Carpenters make up the largest building trades occupation in the industry and those with all-around skills are in high demand.
Carpenters are involved in many different kinds of construction activities, from building highways and bridges to installing kitchen cabinets. Carpenters construct, erect, install, and repair structures and fixtures made from wood and other materials.
This four-level curriculum covers content such as Building Materials, Cabinet Fabrication, and Advanced Wall Systems.
Key content includes: Orientation to the Trade; Building Materials, Fasteners, and Adhesives; Hand and Power Tools; Introduction to Construction Drawings, Specifications, and Layout; Floor Systems; Wall Systems; Ceiling Joist and Roof framing; Basic Stair Layout; Introduction to Building Envelope Systems.
Reviews the history of the trade, describes the apprentice program, identifies career opportunities for carpentry and construction workers, and lists the skills, responsibilities, and characteristics a worker should possess. Emphasizes the importance of safety in the construction industry.
Introduces the building materials used in construction work, including lumber, sheet materials, engineered wood products, structural concrete, and structural steel. Also describes the fasteners and adhesives used in construction work. Discusses the methods of squaring a building.
Provides descriptions of hand tools and power tools used by carpenters. Emphasizes safe and proper operation, as well as care and maintenance.
Covers the techniques for reading and using construction drawings and specifications with an emphasis on drawings and information relevant to the carpentry trade. Introduces quantity takeoffs.
Covers framing basics and the procedures for laying out and constructing a wood floor using common lumber, as well as engineered building materials.
Describes procedures for laying out and framing walls, including roughing-in door and window openings, constructing corners, partition Ts, and bracing walls. Includes the procedure to estimate the materials required to frame walls.
Describes types of roofs and provides instructions for laying out rafters for gable roofs, hip roofs, and valley intersections. Covers stick-built and truss-built roofs. Includes the basics of roof sheathing installation.
Introduces types of stairs and common building code requirements related to stairs. Focuses on techniques for measuring and calculating rise, run, and stairwell openings, laying out stringers, and fabricating basic stairways.
Introduces the concept of the building envelope and explains its components. Describes types of windows, skylights, and exterior doors, and provides instructions for installation.
Key content includes: Commercial Drawings, Roofing Applications, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Exterior Finishing, Cold-Formed Steel Framing, Drywall Installation, Drywall Finishing, Doors and Door Hardware, Suspended Ceilings, Window, Door, Floor, and Ceiling Trim, and Cabinet Installation.
Describes how to read and interpret a set of commercial drawings and specifications.
Describes how to properly prepare the roof deck and install roofing for residential and commercial buildings
Covers the selection and installation of various types of insulating materials in walls, floors, and attics. Also covers the uses and installation practices for vapor barriers and waterproofing materials.
Covers the various types of exterior finish materials and their installation procedures, including wood, metal, vinyl, and fiber-cement siding.
Describes the types and grades of steel framing materials, and includes instructions for selecting and installing metal framing for interior and exterior walls, loadbearing and nonbearing walls, partitions, and other applications.
Describes the various types of gypsum drywall, their uses, and the fastening devices and methods used to install them. Also contains detailed instructions for installing drywall on walls and ceilings using nails, drywall screws, and adhesives. A discussion of fire- and sound-rated walls is also presented.
Describes the materials, tools, and methods used to finish and patch gypsum drywall. A discussion of both automatic and manual taping and finishing tools is presented.
Describes the installation of metal doors and related hardware in steel-framed, wood-framed, and masonry walls, along with their related hardware, such as locksets and door closers. A discussion on the installation of wood doors, folding doors, and pocket doors is also presented.
Describes the materials, layout, and installation procedures for many types of suspended ceilings used in commercial construction, as well as ceiling tiles, drywall suspension systems, and pan-type ceilings.
Describes the different types of trim used in finish work and focuses on the proper methods for selecting, cutting, and fastening trim to provide a professional finished appearance.
Provides detailed instructions for the selection and installation of base and wall cabinets and countertops.
Key content includes: Rigging Equipment, Rigging Practices, Properties of Concrete, Reinforcing Concrete, Handling and Placing Concrete, Trenching and Excavating, Foundations and Slab-On-Grade, Vertical Formwork, Horizontal Formwork, and Tilt-Up Wall Panels.
Describes the use and inspection of basic equipment and hardware used in rigging, including slings, wire rope, chains, and attaching hardware such as shackles, eyebolts, and hooks, as well as rigging knots. Explains sling angles. Also covers tuggers, jacks, hoists, and come-alongs.
Describes basic rigging and crane hazards and related safety procedures. Provides an overview of personnel lifting and lift planning, and introduces crane load charts and load balancing. Includes instructions for rigging and lifting pipe.
Describes the properties, characteristics, and uses of cement, aggregates, and other materials used in different types of concrete. Covers procedures for estimating concrete volume and testing freshly mixed concrete, as well as methods and materials for curing concrete.
Provides an introduction to working in and around excavations, particularly in preparing building foundations. Describes types and bearing capacities of soils; procedures used in shoring, shielding, and sloping trenches and excavations; trenching safety requirements, including recognition of unsafe conditions; and mitigation of groundwater and rock when excavating foundations.
Explains the selection and uses of different types of reinforcing materials. Describes requirements for bending, cutting, splicing, and tying reinforcing steel and the placement of steel in footings and foundations, walls, columns, and beams and girders.
Covers basic site layout safety, tools, and methods; layout and construction of deep and shallow foundations; types of foundation forms; layout and formation of slabs-on-grade; and forms used for curbing and paving.
Covers the applications and construction methods for types of forming and form hardware systems for walls, columns, and stairs, as well as slip and climbing forms. Provides an overview of the assembly, erection, and stripping of gang forms.
Describes elevated decks and formwork systems and methods used in their construction. Covers joist, pan, beam and slab, flat slab, composite slab, and specialty form systems and provides instructions for the use of flying decks, as well as shoring and reshoring systems.
Covers tools, equipment, and procedures for safely handling, placing, and finishing concrete. Describes joints made in concrete structures and the use of joint sealants.
Describes how tilt-up concrete construction is used and how tilt-up panels are formed, erected, and braced. Covers the installation of rebar and types of embedments used to lift and brace the panels. Also covers methods used to create architectural and decorative treatments.
Key content includes: Site Layout One Distance Measurement and Leveling, Site Layout Two Angular Measurement, Advanced Roof Systems, Advanced Wall Systems, Advanced Stair Systems, Introduction to Light Equipment, Welding, Commercial Finish Work, Site Preparation, and Introductory Skills for the Crew Leader.
Covers the principles, equipment, and methods used to perform differential leveling. Also covers the layout responsibilities of surveyors, field engineers, and carpenters; interpretation and use of site/plot plan drawings; the use of laser instruments; and methods used for on-site communication.
Covers the principles, equipment, and methods used to perform site layout tasks that require angular and distance measurements. Tasks include laying out building lines and determining elevations by trigonometric leveling. The use of transits, theodolites, electronic distance measurement, and total stations are covered. Reviews trade mathematics needed to perform calculations related to angular measurements.
Covers commercial roofing materials and structures and describes the procedures for installing commercial roofing such as lap seam, standing seam, and built-up roofs.
Covers installation of a variety of finishing materials, including concrete masonry units and brick. Also covers installation of curtain walls and fire-rated commercial construction.
Provides extensive coverage of the materials and techniques used in finishing wooden staircases. Also covers a variety of stair systems used in commercial construction.
Introduces construction equipment, including the aerial lift, skid steer loader, electric power generator, compressor, compactor, and forklift. An overview of general safety, operation, and maintenance procedures is provided.
Introduces the equipment, procedures, and safety practices used in cutting steel with oxyfuel equipment, as well as shielded metal arc welding, gas-tungsten arc welding, and gas metal arc welding. Labs include practice in cutting and welding techniques.
Covers the planning process that precedes the start of work on a construction site, including environmental considerations, personnel issues, access roads, traffic control, permits, site safety, utilities, and crane-related concerns.
Introduces trainees to the knowledge and skills required for team leadership. Covers practical information about today’s construction industry; basic leadership skills; safety responsibilities of a supervisor; and a detailed survey of project control techniques.
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