About the FES Programme
This course is for ALL Building Construction Workers and will provide a Single Subject Certificate in Introduction to Low Energy Buildings.
There is a need for a change in approach to deliver low energy buildings and also to introduce the concept of ‘Systems Thinking’ which will enable all trades to work together more efficiently and effectively and develop the understanding of Quality Building.
The course is divided into 6 units covering different topics and will be assessed in the form of visual presentations, videos, group discussions, class debates, demonstrations and progress assessments. The learning units will be developed and discussed with maximum input by group participation of the class.
In brief, the course is intended to provide know how and practical information for building construction workers with the intention of improving their skills and awareness of Quality, Energy Efficiency, Best Practice and System Thinking.
Structure and Delivery
The programme will be delivered through a mix of classroom discussions, demonstration workshops and poster design with a total of 3 days contact for participants. Additional study is required outside of the classroom contact days. The courses will be delivered over a 3 day period
- 3 day sessions (classroom and demonstration workshops) over a 6 week period
- 4 part time evenings with 1 day demonstration day over a 6 week period
Why have this course?
QualiBuild was funded by the European Commission BUSI Build Up Skills Initiative and is being managed and coordinated by Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) with partners Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB), The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) and The Construction Industry Federation (CIF).
Seamus Hoyne, LIT, lead partner in the QualiBuild project,
“This a unique opportunity to learn from the experience in Europe of improving construction standards, to see what works.”
The FES course will focus on an improved attitude on how to carry out construction and develop higher expectations in Quality and Workmanship (ie what is acceptable work). The construction sector will benefit from focusing on changes being made to improve quality control and raise awareness on the benefits of quality low-energy buildings.
This presents an opportunity to focus on Quality and Efficiency of new construction and retrofitting practices and challenge the way building construction workers work, process and understand the end goal (system thinking).
It will also include a specific task focused on improving communications and engagement between professionals (architects, engineers etc.), builders, craft workers, trades and clients.
The key components of this FES course is to develop:
- Low Energy Buildings
- Quality Build
- Communication and Awareness Skills
- System Thinking
Read about the Pilots?
QualiBuild piloted a Foundation Energy Skills (FES) Programme for 200 building construction workers during 2015 and 2016.
If you want to read more, take a look at some of these FES courses held around the country in 2015/2016 and see what is involved: PHASE 1 and PHASE 2
With cooperation from the QualiBuild partners and certain training bodies, the FES course will continue to be rolled out on an interim short term basis, until such time that a training body such as SOLAS can take over the programme, run and manage the course nationally on a long term basis.