Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to construct masonry walls and corners to different types and styles of buildings. It includes planning, preparation, set out and installation of the masonry.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports achievement of skills for laying bricks or blocks to construct building walls and corners, 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. Prepare for work.

1.1. Work instructions, including plans, specifications, quality requirements and operational details, are obtained, confirmed and applied from relevant information  to determine bricklaying and blocklaying tasks .

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. Prepare materials and work site.

2.1. Work platform is erected in accordance with regulatory and workplace requirements.

2.2. Bricks/blocks are selected according to quality requirements and specifications.

2.3. Materials for mortar are selected to requirements of specification, standards and codes.

2.4. Location of blockwork/brickwork is set out on reinforced concrete footing slab in accordance with dimensions and details from job drawings.

2.5. Mortar is mixed in accordance with job specifications, standards and codes.

2.6. Brickwork/blockwork gauge is determined and set out rod is prepared.

3. Lay bricks/blocks.

3.1. Mortar mix is prepared and checked for conformity and applied evenly to job and set out location.

3.2. Bricks/blocks are located to job set out according to specifications, standards and codes.

3.3. Bricks/blocks walls are to be straight and true in plumb, line and level within standard tolerances and codes.

3.4. Bricks/blocks are laid maintaining stretcher bond throughout construction to specifications, standards and codes and using appropriate joints in brick and block walls and corners .

3.5. Bricks are cut.

3.6. Corners are formed maintaining bond and perpendicular intersection of both surfaces.

3.7. Horizontal reinforcement  is placed and laid to bed joints to specifications, where applicable.

3.8. Brickwork/blockwork is laid and completed to job drawings, specifications, standards and codes.

4. Finish joints.

4.1. Excess mortar is removed from brick/blockwork surfaces and cavities are cleaned free of mortar and debris in accordance with manufacturer recommendations, job specifications, standards and codes.

4.2. Joints of laid brickwork/blockwork are raked, struck or ruled to correct profile and depth to job specifications.

4.3. Brickwork/blockwork is brushed down prior to drying to remove unwanted mortar.

5. Clean up.

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

5.2. 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 

• brick and block expansion and growth, control and articulation joints
• brick bond patterns, types of joints and finishing
• characteristics and applications of materials for brick/block wall and corner construction
• construction terminology
• corner geometry
• 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
• processes for the calculation of material requirements
• quality requirements
• techniques of brick/block wall and corner construction
• types, characteristics, uses and limitations of plant, tools and equipment
• 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 and OHS legislation, regulations and codes of practice 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
• as a minimum, in brick and in block, construct a wall between profiles to a line, including an internal corner, an external corner, and a stopped end to a minimum height of 1200mm (without toothing), ensuring:

• correct identification of requirement and finishing of the tasks
• correct selection and use of appropriate processes, tools and equipment
• completing all work to specification.

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 laying masonry walls and corners
• relevant Australian standards
• safe work procedures related to laying masonry walls and corners
• signage
• verbal or written and graphical instructions
• work bulletins
• work schedules.

Bricklaying and blocklaying tasks :

• include all clay brick (wire cut/pressed) and concrete block (hollow and solid) masonry work
• may be performed on a new construction site, an existing structure being renovated or extended or an existing structure subject to service restoration or maintenance.

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

• emergency procedures, including emergency shutdown and stopping, 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
• power cables, including overhead service trays, cables and conduits
• restricted access barriers
• surrounding structures
• traffic control
• trip hazards
• underground services, including water, gas, electricity and communications
• work site visitors and the public
• working at heights
• working in confined spaces
• working in proximity to others
• 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:

• bolsters
• brick grabs
• buckets
• builder's squares
• builders' lines
• concrete mixers
• dumpy levels
• elevators
• hammers (brickies, club and scutch)
• hoses
• jointing tools
• line blocks
• line pins
• mason's squares
• masonry saws
• measuring tapes and rules
• mortar boards
• plumb rules
• margin or raking tools
• profiles
• shovels
• spirit levels
• straight edges
• string lines
• trowels
• wheelbarrows

• may include:

• brick buggies
• forklifts
• materials hoists
• pallet trolleys
• scaffolds
• small petrol or diesel engines, compressors or mixers.

Quality requirements  include relevant regulations, including:

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

Materials  include:

• aggregates
• cement
• clay bricks
• lime
• masonry blocks
• reinforcing materials
• waterproofing materials.

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.

Joints in brick and block walls and corners  include:

• flush
• raked
• round iron/rule
• struck
• V joint
• weather struck.

Horizontal reinforcement  includes:

• steel bar
• welded wire fabric
• wire strands.

Unit sector 

Construction

Co-requisite units 

Nil

Functional area