Natural slating introduction

CITB has developed this standard in discussion with industry

Duration

Minimum 2 days of 6 learning hours

Purpose / scope

The purpose of this standard is to provide the candidate with the knowledge and skills to install natural slates for a new roof, including the: battens, ridge tiles, and verge tiles.

The scope of this basic standard excludes installing the:

• membrane, flashings, ornamental ridge tiles, hip tiles, vented tiles, valley slates, inclined valleys, junctions, fittings, insulation, accessories, protrusions, and abutment.

The scope of this standard covers:

• use of a simple roofing rig without: dormers, chimneys, valleys, or hips
• practical training using one size of natural slates (centre nailed, pre-drilled or not) for the time available
• slating system: slates, battens, fasteners, fixings, tile fixing methods, ridge tiles, hip tiles, verge tiles, valley slates, vented tiles, fittings, abutments, inclined valleys, insulation, flashings, junctions
• interpret instructions and drawings
• tools and equipment (hand and power)
• calculate batten spacing and make a gauging stick
• calculate side lap and make a marking stick
• work safely
• roof check
• install: battens, main area slates, ridge tiles, and verge tiles
• mark and cut slates
• maintain a clean and tidy workplace
• if the weather deteriorates
• clean up and dispose of waste materials.

Occupational relevance

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

• operative and craft.

Candidate prerequisites

There are no candidate pre-requisites as part of this standard. However, a basic knowledge of slate and/or tiling roofing terminology and techniques would be beneficial.

Before candidates perform the work on a construction site, candidates must have successfully completed roofing-specific training for working safely at height.

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(s) may be used in the delivery of this standard:

• classroom and workshop

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 practical learning.

Assessment

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

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

Additional information about this standard

Training at height

• BS 8454:2006 Code of practice for delivery of training & education for work at height and rescue

Advisory Committee for Roof Safety

• The Committee provides further information about roof safety

Work at Height Safety Association

• View WAHSA technical guidance notes. These are a free resource, provided and maintained by WAHSA and its member companies for reference. They assist specifiers, managers, and end users of fall protection equipment. 

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Working at height guides

• Working at height
• Useful web links on working at height
• Health and safety in roof work
• Working on roofs
• Fragile roofs, safe working practices

HSE guides

• Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• Health and safety in construction
• PPE Regulations
• PPE
• PUWER
• COSHH
• RIDDOR
• LOLER
• CDM
• Manual handling
• Noise
• Hand-arm vibration
• Electrical

Legislation

See relevant legislation

• 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

Building regulations

• Building and Buildings, England and Wales: The Building Regulations 2010.
• The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004
• Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

British standards

View all available British Standards at the BSI website.

• BS 6100-6: 2008 Building and civil engineering – Vocabulary – Part 6 Construction parts (roofs)
• BS 5534: 2014+A2: 2018. Slating & tiling for pitched roofs and vertical cladding. Code of practice.
• BS 743:1970. Specification for materials for damp-proof courses.
• BS 8000-6: 2013. Workmanship on building sites. Code of practice for slating & tiling of roofs and claddings. Replaced By BS 8000-0:2014. Workmanship on construction sites. Intro and principles
• BS 8612: 2018. Dry fixed ridge, hip, and verge systems for slating and tiling. Specification.
• BS EN 1024: 2012. Clay roofing tiles for discontinuous laying. Geometric characteristics.
• BS EN 12326-1: 2014. Slate & stone for discontinuous roofing & external cladding. Specs for slate
• BS EN 1304: 2013. Clay roofing tiles and fittings. Product definitions and specifications.
• BS EN 13748-2: 2004. Terrazzo tiles. Terrazzo tiles for external use
• BS EN 490: 2011+A1: 2017. Concrete roof tiles & fittings for roof & wall cladding. Product specs.
• BS EN 492: 2012+A2:2018. Fibre-cement slates and fittings. Product spec and test methods.
• BS 5250: 2011+A1: 2016. Code of practice for control of condensation in buildings.
• BS 8437: 2005 Code of practice for selection, use and maintenance of personal protection systems

National Building Specification (NBS)

• A multi-volume subscription library of clauses covering most elements of building construction.

Building information modelling (BIM)

• BIM is software which creates a three-dimensional model of a building. Examples  can be viewed in the National Building Specification National BIM Library