Understanding traditional building construction principles

Standard details  

CITB has developed this standard in discussion with industry

Duration

Minimum 1 day of 6 learning hours

Purpose/scope

The purpose of training delivered against this standard is to provide candidates with fundamental knowledge of the different types of building construction, and how the construction type will affect how a building performs.

The scope of this standard covers:

• basic foundation types
• construction below damp proof course (DPC) level
• construction phase from DPC level to eaves level
• roof construction from eaves to ridge
• internal components commonly found in buildings
• wall finishes
• the orientation of a building.

Occupational relevance

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational groups:

• operative and craft
• supervision
• management and leadership.

Candidate pre-requisites

There are no candidate pre-requisites as part of this standard. However, candidates should have some technical or practical experience of working in a related environment.

Instruction/supervision

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

• A train the trainer or instructional techniques course certificate
• Successfully completed training to this standard 
• At least 2 years relevant industrial experience
• A verifiable CV.

Delivery

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

• classroom
• e-learning
• blend of classroom and e-learning.

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

The class size and candidate/instructor ratio must allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable candidates to achieve the learning outcomes.

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

Assessment

For the successful completion of training, the trainer will be required to make a declaration of the learner’s contribution during the course and that they are confident the learner has understood the content of the course.

Quality assurance

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 refreshment requirements for this standard.

Approval date

November 2018

Review cycle

Either on request or in 3 years from approval date.

Learning outcomes

The candidate will be able to:

• Describe the basic foundation types, their formation and performance, and factors affecting design
• Describe the construction below DPC level, their types of construction, and environmental factors
• Describe the construction phase from DPC level to eaves including: solid/cavity walls, timber framed construction, appropriate use of materials, location/environmental factors, types of insulation, wall ties, lintels, and mortars
• Describe roof construction from eaves to ridge, including: types of roof construction, factors affecting their design, common defects, considerations when specifying repairs, and different types of floor construction
• Describe internal components commonly found in buildings
• Describe wall finishes including: performance of different wall finishes, common defects
• Describe the building orientation including how the location and orientation can assist the diagnoses of defects.

Additional information about this standard

Health & Safety Executive (HSE) confined spaces

• Working in confined spaces
• Confined spaces: A brief guide to working safely INDG258
• Safe work in confined spaces: Confined Spaces Regulations 1997
• Legislation - confined spaces – HSE

British standards

Find out more about British Standards

• BS 8102:2009 Code of practice for protection of below ground structures against water from the ground
• BS 5930:2015 Code of practice for ground investigations
• BS 5250:2011 Code of practice for control of condensation in buildings
• BS EN 1997-1:2004+A1:2013 Eurocode 7. Geotechnical design. General rules
• PAS 00064-2013 Mitigation and recovery of water damaged buildings – Code of practice.

Legislation

See government legislation in detail

• Building and Buildings, England and Wales: The Building Regulations 2010.
• The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004
• Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland Conservation (Natural Habits etc) Regulations 1994
• Conservation (Natural Habits etc) Regulations 1994
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) 2007
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
• Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
• Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.