Unit 2 The Building Trades Carpenters and General Contractors • Other Building Trade Workers • Working Together: Carpenters and Other Tradesworkers • Industry and Standards Organizations • Entering the Carpentry Trade

Carpenters work with tools, equipment, and a wide variety of materials Carpenters work with tools, equipment, and a wide variety of materials. The decks being fabricated on the ground are lifted into position with the material lift shown in the background. Carpenters work with tools, equipment, and a wide va-riety of materials to build structures such as one-family and multifamily dwellings, offices, bridges, and highways. See Figure 2-1. Carpenters may specialize in certain aspects of construction such as concrete formwork, residential carpentry, or interior systems commonly installed in commercial and public buildings.

Cement masons place and finish concrete to produce the desired texture. Cement masons, or cement finishers, produce the finish on freshly placed concrete floor slabs, walls, sidewalks or curbs using hand tools or power equipment including floats, trowels, and screeds. See Figure 2-2. Cement masons may also set forms that are no more than one board high.

Structural-steel workers erect the steel framework for steel-framed buildings. Structural-steel workers, or structural-iron workers, erect the steel framework for steel-framed buildings. Structural-steel workers raise, place, and join girders, columns, and other structural-steel members. See Figure 2-3.

A drywaller attaches and finishes gypsum board. Drywallers, or drywall installers, plan gypsum board (drywall) installations, erect metal framing and furring channels for fastening gypsum board, and install gyp-sum board to cover walls, ceilings, soffits, shafts, and movable partitions in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. See Figure 2-4.

Industry and standards organizations establish quality standards, provide quality and consistency between manufacturers, and provide a vehicle for improvement of the construction industry. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a national organization that helps identify industrial and public needs for national standards. Standards are commonly produced and co-published with ANSI and member technical societies, trade associations, and United States and Canadian governments. See Figure 2-5. A technical society is an organization composed of engineers and other technical personnel that are united by a professional interest. The Roof Consultants Institute is an example of a technical society. A trade association is an organization that represents the producers of specific products. An example of a trade association is APA—The Engineered Wood Association. A government department is a federal government department often responsible for developing spec-ifications such as the United States Military Standards (MIL STD).