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Traditional screeds

  • Last updated: 8 September 2021
  • Grant rate/tier: £140 (Tier 2)
  • Grant code: GET3030

Overview

The purpose of this standard is to provide the delegate with the knowledge and skills relating to traditional cementitious screeds.
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Duration

2 days of 6 learning hours.

Purpose/scope

The purpose of this standard is to provide the delegate with the knowledge and skills relating to traditional cementitious screeds. 

Scope: 

  • introduction to traditional screeds 
  • interpretation of contract information 
  • personal protective equipment (PPE) 
  • screed selection 
  • equipment & delivery methods 
  • laying methods 
  • coverage rates 
  • test methods 
  • screed repairs 
  • waste disposal & cleaning of equipment.

Occupational relevance

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

  • operative and craft.

Delegates pre-requisites

There are no delegate pre-requisites as part of this standard.

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)   
  • minimum of 5 years relevant industrial experience with a minimum of 2 years at supervisory or management level in a screed flooring organisation 
  • 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 (practical learning) 
  • a blend of classroom and e-learning 
  • a blend of classroom and remote. 

This standard is considered to contain 51% or more practical training. 

This standard is considered to be set at an intermediate 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 and 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 every 3 years.

Buffer/grace period 

3 months.

Classification 

Recommended Refresher.

Approval date

May 2021.

Review cycle

On request or 3 years from approval date.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

The delegate will be able to: 

Additional guidance to support learning outcome 

interpret and understand guidance and information relating to the work specification 

Contract information: 

  • job sheet, method statement and risk assessment 

  • site induction 

  • company policies 

Product/system information: 

  • product datasheets (store materials on site in a secure location to meet manufacturer’s specified storage conditions) 

  • safety (COSHH) datasheets 

  • delivery notes (check material type, quantity and batch numbers) 

Legislation: 

  • roles and responsibilities 

  • legal obligation to protect yourself, the area and members of the public. 

select and use appropriate PPE for the work 

  • Function of PPE 

  • Correct fit 

  • Storage, maintenance and cleaning 

  • Replacement 

  • Equipment manufacturers’ operator’s manual 

Including: eye protection, head protection, safety footwear, gloves, ear defenders, respiratory protective equipment, high visibility clothing 

describe the legal obligations to protect themselves, the area and members of the public 

  • Establish a safe area of work 

  • Use of barriers and signage 

  • Provision of suitable ventilation if required 

identify the generic types of cementitious floor screeds, their uses, and limitations 

Types of screed: 

  • screeds as underlayments 

  • wearing screeds 

  • bonded screeds 

  • unbonded screeds 

  • floating screeds 

Screed selection: 

  • thermal and acoustic insulation requirements 

  • weight limitations 

  • drying time requirements/programme limitations 

  • requirements for underfloor heating 

explain screed delivery and installation methods 

  • Site mixed or ready mixed 

  • Site delivery of ready mixed screeds 

describe composition and equipment used for site mixed screed installations 

  • Mixing equipment i.e. forced action mixer and mixer pumps 

  • BS 8204-1 Screeds, bases and in situ floorings.  Concrete bases and cementitious levelling screeds to receive floorings. Code of practice 

  • Cement types 

  • Aggregates 

  • Admixtures - plasticisers and super plasticisers and their role 

  • Reinforcement fibres 

  • Water requirements 

describe the importance of subfloor quality and be aware of common preparation methods 

  • Mechanical removal of laitance 

  • Scabbling of in situ concrete 

  • Shot blasting pre-cast units 

  • Coarse aggregate exposure 

  • Vacuum removal of dust and debris 

  • Primers and bonding slurries (including polymer and epoxy primers 

explain the importance of priming the substrate 

  • Bonding agents 

  • Separating membranes 

  • Thermal and acoustic insulation 

  • Preventing out-gassing/pin-holing from the substrate 

  • Mitigating the effects of moisture in the substrate 

  • Consider whether the substrate is warming or cooling during application of primer 

describe methods used to install traditional cementitious screeds 

  • Manual installation 

  • Automatic screeding machines 

  • Use of screed rails/battens and laser levels 

  • Compaction techniques 

  • Finishing methods 

  • Number of layers i.e. multiple layers > 50mm 

  • Typical thicknesses 

  • Curing 

describe curing and drying requirements for newly installed screeds 

  • Curing membranes 

  • Drying out periods 

explain the use of reinforcement within cementitious screeds 

  • Reinforcement fibres 

  • Steel reinforcement 

  • Importance for unbonded/floating screeds 

list common screed repair methods 

  • Crack repairs (static and live cracks) 

  • Weak screeds/areas 

  • Debonding (stitch pinning/resin injection) 

explain factors to be considered when planning an installation 

Layout including: 

  • starting point and how to progress 

  • daywork joints, terminations and continuing from previous day’s work 

  • establishing, setting out and achieving correct surface regularity and deviation from datum level. 

  • number and position of mixing stations 

  • lighting 

  • disposal of waste 

  • protection 

mix sand/cement screeds using appropriate mixing equipment under supervision  

  • Following manufacturer’s recommendations 

  • Mixing methods and equipment 

  • Ambient temperature requirements 

  • Forced action mixers 

  • Use of appropriate or specified admixtures 

  • Dust extraction requirements 

  • Hazards associate with mixing (dust, noise, splashing, fatigue) 

apply screeding materials (including primers/bonding agents) using appropriate equipment and method of application to achieve required coverage rates, thickness, and surface finish under supervision 

  • Following manufacturer’s recommendations 

  • Check thickness achieved 

  • Use of laser levels 

describe inspection and testing methods during and after application 

  • Quality and preparation of base 

  • Priming of the base 

  • Ambient conditions during application and cure 

  • Mixing of materials 

  • Applied thickness 

  • Levels and surface regularity (SR1, SR2, SR3 etc.) 

  • Departure from datum 

  • Screed workability (“snowball”) test 

  • Compressive strength 

  • In situ crushing resistance 

  • Hollowness 

  • Moisture testing 

  • Curing 

recall how to achieve joint and edge details 

  • Movement joints 

  • Daywork joints 

  • Bay size 

  • Edges and drain details 

  • Crack control joints (door thresholds, constrictions, corridors, corners etc.) 

  • Terminations 

protect floor area following installation 

  • Manufacturer’s recommendations 

  • Signage 

  • Barriers 

clean tools and equipment and understand the safe use of solvents and other cleaning materials in line with health & safety guidelines 

  • Manufacturer’s data sheets 

  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 

  • Risk assessments 

interpret guidance and information relating to planning for the installation of screed flooring materials. 

British Standards: BS 8204 parts 1, 2, 3 & 7 FeRFA guidance notes  Contract information: 

  • job sheet, method statement and risk assessment. 

Product/System information: 

  • product technical datasheets & safety datasheets.  

dispose of waste in a responsible manner  

  • hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal 

  • handling of waste material 

  • handing of waste packaging 

Additional information about this standard 

Industry guidance: 

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance: 

Legislation: 

Related standards

  • Flowable screeds 
  • Thermal and Acoustic Insulation and Underfloor Heating 
  • Calcium Sulfate Screeds 
  • Prepare Background Surfaces to Receive Screed Flooring 
  • Screed Flooring and Equipment Introduction 
  • Work Practice and Project Planning for Screed Flooring.

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