Introduction to concrete and its constituents

Standard details

CITB has developed this standard in discussion with industry

Duration

1 day of 6 learning hours

Purpose/Scope

The purpose of this standard is to provide the delegate with the knowledge to support the following:

Scope:

• binders
• aggregates
• admixture
• water
• reinforcement including fibres
• specification for strength, durability
• rheology, handling and placing
• batching
• testing fresh and hardened concrete

Occupational relevance

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational group(s):

• operative and craft
• supervision
• management and leadership

Delegates pre-requisites

There are no delegate pre-requisites as part of this standard, however a basic knowledge of concrete terminology and techniques would be beneficial.

Instruction/Supervision

As a minimum, course trainers must be able to demonstrate that, in relation to this standard, they have:

• an award in education and training (or equivalent, as per requirements for approved training organisations)
• successfully completed training to this standard
• at least 2 years relevant industrial experience
• a verifiable CV

Delivery

Delivery may be in an on or off the job environment.

All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for delegates to achieve learning outcomes and must comply with relevant legislation.

The class size and delegate/trainer ratio must allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable delegates to achieve the learning outcomes.

The following delivery methods may be used in the delivery of this standard:

• classroom
• e-learning

This standard is considered to contain 51% or more theoretical learning.

This standard is considered to be set at a basic level.

Assessment

Methods of assessment considered appropriate for training delivered against this standard are:

For the successful completion of training, delegates must complete an end of course practical assessment or knowledge test that measures all learning outcomes and has a pass or fail criteria.

Where this training is assessed using multiple-choice questions, a minimum of 10 questions must be asked and delegates are required to achieve an overall pass mark of at least 80%.

Quality assurance

Assured

Quality assurance against this standard will require initial approval of the training organisation and their content mapped to the standard.

CITB will also conduct an approval intervention, either desk-based or centre visit, to ensure the training organisation can meet the requirements of the training standard.

Approved training organisations (ATOs) will be required to present information on records of training and assessment upon request to CITB for desk-based analysis. They will also be visited annually by the CITB quality assurance team.

Renewal/refresher

There are no mandatory renewal or recommended refresher requirements for this standard.

Classification

Lifetime

(Please note standards using this classification will only be grant aided once per delegate)

Approval date

December 2021

Review cycle

On request or 3 years from approval date.

Learning outcomes

• list constituents
• describe effects on strength and durability
  • Effects of changes in cement content and type, water content, use of admixtures etc
• describe placing and handling of concrete in relation to consistence
  • Pumping, skip, slip-form, chute sprayed etc
• explain test methods and outcomes
  • Test tolerances

Additional information about this standard

British Standards:  

• BS EN 12350
• BS EN 12390
• BS EN 12620

Concrete Society guidance:

• TR 74 Cementitious materials
• GCG 8 Concrete practice

Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guides:

• Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• Health and safety in construction
• Personal protective equipment a brief guide
• PPE
• PUWER
• COSHH
• RIDDOR
• LOLER
• CDM
• Manual handling
• Noise
• Hand-arm vibration
• Electrical

Legislation

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/:

• Health and Safety at Work etc Act (HSWA) 1974
• The Work at Height Regulations (WHR) 2005
• Work at Height (Amended) 2007
• Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Regulations 2002
• Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) (1998 UK 1999 NI)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) 2015
• Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 as amended 2002
• Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
• Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

Related standards

• Concrete identity testing
• Concrete aggregates awareness
• Concrete polishing
• Concrete strength assessment
• Concrete placing compacting and finishing
• Cold weather concreting
• Identifying blemishes defects and deteriorating concrete
• Insulated concrete formwork
• Industrial concrete flooring laser screeder operator
• Post-tensioning theory and practice refresher
• Post tensioning for supervisors
• Post-tensioning theory and practice
• Reinforced concrete for engineers and supervisors
• Supervision of concrete pumping operations
• Specifying concrete and receiving onsite
• Visual concrete perception practicalities and specifying