Practical Demonstration Checklist
Your trainer may ask you to keep a log book or diary of the work you do on-the-job that relates to the practical components of this unit. This will help them to determine when you will have had sufficient hands-on practice in these tasks to undertake the assessment events.
When you are ready to be assessed, your assessor will ask you to complete a range of practical demonstrations. These may include:
- One moisture barrier installation on a concrete subfloor, designed to either address a moisture problem from an external source or to waterproof a wet area (such as a bathroom or hospital room).
- One moisture suppressant installation on a concrete subfloor, designed to address residual construction moisture in a green slab or a low-level moisture problem from an external source.
- Three separate subfloor preparations involving priming, patching and levelling the concrete or timber substrate.
The sample checklists below set out the sorts of things your assessor will be looking for when you undertake these practical tasks.
Make sure you talk to your trainer or supervisor about any of the details you don't understand, or aren't ready to demonstrate, before the assessment events are organised. This will give you time to get the hang of the tasks you'll need to perform, so that you'll feel more confident when the time comes to be assessed.
Installation of moisture barrier on a concrete subfloor
- Measures the moisture content of the concrete subfloor and compares the level to the relevant Australian Standards and/or flooring specifications that apply.
- For slabs with a moisture problem, correctly assesses whether the moisture present is due to hydrostatic pressure, capillary action or green concrete.
- For slabs with a moisture problem, determines whether any external moisture is entering due to a damaged vapour barrier, poor building practices or other causes.
- Removes all surface contaminants and other substances to expose clean bare concrete.
- Removes all dust and debris from the substrate surface.
- Correctly identifies any structural cracks and takes appropriate action according to their severity, including reporting them to a structural engineer and the client.
- Notes all expansion joints and deals with them in accordance with the building specifications and design characteristics of the joint.
- Notes all other cracks and carries out repairs or other treatments as necessary.
- Covers all joints, waste junctions and other penetrations with an appropriate bond breaker material.
- Mixes and prepares the liquid moisture barrier according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Applies the moisture barrier evenly to the floor using suitable tools.
- Ensures that the coating is free of pinholes or bubbles, and that the correct thickness is maintained across the whole area.
- Waits for the required amount of time, and then applies a second coat at 90 degrees to the first coat, or as specified by the manufacturer.
- Inspects second coat and ensures that thickness is even, at the appropriate depth and of an acceptable quality.
- Cleans up tools and equipment and packs them away.
- Disposes of waste materials according to site policy.
Installation of moisture suppressant on a concrete subfloor
- Measures the moisture content of the concrete subfloor and compares the level to the relevant Australian Standards and/or flooring specifications that apply.
- Correctly assesses whether the moisture present is due to hydrostatic pressure, capillary action or green concrete.
- Determines whether any external moisture is entering due to a damaged vapour barrier, poor building practices or other causes.
- Removes all surface contaminants and other substances to expose clean bare concrete.
- Removes all dust and debris from the substrate surface.
- Correctly identifies any structural cracks and takes appropriate action according to their severity, including reporting them to a structural engineer and the client.
- Notes all expansion joints and deals with them in accordance with the building specifications and design characteristics of the joint.
- Notes all other cracks and carries out repairs or other treatments as necessary.
- Mixes and prepares the moisture suppressant according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Applies the moisture suppressant evenly to the floor using suitable tools.
- Ensures that the coating is free of pinholes or bubbles, and that the correct thickness is maintained across the whole area.
- Waits for the required amount of time, and then applies a second coat, if specified by the manufacturer.
- Cleans up tools and equipment and packs them away.
- Disposes of waste materials according to site policy.
Application of primer on a concrete or timber subfloor
- Checks that the moisture content and pH level of the substrate is appropriate for the primer being used and the underlayment that will be applied over the top.
- Assembles the correct tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the tasks to be undertaken.
- Assesses the ventilation requirements and any other health or safety issues that apply to the site and takes the steps needed to minimise risks.
- Estimates the required volume of primer for the area to be coated and selects appropriate-sized containers.
- Wears the correct items of PPE for each task being carried out, and follows safe work practices at all times.
- Removes all surface contaminants and other substances to expose a clean bare substrate.
- Removes all dust and debris from the substrate surface.
- Notes any expansion joints and deals with them in accordance with the building specifications and design characteristics of the joint.
- Mixes and prepares the primer according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Applies the primer evenly to the floor using suitable equipment.
- Cleans up tools and packs them away.
- Disposes of waste materials according to site policy.
Application of patching and levelling compounds
- Assembles the correct tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job to be undertaken.
- Assesses any other health or safety issues that apply to the site and takes the steps needed to minimise risks.
- Estimates the required volumes of repair mortar and levelling compound for the job at hand and selects appropriate-sized bags or containers.
- Sets up a mixing station in a well ventilated area and ensures that plastic sheeting or other protection is in place to make the clean-up process easier.
- Wears the correct items of PPE for the tasks to be undertaken, and follows safe work practices at all times.
- Notes any expansion joints and deals with them in accordance with the building specifications and design characteristics of the joint.
- Mixes and prepares the repair mortar according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Applies the mortar to all holes, cracks or damaged areas that need patching using suitable tools.
- Trims off excess mortar and finishes the area with a trowel or sponge, as required.
- Waits for the appropriate amount of time for the mortar to cure before commencing the levelling process.
- Mixes the levelling compound, using the correct proportions of water and compound, according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Applies the levelling compound to the floor using suitable tools.
- Maintains an appropriate thickness throughout the floor area and adds aggregate if required, according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Checks the surface finish and levels to make sure that they are within the required standards.
- Cleans up the work area and tools and equipment, and disposes of waste materials according to site policy.
- Stores unused levelling compound in resealed plastic bags or containers.
General criteria for all demonstrations
- Carries out trial applications of products, where necessary, to check that the finished job meet the quality requirements and specifications of the project.
- Communicates effectively with the site supervisor, other workers and the client.
- Works cooperatively with others and maintains a steady and productive workflow.
- Anticipates problems and wastage by pre-checking site conditions, materials and measurements.
- Reports problems as per site procedures, and deals effectively with issues outside their own level of competence or authority.
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