Construction National Diploma (ND)

Core units Studied:

Sustainable Construction
The unit provides a fundamental understanding of the ways in which the activities of the construction sector impact upon the natural environment. 

Construction Technology and Design in Construction and Civil Engineering
This unit will enable learners to cope with the requirements of construction related projects as they pass through various stages from design to construction including the implications of changes and variations in the design. 

Science and Materials in Construction and the Built Environment
Learners will have the opportunity to investigate some of the typical materials used in their specific vocational pathway, including the identification of the most important materials, a basic understanding of how these are extracted, harvested or manufactured, their key properties and uses, the mechanisms that cause them to deteriorate and the techniques used to prevent such deterioration. 

Mathematics in Construction and the Built Environment
The unit explores the rules for manipulation of formulae and equations, calculation of lengths, areas and volumes, determination of trigonometric and geometric properties, and the application of graphical and statistical techniques. 

Graphical Detailing in Construction and the Built Environment
Learners will come to appreciate the layout of drawings, the choice of scale and proportion, the types of views used, the use of correct line widths, conventional graphic symbols and the appropriate use of annotation. 

Building Technology in Construction
The unit will introduce learners to the common forms of low-rise construction used for domestic and commercial buildings, including their substructures, and they will be shown how the development and use of prefabricated building components and systems in recent years has had a major impact on construction, including reducing site costs and the need for skilled labour.

Health, Safety and Welfare in Construction and the Built Environment
The unit will provide learners with knowledge and understanding of the legal framework relating to employer and employee responsibilities.  Learners will become familiar with the roles and responsibilities of personnel and with the procedures required following the occurrence of accidents.

Project Management in Construction and the Built Environment
Learners will develop an understanding of the management functions of planning and the techniques that are available both off and on site to effectively plan the deployment of resources needed successfully to complete a project.

Surveying in Construction and Civil Engineering
Learners will become familiar with basic surveying techniques, be able to carry outsimple surveying tasks and to present the data, and will understand the roles of surveying and setting out in the construction process.

Building Surveying in Construction
The unit will provide learners with an understanding of the role and responsibilities of Building Surveyors, including their interactions with other professionals.  They will be able to apply the understanding gained to carry out building surveys, and be capable of producing survey reports and associated schedules for low-rise domestic and commercial buildings. 

Measuring, Estimating and Tendering Processes  in Construction and the Built Environment
The unit will provide learners with a basic understanding of the processes and techniques commonly involved in measuring, estimating and tendering.  They will be able to obtain detailed quantities from drawings and other documents, estimate the cost of a variety of construction works, know how to convert the estimate into a tender, and to provide outline cost estimates of proposed construction projects. 

Computer – aided Drafting and Design in Construction
Learners will be given the opportunity to gain knowledge of how CADD is used to produce drawings, including the software and hardware components, and skills in using CADD software to produce 2D drawings and 3D models.