Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to install material finishes applied to an external framed wall surface for the purpose of weatherproofing and securing the building. It includes sheet material, weatherboarding of timber, plastic, metal and fibre cement sheet.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports achievement of skills of applying material finishes to weatherproof a building in a range of construction projects, which includes working with others and as a member of a team.

Prerequisite units 

CPCCOHS2001A Apply OHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan and prepare.

1.1. Work instructions, including plans, specifications, quality requirements and operational details, are obtained, confirmed and applied from relevant information  for planning and preparation  purposes.

1.2. Safety  (OHS ) requirements are followed in accordance with safety plans and policies.

1.3. Signage and barricade requirements are identified and implemented.

1.4. Plant, tools and equipment  selected to carry out tasks are consistent with job requirements, checked for serviceability, and any faults are rectified or reported prior to commencement.

1.5. Material quantity requirements are calculated in accordance with plans, specifications and quality requirements .

1.6. Materials  appropriate to the work application are identified, obtained, prepared, safely handled and located ready for use.

1.7. Environmental requirements  are identified for the project in accordance with environmental plans and statutory and regulatory authority  obligations, and are applied.

2. Straighten and prepare exterior walls.

2.1. Timber frame is checked for straightness and studs are trimmed or packed to provide true surface across studs.

2.2. Additional rows of nogging are fitted and fixed to line, flush with wall face and plumb, where specified to facilitate exterior cladding .

3. Fix edge finishing, flashing and insulation.

3.1. Weatherproofing , vapour barrier and flashing  material are cut and fitted into position and secured to specifications.

3.2. Location of edge finishing, joiners, corner moulds and flashing is prepared to length and position, and secured to specifications.

3.3. Wall insulation is cut and fixed where specified.

4. Set out, cut and fix horizontal weatherboards.

4.1. Cover for weatherboards  is determined from recommended lap, type and profile of board and height of wall.

4.2. Gauge rod is produced.

4.3. Stop locations of each board or starting board are marked on face to determined or specified position.

4.4. Boards are cut to fit length of wall faces.

4.5. Butt joints of timber boards are joined at centre of studs with joint flush to face and line.

4.6. Other boards are joined using manufacturer recommended joining profiles and fitted to specification.

4.7. Material is pre-drilled subject to splitting, and fixed at end junction or butt joints to avoid splitting.

4.8. Internal and external corners are finished to manufacturer recommendations and job specifications.

4.9. Timber weatherboards, where specified, are prepared with nominated primer to cover overlaps and end joints.

5. Fix panelling.

5.1. Starting position of first panel is determined in accordance with specified design and finished effect against windows, doors and corners.

5.2. Panelling is cut to fit height of wall.

5.3. Abutting joints of panelling are fixed to manufacturer specification and requirements for covering flashing.

5.4. Panelling is cut, fitted and fixed to manufacturer recommendations and job specification, maintaining plumb and level.

6. Clean up.

6.1. Work area is cleared and materials disposed of, reused or recycled in accordance with legislation, regulations, codes of practice and job specification.

6.2. Plant, tools and equipment are cleaned, checked, maintained and stored in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and standard work practices.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

Required skills for this unit are:

• communication skills to:

• determine requirements
• enable clear and direct communication, using questioning to identify and confirm requirements, share information, listen and understand
• follow instructions
• read and interpret:

• documentation from a variety of sources
• plans, specifications and drawings

• report faults
• use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences
• use and interpret non-verbal communication, such as hand signals

• numeracy skills to apply measurements and make calculations
• organisational skills, including the ability to plan and set out work
• teamwork skills to work with others to action tasks and relate to people from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• technological skills to:

• use a range of mobile technology, such as two-way radio and mobile phones
• voice and hand signals to access and understand site-specific instructions.

Required knowledge 

Required knowledge for this unit is:

• construction terminology
• exterior cladding materials and techniques
• flashing and sarking
• job safety analysis (JSA) and safe work method statements
• material safety data sheets (MSDS)
• materials storage and environmentally friendly waste management
• plans, specifications and drawings
• plant, tools and equipment types, characteristics, uses and limitation
• processes for the calculation of material requirements
• quality requirements of exterior cladding
• safe use of scaffolding
• wall frame construction
• workplace and equipment safety requirements.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

This unit of competency could be assessed in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment, provided that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate construction workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to:

• locate, interpret and apply relevant information, standards and specifications
• comply with site safety plan, OHS regulations and state and territory legislation applicable to workplace operations
• comply with organisational policies and procedures, including quality requirements
• safely and effectively use tools, plant and equipment
• communicate and work effectively and safely with others
• produce a storey/set out rod for a full height wall using a weatherboard of a given profile or end cover
• fix weatherboards to a height of at least six rows, incorporating an internal and external corner with stops, together with flashings and sarking for a window and a door
• install a minimum of two different types of panels, incorporating an internal and external corner with stops, vertical and horizontal joints, together with flashings and sarking for a window and a door.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

This competency is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.

Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include:

• an induction procedure and requirement
• realistic tasks or simulated tasks covering the mandatory task requirements
• relevant specifications and work instructions
• tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices
• support materials appropriate to activity
• workplace instructions relating to safe work practices and addressing hazards and emergencies
• material safety data sheets
• research resources, including industry related systems information.

Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.

Method of assessment 

Assessment methods must:

• satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package
• include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
• reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
• confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

• competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
• where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice, with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's demonstrated ability and applied knowledge
• all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.

Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.

Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Information  includes:

• diagrams or sketches
• instructions issued by authorised organisational or external personnel
• manufacturer specifications and instructions where specified
• memos
• MSDS
• organisation work specifications and requirements
• plans and specifications
• regulatory and legislative requirements pertaining to installing exterior cladding
• relevant Australian standards
• safe work procedures related to installing exterior cladding
• signage
• verbal or written and graphical instructions
• work bulletins
• work schedules.

Planning and preparation  include:

• work site inspection
• equipment defect identification
• assessment of conditions and hazards
• determination of work requirements.

Safety  (OHS ) is to be in accordance with state or territory legislation, regulations, codes of practice, organisational safety policies and procedures, and project safety plan and may include:

• emergency procedures, including extinguishing fires, organisational first aid requirements and evacuation
• handling of materials
• hazard control
• hazardous materials and substances
• safe operating procedures, including the conduct of operational risk assessment and treatments associated with:

• earth leakage boxes
• lighting
• personnel
• power cables, including overhead service trays, cables and conduits
• restricted access barriers
• surrounding structures
• traffic control
• trip hazards
• work site visitors and the public
• working at heights
• working in confined spaces
• working with dangerous materials

• organisational first aid
• personal protective clothing and equipment prescribed under legislation, regulations and workplace policies and practices
• use of firefighting equipment
• use of tools and equipment
• workplace environment and safety.

Tools and equipment  include:

• air compressors and hoses
• angle grinders
• chalk lines
• chisels
• fibre cement sheet cutters
• hammers
• hand saws
• levelling equipment
• marking equipment
• measuring tapes and rules
• nail bags
• nail guns
• power drills
• power leads
• power planers
• power saws
• power screwdrivers
• saw stools
• scaffolding
• spanners
• spirit levels
• squares (combination/tri)
• string lines
• tin snips.

Quality requirements  include relevant regulations, including:

• Australian standards
• internal company quality policy and standards
• manufacturer specifications, where specified
• workplace operations and procedures.

Materials  include:

• aluminium weatherboards
• chamfer boards
• fibre cement sheet panels, sheets and planks
• flashing and sarking
• manufactured cladding materials (strips, sheets, boards and planks)
• metal panelling
• nails and screws
• patented metal fasteners, clips and joiners
• primer
• reconstituted timber products
• tempered hardboard strips
• timber weatherboards
• tongue and grooved timber boards
• vinyl weatherboards and cladding.

Environmental requirements  include:

• clean-up protection
• noise and dust
• vibration
• waste management.

Statutory and regulatory authorities  include:

• federal, state and local authorities administering applicable Acts, regulations and codes of practice.

Exterior cladding  includes:

• fibre cement sheet
• hardboard
• metal
• plastic
• roof sheeting
• timber.

Weatherproofing , vapour barrier and flashing  are in accordance with:

• manufacturer specifications
• regulations.

Weatherboards :

• may be fixed horizontal, vertical, diagonal or raked
• internal/external corners and joints between boards can be determined by the material being used, manufacturer recommendations and job specifications
• effective cover of weatherboard is determined by weatherboard profile or type
• gauge rod is to be used for weatherboard set out.

Unit sector 

Construction

Co-requisite units 

Nil

Functional area