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NSW · 2 points

Understanding Construction Materials

The properties, limitations and compliance requirements of the materials residential builders use every day — timber (grading, durability, treatment and termite management), concrete, steel, masonry and claddings — and the selection mistakes that lead to defects, disputes and rework.

  • Technical issues
  • Phone-friendly, progress saves as you go
  • Assessed — unlimited attempts
  • PDF certificate on completion

Buy this course · $39.00 or save with a points pack

Substituting a material is one of the easiest decisions to make on site and one of the most expensive to get wrong. A timber grade that does not suit the span, a cladding used outside its tested system, a fastener that corrodes against the metal it is holding: each is a small choice at the time and a defect claim years later.

This course covers the materials residential builders use every day and the limits that come with them. Timber grading, durability classes and treatment levels; steel and its corrosion behaviour, including the galvanic pairs that eat fixings; masonry and concrete; and the sheet and cladding products whose compliance depends on being installed as a tested system rather than a collection of parts. It works through the documentation that proves compliance and what to ask a supplier before a substitution is agreed.

It is filed under the NSW Technical issues CPD topic and earns points at the 1-point-per-hour tier under the NSW scheme.

The properties, limitations and compliance requirements of the materials residential builders use every day — timber (grading, durability, treatment and termite management), concrete, steel, masonry and claddings — and the selection mistakes that lead to defects, disputes and rework.

You'll learn: Select and handle common residential construction materials in line with the NCC and Australian Standards, avoiding the material failures that cause defects and claims.

  • NSW: 2 points (Technical issues)

What’s inside

  1. About this course
  2. Introduction
  3. Introduction To Construction Materials
  4. Types of Timber Used in Construction
  5. Durability Classes
  6. Common Timber Defects and Failures
  7. Clay Bricks
  8. Control Joints (Expansion/Contraction Joints)
  9. Masonry in Bushfire Areas (AS 3959)
  10. A. Raft Slab (Conventional Slab)
  11. Curing Concrete
  12. Overview of Steel in Residential Construction
  13. Steel Lintels and Load-Bearing Elements
  14. Corrosion

Plus 3 knowledge checks and an assessment at the end.

Reviewed by a NSW building practitioner.

Buy this course — $39.00

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Disclaimer

The information provided in this course has been prepared using best endeavours to ensure that it is accurate, current and relevant at the time of publication. However, building legislation, regulations, standards, codes, policies and their interpretation may change over time and, in some circumstances, may be subject to interpretation or vary depending on the specific circumstances of a project.

The information provided is intended as general educational guidance only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for project-specific professional advice or verification.

Builders, contractors and other industry professionals are encouraged to independently verify the applicable requirements for each project, including the relevant legislation, regulations, standards, approvals and authority requirements, having regard to the specific site, building, construction method and circumstances.

PointCPD makes no representation or guarantee that the information provided will be applicable to every project or circumstance and recommends that participants seek appropriate professional or regulatory advice where clarification is required.

Questions about this course

Who is this course for?

Licensed NSW builders and supervisors who specify, order or approve materials, and anyone who has been asked to accept a substitution mid-build.

Does it cover cladding compliance?

It covers the principle that determines it: sheet and cladding products are compliant as tested systems, and mixing components across systems voids the evidence. Fire-specific cladding assessment is its own subject.

Does this course count toward my NSW builder CPD?

Yes, as interactive learning on the approved Technical issues topic from a provider with industry expertise, at the 1-point-per-hour tier under the NSW scheme.

What is the assessment like?

Scenario questions built on real substitution decisions, with an 80 per cent pass mark and unlimited attempts.