This occupation is found in both the new build and refurbishment sectors of the construction industry. Projects vary in size, scale, and duration, ranging from the repair of a garden wall to new build housing and large-scale commercial projects such as office blocks, hospitals and retail developments. Employers and contractors of bricklayers vary in size from small, local family building companies to major home builders and commercial contractors. Bricklayers sometimes choose to specialise in certain types of projects and go on to become masters in their field. Examples include refurbishment work, new build homes or commercial works. There is growing demand for Bricklayers to help meet the need for new homes.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to lay bricks and blocks, sometimes utilising modern methods of construction and premanufactured elements to construct walls. Bricklayers carry out simple setting out, prepare mortar and use a trowel to lay bricks, mortar and apply damp-proof materials to complete the project to specification and required design. Bricklayers use spirit levels and plumb lines to check building alignment and use hammers and chisels to shape and trim bricks and blocks. Bricklayers typically work outdoors on construction sites, in most weathers and at height.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with their immediate team and the site management team, which could include a senior or craft bricklayer providing advice and guidance. They would also often liaise with other construction trades such as site carpenters and roofers who could work for their own organisation or another contractor. Site managers again could work for their own company or the main contractor. In the case of smaller projects such as house extensions, liaison with the client, neighbours and officials such as building control surveyors would be expected.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for creating a high-quality product which meets standards, specifications and design plans. They are expected to do this with due regard to all safety aspects involved with working on a construction site, ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves and others at all times. With sustainable construction at the forefront of all projects, it is expected they would give consideration to the environment and sustainability of materials, waste awareness and recycling.
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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 against the construction programme to the appropriate person. |
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Duty 2 carry out their work conforming to all current and relevant building regulations, quality standards and work instructions. |
K1 K2 K3 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K15 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K30 |
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Duty 3 work to the construction programme, adapting to changes in schedule and requirements where necessary. |
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Duty 4 prepare the work site including setting out the work and the selection of materials and tools appropriate to the project. |
K2 K3 K4 K6 K8 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 |
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Duty 5 use the appropriate tools and equipment to construct walls with brick and block to industry standards |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K25 K29 |
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Duty 6 carry out minor repairs or modifications to masonry |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K22 K23 K24 |
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Duty 7 collaborate with stakeholders including clients and other construction trades |
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Duty 8 maintain a clear and safe worksite at all times, disposing of waste appropriately and sustainably |
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Duty 9 carry out continuous professional development to maintain knowledge of current and future developments affecting the role |
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Duty 10 receive, unload, move and lift materials to site for installation following good handling practices preventing injury or damage. |
K1: Awareness of health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Fire safety. Health and Safety at Work Act. Asbestos awareness. Manual handling. signage, fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working in confined spaces. Working at height. Electrical safety respiratory protective equipment (RPE), dust suppression.
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K2: Safety control equipment and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).
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K3: Safe systems of work: Site inductions, toolbox talks, risk assessments, method statements and hazard identification in the work area.
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K4: Impact of the sector on the environment: Efficient use of resources. Recycling, reuse, surface water contamination and safe disposal of waste.
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K5: The importance and considerations of the environment and sustainability: Thermal qualities, airtightness and ventilation in buildings.
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K6: Principles of building: Foundations, roofs, walls, cavity step trays, floors, utilities and services, insulation, fire, moisture and air protection, damp proof courses, the use of brick ties and quality of materials.
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K7: Standards and regulations associated with bricklaying activities: British standards, building regulations and warranty provider standards.
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K8: Materials and their characteristics: Bricks and blocks, efflorescence, mortar, damp proof courses (DPC), wall ties, plasticisers, concrete and steel lintels, Rolled Steel Joist (RSJ), fire stopping, insulation, cement and building sand.
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K9: Modern methods of construction: Rapid build technology, precast components, corner profiles, alternative frame and cladding systems, masonry support systems.
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K10: Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from drawings and specifications.
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K11: Basic principles of digital design and modelling systems.
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K12: Simple resource estimation techniques: Quantity of bricks and blocks, amount of mortar, quantity of wall ties, DPCs, cavity trays and lintels.
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K13: Hand tool use, maintenance and storage: Levels, measures, hammers, bolsters, brick hammers, trowels, brick jointer, line blocks and pins, scutch, chariot and brick clamps.
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K14: Power tool use and limitations: Disc cutters, mixers and drills.
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K15: Bond types: English bond, flemish bond, garden wall bonds and broken bond.
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K16: Brick solid wall setting out, construction and capping methods.
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K17: Joint finishes: Half round, flush, weather struck and recessed.
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K18: Principles of basic decorative walling and piers: projecting and contrasting brick, isolated and attached pier, banding.
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K19: Principles of the use of expansion joints.
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K20: Mixing Mortar: Ratios, silos, pre-mixed, gauging, hand mixing and mechanical mixing.
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K21: Cavity wall setting out techniques: Bricks and blocks, openings and levels, use of profiles, gauge rods and squares.
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K22: Cavity wall construction using stretcher bond brick and block walling, forming openings, closing cavities. selection and placement of wall ties, insulation, damp proof courses (DPCs), cavity trays, weep holes, lintels and fire stopping.
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K23: Brick on edge and soldier courses: setting out and construction techniques.
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K24: Defects and repair: Construction defects and repair methods.
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K25: Methods of protecting materials and work: Frost, water and construction damage.
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K26: Verbal communication techniques and construction terminology.
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K27: Principles of good team working.
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K28: Inclusion, equity and diversity in the workplace.
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K29: Methods of cutting bricks and blocks using hand tools.
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K30: Brick walls with raking cut: Setting out and construction techniques.
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K31: Well-being: Mental and physical health considerations in self and others and how to access support.
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S1: Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
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S2: Identify and use personal protective equipment (PPE).
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S3: Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
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S4: Comply with industry regulations, standards, and guidance.
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S5: Read and interpret information from drawings and specifications.
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S6: Estimate and select required resources: For example, the quantity of bricks and blocks, mortar, wall ties and insulation.
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S7: Prepare and maintain a safe working area.
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S8: Select and use hand tools.
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S9: Maintain and store hand tools.
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S10: Set out brick and block cavity wall to given tolerances, including an opening.
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S11: Construct a stretcher bond brick and block cavity wall with return and opening to given tolerances, including installing a lintel with soldiers, brick and edge sill, closure around opening, insulation, fire stopping, cavity tray, damp proof course (DPC) and weep holes.
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S12: Apply joint finishes: For example, half round, flush, weather struck and recessed.
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S13: Set out and construct a simple brick solid wall with capping.
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S14: Gauge and hand mix mortar to ratio.
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S15: Measure and cut bricks and blocks using hand tools, to given tolerances.
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S16: Carry out a simple repair: For example, replacing damaged bricks.
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S17: Protect materials and finished work.
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S18: Verbally communicate with others, applying construction terminology.
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S19: Follow equity, diversity and inclusion guidance.
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S20: Applies team working principles to their own and the wider build team.
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S21: Identifies well-being support available to self and others.
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S22: Construct a brick wall with raking cut. For example, gable end wall or garden wall with raking cut.
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B1: Put health, safety and wellbeing first.
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B2: Consider the environment when using resources and carrying out processes.
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B3: Take ownership of given work.
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B4: Contribute to an inclusive and diverse culture.
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B5: Seek learning and development opportunities.
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B6: Team-focus to meet team goals including, considering the wider build team.
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