This apprenticeship has been withdrawn
This occupation is found in the specialist damp control and timber preservation sectors.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to carry out a high standard of technical work relating to damp control and timber preservation issues. For example, rising dampness, penetrating dampness, atmospheric moisture, insect or fungi attack. The operative would need the necessary specialist skills to be able to effectively treat these issues.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a team of operatives, specialist damp and timber surveyors, clients, other trades, including electricians, general building contractors, etc. Specialist work is overseen by someone with an appropriate level of knowledge and expertise. The role may also interact with others including housing associations, councils or local authorities.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for carrying out damp control and timber preservation works, lifting and moving materials, using a range of hand held tools and equipment, carrying preparation and reinstatement works and being able to carry out site clearance activities such as the removal of waste and the storage of excess materials. Whilst undertaking these activities, operatives are expected to adhere to strict codes of conduct and safe working practices including wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment, following the correct safe systems and taking action to minimise risk to self and others.The operative would need the relevant knowledge to be able to identify different types of building construction and type (for instance, different methods and materials used in construction) and adjust their working methods accordingly. The work carried out by a specialist damp and timber operative is unique in relation to the wider construction industry to prevent the deterioration of the fabric of the building. The materials, products and techniques that are used have been developed specifically to address the issues of the treatment of timber and damp above ground in buildings, including methods of application that work sympathetically with existing buildings. The role of the specialist damp and timber operative is vital in ensuring the relevant corrective treatment is carried out to the property to make sure that the property is not affected by the same issues in the future. The operative will need to understand all types of construction from foundation to roof in order to carry out the necessary treatments. They will have basic skills in plastering, joinery and bricklaying in order to make minor repairs to damaged elements. This will extend no further than minor repair work when necessary. For example the removal and replacement of skirting boards or flooring following timber treatment; or the removal and replacement of a small number of bricks following the installation of a telescopic air vent; or a small area of plastering. The operative has no supervisory responsibility. If the works relate to a listed building they will be supervised by someone with the appropriate level of knowledge of listed buildings and any remedial works will be undertaken by experts in that area. If major plastering, brickwork or joinery is required companies would contract in a damp and timber operative to carry out the required damp control or timber treatment. Only in these situations would there be interfacing with other trades. If an operative were to encounter a situation where extensive work in these areas was required they would feedback to their supervisor/company/client and advise accordingly. Operatives conduct and behaviour is particularly important as they represent not only the individual organisations undertaking the construction and renewals activities but the industry as a whole.
| Duty | Criteria for measuring performance | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Follow instructions to minimise risk and ensure the safety of the team and customer |
Delivered in line with customer expectation and employer codes of conduct. Understand the specification/instructions given. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards and relevant legislation and procedures. Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site. Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Be able to take the appropriate action in the event of bats being discovered during the course of preparation and/or treatment. |
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Duty 2 Carry out treatment for the control of rising damp |
Delivered in line with the specification. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards - PCA Codes of Practice and Guidance documents (Hygroscopic Salts and Rising Dampness; Plastering in Association with Damp-Proof Coursing; Chemical Damp-Proof Course Insertion - the attendant problems;Guidance Note Party Wall Act 1996; Code of Practice for the Investigation and Control of Dampness in Buildings) and BS6575. Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site. Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Install a chemical damp proof course using the correct materials and equipment, at the correct height, carrying out any necessary specialist replastering internally to height specified |
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Duty 3 Applying an external water repellent (treatment for lateral water penetration) |
Delivered in line with the specification. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards - PCA Codes of Practice and Guidance documents. Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site. Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Prepare wall surfaces and apply an external water repellent using the correct materials and equipment, including erecting safe working platforms. |
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Duty 4 Install a damp proof membrane |
Delivered in line with the specification. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards - PCA Codes of Practice (Damp-proofing Barriers - Tanking in Association with Chemical Damp-proofing courses) and Guidance documents. Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site. Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Prepare wall surfaces and fix cavity drain membrane to the wall in accordance with manufacturer's instructions in readiness to receive plaster directly or dot and dab fixed plasterboard. |
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Duty 5 Carry out wood boring insect treatment |
Delivered in line with the specification. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards - PCA Codes of Practice and Guidance documents (Code of Practice for the Investigation and Control of Wood Destroying Insects and Fungi in Buildings, Wood Destroying Insects in Buildings). Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site. Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Calculate the amount of timber treatment/biocide product required, prepare treatment and apply with correct equipment. Display the relevant hazard warning signs. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 |
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Duty 6 Carry out Death Watch Beetle treatment |
Delivered in line with the specification. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards - PCA Codes of Practice and Guidance documents (Code of Practice for the Investigation and Control of Wood Destroying Insects and Fungi in Buildings, Wood Destroying Insects in Buildings). Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site. Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Calculate the amount of timber treatment/biocide product required, prepare treatment and apply with correct equipment. Display the relevant hazard warning signs. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 |
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Duty 7 Carry out Dry Rot (Serpula lacrymans) treatment |
Delivered in line with the specification. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards - PCA Codes of Practice and Guidance documents (Code of Practice for the Investigation and Control of Wood Destroying Insects and Fungi in Buildings, Fungal Decay in Buildings). Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site. Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Carry our relevant preparations and precautions as required, screen off areas where exposure will take place, recognise affected timber and ensure area is well ventilated during the exposure works, calculate the amount of biocide product required, prepare treatment and apply with correct equipment. Display the relevant hazard warning signs. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 |
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Duty 8 Carry out Wet Rot treatment |
Delivered in line with the specification. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards - PCA Codes of Practice and Guidance documents (Code of Practice for the Investigation and Control of Wood Destroying Insects and Fungi in Buildings, Fungal Decay in Buildings). Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site. Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Carry our relevant preparations and precautions as required, screen off areas where exposure will take place, recognise affected timber and ensure area is well ventilated during the exposure works, calculate the amount of biocide product required, prepare treatment and apply with correct equipment. Display the relevant hazard warning signs. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 |
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Duty 9 Carry out treatment for condensation |
Delivered in line with the specification. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards - PCA Codes of Practice and Guidance documents (Recognition and Causes of Condensation). Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site. Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Identifying mould growth associated with condensation. |
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Duty 10 Identify different types of building construction and terminology |
Delivered in line with the specification. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards - PCA Codes of Practice and Guidance documents (Guidance Note on the Party Wall Act). Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site.Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Identify different types of building construction and terminology, including timber roof construction, pitched roof coverings, foundation types, load bearing wall construction, timber frame constructed buildings, etc. |
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Duty 11 Carry out necessary building repairs (treatment for lateral water penetration) |
Delivered in line with the specification. Delivered in line with customer expectations. Delivered in line with timescale. Delivered in line with cost. Ensure work is carried out in line with industry standards - PCA Codes of Practice and Guidance documents. Ensure the correct Personal Protective Equipment is readily available prior to attending site. Understand health and safety responsibilities, COSHH assessments, Risk Assessment, Material Data Safety Sheets, etc. Understand treatment application plant and equipment, including small hand tools. Review the specification of work, understand the type of work to be undertaken, check job lists, cutting lists, stock withdrawal, plant required and materials required. Carry out necessary building repairs, including repair and renew floorboards, repair and renew joist ends, repair a timber stud partition, replace a decayed timber lintel, install a sub floor vent, infill small voids, correct way to dispose of waste. |
K1: The principles of damp control and damp proofing, the treatment of condensation and specialist replastering
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K2: The principles of timber treatment including the various timber treatment products, exposure and reinstatement works and joinery skills
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K3: Identifying and understanding various building repairs including bricklaying and brickwork, floorboards, decayed joist ends and wall plates, removing existing timber floor at ground level, decaying timber lintel, small voids in a wall; and the associated waste disposal
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K4: The various building construction and terminology including methods of construction from foundation to roof; roof construction, roof coverings, foundation types, load bearing wall construction, construction of a timber stud partition, how to identify a timber frame building, types of windows and doors
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K5: How to work in accordance with the Property Care Association’s Codes of Practice and Best Practice Guidance documents, Industry Codes of Practice, British Standards, Manufacturer Material Safety Data Sheets and other guidance relevant to the occupation
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K6: Responsibilities under relevant legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment 1998, Manual Handling Operations regulations 1992 and Construction Design Management 2015
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K7: Risk assessments, method statements, COSSH assessments, asbestos awareness and other official guidance required in order to undertake work
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K8: Drawings, plans and specifications in order to identify what works are required
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K9: How to prepare and operate specialist equipment such as caulking gun, electric spray/injection pump, pneumatic sprayers, trigger assembly spray lance, stair back spray and nozzle
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K10: How to prepare and operate small hand and power tools such as circular saws, drills, angle grinders, nail guns
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K11: Understand the environmental impact of treatments i.e. what to do if bats are discovered before or during treatment and who to report the discovery to
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S1: Prepare and establish the work environment/preparing for a high standard of technical work
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S2: Employ damp control techniques including the installation of a chemical damp proof course, apply an exterior wall surface water repellent, apply a cavity drain membrane as a dry lining system, the treatment of condensation and specialist replastering
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S3: Employ timber treatment techniques including the application of timber treatment products, calculate the amount of timber treatment/biocide product needed to complete the work, exposure and reinstatement works and joinery skills
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S4: Employ building repair techniques including bricklaying and brickwork, renew and repair floorboards, decayed joist ends and wall plates; remove existing timber floor at ground level; replace decayed timber lintel, timber floor trimmer spanning a bay; install a new sub floor air vent; infill small voids in a wall; correctly dispose of waste
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S5: Apply appropriate health, safety and environmental procedures when working, moving, storing, lifting, handling and disposing of resources
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S6: Plan, undertake and inspect work safely, efficiently and productively
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S7: Read, interpret and work to drawings, specifications and relevant industry Codes of Practice and Best Practice Guidelines
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S8: Work safely within the property identifying hazards and control measures (including fire prevention, working in confined spaces, use of appropriate signage/safety notices, screening of areas, safe working platforms) as required by legislation and industry standards to protect all parties and the property whilst works are undertaken
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S9: Communicate effectively using oral and written communication methods
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S10: Work effectively within a team environment, cooperating and supporting team members when required
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S11: Use own time effectively in order to consistently complete work on time to agreed programmes
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S12: Safely preparing and operating specialist equipment such as caulking gun, electric spray/injection pump, pneumatic sprayers, trigger assembly spray lance, stair back spray and nozzle
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S13: Safely preparing and operating small hand and power tools such as circular saws, drills, angle grinders, nail guns
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S14: Identifying and locating incoming services (i.e. position of stopcock, electrical fuse board, gas meter) to avoid loss of service
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B1: Promote a positive safety culture in the working environment
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B2: Be polite and courteous when dealing with colleagues, clients and the public
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B3: Apply equality, diversity and inclusion in dealing with others
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B4: Show a willingness to be adaptable, adjusting to changing work instructions
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B5: Display the confidence to resist pressures to work following unsafe practices
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