Engineering and manufacturing
Fenestration fabricator
Manufacturing fenestration products such as windows, doors, shop fronts and walls.
Summary
This occupation is found in the manufacturing sector. Fenestration refers to the design, construction, or presence of openings in a building it can include but not limited to windows, doors, louvres, vents, wall panels, skylights, storefronts, curtain walls, and slope glazed systems. Fabrication companies make and supply fenestration products to domestic or commercial markets.
The broad purpose of this occupation is to manufacture fenestration products such as but not limited to window frames, door frames, conservatory roofing, roof lanterns, roof lights, secondary glazing frames and shop fronts. They usually specialise in a particular material – aluminium, timber, steel or UPVC and a range of products. They cut and assemble profiles. Depending on the product they may add ancillary items for example, fixings and fastening, handles, hinges, locks and louvers, along with weatherproofing for example, gaskets, seals, membranes and sealants. Regardless of the product or material, it involves working to a specification, in line with quality standards, health and safety and environmental considerations.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with the production or general manager whom they report to and depending on the size of the organisation customers (internal or external), other fabricators, delivery personnel, design office, internal stores and suppliers.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing their own work, with minimal supervision, ensuring they meet set deadlines.
Typical job titles include
- Aluminium/upvc fabricator | Double glazing window factory fabricator | Fabricator | Fabricator production operative | Windows/doors fabricator
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
Fabrication within the fenestration industry: domestic, commercial and public.
K2:
Principles, purpose and interdependencies of additional functions and reporting channels: surveying, processing, despatch, installation, service engineers including internal and external customers.
K3:
Legislation, standards and regulations associated with fabrication activities: CE marking, secured by design, building regulation documents, Product Standard (BS 7412, 8529) and Quality Management System (ISO 9001) and their application in the workplace.
K4:
Awareness of health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance (Emergencies and First Aid provision and impact on role). Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Fire safety. Health and Safety at Work Act. signage, fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Slips, trips, and falls. Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Electrical safety, emergency stop procedures. Safety equipment and guards on machinery and power tools.
K5:
Safety Controls: preparation, maintenance and restoration of the work area and personal protective equipment (PPE), types and uses.
K6:
Safe systems of work: Risk assessments, dynamic risk assessments, control measures, method statements and hazard identification in the work area.
K7:
Manual handling techniques: manual and mechanical methods.
K8:
Causes and consequences of incorrectly stored or packaged products.
K9:
Problems and damage that can occur during product handling.
K10:
Licenses and training required to use moving and handling equipment: forklift trucks and manipulators.
K11:
Properties, use and limitations of fenestration fabrication specialist products: including enhanced performance, safety, security and fire rating.
K12:
Fenestration fabrication materials properties, use and limitations including: aluminium, steel, timber, composites and UPVC.
K13:
Properties, use and limitations of ancillary items: fixings and fastening, Safety items, restrictors, fire egress handles, handles and hinges.
K14:
Purpose and installation techniques of weatherproofing products and drainage systems: gaskets, membranes, sealants, weather seals their purpose, compatibility and conditions for storage.
K15:
Verbal communication techniques. Giving and receiving information. Matching style to audience. Barriers in communication and how to overcome them. Fabrication industry terminology.
K16:
Written and digital communication techniques within the fabrication industry.
K17:
Machinery and equipment used in fabrication: cutting machinery, measuring equipment, routers and welding machinery.
K18:
Tools, equipment and machinery: checks, limitations, safe use, maintenance and storage.
K19:
CAD (computer-aided design) and CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) equipment and their use in fenestration fabrication.
K20:
Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from drawings, specifications, digital documents and work instructions, including manufacturer's instructions.
K21:
Planning techniques: Order of works, product and specification checks and resources.
K22:
Techniques for measuring, marking and drilling materials.
K23:
Process and product assembly and joining methods: welding, fusing and crimping and checking squareness of product.
K24:
Ancillary items and beading fitting techniques.
K25:
Interim and final inspection techniques: size, shape, design and ancillary items.
K26:
General fabrication errors: root causes and rectification techniques.
K27:
Awareness of environmental and sustainability regulations, standards and guidance. Impact of the sector on the environment. Recycling, reuse and safe disposal of waste.
K28:
Product handover process: to relevant department or function.
K29:
Employment rights and responsibilities, Working Time Directive, Employment Rights Act, penalty clauses, consumer rights and product as described.
K30:
Principles of inclusion, equity and diversity in the workplace.
K31:
Well-being: mental and physical health considerations in self and others and how to access support.
K32:
Escalation procedures: defect or fault escalation.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0744: Fenestration fabricator (Level 2) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0744
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £26,655 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5317 Glaziers, window fabricators and fitters
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5317/02 Window fabricators
S1:
Comply with industry regulations, standards and guidance.
S2:
Identify and use personal protective equipment (PPE).
S3:
Prepare and maintain a safe working area and restore on completion of work.
S4:
Perform machinery checks for example crimper and welder.
S5:
Comply with Health and Safety regulations, standards and guidance.
S6:
Interpret, safe systems of work, review risk assessments and implement control measures.
S7:
Apply manual and mechanical handling techniques to handle and position products.
S8:
Select the type and quantity of materials and components.
S9:
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
S10:
Use digital and written methods to communicate with others.
S11:
Select, check and use hand and power tools, equipment and machinery.
S12:
Read and interpret information from work documents and other sources, for example drawings, specifications, digital documents, work instructions or manufacturer's guidance.
S13:
Plan order of works. Manage time and tasks to meet project deadlines.
S14:
Measure, mark and drill materials.
S15:
Escalate defects, faults or issues.
S16:
Assemble and join fabrication materials including checking square.
S17:
Select and fix ancillary items and beading to products.
S18:
Carry out interim and final inspection for example, size, shape, design and ancillary items.
S19:
Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance, recycling and disposal.
S20:
Complete handover process.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0744: Fenestration fabricator (Level 2) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0744
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £26,655 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5317 Glaziers, window fabricators and fitters
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5317/02 Window fabricators
B1:
Put wellbeing, health and safety first.
B2:
Take ownership of given work.
B3:
Consider the environment and sustainability when using resources and carrying out processes.
B4:
Seeks learning and development opportunities.
B5:
Contribute to an inclusive and diverse culture.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0744: Fenestration fabricator (Level 2) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0744
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £26,655 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5317 Glaziers, window fabricators and fitters
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5317/02 Window fabricators