This occupation is found in the construction and built environment sector. Curtain Walling is an integral part of the building external envelope. Curtain walling installers work primarily in the commercial market and on higher-end residential projects ranging from simple single storey retail screens to multi storey, high rise office and residential developments.
Curtain walling is predominately manufactured from aluminium. For specialist applications curtain walling systems are also available in timber and steel materials.
Aluminium offers a durable and lightweight framework which is typically anchored to the primary structure of the building. Curtain walling can have infills such as window and door inserts, glass panels, ventilation and acoustic elements.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to install curtain wall systems to form all, or part of the external envelope of a building. Curtain walling systems are structurally capable of spanning multiple floors. They offer a continuous glazed façade, often covering the full height of the building.
The installation process includes fixing of the primary system, securing the infill materials and applying all the perimeter abutment products following The Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT) guidelines and manufacturers systems’ manuals.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with other members of the installation team, site managers and installation managers, the client, main contractors, architect, design team, external envelope contractors, system supplier and façade consultants.
This is usually a site-based occupation and can involve working at extreme heights including the use of specialist access equipment and specialist plant to handle and install the products.
The installer may work directly for the system fabricator or work for a specialist installation company. The installers will travel to where the work or site is located. This can involve working away for a period of time and staying in local accommodation for the duration of the work programme.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for working with a team ensuring they have the correct access, tools, plant and materials to carry out the installation. This may involve different parts of the building being worked on at one time. They will be responsible for the setting out and fixing of the main grid work in accordance with the approved drawings and works instructions. They will normally work under an Installation Manager, Project Manager or Site Manager who will task them with different duties during the project programme. On smaller projects they may work unsupervised due to the simpler nature of the installation being carried out. The work may also include the fitting of doors and windows into the curtain wall grid.
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Duty 1 Work in compliance with occupational health, safety and environmental requirements to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of self and others at all times |
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Duty 2 Interpret drawings, specifications, risk assessments, method statements, programmes, systems manuals, regulations and standards |
K3 K6 K8 K9 K11 K12 K15 K16 K21 K22 K27
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Duty 3 Receive, handle, store, load, transport and position materials and components safely |
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Duty 4 Prepare the site, materials and access equipment ready for installation |
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Duty 5 Use the appropriate hand tools, power tools and equipment to install curtain walling to industry standards |
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Duty 6 Install and fix grid work and datum in line with specifications |
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Duty 7 Identify and confirm installation requirements and components |
K10 K11 K12 K17 K18 K23 K24 K25 K26 K30 K31 K33 K35 |
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Duty 8 Install required setting blocks and support pieces to ensure correct load transfer of infill element |
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Duty 9 Conduct installation in accordance with manufacturers' instructions and information and client requirements |
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Duty 10 Perimeter sealing to surrounding structure to ensure weather and air tightness |
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Duty 11 Secure infills to the correct torque setting. |
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Duty 12 Apply decorative face caps, gaskets or weather seals |
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Duty 13 Conduct interim and final inspections of the work to ensure adherence to specifications and project specific drawings and work instructions |
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Duty 14 Clean and handover to customer including main contractors, clients, architects, fabrication specialists, façade specialist |
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Duty 15 Complete project documentation at the relevant stages of the project |
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Duty 16 Maintain a clear and safe worksite at all times, promoting sustainable building practices |
K1: Awareness of health, safety and welfare regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role of the team and other construction trades. Employer and employee responsibilities. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Fire safety. Health and Safety at Work Act. Building Safety Act Asbestos awareness. Manual handling. Fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working in confined spaces. Working at height. Electrical safety. Reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations (RIDDOR), Provision and use of work equipment regulations (PUWER) and near miss reporting, signage and meaning.
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K2: Safety Control equipment and safety techniques: Personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and dust suppression.
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K3: Types incidents - accidents, near misses. Mitigation methods.
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K4: Moving, handling and storing of materials, including loading and unloading of materials.
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K5: Licences required for moving and handling site equipment.
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K6: Industry legislation and regulations that apply to working in the curtain wall profession Legislation, standards and regulations associated with curtain wall activities.
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K7: Application and types of face caps and gaskets.
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K8: Curtain wall markets: domestic, commercial and public sector.
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K9: Characteristics, qualities and uses of curtain wall products and an awareness of specialist products for enhanced performance, safety, security and fire rating.
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K10: Types of use of fixings, anchors and brackets used to secure curtain wall systems.
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K11: Pre-installation inspection methods and techniques: compliant with specification and fault rectification.
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K12: Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from drawings, specifications, digital documents including Building information modelling (BIM) and work instructions, including confirming installation requirements.
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K13: Written communication techniques. Plain English principles using curtain wall terminology.
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K14: Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information and matching style to audience.
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K15: Planning, work scheduling, and time management techniques for curtain wall installation for self and others.
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K16: Setting out techniques: positioning, gridlines, datums and comparing to approved drawings.
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K17: Project testing techniques, purpose and consequence of unsatisfactory results.
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K18: Site specific inductions, toolbox talks, risk assessments and control measures, method statements and hazard identification in the work area.
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K19: Environmental management systems and standards. Environmental Protection Act. Environmental signage, notices and permits. Types of pollution and control measures: waste and disposal of hazardous waste.
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K20: The importance and considerations of the environment: U values, R Values, airtightness, acoustic performance, and applicable building regulations.
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K21: Power tools check, use, maintenance and storage, defect or fault identification.
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K22: Curtain wall errors: during installation; drainage errors, investigation, reporting and rectification techniques.
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K23: Principles of structure checks: floor check, correct to drawing, full height curtain wall installation, structural clashes, building structure and structural irregularities. Types of position and uses of load bearing and wind restraint bracketry.
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K24: Material compatibility: incompatibility and how to prevent bi-metallic corrosion.
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K25: Position and installation techniques of windows and doors.
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K26: Positioning and installation techniques of glazed and infill panels.
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K27: Installation checking techniques: Line, level and plumb.
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K28: Sealing methods, purpose and use.
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K29: Causes and consequences of deflection.
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K30: Ventilation systems and requirements in curtain walling systems.
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K31: Torque system settings and how to adjust.
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K32: Application and use of support or setting blocks.
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K33: Toggle and pressure plate purpose and use.
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K34: Post-installation inspection requirements including defect identification and pre handover checks.
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K35: Architectural finishes to curtain wall.
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K36: Employment types (self-employed and employed), small business start-up principles and tax responsibilities.
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K37: Signs of wellbeing and mental health within the workplace, and signposting to available support Inclusion, equity and diversity in the workplace.
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K38: Apply team working principles.
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S1: Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
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S2: Apply environmental and sustainable principles in compliance with regulations standards and systems for example segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
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S3: Implement and monitor safe systems of work and control measures.
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S4: Comply with industry standards, guidance and tolerances.
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S5: Identify and use safety control equipment including RPE, dust suppression and PPE.
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S6: Interpret and extract information using paper based or digital sources for example from drawings, specifications, production plans and work instructions.
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S7: Handle, load, unload and store curtain wall products safely to minimise damage.
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S8: Check, use and store power tools and equipment.
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S9: Verbally communicate with colleagues using industry terminology.
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S10: Apply written communication techniques: Site documentation, checklists, email and handover documents.
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S11: Use lifting, moving and handling equipment for installation.
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S12: Set out for curtain walling.
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S13: Install glazed and infill panels and secure into place with pressure plates or toggles.
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S14: Install windows and doors into curtain wall systems.
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S15: Apply face caps and gaskets.
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S16: Use fixings, anchors and brackets.
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S17: Apply sealants to curtain wall system.
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S18: Check curtain wall is plumb, line and level.
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S19: Use support or setting blocks.
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S20: Manage time and tasks to meet project deadlines.
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S21: Carry out post installation checks, complete workplace documentation and report any issues.
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S22: Carry out pre-installation inspection and checks.
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S23: Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning opportunities and development activities.
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S24: Apply team working principles.
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B1: Take personal responsibility for their own health and safety.
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B2: Support equity, diversity, and inclusivity in the workplace.
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B3: Collaborate and promote teamwork across disciplines and external stakeholders.
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B4: Committed to continued professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance competence in their own area of practice.
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B5: Respond and adapt to work demands and situations and know when to seek advice from others.
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Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | End-point assessment plan revised | 04/09/2024 | Not set |
| 1.1 | Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised | 12/07/2024 | 03/09/2024 |
| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 03/02/2020 | 11/07/2024 |
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