Constructs Footing, Formwork, and Installs Piles
Chapter C1 – Constructs Footing Formwork and Install Piles
The National Occupational Analysis (NOA) for Carpenter (2013) identifies the required competencies (skills) for the task of constructing footing formworks and piles.
Key Competencies (NOA, p. 36)
- Select materials according to site-specific requirements such as soil conditions and size of footing
- Place formwork and ensure components are plumb, level, square and accessible for steel reinforcement and finishing work
- Use benchmarks to determine elevations of footing in the excavation using tools such as laser levels, builders’ levels and string lines off batter boards
- Place bracing to maintain square, straight and level footing
- Brace step footings to maintain plumb, square and level, and to prevent blowouts
- Build footing steps according to drawings and building code requirements
- Install required components such as keyways, water stops, templates, bulkheads and miscellaneous inserts
- Fasten components using fasteners such as duplex nails and threaded rods for ease of dismantling
- Inspect assembled formwork to ensure it is straight, square and level, and that it is adequately braced and correctly measured
Foundation construction includes the excavation, setting of formwork, such as piles and footings as well as the placing and finishing of concrete. The carpenter is responsible for a lot of this work even if they do not physically complete tasks such as surveying and excavation.
Topic 1 – Excavation and Footing Forms
It is important to ensure the excavation is to the proper depth as well as provide room for the work that needs to be done below grade. Soil type will be a determining factor in how much the banks of the excavation will be sloped.
Footings will distribute the load of the structure it supports to the area below. The type of footing is determined by its purpose and may be continuous, independent or a floating slab. Continuous footings may be stepped for changes in elevation or widened to create a pilaster. Footings can be made from various materials such as dimensional lumber, plywood, manufactured or trench poured. Reinforcement (rebar) is placed in footings and pads to control shrinkage and provide tensile strength to the foundation. A keyway will provide a stronger connection point between the footing and foundation wall to resist lateral pressure and improve watertightness.
Source: http://r3construction.ca/
For additional information:
Review reading assignment LO 1 LS 1 Reading Assignment 1.2, LO1 LS 2 Reading Assignment 2.1
- Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, study sections on “Foundations, Formwork (Footing Formwork)
- Carpentry, study section on “Footing Forms” up to section “Forms for Slabs”
- Canadian Wood-Frame House Construction, in the chapter titled “Footings, Foundations, and Slabs” read all information beginning at the section “Footings” up to but not including the section “Foundations”