BLCT - Building Construction

This course covers the use and maintenance of the most commonly used machines on a construction site.  The course emphasizes safe operation as well as basic operating techniques for each machine.  This will include safe setup of machines as well as excavating foundations, septic systems, driveways, etc.

This course introduces hand and power tools.  Skills are developed through practical experience in tool usage through a series of required projects.  Students will learn hand tool skills by completing a series of wood joints using chisels, planes, handsaws, and layout tools.  Students will expand on these skills while building two shop projects; one project using only hand tools and the other project introducing them to stationary power tools, usage, setup and safety.  Power tools used include table saws, radial arm saws, jointers, planers, band saws, drills, and sanders.

This course provides students with a basic knowledge of residential floor and wall framing and introduces them to codes relevant to these systems.  The course content includes applicable terminology, plan reading necessary for layout, and instruction in framing conventional floor and wall systems.  Units also included are sheathing materials and installation, insulation products with with reference to energy codes and installation, roofing materials, and hand tool/power hand tool safety.

Provides a comprehensive overview of safety requirements on job sites with emphasis on OSHA and NIOSH requirements. Presents basic requirements for personal protection, safely driving equipment, and HazCom.

Provides a broad introduction to the processes of planning and executing earth moving activities on various types of construction projects.  Explains the uses of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, scrapers, excavators, and loaders.

This course provides an overview of soil composition and characteristics.  The students will describe different types of soil classification methods and how to use them.  The course introduces the concept of soil compaction in highway and building construction.

Introduces the concept of preparing graded surfaces using heavy equipment. Covers identification of construction stakes and interpretation of marks on each type of stake. Describes process for grading slopes.

This course expands on BLCT 1022 Wood Fabrication Technology I., covering hand and power tools usage through practical experience with the tools.  Each student will build projects that will require shop drawing interpretation and copying pieces from a jig or actual item.  Compound bevels and cutting techniques are introduced that require advanced setups on the table saw and other power tools in the lab.  Students are expected to produce a higher quality project.  All tool usage is encouraged (hand and power).

This course presents proper practices for setting grades off benchmarks and describes methods of setting grades using various types of levels.  The trainee is taught how to read and interpret construction plans to determine grading requirements.  It will review basic grading operations, and also cover site prep, U.F.P.O., contours, establishing grades, reading and understanding site plans.

Tractors: Covers operation of general utility tractors in the construction industry. Describes duties and responsibilities of the operator, safety rules for operation, the attachment of implements, and basic preventive maintenance practices. Dump Trucks: Covers operation of dump trucks used in the construction industry. Describes duties and responsibilities of the operator, safety rules of driving, and basic preventive maintenance practices. Backhoes: Continued site training. Bulldozers: Continued site training. Front-End Loaders: Includes uses of the loader, periodic maintenance, safe operation, and operator safety. Describes the different types of loaders along with the various attachments available.

This course is an introduction to drywall, plaster, steel buildings, and transits.  An introduction to commercial construction is also included with a focus on apprenticeship training, energy insulated foam systems, and pre-fab concrete systems.

Provides a broad introduction to the processes of planning and executing earth moving activities on various types of construction projects. Explains the uses of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, scrapers, excavators, and loaders.

Describes basic soil classification methods, details factors affecting classification, and presents soil density and compaction requirements. Also includes requirements for handling and combining different types of materials.

Covers the equipment and supplies required to perform structural work. Discusses bridge types and materials, bridge substructures, and bridge superstructures. Structural concrete and structural steel are also addressed. Reading and understanding site plans will also be reinforced.

Excavators: Presents the use, safe operation, and maintenance of excavators. Describes various operating techniques. Explains and demonstrates the use of excavators in ditching, grading and slope-finishing operations.
Trucks: Describes the types of trucks used in highway/heavy construction; these include rigid frame trucks, such as dump trucks and transit-mix trucks, and tractor trailer trucks. The trailers discussed include bulk haulers and flatbed trailers. Truck controls and components, preventive maintenance and operation, and required licensing are also covered. Backhoes, Bulldozers, Front End Loaders: Continue to reinforce.

This course includes the processing and preparation of asphalt and concrete, including quarrying, crushing, screening, and testing.  The operation of concrete plants, hot mix asphalt plants, and pug mills is also explained.  Students will be prepared for MSHA (Mine Safety Health Administration) certification.

This course covers the principles of cabinet construction and countertop fabrication. The students will build cabinets and work on fabricating laminate countertops in the laboratory.

The four major plan groups are architectural, structural, mechanical, and civil. The students will be able to identify major types of plans.  Emphasis is placed on residential plan reading and development.

This course covers the methods used in the construction and installation of residential exterior elements.  The course content includes the construction of porches, decks and breezeways.  Students will learn about flooring and decking materials, different types of entrance doors and their installation, garage doors, footings and fasteners, railing systems and structural supports, and building code requirements.

This course includes residential and commercial blueprint reading, architectural drawing and residential house design. Other topics include the study of house styles, isometric and freehand drawing. This is a six (6) week course.

This course covers instruction in blueprint reading, concentrating on plumbing blueprints, building blueprints, and instruction in the use of the architect's scale for taking measurements.  The course covers all components of a wood frame structure including foundations.  Students will be taught the proper installation of piping and fixtures so as not to jeopardize the building's structural integrity.

This course covers the study of safety practices and OSHA training related to the plumbing trades.  All students obtain a 10-hour OSHA training card upon successful completion of the course.  The history of plumbing and how plumbing systems and codes originated is covered.  This course also covers the instruction in the proper care, use, and application of various hand and power tools used in the plumbing trade.

This course covers instruction of various fuels used in the heating trades and methods of converting fuels for various applications. The theory of combustion and combustion troubleshooting is also covered in the course. Common forced air furnace parts and components are discussed and various manufacture retrofit products are applied. This course also includes basic wiring of conventional forced air furnaces and principles and troubleshooting of furnace electronic ignition.

This course is an overview of the basic requirements of ownership and operation of a small construction business. The course also covers the building code sections that establish minimum standards for public safety and protect consumers from hazardous design and construction.

Students will determine the heat loss and heat gain in a residential or small commercial building, which would allow a technician to determine what size equipment and to select and size heating and cooling ductwork and diffusers.

Students will learn the fundamentals of duct system design as it applies to residential forced air heating and cooling systems.  This includes an in-depth look at blower performance and equipment which affects airflow in ductwork.

Course instruction provides basic management skills for a residential jobsite lead carpenter or supervisor. This course includes information on hiring workers, managing sub-contractors, material deliveries, scheduling, contracts, and documentation.