Key information

  1. Reference: ST1334
  2. Date updated: 19/09/2023
  3. Level: 3
  4. Route: Construction and the built environment
  5. Regulated occupation: No
Print occupational standard

Details of the occupational standard

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in the built environment including in the new build, refurbishment and heritage sectors. Projects vary in size, type and duration, ranging from the creation of specialist features such as arches and chimneys for a domestic customer to the repair of a listed building to a large-scale commercial project utilising multiple facework types, techniques and materials. Employers of craft bricklayers vary in size from small companies to large commercial contractors. Craft bricklayers are masters in their field and often provide technical leadership and supervise the work of others.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to set out and lay bricks, brick specials, blocks and other materials to construct and repair complex walls and features such as chimneys, battered, angled, radial and decorative masonry work. Craft bricklayers plan and organise the work site, both for themselves and others and verify the quality of the work of others within their team. They are technical experts in their team, providing direction and advice to others and advise on work approach and problem solving. They are responsible for ensuring the masonry element of the construction programme is delivered to specification, time and in a safe and sustainable manner. Craft 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 on all masonry aspects of the construction programme including planning, technical expertise and project progress. They often liaise with other construction trades such as site carpenters and roofers who could work for their own organisation or another contractor. As the technical lead for masonry they are also expected to liaise with other construction professionals for example the clerk of works and site engineer and in the case of smaller specialist projects, the client, architect and building control surveyor.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for ensuring the products they and their team create are of a high quality and meet 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 and advise others on the environment and sustainability of materials, waste awareness and recycling.

Typical job titles include:

Craft bricklayer Foreman bricklayer Senior bricklayer

Occupation duties

Duty KSBs

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.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K30 K31

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S21 S23 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 2 Carry out their work in compliance with all current and relevant building regulations and quality standards, where appropriate checking the work of others for compliance.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S20 S21 S22 S23 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 3 Lead the bricklaying team in the delivery of the construction programme including interpreting technical specifications, manufacturers instructions and drawings, including digital information.

K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31

S1 S2 S3 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S19 S20 S21 S22 S23 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 4 Plan and organise the work site including setting out the work site materials and tools appropriate to the project for self and others.

K3 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K30 K31

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S21 S22 S23 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 5 Plan the work to obtain optimum environmental, quality and schedule performance from the team, hand tools, power tools and associated equipment.

K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28

S1 S2 S3 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S19 S21 S22 S23 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 6 Construct complex masonry structures to industry standards and specifications.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 S21 S22 S23 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 7 Work effectively on their own and supervise others.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S18 S19 S20 S21 S22 S23 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 8 Maintain a clear and safe worksite at all times, promoting sustainable building practices.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S18 S19 S21 S22 S23 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 9 Carry out continuous professional development to maintain knowledge of current and future developments affecting the role and share with others.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31

S1 S2 S3 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S19 S20 S21 S22 S23 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 10 Proactively collaborate with stakeholders, clients and other construction trades, including programming and technical matters.

K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31

S1 S2 S3 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S19 S20 S21 S22 S23 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 11 Repair, modify, maintain or replace a variety of masonry types.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K10 K11 K12 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25

S1 S2 S3 S4 S6 S7 S8 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S24

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: Awareness of health, safety and welfare regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role of the team and other construction trades . Employer and employee responsibilities. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Fire safety. Health and Safety at Work Act. Asbestos awareness. Manual handling. Fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working in confined spaces. Working at height. Electrical safety. Reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations (RIDDOR), Provision and use of work equipment regulations (PUWER) & near miss reporting, signage and meaning Back to Duty

K2: Safety Control equipment and safety techniques: Personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and dust suppression Back to Duty

K3: Types incidents - accidents, near misses. Mitigation methods. Incident management techniques Back to Duty

K4: Safe systems of work, control measure implementation and monitoring techniques Back to Duty

K5: Environmental management systems and standards. Environmental Protection Act. Surface water management plan, Environmental signage and notices. Types of pollution and control measures: water, noise, air pollution, smells, spills, waste and disposal of hazardous waste. Back to Duty

K6: The importance and considerations of the environment: U values, R Values, thermal bridging, airtightness, acoustic performance, and applicable building regulations Back to Duty

K7: The principles of building construction: Fire safety, fire stopping, water ingress, masonry defects, concrete defects, timber defects and repair. Structural stability incl. brick ties. Gas barriers. Retaining walls. Mortar additives, Brick specials. Back to Duty

K8: Transfer levels, methods and techniques; straight edge and spirit level, optical and laser levels Back to Duty

K9: Modern Methods of Construction: Timber frame. Steel frame, Insulated Concrete Forms, Modular and concrete frames, Cross Laminated Timber Frames Back to Duty

K10: The principles of heritage building, considerations, like for like wall replacement and other techniques applicable to the bricklayer Back to Duty

K11: Standards and regulations associated with bricklaying activities: British standards, building regulations, warranty provider standards and new homes quality board Back to Duty

K12: Methods of interpreting information from drawings, specifications, the production plan and producing work instructions, utilising traditional and digital methods Back to Duty

K13: Resource quantity calculation techniques, costing, wastage and recycling allowance Back to Duty

K14: Stock, material stock and considerations: Availability, stock lead times. Correct handling to prevent damage. Stock value. Faulty stock and returns process, stock rotation and quality control Back to Duty

K15: Craft bricklayer tools, safe use and maintenance techniques: sliding bevels, trammels, squares, straight edges, site protractors, spring dividers, angle rules and scutch, masonry cut off saws Back to Duty

K16: Powertools check, safe use, maintenance and storage, defect or fault escalation Back to Duty

K17: Craft brickwork techniques: basket weave, stack bond, victorian bond, segmental and semi arches, rough and axed, battered work, tumbling in, brick and block bonded quoins, dog toothing and dental courses. Back to Duty

K18: Axed arches and surrounding haunch brickwork: Setting out and construction techniques Back to Duty

K19: Curved on plan masonry: setting out and construction techniques Back to Duty

K20: Sloped (vertical angles on plan) brickwork setting out and construction techniques Back to Duty

K21: Decorative brick features and panels: setting out and construction techniques Back to Duty

K22: Setting out and construction techniques: herringbone panels and masonry corbelling Back to Duty

K23: Masonry reinforcement and specialist systems masonry purpose and use: Bed joint reinforcement, shelf angle, wind posts, helical bar and specialist DPC (damp proof course) systems Back to Duty

K24: Angled on plan, off square masonry, setting out and construction techniques Back to Duty

K25: Fireplaces and chimney setting out, construction and materials: hearths, plinths, flue liners, chimney pots Back to Duty

K26: Written communication techniques. Plain English principles. Back to Duty

K27: Documentation methods and requirements - digital and paper based Back to Duty

K28: Planning, work scheduling, and time management techniques for self and others Back to Duty

K29: Quality assurance requirements Back to Duty

K30: Well-being: mental and physical health considerations in self and others and how to access support Back to Duty

K31: Inclusion, equity and diversity in the workplace Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance Back to Duty

S2: Apply environmental and sustainable principles in compliance with regulations standards and systems for example segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal Back to Duty

S3: Implement and monitor safe systems of work and control measures Back to Duty

S4: Comply with industry standards, guidance and tolerances Back to Duty

S5: Identify and use safety control equipment including RPE, dust suppression and PPE Back to Duty

S6: Interpret and extract information using paper based or digital techniques from drawings, specifications and the production plan to provide work instructions Back to Duty

S7: Check, safely use and store power tools and equipment for example, drills, mixers. Escalate defects or faults Back to Duty

S8: Safely use and maintain tools and masonry cut off saws Back to Duty

S9: Calculate resource and cost quantities from site measurements Back to Duty

S10: Set out and build sloped (vertical on plan) angled brickwork for example, battered work or tumbling in Back to Duty

S11: Set out and build off square horizontal on plan angled masonry work for example: obtuse or acute angles Back to Duty

S12: Set out and build axed arches and surrounding haunch brickwork, for example segmental or semi Back to Duty

S13: Set out and build a decorative brick features, for example brick and block bonded quoins, dog toothing or dental courses Back to Duty

S14: Set out and build curved masonry work for example, concave or convex Back to Duty

S15: Set out and build a decorative panel. For example, basket weave, stack bond or victorian weave Back to Duty

S16: Construct walls with complex elements. For example, bed joint reinforcement, helical bar, wind posts, support angles, specialist DPC systems or heritage principles (like for like wall replacement) Back to Duty

S17: Set out and build herringbone panels Back to Duty

S18: Set out and building masonry corbelling Back to Duty

S19: Apply planning, work scheduling and time management techniques to identify and agree production plan targets Back to Duty

S20: Apply quality assurance procedures Back to Duty

S21: Communicate and report in written form any issues against the production plan and contribute to the solutions   Back to Duty

S22: Obtain, monitor and rotate stock and supplies Back to Duty

S23: Complete documentation - paper based or digital. For example, job sheets, time sheets, risk assessments, method statements, equipment service records, handover documents, work sheets, checklists, incident reports, requisition sheets, quality records Back to Duty

S24: Transfer levels, using for example straight edge & spirit level, optical or laser levels Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Take personal responsibility for their own health and safety Back to Duty

B2: Support an inclusive culture Back to Duty

B3: Take responsibility for the quality of work and encourage others to work to high standards Back to Duty

B4: Collaborate and promote teamwork across disciplines and external stakeholders Back to Duty

B5: Committed to continued professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance competence in their own area of practice Back to Duty

B6: Promotes health, safety, environment and sustainability principles to others Back to Duty

NOCN Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry (NVQ) for Trowel Occupations (Diploma)

Qualification type: TQ

Qualification level: 3

Awarding organisation: NOCN

Approval date: 07/03/2024

Occupational pathway: N/A

Qualification category: Occupational entry technical qualifications

Age range: Adults only

Work placement: Yes

Aligned occupational standards

ST1334 Craft bricklayer

NOCN Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry for Craft Bricklayers (Diploma)

Qualification type: TQ

Qualification level: 3

Awarding organisation: NOCN

Approval date: 07/03/2024

Occupational pathway: N/A

Qualification category: Occupational entry technical qualifications

Age range: Adults only

Work placement: No

Aligned occupational standards

ST1334 Craft bricklayer


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