A new City and Guilds accredited training course for timber frame erection crews has been successfully piloted by the Timber Frame Skillnet, and will now be rolled out countrywide.

Philip Mahony, Manager of the Irish Timber Frame Manufacturers’ Association (ITFMA), said: "The importance of erecting a timber frame kit accurately and precisely cannot be overemphasised.

"While there are many experienced erector crews in the country this is the first time that they will have had the opportunity to gain a formal qualification."

-- Advertisement --

Mr Mahony said that as the market contracts timber frame customers, whether they are developers or self builders, will want to be assured of superior build quality. A fully trained and qualified workforce will be the key to this.

"In fact I can envisage the situation in the not too distant future where ITFMA members will only use or employ erectors who have successfully gained their City & Guilds accreditation."

The training course runs over three days and covers all the essential aspects of timber frame erection from soleplate to roof, placing particular emphasis on the 'Do's' and 'Don'ts'. During the three days candidates undergo a number of assessments which must be passed before they can proceed to the next part of the course.

The course also includes a rigorous on site evaluation of each candidate to ensure that what has been learnt in the classroom is implemented in practice. The course tutor is David Murray, formerly of TRADA & Crown Timber, and now an independent timber frame and energy consultant.

(PR/JM)