PROWT2              Select wood or wood-based materials appropriate for their intended use

Overview

This standard covers the skills and knowledge required to be able to select wood or wood-based materials that are fit for the purpose for which they are intended.  It involves matching the properties and characteristics of available wood or wood-based materials to that specified for the work.

This could be useful to those in carpentry, sawmilling, construction, wood machining, wood drying, wood preservation, joinery, wood fuel production, furniture making and manufacture and finishing of wood products.

 

Outcomes

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:      

1.            comply with health and safety requirements and procedures at all times

2.            interpret specifications for the wood or wood-based material required

3.            compare advantages and limitations of available wood or wood-based materials in order to satisfy the specification

4.            identify wood that is fit for purpose and quality for the intended end product

5.            provide technical information on wood properties and characteristics to those who need to know it

6.            ensure your knowledge of the advantages and limitations of different types and sources of wood or wood-based materials remains current

 

Knowledge & Understanding

You need to know and understand:

1.            legal duties for health and safety in the workplace and legislation covering your job role

2.            species of timber in commercial use, their appearance, individual characteristics, properties and typical end uses

3.            differences between softwood and hardwood and the impact this has on wood products used

4.            what is meant by the term durability, the differing levels of durability, how they are categorised and the woods listed within each category

5.            how to recognise strength reducing characteristics in wood

6.            effects of wood treatments and exterior coatings on wood structure, properties, durability and appearance

7.            effect that moisture content has and reasons for drying wood

8.            recommended moisture content for wood for its intended use

9.            key features, advantages and limitations of different woods and wood-based materials available and where to access information

10.          sources and suppliers of wood or wood-based materials

11.          dimensions for available wood

12.          current price structure for the wood or wood-based materials used

13.          how quality of wood affects quality of end products

14.          how to recognise wood that has been graded or classified for strength or appearance and what grades and strength classes mean

15.          schemes related to environmental issues, sustainability and quality and how to work within them

16.          differences between different wood quality schemes, grading rules and standards

17.          how quality range differs between hardwoods and softwoods and appearance and strength grades

18.          ways to maximise efficient use of timber

19.          effect of wood properties and characteristics on tools and machinery

20.          basic rules of storage, handling and protection for wood or wood-based materials and the damage or deterioration that will occur if they are not followed

21.          regulations and codes of practice that you need to comply with when working with wood

22.          where to obtain information keep your knowledge up to date