Physical Planning and Construction Civil Engineering Construction

Basic Concrete Construction Principles And Practice Training

SAQA US 116562 | NQF 3 | Credits 10 | Duration 7 Days
From $1,523 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with fundamental principles and practical skills for basic concrete construction, ensuring safe and quality workmanship. It covers concrete properties, mixing, placing, curing, and testing, aligned with South African construction standards. The training aims to enhance productivity and reduce defects on construction sites.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply correct concrete mixing ratios and procedures according to specifications.
  • Demonstrate proper techniques for placing and compacting concrete to avoid defects.
  • Analyze factors affecting concrete strength and durability, including curing methods.
  • Implement basic quality control tests such as slump and cube testing.
  • Evaluate safety risks associated with concrete construction and apply preventive measures.
  • Interpret construction drawings and specifications for concrete works.

Target Audience

This course is designed for entry-level construction workers, artisans, and supervisors who require foundational knowledge of concrete construction. It is also suitable for individuals seeking to formalize their skills in the building industry.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment. Basic numeracy and literacy are recommended.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Concrete and Safety Practices

Objectives:
• Understand the basic properties of concrete and its components.
• Identify and apply personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
• Recognize hazards on a construction site and implement safety measures.
• Explain the importance of quality control in concrete works.

Topics:
• What is concrete? Composition and types.
• Cement, aggregates, water, and admixtures.
• Safety regulations (OHS Act) and site safety.
• PPE: hard hats, boots, gloves, goggles.
• Hazard identification and risk assessment.
• Introduction to quality control: slump test, cube tests.

Day 2: Concrete Materials and Mix Design

Objectives:
• Describe the role of each concrete ingredient.
• Perform basic material testing: sieve analysis, moisture content.
• Calculate simple mix proportions by volume and mass.
• Understand the concept of water-cement ratio and its effects.

Topics:
• Cement types and storage.
• Aggregates: fine and coarse, grading, impurities.
• Water quality and admixtures.
• Mix design fundamentals: trial mixes.
• Practical: sieve analysis and moisture content test.
• Water-cement ratio and workability.
• Batching by volume vs. weight.

Day 3: Batching, Mixing, and Transporting Concrete

Objectives:
• Demonstrate correct batching procedures.
• Operate a concrete mixer safely and efficiently.
• Identify different mixing methods and their applications.
• Explain proper transport and handling to prevent segregation.

Topics:
• Batching equipment and calibration.
• Mixing: hand mixing vs. machine mixing.
• Mixer types: drum, pan, and continuous.
• Mixing time and sequence of charging.
• Transport: wheelbarrows, skips, pumps, trucks.
• Segregation and bleeding: causes and prevention.
• Practical: batch and mix a small load.

Day 4: Placing, Compacting, and Finishing Concrete

Objectives:
• Describe correct placing techniques to avoid defects.
• Use compaction tools to eliminate air voids.
• Apply finishing methods for different surface textures.
• Identify common finishing defects and their remedies.

Topics:
• Placing: formwork preparation, layer thickness.
• Compaction: hand tamping, vibrators (internal and external).
• Over-vibration and under-vibration effects.
• Finishing: screeding, floating, troweling.
• Textured finishes: broom, exposed aggregate.
• Curing: importance and methods.
• Defects: honeycombing, cracking, scaling.

Day 5: Formwork and Reinforcement

Objectives:
• Identify types of formwork and their uses.
• Erect and strip formwork safely.
• Describe reinforcement types and placing requirements.
• Understand cover and spacing for durability.

Topics:
• Formwork materials: timber, plywood, steel.
• Design principles: strength, rigidity, alignment.
• Formwork erection and stripping procedures.
• Reinforcement: steel bars, mesh, stirrups.
• Cutting, bending, and tying rebar.
• Cover blocks and spacers.
• Practical: assemble a simple formwork and place reinforcement.

Day 6: Quality Control and Testing of Concrete

Objectives:
• Perform slump test and interpret results.
• Conduct cube casting, curing, and compression testing.
• Understand non-destructive testing methods.
• Apply corrective actions for non-conforming concrete.

Topics:
• Fresh concrete tests: slump, compacting factor, air content.
• Hardened concrete tests: compressive strength, flexural strength.
• Cube sampling, curing, and crushing.
• Non-destructive tests: rebound hammer, ultrasonic pulse.
• Acceptance criteria and rejection.
• Record keeping and reporting.
• Practical: perform slump test and cast cubes.

Day 7: Practical Application and Assessment

Objectives:
• Plan and execute a concrete construction task from start to finish.
• Integrate all learned skills: batching, mixing, placing, finishing.
• Conduct quality tests on the placed concrete.
• Complete a written assessment covering theory and practice.

Topics:
• Group project: cast a concrete slab or block.
• Site preparation, formwork, reinforcement.
• Batching, mixing, placing, compaction, finishing.
• Curing and protection.
• Quality tests: slump, cube samples.
• Troubleshooting common issues.
• Written assessment (multiple choice and short questions).
• Feedback and certification.

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Thu 10 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
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Mon 27 Dec 2027 Tue 04 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 21 Jan 2028 Mon 31 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 498 sessions across 26 venues
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Mon 03 Aug 2026 Tue 11 Aug 2026 Pretoria, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,284 Register
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Fri 18 Sep 2026 Mon 28 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Thu 08 Oct 2026 Fri 16 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Wed 28 Oct 2026 Thu 05 Nov 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Wed 16 Dec 2026 Thu 24 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Tue 19 Jan 2027 Wed 27 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
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Fri 12 Mar 2027 Mon 22 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Thu 18 Mar 2027 Fri 26 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 24 Mar 2027 Thu 01 Apr 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 15 Jun 2027 Wed 23 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Tue 13 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Fri 30 Jul 2027 Mon 09 Aug 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Thu 16 Sep 2027 Fri 24 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 06 Oct 2027 Thu 14 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 26 Oct 2027 Wed 03 Nov 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 15 Dec 2027 Thu 23 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 04 Jan 2028 Wed 12 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 24 Jan 2028 Tue 01 Feb 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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