CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

S/N Content Areas Sub-Areas/Topics Expected number of Test
Items
1 Introduction to Building • Types of Buildings 6
Construction • Documents of Building Projects
2 Health and Safety in • Safety Precautions 8
Construction • Safe Practices
• Basic First Aid Procedures
3 Preliminaries Site Operations • Site Clearance and Leveling 8
• Site layout and organization
• Setting-out
• Classification of Soil
4 Building and Construction • Building Materials 8
Materials • Damp Proof Materials
• Local Materials
5 Construction Tools and • Setting out and marking out tools and equipment 10
Equipment • Measuring tools and equipment
• Cuttings tools and equipment
• Excavation tools and equipment
• Construction Machines e.g. concrete mixers,
excavators etc.
6 Substructure Construction • Excavation and Earthwork 15
• Foundations
• Substructure Walls
• Protection to Substructure Work
7 Superstructure Construction • Walls 15
• Columns and Beams
• Floors
• Formwork and Supports

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 • Scaffolds and Scaffolding
8 Roofs • Types of Roof 10
• Roof Covering Materials
• Roof Construction
9 Stairs • Types of stair 5
• Construction of Stairs
10 Finishes and Fittings • Floors Finishes 5
• Wall Finishes
• Doors and Door Frames
• Windows and Window Frames Ironmongery
• Ceiling
• Paint and Painting
11 Building Services • Drainage 5
• Laying of Pipes in Drainage
• Discharge Units in Drainage
12 Maintenance Practices in • Types of maintenance work 5
Buildings • Shores and Shoring

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 BREAKDOWN OF CONTENT FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION GTLE
S/N CONTENT COMPETENCIES DESCRIPTIVE STATEMENT
1 Introduction to Building a. Understand the types of i. Identify the various types of buildings.
Construction buildings in Ghana. ii. Describe the functions of buildings.

b. Know the degree of i. Outline items involved in the building permit

preparation and documents.
documentation carried ii. Explain the purpose of each of the items in building
out before site work permit documents
iii. Describe the processes involved in the preparation for
building development permit.
2 Health and safety in a. acquire skills in i. Determine the safety conditions to be observe at site
Construction workshop practices ii. Explain the need for observing health and safety at
b. be aware of Site Welfare work site
Procedures iii. Explain the causes of accidents at the building site
iv. Explain the methods of accidents prevention at the
building site.
v. Identify first aid equipment at work site
vi. Demonstrate the procedure to be taken for treatment
of accident victims on site.
3 Preliminaries Site Understand preliminary i. Explain the term site clearance.
Operations Construction site operations ii. Explain the purpose of site clearance.
such as site clearance, levelling iii. Explain site leveling and its importance.
and setting out. iv. State the leveling equipment.
v. Explain the term “site layout”
vi. Explain the purpose of site layout.
vii. Describe the items in the site layout.
viii. Explain the term “setting-out” in building
construction
ix. Outline the relevance of setting out.
x. Describe the tools and equipment used in setting-out.

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 xi. Demonstrate the setting out of a simple rectangular
building

Understand types of soil and i. Identify types of soil.

their characteristics. ii. Describe the characteristics of each type of soil.
4 Building and Acquire knowledge on building i. identify building materials
Construction Materials materials ii. identify the characteristics of the building materials
iii. outline concrete practices
iv. List materials for making blocks and bricks.
Demonstrate knowledge on v. State mix ratios for types of blocks/bricks.
materials used for damp vi. explain binding material in the building industry
proofing. vii. explain the types of binding materials
viii. explain the term damp proofing
ix. outline the material used for damp proofing
x. describe the purpose of damp proofing

Demonstrate knowledge of the i. Identify local building materials.

use of local materials used in ii. Outline the uses of the local building materials
the building industry iii. Explain the merit and demerits of the use of local
materials
5 Construction Tools and Demonstrate knowledge in the i. Outline the setting out and marking out tools
Equipment use of construction tools and ii. Describe the uses of the tools identified
equipment. iii. Explain measuring tools and equipment
iv. Outline the measuring tools used at site
v. Identify cutting tools/equipment and write their
uses
vi. Identify construction machines and write their
uses
i. Explain the term’ care and maintenance’ of
construction tools and equipment

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 Demonstrate understanding on ii. Outline the various ways of caring and
the care and maintenance of the maintaining the tools
tools and equipment. iii. Explain the importance of caring for construction
tools and equipment.
6 Substructure Demonstrate understanding in i. Explain the term substructure in the building
Construction the substructure construction construction
ii. Identify the various parts of a substructure
iii. Outline the functions of the parts of a
substructure
iv. Explain the term excavation
v. State the purpose(s) of excavation.
vi. State the types of equipment for excavation.
vii. State the uses of the types of excavation
equipment.
viii. Describe the types of excavation.
ix. Explain the procedure for supporting the sides of
a trench
x. Identify types of foundation
xi. Functions of the types of foundation
xii. explain the factors which affect the bearing
capacity of a subsoil
xiii. Describe types of substructure walls.
xiv. Describe some of the defects in substructure
work.
xv. Demonstrate the methods of protection against
damages to substructure work.
7 Superstructure Recognize load and non-load- i. Explain the term “wall” in superstructure.
Construction bearing wall ii. Describe types of walls.
Acquire skills in the use of iii. Explain the functions of the types wall.
columns and beams i. Describe methods of wall construction of each type
of wall.
ii. Demonstrate the methods of protecting the wall
surface against weather erosion and physical damage.

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 iii. Compare the differences between load-bearing and
non-load-bearing walls.
iv. Describe the materials for load and Non-load bearing
wall.
v. Define the terms “column” and “beam”.
vi. State the materials for columns and beams.
vii. Explain the functions of column and beam.
viii. Apply reinforcement steels to column and beam
ix. Explain the term “floor.”
x. describe types of floor
xi. Explain the functions of types of floor in relation to
their characteristics.
xii. Differentiate between formation level and ground
level.
xiii. Explain the structural requirements of suspended
floors.
xiv. Explain the term „formwork”.
xv. Select the materials used for the types of formwork
the factors to be considered in constructing timber
formwork.
xvi. Demonstrate method of striking formwork
xvii. Explain the term „scaffold”.
xviii. Outline the types of scaffold.
xix. Explain the uses of scaffolds.
xx. Apply precautions necessary in the use of
scaffolding.

8 Roofs Recognize types of roofs in i. Describe types of roofs with the aid of sketches.
building construction. ii. Explain parts of roofs and their functions.
iii. Explain the terms in roofs construction
Determine materials used for iv. Identify roofs covering materials
roof construction. v. Apply safety precautions to be observed during
fixing of roofs covering.

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 Acquire skills in roof vi. Demonstrate the methods of constructing roofs.
construction. vii. Apply measures for preventing uplift of roofs.
9 Stairs Acquire knowledge in stairs. i. Explain the term “stairs”.
ii. Explain types of stair.
Understand the fundamentals of iii. Describe the parts of stairs.
stair construction iv. Explain the functional requirements of stair
construction.
10 Finishes and Fittings Acquire knowledge of finishes Floors Finishes
and fittings i. Identify types of floor finish.
ii. Describe types of floor finish.
Acquire skills in applying iii. Describe the procedures for laying floor finishes.
finishes and fittings iv. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of
types of floor finish

Wall Finishes
i. Identify types of wall finish.
ii. Describe the characteristics of types of wall
finish.
iii. Explain the factors to consider in selecting wall
finishes.
iv. Demonstrate the methods of applying wall
finishes.

Doors and Door Frames

i. Describe types of door frame and doors.
ii. Explain the functions of doors.
iii. Select type of door for a particular use.
iv. Demonstrate the methods of constructing doors

Windows and Window Frames

i. Identify types of window.
ii. Describe types of window and their frames
iii. Explain the functions of windows.

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 iv. Describe the methods of constructing windows.
v. Demonstrate the methods of preventing entry of
moisture at joints in windows and window
frames.

Ironmongery
i. Explain the term “ironmongery”.
ii. Describe types of ironmongery.
iii. Sketch types of ironmongery.
iv. demonstrate the uses of types of ironmongery

Ceiling
i. Explain the term “Ceiling”.
ii. Describe materials for ceiling.
iii. Explain purpose of ceiling.
iv. Explain the functions of the parts in ceiling
construction.

Paint and Painting

Explain the term: “painting”.
Describe types of paint
Explain functions of paints.
Describe the procedures for preparing surfaces to receive
paint.
Explain the purpose of priming in painting.
Demonstrate the use of tools/equipment for painting.
Explain the defects in painting.
Outline the remedies for defects in painting.
Demonstrate the methods of painting.
11 Building Services 1. Be aware of the type of Drainage:
services provided in buildings. Explain “drainage”.
Explain the principles of Drainage.
Describe the types of drainage scheme.

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 2. Recognise the provision of Explain the factors to consider in selecting a type of drainage
building services. scheme.
Describe the materials for a drainage system
3. Appreciate the importance of
safety precautions. Laying of pipes in Drainage:
Explain with the aid of sketches the methods of joining
pipes.
Describe the functions of Traps.
Explain the functions of an inspection chamber.
Demonstrate the methods of laying and bedding drain pipes.
Demonstrate methods of testing drains.

Discharge Units in Drainage:

Explain the term cesspool
Explain the functions of soak away pit.
Demonstrate the methods of constructing manholes.
Demonstrate the method of constructing septic tank.
12 Maintenance Practices in Appreciate the importance of i. Explain the term “maintenance” in building
Buildings maintenance work. construction.
ii. Explain types of maintenance work.
iii. Describe works involved in maintenance.
iv. Analyze the importance of maintenance work.

Shores and Shoring

1. Explain the term „shoring‟.
2. Describe the types of shore used in building
construction.
3. Demonstrate the methods of erecting each type of
shore.
4. Demonstrate the precautions to be taken when
installing shores.

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 TABLE OF SPECIFICATION
S/N Content Areas Course Objectives/Outcomes (Depth of knowledge )
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Total
(extended
(recall) (skills and (strategy thinking)
thinking)
concepts)
1 Introduction to Building 2 2 1 1 6
Construction
2 Health and safety in 2 3 1 2 8
Construction
3 Preliminaries Site Operations 2 2 3 7
4 Building and Construction 1 2 3 3 9
Materials
5 Construction Tools and 2 2 3 3 10
Equipment
6 Substructure Construction 2 3 5 5 15

7 Superstructure Construction 2 3 5 5 15
8 Roofs 1 3 2 2 8
9 Stairs 1 1 2 1 5
10 Finishes and Fittings 2 2 1 5
11 Building Services 1 1 2 2 6
12 Maintenance Practices in 1 1 2 2 6
Buildings
TOTAL 15% 25% 30% 30% 100