeneration systems, and who can speak the same language as electricians, are well placed to pick up coordination work that fits into grey areas of the trade.
Training checklist – Get FHS ready
Core qualifications:
- Level 2 Diploma in the Installation & Maintenance of Plumbing & Heating Systems — the recognised entry point into the trade.
- Level 2 Plumbing NVQ – work on commercial sites, get a JIB Plumbing CSCS card and WRAS/WIAPS Approved Plumber status.
Prerequisites for upskilling:
- Water Regulations (WRAS) training — required for Approved Plumber Schemes and often needed before MCS registration
- Hot Water Systems & Safety (HWSS) / unvented hot water (G3) — required for cylinder work and a prerequisite for MCS registration on most heat pump installs.
- Around two years’ experience in plumbing and heating — a common entry requirement for higher-level renewables courses.
FHS-specific upskilling:
- Air Source Heat Pump (Level 3) — the core qualification for heat pump installation, MCS-recognised.
- Ground Source Heat Pump (Level 3 top-up) — for those wanting to cover ground-to-water systems too.
- Low-temperature heating and hot water system design — covers heat loss calculations and design principles for heat pumps and other low-carbon systems.
- F-Gas qualification — only needed if working directly on a heat pump’s refrigerant circuit rather than its water side.
- MVHR and water efficiency training — increasingly relevant as new-build specifications tighten.
Optional specialisms:
- Solar thermal – improved the energy efficiency of hot water systems.
- Domestic Gas ACS — still valuable given gas remains the dominant heat source in existing housing stock.
The FHS is going to require tens of thousands of installers to upskill over the next few years, but don’t wait for the 2028 deadline. Those who start building their skills and qualifications now will be the ones best placed to take on new-build work as it lands.
Find out more at:https://www.logic4training.co.uk/new-entrants/how-to-become-a-plumber/
