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Contents
Contents
Details of the occupational standard
Occupation summary
This occupation is found in large and small employers in all types of buildings within a diverse range of commercial and domestic environments. Buildings may be existing or new and part of a construction site, such as residential dwellings, new build developments, education, retail, healthcare, leisure, hospitality, fit-out and industrial buildings.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to work in an efficient and safe manner to ensure a high level of customer care whether working alone or within a team. The type of installations will vary from basic to advanced, working with a diverse range of materials and designs. As one of the finishing trades, a Floorlayer will significantly contribute to the ‘look and feel’ of a building which can provide great personal satisfaction.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with colleagues, clients and associated trades e.g. plumbers, electricians, painters. They will interpret drawings and extract relevant information to complete the installation of the flooring, but be flexible, in adapting their approach and techniques when faced with unexpected site conditions.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for as a trained professional with the installation of textile products such as carpet and carpet tiles, Resilient products such as luxury vinyl tiles and planks, vinyl, linoleum, rubber (sheet or tile) or timber such as laminate and wood (engineered and solid) flooring.
This apprenticeship consists of a core and options and apprentices are required to select one option depending upon their job role. The occupations covered by this standard are:
• textile & resilient floorlayer – prepares subfloors and installs textile and resilient floorcoverings in various formats.
• wood floorlayer – prepares subfloors and installs timber flooring in various formats.
Completion of the apprenticeship will allow individuals to meet the requirements of the Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and therefore obtain a Skilled Worker card.
Typical job titles include:
Core occupation duties
Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Work in compliance with occupational health, safety and environmental requirements to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of self and others at all times. Report in a timely manner any non-compliances to the appropriate person. |
K1 K2 K3 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K19 K22 K23 K25 K26 K27 K54 K55 |
Duty 2 Carry out their work conforming to all current and relevant building regulations, manufacturer guidelines, quality standards and work instructions |
K1 K2 K3 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K18 K19 K21 K22 K24 K25 K55 |
Duty 3 Work to the installation programme, adapting to changes in schedule and requirements where necessary |
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Duty 4 Use correct materials and appropriate tools and equipment for the project. |
K2 K6 K7 K9 K11 K12 K13 K15 K16 K18 K19 K21 K22 K25 K55 |
Duty 5 Prepare the work site including, acclimatisation or materials, setting out the work, and preparing of the subfloor |
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Duty 6 Plan, measure, cut, and install floorcoverings to the project drawing and specification. |
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Duty 7 Preparation and mixing of materials as per manufacturers guidelines |
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Duty 8 Collaborate with colleagues, clients, sites and other construction trades |
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Duty 9 Maintain a clear and safe working environment at all times, disposing of waste appropriately using a sustainable approach |
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Duty 10 Carry out continuous professional development to maintain knowledge of current and future developments affecting the role |
Option duties
textile and resilient floorcoverings duties
Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 11 Use the appropriate tools, materials and equipment to carry out the installation of textile and resilient floorcoverings |
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Duty 12 Identify textile and resilient underlayments and use the correct installation method |
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Duty 13 Identify textile and resilient floorcoverings and use the correct installation method |
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Duty 14 Install textile sheet and tile floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings |
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Duty 15 Install resilient sheet and tile floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings |
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Duty 16 Install appropriate ancillary products to textile and resilient floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings |
wood- based floorcoverings duties
Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 17 Use the appropriate tools, materials and equipment to carry out the installation of wood-based floorcoverings |
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Duty 18 Identify timber floorcoverings and select correct installation method for the specification |
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Duty 19 Install solid wood floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings |
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Duty 20 Install engineered wood and laminate floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings |
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Duty 21 Install appropriate ancillary products to timber floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings |
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Duty 22 Sand and finish solid and engineered wood floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings |
KSBs
Knowledge
K1: Awareness of health and safety regulations, relevance to the occupation and the operative's responsibilities. Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA). Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Provisional use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). Manual handling. Occupational Health. Safe Systems of Work. Working at height. Working in confined spaces. Situational awareness. Isolation and emergency stop procedures. Emergency evacuation procedures. Slips, trips and falls. Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers
Back to Duty
K2: Safety Control equipment and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
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K3: Standards and regulations associated with floorlaying activities: British standards. Building regulations. manufacturer guidelines.
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K4: Employment and contract types: pay, tax, pension, national insurance, fixed term contract, full time contract, part time contract, zero hour contract.
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K5: Adaptations of flooring installations to meet the needs of vulnerable people: light reflection value (LRV), ramps, colours, slip resistance, double stick, low level access.
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K6: Flooring installations in traditional, heritage, historic and listed buildings.
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K7: Floorlaying materials and techniques in different industry sectors: residential dwellings, new build developments, education, retail, healthcare, leisure, hospitality, fit-out and industrial buildings.
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K8: Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from drawings, specifications and work instructions.
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K9: Principles of digital design, modelling systems and digital platforms.
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K10: Written and digital communication techniques within the flooring industry.
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K11: Verbal communication techniques and flooring terminology.
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K12: Safe handling and moving of flooring materials and equipment: manually, mechanical aids, lifting equipment.
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K13: Storage of flooring materials and equipment: Floorcoverings, hand tools, power tools, plant.
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K14: Assessment and testing all flooring surface conditions: temperature, relative humidity, moisture content, ambient and environment conditions, surface regularity and subfloor condition including presence of underfloor heating.
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K15: Planning methods for flooring installation: phasing work and acclimatisation of materials before laying; type of contract and other works being undertaken.
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K16: Methods to remove and dispose new or existing flooring.
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K17: Time and task management techniques.
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K18: Resource calculation techniques: type of contract, manufacturers guidelines and site conditions.
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K19: Characteristics and correct uses of preparation methods for different sub-floor surfaces: mixing and application of repair and smoothing compounds and damp proof membranes, installation of fabricated underlayments and sheet membranes.
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K20: Methods of remedial works in flooring: textile and resilient products.
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K21: Methods used in measuring, marking and setting out for installing floorcoverings.
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K22: Equipment pre-user checks, safe use, maintenance, defect or fault escalation.
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K23: Timber subflooring: structure and repair techniques.
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K24: Problem solving techniques: subfloor preparation and flooring installation.
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K25: Considerations of the environment and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance: carbon footprint, recycling, safe use and disposal of products and waste.
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K26: Wellbeing: mental and physical health considerations and how to access support.
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K27: Equity, diversity and inclusion, and its impact on built environment solutions.
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K28: Textile floorcovering: woven and secondary backed or broadloom sheet.
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K29: Flooring underlayments: textile.
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K30: Methods of setting out horizontal, inclined, stepped and shaped and coved surfaces; patterned and non-patterned materials.
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K31: Textile floorcovering joins, pile direction and pattern matching techniques.
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K32: Methods of installing underlayment: fixed, bonded and loose lay.
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K33: Textile floorcovering installation techniques bonded, stretch fit and loose lay.
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K34: Resilient floorcovering: heterogenous (luxury vinyl tile (LVT), cushion floor) and homogeneous (linoleum, rubber) in sheet and tile forms.
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K35: Principles of contract and domestic resilient and textile installations.
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K36: Batch numbers, shuffling, direction, tessellation and their effects on colour variation.
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K37: Accessory installation techniques: thresholds, skirtings, profiles, stair nosings and trims.
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K38: Resilient installation techniques: tiled, flat fit, site formed - cap and cove, joining of resilient materials.
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K39: Tools and equipment used for textile and resilient flooring, their purpose, operation and maintenance.
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K40: Wood floorlaying hand tools, their purpose, operation and maintenance.
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K41: Power tools, their purpose, operation and maintenance: jigsaw, circular saw, drill, mitre saw, multitool.
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K42: Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) use and purpose.
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K43: Characteristics of wood-based floorcoverings products: solid wood, engineered wood, grain direction and grading.
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K44: Wood-based floorcoverings installation methods: nail down, glue down and floating.
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K45: Wood-based floorcovering installation techniques: setting out, cutting, matching and fitting.
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K46: Wood-based floorcoverings expansion gaps: temperature, relative humidity (RH), manufacturer guidelines, area and wood type.
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K47: Underlayment for wood-based floorcovering; foam, acoustic and rubber.
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K48: Principles of sprung floor installation: cradle and batten, matting and clip systems.
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K49: Laying techniques: long strip pattern, plank, diagonal, herringbone, basket weave, chevron and decorative panel.
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K50: Principles of sanding newly installed or refurbished wood-based floorcoverings.
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K51: Accessory installation techniques: thresholds, skirtings, profiles, stair nosings and trims.
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K52: Wood-based floorcoverings finishing techniques: hard wax, oil, stains and sealants.
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K53: Methods of remedial work in wood-based floorcoverings.
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K54: Techniques for isolating and protecting surrounding flooring.
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K55: Methods of calculating flooring materials and resources.
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Skills
S1: Comply with health and safety regulations, standard and guidance.
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S2: Select and safety control equipment, use personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
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S3: Verbally communicate with others: For example, employers, colleagues, clients, other trades.
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S4: Use written or digital methods to communicate with others.
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S5: Calculate material quantities, qualities and select required resources.
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S6: Select and use textile and resilient floorcovering tools and equipment.
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S7: Remove and dispose of existing floorcovering.
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S8: Isolate, protect and prepare the work area.
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S9: Test the subfloor condition prior to the application of the smoothing compound and fabricated underlayment: for example, remove surface contaminants and laitance, mix and apply moisture control systems, apply of primers.
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S10: Prepare the sub floor for the floorcovering: for example, installation of fabricated underlayments, mixing and application of smoothing compounds, installation of sheet membranes.
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S11: Interpret and use information from drawings, specifications, work instructions.
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S12: Carry out remedial works on textile and resilient flooring.
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S13: Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
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S14: Carry out pre-user checks, use and maintain plant and equipment. Escalate defects or faults.
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S15: Store tools, materials and equipment.
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S16: Measures, marks and sets out floorcoverings.
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S17: Use of tools and equipment required for the preparation and installation of resilient and textile floorcovering including setting out, stretching, cutting, adhesives, joining and finishing.
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S18: Determine correct textile pile direction for the installation area.
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S19: Carry out pattern matching for textile or resilient floorcovering.
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S20: Apply installation techniques for underlayments for textile floorcoverings.
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S21: Applies installation technique for resilient sheet for example tiled, flat fit, site formed (cap and cove) and joins.
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S22: Applies installation techniques for textile floorcovering, for example woven secondary backed, broadloom sheet.
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S23: Applies installation techniques for finishing accessories for example, thresholds, skirtings, profiles, stair nosings and trims.
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S24: Use and maintenance of hand tools used in the preparation and installation of wood-based floorcoverings.
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S25: Use wood-based floorcovering power tools and equipment.
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S26: Use local exhaust ventilation (LEV) equipment.
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S27: Determine correct expansion gaps in wood-based floorcoverings considering; temperature, relative humidity (RH), manufacturer guidelines, area and wood type.
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S28: Apply installation techniques for underlayments for wood-based floorcoverings.
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S29: Apply techniques for setting out, cutting, and matching wood-based floorcoverings.
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S30: Select fixing method for the wood-based floorcovering installation for example nail down, glue down, floating.
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S31: Use sanding equipment on installed or refurbished wood-based floorcovering.
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S32: Use finishing techniques and products for example: hard wax, oil, stains and sealants.
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S33: Apply installation techniques for finishing accessories for example, thresholds, skirtings, profiles, stair nosings and trims.
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S34: Set out horizontal, inclined, stepped and shaped or coved surface, patterned and non-patterned materials.
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S35: Carry out remedial work on wood-based floorcoverings.
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S36: Resolves problems with timber subflooring prior to a flooring installation.
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S37: Apply installation techniques for floating and fixed wood-based floorcoverings.
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Behaviours
B1: Demonstrate commitment to workplace health, safety and wellbeing.
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B2: Collaborate and communicate effectively as part of a team.
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B3: Take personal responsibility for sustainable outcomes when carrying out duties, using environmental good practices.
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B4: Contribute to a diverse and inclusive workplace.
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B5: Take ownership of own workload.
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B6: Seek learning and development opportunities to enhance personal competence.
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B7: Adapt to new and changing situations with colleagues, clients and other construction trades.
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Qualifications
English and Maths
English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
Version log
Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
---|---|---|---|
1.3 | Occupational standard and end-point assessment plan revised. | 16/06/2025 | Not set |
1.2 | Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised | 05/08/2024 | 15/06/2025 |
1.1 | End-point assessment plan revised | 07/11/2023 | 04/08/2024 |
1.0 | Approved for delivery | 08/11/2018 | 06/11/2023 |
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