the
new zealand masonry trades
registration board
Why Registration?
The registration scheme, administered by an independent committee,
was established in 1975 to set standards of achievement in
structural masonry for the masonry trade. The primary reason for
the establishment of such a scheme was the need to ensure that
masons were fully competent in meeting the structural aspects of
their work, particularly as it relates to earthquake design
requirements.
The traditional apprenticeship
at the time, mainly focused on the craft of
bricklaying, with only limited time available to consider the
structural matters of laying blockwork, fixing reinforcement and
grouting of concrete masonry walls – all of which are crucial to
structural performance of masonry in earthquakes.
In 2003 the Brick
&
Blocklayer Federation New Zealand (BBFNZ) asked the Board to extend registration procedures to
include bricklaying.
The committee’s
objectives were set in 1975 as:
-
To process and,
where appropriate, approve applications for registration.
-
To promote,
encourage and improve standards of masonry construction.
-
To promote
education and training of masons.
These objectives remain the
same for today’s Board, formed in 1987 from the original committee
structure and are applicable to both concrete masonry and brickwork.
The
Board and Registration Scheme
The following groups can have representation on the Registration
Board.
Association of Consulting Engineers
of New Zealand (ACENZ)
Institution of Professional
Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ)
Local Government
New Zealand (LGNZ)
Clay Brick & Paver Manufacturers Association
(CBPMA)
New
Zealand
Concrete Masonry Association
(NZCMA)
Cement & Concrete Association of
New Zealand (CCANZ)
Building
Officials' Institute of New Zealand (BOINZ)
Brick & Blocklayers Federation
New Zealand (BBFNZ)
The Board’s activities are directed towards implementing the
primary objectives and establishing a pool of tradespeople with a
recognized qualification. There are two qualifications:
-
‘Registered
Structural Mason’ shows that the mason can meet the required
standards of workmanship for masonry, reinforcement fixing and
grouting of masonry walls, set by NZS 4210, as well as
understanding the requirements of the appropriate sections of the
New Zealand Building Code.
-
'Registered Master Bricklayer' shows that a bricklayer can meet the
required standards of brickwork set by NZS 4210 and NZSHB 4236 as
well as understanding the requirements of the appropriate sections
of the New Zealand Building Code.
The Board is also committed to a periodic updating of knowledge to
the Registered Structural Mason and Registered Master Bricklayer as
new
Standards or
practices are developed.
However the Board cannot
expand the pool of qualified masons alone. There is a need for
specifiers, architects, engineers and territorial authorities in
particular, to support the concept of the scheme.
The Path to Registration - Structural Mason
What does the structural mason do to achieve registration?
-
Registration
papers can be obtained from the Board Secretary or can be
downloaded here (Structural Mason Registration
Pack). The principal
papers are project audit certificates for completion by the mason and
the required auditors, as outlined below.
-
Three projects
must be observed during construction, one by a NZMTRB
Registration Auditor (Blocklaying) and the other two by chartered engineers
and/or
corporate members of the Institution of Professional Engineers
New Zealand (IPENZ)
who are required to verify that the applicant has been fully
responsible for:
-
Interpretation of plans and specifications.
-
Setting out,
selection and laying of masonry units.
-
Preparation
and placing of reinforcing steel.
-
Placing and
compaction of concrete/grout into masonry cores and cavities.
Note: A
list of NZMTRB Registration Auditors can be downloaded from the Registration
Auditors page. A different engineer may be used for the
second and third projects.
-
A multi-choice answer examination set by the Board is conducted by one of the project
auditors/engineers to
test the applicant's understanding of structural masonry and its relevance
in earthquake resistant construction. This requirement can
also be met by evidence of satisfactory completion of a
correspondence course "Registration of Masons" run by WELTEC,
Private Bag 39803, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045, telephone 0800-935-832, www.weltec.ac.nz.
-
The mason must also be able to show a
satisfactorily completed trade certificate/apprenticeship
training programme or a significant period of employment in the
trade. Where no formal trade certificate has been
completed the Board requires a minimum of nine years experience in
the mason industry.
Note:
The projects and
examination must be completed within a
two-year time span.
The requirements for the actual construction of the projects and
the examination relate principally to Standard NZS 4210 Masonry
Construction, but also to sections of NZS 4229 Concrete Masonry
Buildings Not Requiring Specific Engineering Design, NZS 3604
Timber Framed Buildings and also the Building Act and Regulations.
All these standards contain some references of structural
importance, which the mason needs to be aware of.
Typical project examples are retaining walls, basement walls and
walls for commercial and residential buildings. The important
issue is that the NZMTRB Registration Auditor (Blocklaying) or the
professional engineers must be available to inspect
the projects during construction. If the project is a residential
wall to NZS 4229, this will probably require special arrangements
for an auditor's/engineer’s inspection.
Note: There may be a cost associated with the assessments
of project reports. Any assessor fees must be met
directly by the applicant.
The Path to Registration - Master Bricklayer
What does the bricklayer do to achieve registration?
-
Registration
papers can be obtained from the Board Secretary or can be
downloaded here (Bricklayer
Registration Pack). The principal
papers are project audit certificates for completion by the mason and
the required auditors as outlined below.
-
Three projects must be observed during
construction by the required auditor (as outlined below) who is required to verify that the applicant has been fully
responsible for:
-
Interpretation of plans and specifications.
-
Setting out,
selection and laying of brickwork.
Note:
One auditor must be a NZMTRB Registration Auditor (Bricklaying)
and the other two can either be NZMTRB Registration Auditors
(Bricklaying), Trade Assessors, Building Inspectors,
Architects/Designers and/or Engineers. A list of NZMTRB
Registration Auditors can be downloaded from the Registration
Auditors page.
-
Photographs
are required of each project submitted and should include the
following aspects - elevation view (not too distant), weep
holes, washouts, top vents, ties, scope of project.
-
A multi-choice answer examination set by the Board is conducted by one of the
certified auditors to
test the applicant's understanding of compliance with standards and
bricklaying code. This requirement can also be met if
evidence of satisfactory completion of a correspondence course
"Registration of Masons" run by WELTEC, Private Bag 39803,
Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045, telephone 0800-935-832, www.weltec.ac.nz.
-
The bricklayer must also be able to show a
satisfactorily completed trade certificate/apprenticeship
training programme or a significant period of employment in the
trade. Where no formal trade certificate has been
completed the Board requires a minimum of nine years experience in
the masonry industry.
-
The Board can set alternative procedures to
recognise current competency of bricklayers applying for
registration. Currently, membership of a local Masonry
Trades Association affiliated to the Brick & Blocklayers
Federation New Zealand (BBFNZ) reduces the number
of projects required to two.
Note:
The projects and
examination must be completed within a
two-year time span.
The requirements for the actual construction of the projects and
the examination relate principally to Standard NZS 4210 Masonry
Construction, but also to sections of NZS 4229 Concrete Masonry
Buildings Not Requiring Specific Engineering Design, NZS 3604
Timber Framed Buildings and also the Building Act and Regulations.
All these standards contain some references to brickwork, which the
bricklayer needs to be aware of.
New Zealand Standards Handbook NZSHB
4236 has been produced and this brings together all the relevant
clauses from the industry documents.
Note: There may be a cost associated with the assessments
of project reports. Any assessor fees must be met
directly by the applicant.
-
Each Board member reviews the applications,
and may ask for supplementary information where necessary before
deciding whether to approve the application. The costs of
any further assessment must be met directly by the applicant.
-
One
Auditor must be a NZMTRB Registration Auditor (Bricklaying) and
the other two can either be NZMTRB Registration Auditors
(Bricklaying), Trade Assessors, Building Inspectors,
Architect/Designers and/or Engineers.
Who
is Registered?
Once the Board has approved an application the mason’s name will
be entered in the records and will be included in the listings,
which are available on the website www.mtrb.org.nz.
A
registration card will be issued confirming registration. This
card is up-dated annually following payment of fees.
The mason may then use the title Registered Structural Mason
or Registered Master Bricklayer, and
is encouraged to do so.
Any specifier, approving authority, building owner, and so on, who
wishes to know whether a mason is registered, may ask to see the
current registration card, or may refer to the most recently
published list. New names are continually being added to the
records, so that at any time a particular mason may be registered,
but not yet appear on the list. A phone call/fax to the Secretary
or reference to the website
www.mtrb.org.nz, will quickly confirm the true situation.
The Benefits
In the changing scene of regulation in respect of the
New Zealand Building
Code and the supporting Standards, there is now a clearer
understanding of responsibilities for skill levels and their
impact on the construction of the building. While New Zealand Standards
documentation cannot specifically require masonry work to be
carried out by Registered Structural Masons or Registered Master
Bricklayer, it does express the
opinion that such work preferably should be carried out by an
accredited tradesman. This scheme provides the accrediting
qualification.
However the Department of
Building and Housing is introducing compulsory licensing of
various building trades. The trade lists includes brick and
blocklayers. By 2010 Licensing of Building Practitioners will be fully
operational. The current NZMTRB Registration Scheme is a means of
identifying acceptable experience and will provide exemptions from
the requirements to submit projects for evaluation for
Licensing. A formal requirement by 2015 will be
the attaining of a National Certificate in Brick/Blocklaying.
The Board also
requires every five years, the audit of the Registered Structural
Mason’s work by a NZMTRB Registration Auditor (Blocklaying) or
professional engineer.
Essentially, Standards
New Zealand
documents are giving a clear warning that if something
goes wrong later in the construction, the engagement of a
non-registered mason could be seen as a possible contributing
cause. Such situations increase the risk of liability to those who
should have been aware of the distinction relating to
registration.
Contact for
further information:
The Secretary
New Zealand Masonry Trades Registration Board
P O Box 448
WELLINGTON 6140
Telephone: 0-4-499-8820
Facsimile: 0-4-499-7760
E-mail: admin@cca.org.nz
Website: www.mtrb.org.nz
Page updated 22 September 2008. |