Advise on selection and application of wood or wood-based materials

This standard covers the skills and knowledge required to be able to provide information and guidance to others on the use of wood, wood-based materials or products derived from them. This involves identifying the most appropriate wood or wood-based material for the use to which it will be put and advising which related products should be used with it. To do this, you will need to understand the properties and characteristics of the wood or wood-based materials available and how they may react in different situations.

This standard is most suitable to a wholesale or retail setting but could be used by anyone advising others on the selection and application of wood or wood-based materials.

1. comply with health and safety requirements and procedures at all times
2. use appropriate questioning techniques to find out how others are planning to use wood, wood-based materials or products derived from them
3. review characteristics, properties and likely behaviours of available wood, wood-based materials or products derived from them
4. advise others on suitability and limitations of available wood, wood-based materials or products derived from them for their intended use
5. advise others of any related products, treatments or processes that should be used in conjunction with wood, wood-based materials or products derived from them and the effect these may have
6. maintain your knowledge of the applicability for different uses of wood or wood-based materials

1. legal duties for health and safety in the workplace and legislation covering your job role
2. species of timber in commercial use, their appearance, individual characteristics, properties and typical end uses
3. differences between softwood and hardwood and the impact this has on the wood products used
4. what is meant by durability, differing levels of durability, how they are categorised and the woods listed within each category
5. ways to improve woods ability to resist weathering, decay or infestation and mechanical durability or performance
6. how to recognise strength reducing characteristics in wood
7. types of preservative treatments available, level of protection they provide and how they are applied
8. effects of wood treatments and exterior coatings on wood structures, properties, durability and appearance
9. effect that moisture content has and the reasons for drying wood
10. recommended moisture content for wood for its intended use
11. key features, advantages and limitations of the different woods and wood-based materials available and where to access this information
12. current price structure for the wood or wood-based materials used
13. how quality of wood affects the quality of end products
14. how to recognise wood that has been graded or classified for strength or appearance and what the grades and strength classes mean
15. effect of wood properties and characteristics on tools and machinery
16. basic rules of storage, handling and protection for wood or wood-based materials and damage or deterioration that will occur if they are not followed
17. regulations and codes of practice you need to comply with when working with wood