When you study the Foundation Diploma Construction & Building Services Engineering, you will begin to develop skills across 2 trades, preparing you to identify your chosen trade and progress to further study or an apprenticeship.
In addition to the core units, you will spend additional time planning, performing and evaluating common tasks across 2 trades:
- Construction and civil engineering operations along with working with brick, block and stone
- Wood occupations along with painting and decorating (decorative finishing and industrial painting occupations)
- Plumbing and domestic heating along with electrical installation (electrotechnical systems and equipment)
Construction and civil engineering operations:
You will gain an awareness and understanding of what roles and typical activities a construction operative undertakes. This will include an introduction to plant, tools, equipment and materials used on a day-to-day basis.
You will practise basic skills used in construction operations and civil engineering services: site protection, modular paving (block paving, slab laying), drainage and concreting.
You will also study a second trade: Working with brick, block and stone.
Working with brick, block and stone:
You will be introduced to the principles and knowledge to understand the trade specific terminology used within the trowel occupations. You will be introduced to the tools and equipment used in the trade and learn the safest way to work with them and relevant materials. You will learn how to use documents and plans to communicate information relating to the work that will be carried out.
You will learn how to select, store, and prepare materials for laying bricks, blocks and stone and you will develop practical skills to allow you to mix materials, handle, store and stack materials ready for use. You will develop the skills required to lay bricks, blocks, and stone to a line and develop skills to gauge, level and plumb the work.
You will also study a second trade: Construction and civil engineering operations.
Wood occupations:
You will practice and develop key carpentry and joinery skills. You will also gain an understanding of the main roles and the tasks undertaken in wood occupations.
You will learn about and use the tools, materials and equipment commonly used when performing woodworking tasks, including planning for a task and then evaluating your completed task.
You will also study a second trade: Painting and decorating (Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting Occupations).
Painting and decorating (decorative finishing and industrial painting occupations):
You will develop the skills and understanding required to carry out common tasks in the painting and decorating trade. You will be encouraged to carry out safe working practices in line with current government and environment legislation guidelines.
You will be introduced to the basic principles of preparing bare and previously painted surfaces and applying water-based and solvent-based coatings by brush and roller to non-complex areas (including how to use access equipment and working platforms to carry out these tasks). You will then be able to practise safely, applying these skills to achieve a standard of decorative finish acceptable within the industry.
You will also study a second trade: Wood Occupations.
Plumbing and domestic heating:
You will explore the cold, hot and heating systems within a domestic property and the basic pipework competences that underpin work on these systems. During the course you will have the opportunity to plan and create your own pipework installation using a variety of materials, jointing methods and bending techniques.
You will develop the practical and creative skills to plan cold, hot and heating systems and implement pipework installations that meet customer needs and industry standards.
You will also study a second trade: Electrical Installation.
Electrical installation (electrotechnical systems and equipment):
You will learn the underlying principles for fundamental electrical work and understand the main roles and tasks which are performed. You will learn about standard circuits; generation, transmission and distribution; wiring systems, equipment and components used in electrical installations.
You will have the opportunity to plan, perform and evaluate your work whilst utilising a range of materials, methods and techniques for basic electrical circuits including 1-way lighting circuits and radial circuits.
You will also study a second trade: Plumbing and domestic heating.