SPECIFICATION LANGUAGE

A great project is only as good as the people building it.

When you want to have confidence you’re working with qualified, experienced crews on your project, use our specification language. It’s an excellent way to help ensure quality on your project so that you can deliver a beautiful, high-performing building on time and on budget.

What You Can Specify

You can spec our training programs from registered apprenticeship through journeyworker upgrade programs, including certificates and certifications. These cover critical skill areas like flashing, grouting and reinforced masonry, historic preservation, rainscreens, adhered veneers, supervisor training, and more.

The Union Difference

The Union difference is synonymous with safety, quality, and training. When you use IMI spec language, you’ll benefit from that difference. Contractors signatory with the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and their employees pride themselves on being the best hands in the business. Not only that, but Union workers are paid middle-class wages with great health and retirement benefits, so you can feel good about providing family-sustaining jobs in your community.

Our Training Programs

IMTEF’s state-of-the-art training programs begin at the start of a craftworker’s career with registered apprenticeship programs, validated by the U.S. Department of Labor. These programs comprise between 2000-6000 hours of training both on the job and in the classroom.

Once apprentices earn their journeyworker credential, they receive continuing education to take their skills to the next level and keep them up-to-date on the latest industry standards.

IMTEF’s curriculum is standardized throughout our network of nearly 70 training centers around the U.S. and Canada. Our instructors, in addition to being master craftworkers, get certified through a rigorous 5-year teaching program, IMTEF’s Instructor Certification Program.

Together, this constitutes the most comprehensive training system the industry has to offer — and it’s why you should include these programs as qualifications in your spec.

Sample specification language

Insert this sample language into your specifications according to the area of expertise your project demands. All of our spec language corresponds with a relevant training program that addresses the necessary skills required of craftworkers on today’s jobsites. 

Qualified Contractor

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

  1. Concrete Contractor assigned to this project will employ apprentices and journey-level workers that are either enrolled in or graduates of a registered apprenticeship program, with curriculum developed by the International Masonry Training and Education Foundation or on-the-job experience at least equivalent to requirements for graduation from a registered apprenticeship program for this occupation as approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or relevant state registration agency. Compliance with this training and experience standard shall be verified by the owner, owner’s agent, or qualified professional representing the owner.

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

  1. Masonry (or Masonry Restoration) Contractor assigned to this project will employ apprentices and journey-level workers that are either enrolled in or graduates of a registered apprenticeship program, with curriculum developed by the International Masonry Training and Education Foundation or on-the-job experience at least equivalent to requirements for graduation from a registered apprenticeship program for this occupation as approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or relevant state registration agency. Compliance with this training and experience standard shall be verified by the owner, owner’s agent, or qualified professional representing the owner.

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

  1. (Tile, Terrazzo, Plaster, and/or Stone) Contractor assigned to this project will employ apprentices and journey-level workers that are either enrolled in or graduates of a registered apprenticeship program, with curriculum developed by the International Masonry Training and Education Foundation or on-the-job experience at least equivalent to requirements for graduation from a registered apprenticeship program for this occupation as approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or relevant state registration agency. Compliance with this training and experience standard shall be verified by the owner, owner’s agent, or qualified professional representing the owner.

CONCRETE REPAIR TRAINING

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

    1. All (or select) project team craftworkers of the Concrete Repair Contractor assigned to this project will be required to have the International Masonry Institute – Concrete Repair Certificate Program or equal and to provide evidence of a certificate or a letter of the firm’s commitment to enroll key project personnel in the certificate program before the start of the project.

Flashing Training

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

  1. All (or select) project team craftworkers of the Masonry Contractor assigned to this project will be required to have the International Masonry Institute – Flashing Training or equal and to provide evidence of certificate or a letter of the firm’s commitment to enroll key project personnel in the training program prior to the start of the project.

Grouting & Reinforcing Training

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

  1. All (or select) project team craftworkers of the Masonry Contractor assigned to this project will be required to have the International Masonry Institute – Grouting and Reinforcing Training or equal and to provide evidence of certificate or a letter of the firm’s commitment to enroll key project personnel in the training program prior to the start of the project.

Historic Masonry Preservation Certificate

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

  1. All (or select) project team craftworkers of the Masonry Restoration Contractor assigned to this project will be required to have the International Masonry Institute – Historic Masonry Preservation Certificate or equal and to provide evidence of certificate or a letter of the firm’s commitment to enroll key project personnel in the certificate program prior to the start of the project.

Advanced Certifications for Tile

B. Installer Qualifications

Consider retaining 1 or more of 3 subparagraphs below. Qualifications in subparagraphs are not equivalent; investigate them and consider retaining those that can help assure that Installer is qualified for Project.

1. Installer employs at least one installer for Project that has completed the Advanced Certification for Tile Installers (ACT) certification for installation of:
[mud floors]
[mud walls]
[membranes]
[shower receptors]
[gauged porcelain tile/gauged porcelain tile panels and slabs]
[grouts]
[large format tile]

Rainscreen Certificate

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

  1. All (or select) project team craftworkers of the Masonry Contractor assigned to this project will be required to have the International Masonry Institute – Rainscreen Certificate or equal and to provide evidence of certificate or a letter of the firm’s commitment to enroll key project personnel in the certificate program prior to the start of the project.

Adhered Veneer Certificate

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

  1. All (or select) project team craftworkers of the Masonry Contractor assigned to this project will be required to have the International Masonry Institute – Adhered Veneer Certificate or equal and to provide evidence of certificate or a letter of the firm’s commitment to enroll key project personnel in the certificate program prior to the start of the project.

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

  1. (Tile, Terrazzo, Plaster, and/or Stone) Contractor assigned to this project will employ apprentices and journey-level workers that are either enrolled in or graduates of a registered apprenticeship program, with curriculum developed by the International Masonry Training and Education Foundation or on-the-job experience at least equivalent to requirements for graduation from a registered apprenticeship program for this occupation as approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or relevant state registration agency. Compliance with this training and experience standard shall be verified by the owner, owner’s agent, or qualified professional representing the owner.

Supervisor Certification Program

1.4 Submittals

    A. Qualifications

  1. Superintendent and/or foreman of the Masonry Contractor assigned to this project will have the International Training and Education Foundation Supervisor Certification Program or equal and to provide evidence of certificate or a letter of the firm’s commitment to enroll key project personnel in the certificate program prior to the start of the project.

Industry and Manufacturer Programs

IMTEF is authorized to deliver a variety of industry and manufacturer certificate and certification programs for new construction and restoration projects. When you include these programs in your specifications, you can rest assured our contractors and craftworkers either already hold these certs, or can be trained and/or tested by us on demand. These include:

  • Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) Self-Adhered & Fluid Applied Installer Certification Training Course
  • American Welding Society Welding Certification
  • JAHN Certification Masonry Restoration Workshop

OSHA Training

IMTEF also has over 120 OSHA Outreach trainers across the country, and several OSHA Master Safety Trainers to keep contractors and craftworkers up-to-date on the latest safety training, regulations, policies, and procedures. These include:

  • OSHA 10
  • OSHA 30
  • OSHA 500
  • OSHA 502
  • OSHA 510

CPWR Safety Training

IMTEF partners with CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, to offer other important safety classes, including:

  • Infection Control Risk Assessment Awareness (ICRA)
  • Fall Protection
  • Scaffold Safety
  • Silicosis in Construction
  • Hazard Communications

LET’S BUILD RESPONSIBLY.

Work with our multi-disciplinary team to help you deliver high-performing projects.