Scope of Profession - Water Well Driller - Earth Loop Technician

In this section,

• “earth loop” means any part, assembly or accessory pertaining to ground source heat exchange systems comprised of piping that is placed into the earth in a series of closed loops and transports fluid for the purpose of heating and cooling residential homes or commercial buildings or both;
• “undertakings of the branch of the designated trade” means the designing, drilling, construction, installation, grouting, servicing, reconditioning and decommissioning of earth loops.

Undertakings and Activities

When practicing or otherwise carrying out work in the undertakings of the branch of the designated trade, the following activities are performed within the earth loop technician branch of the designated trade of water well driller: 

• drilling bore fields and holes and constructing horizontal trenches; 
• designing, drilling, constructing and installing earth loops; 
• grouting bore fields and holes; 
• servicing, reconditioning and decommissioning of earth loops;
• completing earth loop records and reports as required by the Government of Alberta and the ground source heat exchange industry; 
• operating the tools of the designated trade; 
• operating and maintaining equipment and drilling systems for drilling earth loops; 
• heating and cutting metal using the appropriate equipment; 
• identifying and applying the standards and regulations governing the ground source heat exchange industry; 
• identifying and describing geological formations; 
• monitoring and managing natural gas in the drilling and completion of earth loop bore fields and holes; 
• monitoring groundwater.

Restricted Activities

The following activities, when performed within undertakings of the branch of the designated trade and by the specified classes of individuals, are restricted activities within the earth loop technician branch of the designated trade of water well driller:

• drilling bore fields and holes and constructing horizontal trenches;
• designing, drilling, constructing and installing earth loops;
• grouting bore fields and holes;
• servicing, reconditioning and decommissioning of earth loops;
• completing earth loop records and reports as required by the Government of Alberta and the ground source heat exchange industry;
• operating the tools of the designated trade;
• operating and maintaining equipment and drilling systems for drilling earth loops;
• heating and cutting metal using the appropriate equipment;
• identifying and applying the standards and regulations governing the ground source heat exchange industry;
• identifying and describing geological formations;
• monitoring and managing natural gas in the drilling and completion of earth loop bore fields and holes;
• monitoring groundwater.