Who Needs Training?
It doesn’t matter if you’re just learning how to handle a trowel, or you’ve been running work for years. The people who come to The Flynn Center know that it helps to learn all you can, from the experts.
“I’m ready for work“ 
Zach Jamison comes from a family of masons, but to learn his trade, he came here. His home local, BAC 3NY, uses the center to start their apprentices off right with an intensive pre-job program where they live and breathe bricklaying for eight weeks. “You learn a lot,” says Zach, who has one week to go. “I’m ready for work.”
“A chance to do new things” 
Sergio Viamont has been working in stone since 2004, first as a helper and then apprentice with BAC Local 1MVD. With his apprenticeship nearly over, Sergio wants to upgrade his skills to make himself as marketable as possible, so he spent a couple of weeks here learning rubble stone. He is optimistic that his new training will “give me a chance to do new things.”
“Quality is the big issue” 
As general manager for the masonry division of a general contractor, Chuck Applegate has plenty of experience. But when the company started having callbacks and quality concerns, he knew it was time to learn more. To protect and polish their reputation, he and four journeymen from BAC Local 15MOK traveled from Springfield, Missouri and spent a week learning Jahn restoration mortars and caulking. “The biggest thing for us was quality,” says Applegate. “This helps our reputation and gives a big advantage in scheduling, because we can provide that skill easier. This has been really good for us.”
“It’s good to know more” 
Bruce Drennan from BAC Local 8IL has worked as a mason for more than two decades, but as part of a small masonry staff at Eastern Illinois University, he keeps on returning to The Flynn Center to learn more, including tile, terrazzo and now pointing/cleaning/caulking. It helps him handle any problems that arise, and makes him a valuable employee. “It’s worked out very well,” he says.
1 commentQuality Assurance: Bring It On
Today’s buyer’s market for construction services is not such a bad thing, as customers demand more quality assurance and lower operating costs.
We say, “Bring it on.”
Quality and value are intrinsic to everything we do here, from craft training to design assistance. What’s more, we saw the QA trend coming years ago, and developed a whole menu of craft certifications and upgrade training options that make our craftworkers more valuable, and more employable.
Since subcontractors are a key part of any QA equation, those who take advantage of IMI continuing education offerings, like Contractor College, say it helps them stand out, too.
“It increases our employees’ proficiency, which in turns provides us a competitive edge in the market,” says Evan Sutton, Director of Masonry for Hagerman Construction Corp. in Indianapolis.
Contractors also appreciate having IMI on the lookout for new products and applications that can help them meet buyers’ demands for greater building performance.
No longer considered “extras,” these programs are becoming their own credentials, driven by the trend toward more quality-related specs.* That means contractors have to have a real understanding, not just a quickie certificate.
That’s particularly true with sustainability. Design firms already require LEED expertise, and construction professionals are next. Fortunately, IMI’s Sustainable Masonry Certification Program is already on the case.
Consumer demand can be a good thing… especially when you know how to meet it.
Helping Contractors “Get” Green
IMI educates and prepares the contractor to be a valuable contributor to that team. We developed the first Sustainable Masonry Certification Program, where contractors learn key concepts such as project management and documentation, material storage, construction waste management and IEQ impact.
Contractors benefit from IMI’s reputation as a respected provider of sustainable education to the architectural community. AIA and USGBC recognize IMI’s unique role in delivering quality education programs like this, and especially appreciate the quality assurance built into them.
Since showing up for class is not enough to guarantee true understanding of sustainability practices, the session ends with a test, where contractors must demonstrate their ability to fulfill their LEED responsibilities. (And, as the contractors will tell you, it’s not an easy “A”.)
“I got a better understanding of what LEED is all about,” says Ron Adams, Vice President of Cascade Construction Co., Inc. in Seattle. “In a lot of ways, we are already green and have been for years.” Adams would like the design community to know “that they can use more of what we have to offer.”
To learn more about green masonry, see the November issue of Construction Specifier magazine, page 22, “The Building Blocks of Green Masonry.”
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4 commentsBricklayer, or “Building Envelope Specialist”?
Today’s building envelope systems are more complex than ever. Sustainability and energy issues are requiring more sophisticated building envelopes that can manage air flow, moisture migration, vapor and finally, energy.
Designers and construction managers look for a trade that can install the entire system and reduce problems in the envelope.
Such demands are changing the roles of the masonry contractor and craftworker. They now have more responsibility for the entire building envelope, which includes exterior finish, air, moisture and vapor controls, the anchors, ties and channels supporting all the materials, plus insulation and air barriers.
That makes education and training in these new roles more important than ever. The IU/IMI New Products and Technologies Committee works with manufacturers of the various components to make this work available to mason contractors and craftworkers. IMI technical staffers are actively involved with the ASTM International* Committee E06, Performance of Buildings, to make these systems more efficient. And IMI training helps prepare craftworkers for their new roles.
*originally knows as the American Society for Testing and Materials
1 commentUnion Training? No Contest
More than one hundred BAC apprentices are anxiously counting the days until September 28, when they get to show off their skills at the International Apprentice Contest.
Along with their considerable talents, what they are really showing off is the training system that got them this far. While most rookie employees learn on-the-job (i.e., trial and error), particularly in construction, apprentices with the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers invest years learning their craft and business, and BAC and IMI invest significant resources teaching them.
“The union approach enabled me to get proper training and to become a skilled craftworker,” says regional contestant Mark Viscuso from Connecticut.
Most contests emphasize speed. This one, like the training behind it, is different. Combining hands-on and written tests, apprentices are judged on workmanship, production value, safety, and integrity of construction. “The only thing we have to sell is our professionalism, craftsmanship and good work ethic,” noted Local 1 PA/DE President John Phillips, host of the northeast regional contest.
More than just a show of some talented newcomers, the contest “clearly demonstrates our Union’s and our contractors’ commitment to the future,” says BAC President and IMI Co-Chair John J. Flynn.
Learn more about the BAC/IMI training system
A Language Barrier for Air Barriers
“Air barriers are one of the top ‘no brainers’ for sustainable design.” - Building Design & Construction
Air barriers are going mainstream, particularly as state and federal governments push energy conservation. Their virtues are many: they reduce building moisture problems, improve air quality, reduce heating and cooling costs, and even improve the acoustics.
BUT… that’s only if they are properly understood and installed. And that’s a big “if”.
The disconnect begins with specifiers, says Perry Sanders, Vice President of Construction for Caretti, Inc., who understands why they are confused by products and terminology that are “all over the place.”
Then there are the installers who “didn’t understand what it was supposed to be doing,” says Fred Kinateder, President of Kinateder Masonry, which created a subsidiary to handle the increasing demand. He argues that bidding air barriers separately as one system would minimize confusion and promote a continuous building envelope.
It really becomes a problem at bid time, where knowledgeable contractors who have invested in air barrier training have to compete with someone willing to “just spray something on the wall,” says Sanders. While the lower-priced contractor may look good at bid time, without the knowledge, “it’s just money wasted,” he says.
Making designers and owners aware of the benefits of using educated contractors will help. Kinateder and Sanders also recommend that specifiers create a specific inspection procedure “to make sure they are getting what they paid for,” says Kinateder - preferably before the wall is finished.
IMI offers air barrier education through its Contractor College program, and seminars around the country. Upcoming dates include:
October 8 – Philadelphia
October 28 – Bowie, MD Contractor College
November 19 - AIA Chicago
For local events, check the Technical Seminars calendar, or call 1-800-IMI-0988.
4 comments
Restoration Takes Communication
Restoration work has been active in the Washington DC area in recent years, particularly with the economy’s chilling effect on new construction. So it’s a good time to ask, how well do all of the players understand it?
This week, we brought a sellout crowd of architects and engineers who specialize in restoration to The Flynn Center to cover some key concerns.
One big issue in restoration is moisture penetration. Because flashing knowledge comes from extensive project experience, it’s often done wrong, resulting in millions of dollars of repair costs to owners annually. To avoid flashing pitfalls, the design team should understand how the components within a masonry wall serve to protect a building against moisture migration. Design details that incorporate this understanding need to be well communicated to everyone involved.
Communication is particularly critical, since restoration calls for a wide range of expertise. “Construction isn’t always the fall guy,” says forensic architect Robert W. Davidson, AIA, who thinks that designers need to do a better job of conveying their design solution to contractors.
IMI spends a lot of effort helping contractors and craftworkers understand their role in the process, through training and programs like Sustainable Masonry Certification . That makes sense, says Davidson.
“You teach them how to do it and why. We need to do the same with architects.”
It’s also critical for all the players to really understand the building envelope, which entails understanding how individual components work together to create a wall or floor system, and realizing that any change to a component affects how the system itself performs. Particularly for restoration, performance is just as important as aesthetics.
One of the best ways to learn how to solve problems is hands-on experience. Attendees got to explore two common problem areas - caulking and repointing - that way. The experience, they told us, will help them communicate better in the field.
1 commentLaunching a new product? The key is installation, installation, installation
Daltile Tile Corp. has been around a long time, and is a recognized leader in tile and manufactured stone. They are also smart enough to know what they don’t know. That’s why they turned to IMI to help them launch their new adhered manufactured veneer.
Daltile folks know that you can have the greatest product in the world, but if it’s not installed properly, its reputation (and theirs) can be permanently damaged before it even has a chance.
They turned to IMI design and training experts, who researched codes and compliance issues and came up with some installation best practices.
At a product kickoff in Phoeniz last week, Daltile had IMI share its knowledge with an appreciative audience of architects, who left feeling a lot more confident, and excited, about specifying it.
They also learned to ask for trained contractors, which IMI helps with as part of paving the way for this new market.
“In this economy, it’s tempting to jump at the lowest bid, but you get what you pay for,” notes BAC Local 3 AZ/NM/TX President Jim Cahill.
What could have been a bumpy takeoff is now soaring in the right direction.
ACE Visitors See Wider Career Path
Board members and mentors from the Greater Washington, DC chapter of the ACE Mentor Program visited The Flynn Center last week. Representing the full spectrum of ACE professionals - architects, construction managers, engineers, and high school and university instructors - the volunteer group works to introduce high school students to possible careers in architecture, construction and engineering. Collaborating on projects also shows the students the role each profession plays in the process.
Yesterday’s group got a clearer picture of the contribution made by skilled craftworkers, and the investment they and their contractors make in quality construction. It’s an investment that rivals many white collar jobs in terms of training, professional dedication and job satisfaction.
That’s a particularly timely message. As the economy alters many college plans, educators and parents are getting more realistic about career choices. As one mentor put it, “Not everybody is going to go to college.”
That makes ACE’s work even more timely, notes Affiliate President Chris Reseigh from Parsons Brinckerhoff. “ACE is serving a great need. You can have a very rewarding and satisfying career in the building industry.”
“There are all sorts of choices.”
Learn more about The Flynn Center and IMI Training
No commentsThe Future of AAC Might Be Here
We just came back from a very educational trip to Xella’s autoclaved aerated concrete plant in Georgia, where they make blocks, panels, cladding and more. The company bills itself as the world’s leading manufacturer of the lightweight concrete, and it’s easy to see why.
The plant has nine autoclaves going full steam - literally. (In fact, they recycle the steam multiple times, which helps them earn sustainability points.)
Even more impressive was their approach to quality control. Producing good stuff is something that really speaks to us as we seek out new products and work opportunities, and partner with manufacturers to ensure quality training.
The real kicker might be their distribution system, which addresses the simultaneous needs for speed, availability and geographic diversity. For those people thinking about trying AAC, this might be a perfect time to take another look.
NEWS UPDATE: Coastal Living magazine just chose Xella’s AAC blocks for its 2009 Idea House, touting it for design and building solutions that include good acoustics, energy efficiency, fire resistance, and decreased maintenance. (Check out the construction video). For more information, go to http://www.xella-usa.com/html/us/en/index.php
For more on the virtues of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), check out this recent CNN clip. One caveat, though: an inaccurate headline made it sound like California officials are hesitant about AAC because of seismic concerns. AAC’s seismic performance has been clearly demonstrated in laboratory tests and real conditions, and accepted by major code bodies.
WHAT’S YOUR OPINION OF AAC? We would like to hear from you, so please submit your thoughts or suggestions in our “Comment” section.
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