International Masonry Institute Creating Jobs
JOURNAL: ISSUE 2 - 2012
As the construction industry continues to adjust to a new, post-2007 "normal," the union masonry industry is also evolving to maximize job opportunities in a changing industry.
 Members of Local 1 MN/ND review blueprints with Tom Nagy and Mark Wickstrom of IMI at a recent session of Supervisor Certification Training (SCP). |
Those changes include the rise in building enclosure contractors who take on the responsibility for the entire floor or wall system, including all the products that control moisture, vapor, air and thermal transfer. New products, now more than ever before, compete with traditional brick masonry. Structural systems for the support of a building and the resistances of wind and seismic forces are more complex than ever before. The growth of sustainable, green building is not just a trend, but a shift in philosophy to greater control of building performance. And finally, the very way that construction is commissioned and delivered, is changing from the old design/bid/build system to design build, building information modeling and integrated project delivery.
The quote, "if you don't like change, you will really not like irrelevance," has never been truer. Our masonry products and systems, combined with the infrastructure of training, research, technical services, education and marketing give the BAC and IMI a unique ability to stay ahead of these changes. Masonry has a great future in this economy, and by maximizing our advantages we can continue to maintain and even grow market share. While the entire construction economy, including masonry, declined during the recession, the market share of masonry (when you include all of our masonry products and trades) has grown. There is potential for growth in the unionized masonry market if craftworkers and contractors are open to new technologies and systems since BAC and IMI offer the opportunity for training in those areas with our traditional products as well as new products.
Improving our Skills to Meet Market Demands – Building a Better Product
IMI upgrade programs, developed at the John J. Flynn Center, IMI's National Training Center, efficiently train members in a modular format. Grout Certification gives members the skills for working on structural masonry jobs. In fact, many architects and engineers require in project specifications that anyone working on these projects be an IMI Certified Grout Mechanic. Flashing upgrades, rain screen training, autoclaved aerated concrete certification, OSHA required safety training, are just a sample of the training available to BAC members to maximize employment opportunities. For members wishing to become foremen or supervisors, IMI's Supervisor Certification Program (SCP) gives the skills and understanding of legal and human resource issues as well as jobsite management. For our contractors, IMI's Contractor College Certification program is more necessary than ever. With Certificate programs in Structural Masonry, Health, Safety and Legal Issues, Estimating and Project Management and many more, contractors gain the ability to compete in a changing marketplace. IMI's Sustainable Masonry Certification Program, the only subcontractor training program recognized by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), allows BAC contractors greater opportunities to get jobs that employ our members.
Building a Better Industry
Thanks to the leadership of BAC President and IMI Co-Chair James Boland, the union masonry industry is leading the way to safer buildings by encouraging more seismic inspections. After a meeting between President Boland and Governor Martin O'Malley, the State of Maryland established a task group that is now developing the model for inspecting all state buildings. IMI-supported research at the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, is modeling and testing performance of multi-wythe brick masonry structures with wood frames. These initiatives will lead to development of retrofit techniques that lead directly to more jobs for BAC members.
IMI structural initiatives are leading to more masonry projects, and research through the University of Illinois on hybrid masonry design opens new opportunities. With new, IMI sponsored software, and appropriate research, masonry / steel and masonry / concrete structural systems are more economical than ever, giving building owners the incentive to use even more masonry.
Building a Better Delivery System
Building Information Modeling, or BIM, changes the way that we design and manage the construction process. Used properly, all design decisions and changes are communicated to all parties and progress moves smoothly. To ensure that masonry wall sections, floor sections, enclosure systems, structural properties and more are included in BIM, IMI is working with a broad industry coalition to develop a road map to maximize our opportunities and make masonry as simple as possible for designers to choose.
Building codes and standards continue to be a high priority for IMI. Recent successes for masonry include inclusion of self consolidating grout in codes, allowing for more efficient structural masonry. Better floor flatness requirements for tile, appropriate grout joint size limits for large format tile, support of lighter concrete masonry units through new shapes, addition of porcelain veneers to the code, are just some of the ways IMI is helping BAC members through codes work.
IMI is working with the Mason Contractors Association of America on a new wall bracing document, making sure that our members work in a safe environment.
New products, including rain screen walls, air barriers, are all work opportunities for BAC, and IMI continually meets with suppliers, tests products and develops relationships for training and gaining jurisdiction for installation of these products.
Supporting Membership
Jobsite troubleshooting, or finding solutions for masonry problems in the field, is a major program for IMI. In a recent Ohio project, IMI Director Tom Nagy was able to show an architect how to fix a masonry high wall detail without tearing down a wall, saving BAC jobs and protecting masonry's reputation. During a Wisconsin blueprint review, IMI Director Pat Conway was able to show an engineer how a structural masonry solution would be the most economical solution, adding hundreds of BAC man hours to a project. IMI was recently asked to sit in on the Chicago Public School Commission's pre- job reviews, helping them use masonry as efficiently as possible.
Reaching the Right Audience with the Right Message
On a daily basis, IMI meets with, educates and sells the union masonry solution to the people who make masonry decisions. Early in May, IMI National Director of Industry Development David Sovinski spoke to the Mid Atlantic Regional Chapter of APPA – a group of professionals with responsibility for the maintenance of college and university buildings. The message of finding solutions and using IMI-trained craftworkers for the work paid off. Requests for follow up from Rutgers University and an on-site program from George Washington University will lead to more BAC job opportunities. Presentations to American Institute of Architects chapters, Construction Specifications Institute chapters, Building Enclosure Councils and national audiences at World of Masonry, Facility Management Associations and many more continue to open doors for BAC craftworkers. Reaching our target audience of masonry decision makers is vital to the growth of a changing and evolving masonry industry.
Making the Pitch
Working with building owners, developers, architects and engineers on specific building projects is the main job for IMI Industry Development. When projects are still in the design stage, we can influence material and system choices and encourage specification language requiring IMI Certification and Training programs.
The Garden Hills Elementary School in Champaign, IL.
IMI consulted with the design team for The Garden Hills Elementary School in Champaign, Illinois, BLDD Architects. The project was ultimately designed using loadbearing and hybrid masonry. IMI consulted with the architectural team on the plans and provided specification review, in house educational seminars, and engineering computer software training.
As a result of IMI's involvement BLDD now incorporates IMI in their specification by name.
IMI's efforts to secure language that requires installers to be IMI-trained helps secure that work for BAC cratworkers.
For additional information regarding IMI's marketing activities please contact David Sovinski at dsovinski@imiweb.org.