Developments in construction industry practices mean that licence class competencies need to be updated and clarified from time to time to remain relevant. It’s important to keep licence class competencies up to date to make sure LBP skills and knowledge are relevant and current.
External plastering
- Proposed insertion of a new area of practice for stucco will be removed as it is too specific. The changes are intended to create broader competencies that are inclusive rather than specific to allow for future changes.
- Performance indicators for the installation of substrates in the external plastering competencies are included. This means the installation of a cladding substrate is now considered restricted building work and must be completed by an LBP carpenter or external plasterer only. It was also recognised that competent solid plasterers commonly apply ‘sand-and-cement plaster’ over a wide range of surfaces, regardless of the substrate. This trend is being reflected in national qualifications offered by training providers.
- Generic terminology – ‘installation of the substrate’ – in the proprietary plaster cladding system (PPCS) external plastering competencies is included. This will close a loophole in the current competencies where installation of some substrates (eg aerated concrete panel) is not considered restricted building work. This change means an LBP carpenter or an external plasterer must install or supervise the installation of substrate.
- Since the LBP scheme’s inception the PPCS competencies were limited to installing and plastering over two specific substrates – lightweight fibre cement-based sheet or an exterior insulating finishing system (EIFS). PPCS will now encompass a broader range of substrates that an LBP must install or supervise.
- A new competency ‘Work Safely’ will be added to external plastering to bring together a range of safety performance indicators into one place. The Health and Safety at Work Act is now cited in place of the Health and Safety in Employment Act.
- There are also more explicit requirements for following a building consent where one has been issued.
- These changes were confirmed on 10 November 2016 and will take effect on 23 March 2017.
Click here to learn more about what these changes mean for you.
