Provide instructions and resources for assessment and training in earthbuilding - the PIRATE project

Earth is a unique building material which is easily accessible and available. Building products and processes using earth need little embodied energy during the whole life circle. The use of earthen building material reduces the carbon dioxide emissions and contributes to a healthy indoor climate. Moreover earth architecture has an aesthetic value. Historic and modern buildings take advantage of these technical, aesthetic, environmental and social benefits. There is a still small but growing market in earth construction. The advances obtained with PIRATE project, trying to contribute for the growth of this specific market, will be presented in this paper. The PIRATE project aims to disseminate the benefits of modern earth construction by creating lifelong learning opportunities, putting the emphasis on competence standards in this sector. Eighteen organisations from eight European countries, all active in the earth construction sector as professional associations, education and training providers or small companies, have come together to develop units of learning outcomes and get them recognised within national certified courses. The new standards comply with the European Qualification Framework (EQF) and the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET).