Building Construction Occupations

Specific Competencies and Skills Tested in this Assessment:

Safety and General Knowledge

• Recognize and adhere to worksite safety rules (health related)
• Utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPEs)
• Demonstrate understanding of ladder and scaffold safety
• Recognize and adhere to governmental regulations (e.g., OSHA, SDS)
• Demonstrate safe and appropriate use of hand tools
• Demonstrate safe and appropriate use of power tools
• Demonstrate safe and appropriate use of stationary shop tools

 

Carpentry

• Identify carpentry materials
• Describe, lay out, and construct wood floor framing
• Calculate, lay out, and construct stairs
• Identify, lay out, and construct wood wall framing
• Describe, calculate, and construct ceiling and roof framing
• Identify and install roofing materials (e.g., shingles, flashings)
• Differentiate various styles of roofs
• Identify, estimate, and install exterior windows and doors
• Identify, measure, and apply exterior finishes (sidings and trim)
• Describe and install interior finishes (e.g., drywall, doors, trims)

 

Masonry

• Identify, calculate quantities, and install footings and foundations
• Identify, calculate quantities, and install brick and block
• Identify, calculate quantities, and install various types of tiles
• Identify, calculate quantities, place and finish concrete applications   

 

Electrical

• Identify, estimate, and install rough electrical 
• Identify, calculate quantities, and install finish electrical
• Identify various electrical components and their use

 

Plumbing

• Identify, estimate, design, and install rough plumbing (PVC, copper)
• Identify, calculate quantities, and install finish plumbing fixtures
• Identify various plumbing components and their use

 

Energy Efficiency

• Identify, estimate, and install insulation and understand R-values
• Recognize various ventilation applications
• Identify “green” construction technology (e.g., lighting, Energy Star®)

 

Blueprints, Building Layout, and Site Layout

• Recognize blueprint terms, symbols, and abbreviations
• Interpret blueprints and calculate quantities
• Demonstrate use of architect’s scale
• Lay out building using various calculations, squaring, and leveling methods

 

 

Written Assessment:

Administration Time: 3 hours

Number of Questions: 166

 

Areas Covered:

Safety and General Knowledge: 16%

Carpentry: 28%

Masonry: 11%

Electrical: 8%

Plumbing: 8%

Energy Efficiency: 13%

Blueprints, Building Layout, and Site Layout: 16%

 

Sample Questions:

According to OSHA regulations, when working on a multilevel construction site, workers should wear _____ at all times.      

1. face shields
2. hearing protection
3. knee pads
4. hard hats

 

How many courses of concrete block are needed for a wall 8 feet high?

1. 12
2. 14
3. 16
4. 17

 

The purpose of a trap is to

1. discharge sewer gas from the building
2. prevent sewer gas from entering the building
3. prevent excess pressure from building up in the system
4. trap solid waste material

 

The height of the window header is found in the

1. site section
2. plot plan
3. wall section
4. mechanical plan

 

What unit of measure is used for a heating device size, such as a furnace?

1. BTU – British thermal unit
2. BHU – British heat unit
3. ATU – American thermal unit
4. AHU – American heat unit

 

Performance Assessment:

Administration Time: 3 hours

Number of Jobs: 6

 

Areas Covered:

17% Solder Pipe

Participant will correctly cut, ream, clean, flux, and solder copper tubing into a complete, finished product.

 

15% Lay Out Rafter

Participant will position the rafter crown, create the correct rafter line length and overhang length, place and cut the bird’s mouth correctly, and cut the tail plumb and ridge plumb correctly.

 

9% Calculate and Cut a Stud

Participant will cut the stud to the correct length and shape.

 

19% Rough and Finish Electrical

Participant will correctly set boxes, choose and install cables, pre-wire boxes, choose wire, and install switch properly, split and wire the receptacle correctly.

 

22% 8-Inch Block Wall Construction

Participant will construct the block course correctly, with correct wall height, length and straightness, as well as a correct wall plumb and level and full, finished joints.

 

18% PVC Pipe Assembly

Participant will measure, mark, and cut PVC pipe into three sections, present the cut sections to evaluator, dry fit the assembly, prime and glue the pipes, make sure the project will lay flat, and clean up the workstation.

 

Sample Job:

8-Inch Block Wall Construction

Maximum Time: 45 minutes

Participant Activity: The participant is to construct a block wall 47-5/8-inches long by 24-inches high, strike all joints using a convex jointer, and finish wall with a clean appearance.