Install hardstanding laying courses

This standard is for those who install hardstanding laying courses that are used within the landscaping industries.

The standard is suitable for operatives working under limited supervision and focuses on the skills required to understand the structure and to undertake the installation of hard-surface laying courses while working to specifications.

You will be expected to understand the impact of this work on the immediate environment, and the impact of the environment on the structure.

1. assess the risks associated with installing hardstanding laying courses and the proposed work
2. select and wear suitable clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
3. select, prepare and use tools and equipment when installing hardstanding laying courses safely and correctly
4. set out for line and level
5. place and prepare a suitable hardstanding laying course
6. manually tidy the hardstanding laying course at edges and around obstructions such as drainage access covers
7. manually make good the channel left by screed rails with minimum disturbance to or compaction of adjacent screeded areas
8. minimise damage to the surroundings when installing hardstanding laying courses
9. clean, maintain and store tools and equipment promptly and securely
10. protect working areas correctly against weather and use until they are in a suitable condition
11. leave the site safe, tidy and suitable for its intended use
12. maintain working relations with all those involved in, or affected by, your work
13. maintain communication with those involved in, or affected by, your work
14. carry out your work in accordance with relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and organisational policies

1. how to identify hazards, assess risks and interpret risk assessments when installing hardstanding laying courses
2. the weather conditions that are appropriate for screed preparation
3. how to measure to ensure work is within tolerances
4. how falls, lines and levels are determined and set out
5. the types of tools and equipment required for the installation of hardstanding laying courses, including  personal protective equipment (PPE) and how to prepare, use, maintain and store these safely and correctly
6. how to calculate the expected surcharge and/or the screed depth required for a notched screed bar
7. the importance of using the correct type of hardstanding laying course material
8. the importance of laying course grain shape, grain size and moisture content to overall performance
9. the correct storage and protection conditions for hardstanding laying course material
10. how the hardstanding laying course is placed and prepared manually, how it is shaped to follow summits and hollows, and how its compaction is pre-determined
11. how channels formed by screed rails are made good
12. how mechanically-aided techniques can be used to prepare a screeded laying course for larger areas
13. how screeding can be carried out using existing fixed edges and/or screed rails
14. the size, mass and type of compaction equipment suitable for the installation of laying courses
15. how compaction equipment and any required attachments are used.

16. the importance of maintaining communication with those involved in, or affected by, your work and how this should be done

17. the importance of following relevant environmental and ecological best practice to help minimise the impact of your work on the environment

18. your responsibilities under relevant health and safety legislation, codes of practice and organisational policies

A.       select and use the following types of tools and equipment when installing hardstanding laying courses:

1. full screed bars

2. notched screed bars

3. screed rails 
4. vibrating plate compactors
5. hand finishing tools (floats, trowels, short screed bars)

B.       manually prepare a laying course using the following techniques:

1. Pre-compacted
2. Uncompacted

C.      manually prepare a laying course using the following materials:

1. fine aggregate for conventional paving
2. coarse aggregate for permeable paving
3. cement bound material for rigid pavements

Materials:

• fine aggregate for conventional paving
• coarse aggregate for permeable paving
• cement-bound material for rigid pavements

PPE: Personal protective equipment

Tools and equipment:

• full screed bars
• notched screed bars
• screed rails
• vibrating plate compactors
• hand finishing tools (floats, trowels, short screed bars)

Techniques:

• pre-compacted
• uncompacted