Durapipe UK is responding to the increasing interest in plastic piping systems by offering colleges and universities free training packs which outline the benefits of plastic systems.
The response to date has been phenomenal, with more than 25% of the establishments contacted asking for the free training pack within a week of receiving the details from Durapipe UK.

The free packs will provide educational organisations with all the resources they need for lecturers to deliver the training themselves.

Each pack includes a PowerPoint presentation outlining the benefits of plastics, with an accompanying script for lecturers, as well as product samples so that students can see and work with the products.

Furthermore, technical literature has been supplied to support the training programme.

With the copper price hikes and continuing metal thefts discouraging people from using metal building materials, it is not just specifiers and contractors that are turning to alternatives.

Traditionally, mechanical engineers and plumbers have only been trained in copper and steel, which has limited their options when specifying and installing pipework.

Rising metal prices, coupled with stricter deadlines and budgets, means an increasing number of consultants and contractors are considering more innovative alternative options.

The scheme has been heralded as a much needed innovation in education by many, as Professor John Swaffield, lecturer at Heriot Watt University Edinburgh and president of CIBSE commented: 'We like to keep in touch with trends in the industry to ensure we are fully preparing our students for working in the building services industry. We work closely with manufacturers to help us achieve this and the initiative from Durapipe UK is a much needed insight into plastic pipework.

'We know there has been an increasing interest in plastic pipework systems during recent years, so we are keen to develop the knowledge of our staff, as well as train students on the benefits of all the materials they are likely to come in contact with,' he said.

'We get so many requests from contractors specifying our products to go and train the fitters on-site, that we realised there is a great need to educate these people when they are doing their training. We have had such a positive response, it is clearly something the industry has been crying out for,' added Des Dolan, building services brand manager for Durapipe UK.

Durapipe UK offers a comprehensive range of thermo-plastic pipework products under its Building Services Solutions portfolio, catering for a range of applications across the sector.