Fibrous plastering option needs to be delivered at a lower cost and not exceeding £11k
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This occupation is found in the construction sector on a wide range of projects including new build, refurbishment of existing buildings, heritage buildings and external rendering projects. They are also often found in the creative industries producing and installing bespoke mouldings for film sets. Projects vary in size, scale, and duration, ranging from creation of specialist features, restoration of heritage and listed buildings, carrying out small repairs to a wall or ceiling to working on new build housing and large-scale commercial projects. Craft plasterers are masters in their field and when they have gained sufficient onsite experience they often provide technical leadership and supervision of the work to others. Employers and contractors of craft plasterers vary in size from small local family companies to major commercial contractors and some could specialise in one aspect of the occupation in particular. For example, plasterers could specialise in heritage work only working with organisations like National Trust and English Heritage. They become dedicated to the care, repair, conservation and restoration of old houses, churches and historic monuments and use traditional methods and materials such as lime plastering or rendering to restore ornamental plasterwork or plaster finishes to achieve authenticity.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to complete work of a complex work to both fibrous and solid plastering which can include such things as arches and decorative work. Craft plasterers with sufficient experience can plan and organise the work on site, both for themselves and others and also verify the quality of the work done within their team. They are also technical experts in their team, providing direction and advice to others and advise on work approach and problem solving. They are responsible for ensuring the plastering element of the construction programme is delivered to specification, time and in a safe and sustainable manner. Craft plasterers work both indoors and outdoors on construction sites including often working at height.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with their immediate team and often the site management team. They also liaise with other construction trades such as site carpenters, dry liners and bricklayers who could work for their own organisation or another contractor. As the technical lead for plastering they are also expected to communicate with other construction professionals for example the site manager and in the case of smaller specialist projects, the client and architect.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for ensuring the products or finishes they and their team create are of a high quality and meet standards, specifications and design plans. They are expected to do this with due regard to all safety aspects involved with working on a construction site, ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves and others at all times. With sustainable construction at the forefront of all projects, it is expected they would also give consideration to and advise others on the environment and the sustainability of materials, waste awareness and recycling. Solid plastering involves applying a range of plastering systems on to different background surfaces using traditional and modern materials. Background surfaces can include plain walls, walls with openings and returns, ceilings, partitions, beams and piers that are attached or independent of walls. Solid plastering work includes preparing solid backgrounds by hand and mechanical means and installing sheet materials such as expanded metal lath, rib lath, various types of beads and reinforcements for the application of one, two or three coat plastering or rendering systems. A solid plasterer would mainly be installing products on site. Fibrous plastering involves creating plaster components with either a modern contemporary design or with an ornamental enrichment to a classical design. These components could include in-situ, arches, decorative features, lighting troughs, beam and column casings, ceiling roses, complete ceilings, enriched cornices, panel mouldings and many others. They are produced using plaster that is reinforced with hessian canvas and timber laths (fibrous) or artificial fibres (glass fibre reinforced gypsum). A fibrous plasterer would produce work in a workshop in addition to installing products on site. External rendering involves using manual and mechanical methods to apply render based products to both homes and commercial buildings. It is a popular method for finishing the outside of buildings, that comes with a plethora of finishes, colours, decorative finishes and textures.
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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 Proactively collaborate with stakeholders including clients and other construction trades in respect to programming and technical requirements |
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Duty 3 Plan and organise the work site including work planning, pricing, preparing substrates and the selection of materials and tools appropriate to the project for self and others |
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Duty 4 Lead the plastering team in the delivery of construction programme including interpreting technical specifications, instructions and drawings, including digital information |
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Duty 5 Ensure work of self and others conforms to all current and relevant building regulations, quality standards and work instructions |
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Duty 6 Plan the work to obtain optimum environmental, quality and schedule performance from the team, tools and associate equipment. |
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Duty 7 Maintain a clear and safe worksite at all times, disposing of waste and promoting sustainable practices to others |
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Duty 8 Carry out continuous professional development to maintain knowledge of current and future developments affecting the role, sharing with others where appropriate |
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Duty 9 Prepare non-standard internal background surfaces, such as composite or low suction, to receive plaster |
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Duty 10 Select and mix appropriate plasters suitable for non-standard internal plastering projects |
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Duty 11 Produce complex internal plastering work to specifications and industry standards |
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Duty 12 Use the appropriate tools and equipment to apply one, two and three coat plastering systems to industry standards |
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Duty 13 Prepare a range of background surfaces to receive external rendering |
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Duty 14 Select and mix materials suitable for application as external rendering |
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Duty 15 Use the appropriate tools and equipment to apply one, two and three coat rendering systems to industry standards |
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Duty 16 Use appropriate methods, including both manual and mechanical, to apply external rendering finishes to specification |
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| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 17 Prepare bench and background surfaces to receive complex plaster components and in-situ mouldings |
S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S31 S33 S34 S35
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Duty 18 Mix plasters suitable for complex components and in situ mouldings |
S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S31 S32 S33 S34 S35
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Duty 19 Produce complex plaster components and mouldings to specifications and industry standard |
K35 K36 K38 K39 K40 K42 K43 K44 K46 K47 K48 K49 S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S31 S34 S35
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Duty 20 Use the appropriate tools and equipment to fix complex components and in situ mouldings on site |
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Duty 21 Construct positive and negative moulds to include taking a squeeze according to specifications and drawings |
S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S33 S34 S35
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K1: Awareness of health and safety 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). Building safety act. Fire safety. Health and Safety at Work Act. Asbestos awareness. Manual handling. signage, fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working in confined spaces. Working at height. Electrical safety respiratory protective equipment (RPE), dust suppression. Reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations (RIDDOR), Provision and use of work equipment regulations (PUWER) & near miss reporting, signage and meaning.
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K2: Types incidents - accidents, near misses. Mitigation methods. Incident management techniques.
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K3: Safe systems of work, control measure implementation and monitoring techniques.
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K4: Environmental management systems and standards. Environmental Protection Act. Environmental signage and notices. Types of pollution and environmental control measures: noise, smells, spills, waste and disposal of hazardous waste. Types of pollution: Water, noise and air pollution.
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K5: The importance and considerations of the environment: Thermal bridging achieving U-values, condensation, interstitial and surface and applicable building regulations.
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K6: Insulation products and their energy efficiencies: mineral wool, foil, fibre glass, polyisocyanurate, expanded polystyrene.
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K7: Modern Methods of Construction: Timber frame, steel frame, Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF), modular and concrete frames and cross laminated timber frames.
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K8: The principles of building construction: Fire safety, Building information modelling (BIM), Computer aided design (CAD) and environmental and sustainability considerations Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations.
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K9: The principles of heritage building, considerations and techniques applicable to the traditional and heritage plastering including haired lime plasters.
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K10: Standards and regulations associated with craft plastering: British standards, building regulations, warranty provider standards, manufacturer's instructions.
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K11: Quality assurance principles and techniques.
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K12: Methods of interpreting information from drawings, specifications and the production plan and producing work instructions, utilising traditional and digital methods.
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K13: Planning, work scheduling, and time management techniques for self and others.
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K14: Resource quantity calculation techniques, costing, wastage and recycling allowance.
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K15: Stock, material stock and considerations: availability, stock lead times. stock value. faulty stock and returns process and quality control.
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K16: Written communication techniques. Plain English principles.
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K17: Documentation methods and requirements - digital and paper based.
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K18: Well-being: mental and physical health considerations in self and others and how to access support.
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K19: Inclusion, equity and diversity in the workplace.
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K20: Plastering power tools, use and storage techniques.
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K21: Types, characteristics and use of non-standard plasterboard: acoustic, fire retarding, moisture resistant, thermal, impact, vapour control.
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K22: Types, characteristics and use of specialised plasters and renders: sands, limes, cements, acrylic, monocouche, spray plaster and render and additives.
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K23: Mitigating factors that impact setting, curing, and hardening times for plaster and renders.
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K24: Setting out techniques for plastered curved surfaces: concave and convex surfaces.
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K25: Hand application techniques for plastered curved surfaces: concave and convex surfaces.
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K26: Preparation techniques for composite and non-standard backgrounds: existing rib lath metal, textured back grounds and lime based.
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K27: Fixing techniques for insulated plaster board.
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K28: Techniques for forming non- standard (non 90 degree) angles in plaster and render: obtuse and acute angles.
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K29: Setting out and beading application techniques for multiple beams and piers, plaster and render.
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K30: Machine application techniques for plaster and render, internal and external.
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K31: Polymer based thin coat render hand application techniques.
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K32: Polymer based render: Priming, base coat, reinforcement, finish coat and background surfaces, including EWI (external wall insulation) and cement particle board.
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K33: Complex render finishing techniques : Plain ashlar, raised ashlar, dry dash, wet dash, rough casting, cottage, scraped texture, pebble dashing and tyrolean.
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K34: Complex plastering components, type and fixing techniques: plastic trims, expanded metal lath (EML) and rib lath.
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K35: Types, characteristics and use of Geometric fibrous plastering techniques: classical orders of architecture, Roman profiles, arches and arch components Grecian profiles, domes, vaults, lunettes, circular work, and columns.
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K36: Types of complex reverse moulds: run reverse mould with undercut, piece mould, case mould, flood mould and run loose piece mould.
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K37: Mitigating factors that impact setting, curing, and hardening times for fibrous plasters and adhesives.
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K38: Setting out techniques for fibrous arch components: curves and stepped.
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K39: Positive mould curved and stepped arch component formation techniques.
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K40: Centre point production techniques: gig sticks, trammel, plasters oval and peg mould.
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K41: Complex fixing techniques: wad and wire, metal reinforcement, fibre strands and tie wires.
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K42: Bench preparation techniques for positive moulds.
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K43: Positive mould preparation techniques for cold pour compounds.
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K44: Gauging and mixing techniques for cold pour compounds.
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K45: Mould coring out and muffling techniques.
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K46: Complex decorative fibrous components production techniques: uplighters, panel mouldings, niches, column capitals, brackets and corbels.
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K47: Techniques for producing complex moulds: turning mould, double hinged moulds, twin slippered mould and rebated mould piece.
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K48: Fibrous plaster repair techniques: in-situ moulding (taking a squeeze) and pattern matching.
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K49: Methods of producing enriched cornicing and cornice model.
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S1: Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
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S2: Use safety control equipment for example, RPE, dust suppression and PPE.
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S3: Implement and monitor safe systems of work and control measures.
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S4: Apply environmental and sustainable principles in compliance with environmental regulations standards and systems.
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S5: Apply quality assurance principles and techniques.
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S6: Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies.
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S7: Interpret and extract information using paper based or digital techniques from drawings, specifications and provide work instructions.
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S8: Calculate resource and cost quantities from site measurements.
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S9: Apply planning, work scheduling and time management techniques to identify and agree production plan targets.
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S10: Check, use and store power tools.
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S11: Complete documentation - paper based and digital. For example, job sheets, time sheets, risk assessments, method statements, equipment service records, handover documents, work sheets, checklists, incident reports, requisition sheets and quality records.
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S12: Communicate and report issues against the production plan and contribute to the solutions.
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S13: Communicate in written form.
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S14: Set out for concave and convex plaster curved surfaces.
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S15: Form concave and convex plastered curved surfaces, including floating coat and finishing coat.
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S16: Prepare composite and non-standard backgrounds, for example existing rib lath metal, textured back grounds and lime based.
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S17: Fix insulated plasterboard to solid backgrounds.
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S18: Form non- standard (non 90 degree obtuse and acute angles), in plaster and render.
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S19: Set out and apply beads for plaster or render to multiple piers and beams.
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S20: Machine apply plaster and render.
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S21: Apply polymer based thin coat render systems to EWI and cement particle board background surface,
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S22: Form complex render finishes for example, Plain ashlar, raised ashlar, dry dash, wet dash, rough casting, cottage, scraped texture, pebble dashing and tyrolean.
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S23: Install complex plastering components, including plastic trims, expanded metal lath and (EML) rib lath.
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S24: Set out curved and stepped arch components.
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S25: Form curved and stepped fibrous arch components using positive mould.
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S26: Use centre points, for example gig sticks, trammel, plasters oval and peg mould.
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S27: Fix fibrous components, using complex techniques for example, wad and wire, metal reinforcement, fibre strands and tie wires.
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S28: Prepare bench for positive mould.
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S29: Prepare positive mould for cold pour components.
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S30: Mix and gauge cold pour compounds.
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S31: Core out and muffle fibrous moulds.
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S32: Produce complex decorative fibrous plaster components. For example uplighters, panel mouldings niches, column capitals, brackets and corbels.
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S33: Construct ridged and flexible complex plaster reverse moulds. For example turning mould, double hinged moulds, twin slippered mould, rebated mould, piece mould and waste mould.
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S34: Repair complex fibrous plaster components including in situ moulding (take a squeeze) and pattern match.
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S35: Produce an enriched cornice model and enriched cornicing.
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B1: Take personal responsibility for their own health and safety.
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B2: Support an inclusive culture.
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B3: Take responsibility for the quality of work and encourage others to work to high standards.
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B4: Collaborate and promote teamwork across disciplines and external stakeholders.
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B5: Committed to continued professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance competence in their own area of practice.
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B6: Promotes health, safety, environment and sustainability principles to 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 |
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| 1.0 | Approved for delivery | 17/07/2024 | Not set |
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