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Structural Systems I

Structural Systems I prepares students for careers in residential and commercial carpentry. 
Course Standards
Safety
1) Identify safety hazards on a jobsite and demonstrate practices for safe working. Accurately read,
interpret, and demonstrate adherence to safety rules, including but not limited to rules
pertaining to electrical safety, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines,
and state and national code requirements. Be able to distinguish between the rules and explain
why certain rules apply. Perform a hazard assessment for a given task such as working on a
ladder to install roof framing components. Explain the steps necessary to safely perform the
task, outlining steps to take in case of an emergency.
2) Maintain safety records and demonstrate adherence to industry-standard practices regarding
general machine safety, tool safety, equipment safety, electrical safety, and fire safety to
protect all personnel and equipment. For example, when operating tools and equipment,
regularly inspect and carefully employ the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), as
recommended by Occupational, Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Incorporate
safety procedures when operating tools and equipment, such as hand and power tools, ladders,
scaffolding, and lifting equipment. Complete safety test with 100 percent accuracy. 
3) Follow procedures to work safely around materials. Adhere to responsibilities for employees in
material safety as outlined by the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), such as locating
and interpreting material safety data sheets (MSDS). Demonstrate safe procedures to move
materials by planning the movement, properly lifting, stacking, and storing materials, and
selecting proper materials-handling equipment.
Career Exploration
4) Referencing data from U.S. Department of Labor and other sources, explain an apprenticeship.
Write persuasively to describe the benefits of the apprenticeship approach of on-the-job
training paired with related training for individuals seeking construction careers. Use a variety of
sources to gather data, cite each source, and briefly describe why the chosen source is reliable.
5) Research apprenticeships and postsecondary institutions (colleges of applied technology,
community colleges, and four-year universities) in Tennessee and other states that offer
construction-related programs. Write an informative paper or develop an infographic identifying
entry requirements for a specific apprenticeship or postsecondary program of study, and the
secondary courses that will prepare students to be successful in the program.
Construction Industry Principles
6) Investigate and report on the process for determining the zoning regulations of a building site.
Describe how zone designation and regulations such as setbacks, ground coverage, and
maximum height impact the design, placement, and use of a building on a given site, citing
findings from the investigation. Read and interpret zoning ordinances and other regulations
impacting a given site (city, county, historic district, subdivision regulations, etc.). 
7) Explain inspection procedures used to enforce building codes during the construction of a
residential or commercial building, outlining the roles and responsibilities of the building
inspector and the contractor and the intervals at which inspections are performed. 
Types of Structural Systems
8) Compare and contrast types of structural framing systems, including wood light-frame,
structural steel, and reinforced concrete, analyzing the factors influencing the selection of a
structural system for given building functions. Using textbooks, online resources, or examples in
the community, select three buildings with different framing types and explain why each type
was used for the building’s function. 
Materials and Methods of Light-Frame Wood Construction
9) Distinguish among the basic types of wood framing systems, such as platform frames, balloon
frames, and post-and-beam frames. Create a chart to define and compare the pros and cons of
each type, citing examples of when each is used. 
10) Analyze the characteristics and uses of various types of wood products used in light frame
construction.
a. Categorize types of wood as hardwood or softwood.
b. Identify differences in woods used in interior and exterior applications.
c. Identify grades of lumber, common lumber defects, and differences in treated and
untreated lumber.
d. Explain the difference between actual and nominal lumber sizes.
e. Distinguish among the properties and uses of engineered wood products such as
plywood, hardboard, particleboard, oriented strand board, mineral fiberboard, glulam
lumber, and wood I-beams.
Drawing on resources such as textbooks and wood product retailers’ catalogs, examine actual
wood product samples and create a written description of each, identifying the type and grade 
of the product, noticing and naming any defects, and explaining common uses of the product.
Tools & Equipment
11) Accurately identify hand and power tools used in carpentry, describing the safe use and
maintenance of each. Hand tools include levels, squares, planes, clamps, and hand saws. Power
tools include power saws, drill presses, routers, laminate trimmers, portable power planes,
power metal shears, and pneumatic and cordless nailers and staplers. For each of the systems
covered in this course, identify and select the proper tools and accessories, critique the
readiness of the tools, use the tools to accomplish the desired tasks, and then return the tools
and accessories to their proper storage. 
Construction Drawings & Specifications
12) Inspect and interpret a full set of construction drawings and specifications for a construction
project including civil, architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and fire
protection drawings and specifications. Read and interpret different drawing types including
plan view drawings, elevation view drawings, section drawings, detail drawings, and schedules.
Explain the relationship between different types of drawing and the importance of crossreferencing
different types of drawings with one another and cross-referencing drawings with
specifications. For example, explain how a floor plan, elevation, and detail drawing may all be
used to inform the reader about the layout and material of a given building component, such as
a cabinet layout or an exterior wall. 
Floor Framing Systems
13) Implement geometric principles to square a building layout. For example, in the process of
staking the corners of a building, check the layout for squareness by using the 3-4-5 rule based
on right triangles and the Pythagorean Theorem.
14) Identify the components which make up a floor frame, analyzing the purpose of and
interrelationships among each component and explaining the sequence in which each is
constructed. 
15) Read and interpret construction drawings to determine floor system requirements, such as the
proper girder and joist size for a given span and floor load, and estimate the amount of material
needed to frame a floor assembly.
16) Describe the procedures necessary to fasten sills to the foundation and construct a floor
assembly. Apply the appropriate tools, equipment, and procedures to build a floor assembly.
Work in teams to install girders, lay out and install floor joists, install bridging and blocking, and
apply subflooring
Wall and Ceiling Framing Systems
17) Explain the procedure to lay out a wood frame wall, defining and describing the components
such as plates, studs, partitions, door and window openings, bracing, and other components.
18) Read and interpret drawings to determine wall and ceiling frame requirements for a given
residential or commercial structure. For example, calculate the length of a stud and estimate the
amount of material needed to frame a wall and ceiling assembly. 
19) Work in teams to construct a wall frame and ceiling assembly by implementing required safety
techniques, tools, and equipment. Accurately measure and lay out the frame; accurately level
and plumb the walls.
Roof Framing Systems
20) Define and describe the framing components of gable and hip roofs such as the ridge board,
plates, and types of rafters. Create a graphic illustration showing the roles of each component
and how they work together in a roof framing system. 
21) Read and interpret drawings to determine roof framing requirements, such as calculating the
length of a rafter based on the desired pitch and estimating the materials needed to frame and
sheath a roof. For example, use a speed square to lay out a common rafter on a piece of lumber.
22) Work in teams to construct a roof frame assembly by implementing required safety techniques,
tools, and equipment to accurately measure, lay out, construct, and sheath a roof frame. For
example, frame a gable roof with an opening. 
23) Compare and contrast different procedures to frame a roof. For example, describe the benefits
of using prefabricated trusses in place of framing with rafters on site. Outline the major
similarities and differences in each and write persuasively to describe why using either
prefabricated trusses or framing with rafters is more beneficial for a specific project.
Introduction to Building Envelope Systems
24) Analyze the components of a building envelope system, including building wrap, insulation, and
various types of windows and exterior doors. Describe how the selection and installation of
various components affect the energy efficiency of the building, such as the impact of air sealing
on energy efficiency. Identify materials and installation strategies used to minimize or prevent
air infiltration. For example, explain how the glass type and the proper installation of a window
impact the energy efficiency of the building.
25) Describe the procedures necessary to prepare a rough opening and install windows and doors.
Apply the appropriate tools, equipment, and procedures to prepare rough openings for proper
window and door installation. Properly install a lockset in an exterior door.
Basic Stair Framing Systems
26) Analyze the components of a stair system. Read and interpret construction drawings to
determine stair system requirements such as the total rise, number and size of risers, and
number and size of treads. Based on stated requirements, estimate the amount of material
needed to frame a stair assembly.
27) Apply the appropriate tools, equipment, and procedures to safely build a small stair unit,
demonstrating proper procedures for laying out and cutting stringers, risers, and treads. 
Business and Project Management
28) Describe strategies used to promote collaboration, trust, and clear communication among
internal and external parties on a job site. Practice effective verbal, nonverbal, written, and
electronic communication skills for working with colleagues, employers, clients, and other
personnel while demonstrating the ability to: listen attentively, speak courteously and
respectfully, resolve obstacles in construction, and respond to criticism. For example, assume
the roles of a construction business owner and a potential client, listen to the needs of a
potential client, and respond to the potential client by email; explain the services provided by
the company and the next steps needed to begin the project. Other role playing could include a
construction business owner and a potential subcontractor. 
29) Describe the components and purpose of a basic contract document for a residential project.
Recognize the relationship and responsibilities of various parties to a contract. Write a basic
contract for a construction job, such as a carpenter’s contract to complete a deck addition for a
residential client.
30) Interpret construction drawings to determine the correct materials, tools, and equipment
needed to complete a construction project. Plan and implement the steps needed to complete
the project, adhering to inspection procedures and employing safe practices throughout. Draw
from print and electronic examples to create a materials list, cost estimation, construction
schedule, and inspection checklist for a project, applying the components of the documents to
the given project.
31) Log daily activities completed during a construction project over an extended period of time.
Document important facts concisely in a daily report as would a project manager on a jobsite,
including daily progress, equipment and materials used, personnel involved, and other workrelated
activities. 
Portfolio
32) Update materials from coursework to add to the portfolio started in Fundamentals of
Construction. Continually reflect on coursework experiences and revise and refine the career
plan generated in the prior course, using technology where appropriate. Include photographs or
illustrations and written descriptions of sequential progress in construction projects. 

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Telephone / FAX

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