From education to employment

Fenestration fabricator

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: The role of fabrication in the fenestration industry. Key markets for fenestration products – domestic, commercial, public sector and their requirements. Different types of products and their purpose, including specialist products for enhanced performance, safety, security and fire rating. Back to Duty

K2: How glass and profiles are manufactured including raw materials and processes. Back to Duty

K3: Other functions that fabricators interact with, for example surveying, processing, despatch, installation, service engineers; their purpose and interdependencies. Internal and external customers. Back to Duty

K4: Materials used in fenestration fabrication – aluminium, timber, steel or uPVC; their mechanical properties, uses and design limitations. Ancillary items – for example fixings and fastening, handles, hinges, locks and louvers; their purpose and how/where they should interact. Weatherproofing products and systems – for example, gaskets, membranes, sealants, weather seals and drainage systems; their purpose, compatibility, conditions for storage and use (shelf life). Back to Duty

K5: Legislation, regulations and industry standards, including window energy rating standards, CE marking, secured by design, building regulations documents AD-K, Product Standard (BS 7412, 8529), British standard testing for temperature, tolerance and weld, Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals Regulations) and Quality Management System (ISO 9001) application in the workplace. Back to Duty

K6: Health and safety, including: Health & Safety at Work Act, Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV); how they must be applied in the workplace. Risk assessments and dynamic risk assessments. Back to Duty

K7: Safe handling/movement of profiles and product/Safe handling, movement and storage of glass. Problems or damage that can occur and avoidance methods. Which authority/licenses are needed to use moving and handling equipment, such as cranes, forklift trucks and manipulators (it is not a requirement to hold such authority/licenses). Back to Duty

K8: Environmental considerations: safe disposal of waste, minimising waste (re-use and re-cycle), energy efficiency. Back to Duty

K9: Limits of autonomy; reporting channels. Back to Duty

K10: Who they need to communicate with and when, and communication techniques; verbal, written and digital. Documentation requirements. Back to Duty

K11: System (manufacturers manuals) and specifications – what they are and how to interpret them; what to do if suspect the specification is wrong or have any queries about the specification Back to Duty

K12: Tools, equipment and plant used in fenestration fabrication, including saws, routers, welding machinery, electrical/hand drills, screwdrivers, cranes and manipulators. What they are used for, correct safe use and storage. How to conduct machinery and equipment checks and adjustments. Start-up and shutdown procedures including emergency stops. Use of CAD (computer-aided design) and CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) equipment in fabrication. Back to Duty

K13: Preparation techniques – planning work and resources. Back to Duty

K14: Techniques for measuring, marking, cutting and drilling materials to the required size and shape, accurately, safely and economically. Back to Duty

K15: Product assembly methods, including welding, fusing, crimping; order of processes. Back to Duty

K16: Techniques for fitting components, for example ancillary items, beading and glazing. Back to Duty

K17: Interim and final checking requirements– what needs checking (size, shape, design, components) and why. Back to Duty

K18: Types of errors that occur, investigation and rectification techniques, such as manual or mechanical adjustment. Back to Duty

K19: How to stack and store products and materials safely, effectively and securely. Problems or damage that can occur with stored resources and how to overcome them. Back to Duty

K20: Processes for handover to other functions/customers. Back to Duty

K21: Contractual arrangements, for example penalty clauses. Consumer rights – ‘satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described.’ How the role contributes to commercial operations. Back to Duty

K22: Employment rights and responsibilities, including Working Time Directive, Employment Rights Act 1996. Back to Duty

K23: Equality & Diversity in the workplace. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Select the correct type and quantity of materials and components for each task. Back to Duty

S2: Read and interpret specifications, diagrams and work instructions; follow instructions. Back to Duty

S3: Plan work. Back to Duty

S4: Prepare the work area effectively. Back to Duty

S5: Complete equipment and machinery checks and adjustments. Back to Duty

S6: Measure, calculate, mark and cut materials. Back to Duty

S7: Select and use manual methods and machinery/workplace technology. Back to Duty

S8: Join/assemble materials. Back to Duty

S9: Fix ancillary items to products. Back to Duty

S10: Follow health & safety and environmental policy and procedures. Back to Duty

S11: Identify risks and hazards in the workplace and control measures. Back to Duty

S12: Check and inspect work – interim and final. Back to Duty

S13: Identify and rectify any work that is incorrect or incomplete. Back to Duty

S14: Label product; protect and package product for safe transportation. Back to Duty

S15: Re-use, re-cycle and dispose of material, waste and scrap from the work area, as appropriate. Back to Duty

S16: Communicate with colleagues/customers; use common industry terminology appropriately. Back to Duty

S17: Complete workplace documentation. Back to Duty

S18: Report work outcomes and problems. Back to Duty

Behaviors

B1: Has a health & safety-first attitude, for example, resists pressures to follow unsafe working practices. Back to Duty

B2: Professional, for example, develops good working relationships recognising dependencies, uses co-operative approaches to optimise workflow and productivity with limited supervision, shows respect for colleagues. Back to Duty

B3: Takes responsibility, for example, completes own work to required quality standards. Back to Duty

B4: Applies logical thinking, for example, uses clear and valid reasoning when making decisions related to undertaking the work instructions. Back to Duty

B5: Works effectively, for example, undertakes work in a reliable, tidy and productive manner. Back to Duty

B6: Applies time management, for example uses their time effectively to complete work to schedule and always arrives at, and ready to work on time. Back to Duty

B7: Adjustable when required, for example adapts to changes to work instructions or variations in workplace contexts and environments. Back to Duty


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