Mason Frequently Asked Questions

Q. AS A FIXER, CAN I BE ACCREDITED IF MY BUSINESS HAS NOT BEEN ACCREDITED?

A. You will be unable to apply if your business has not received its Business Accreditation, and paid the annual fees.

Q. WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR A BRAMM FIXER LICENCE?

A.

1 ~ Success in BRAMM’s BFL Training and Assessment gives a BRAMM Fixer Licence.

2 ~ Full NVQ / SVQ Level 2 or Level 3 in Stonemasonry ~ Memorial Mason (must include Fix & Secure Unit*) or VR/QCF194 (Fix & Secure NVQ Unit) ~ the applicant must successfully complete an online CPD test.

*Please Note: We cannot accept any applicants who have not successfully completed the ‘Fix and Secure’ Unit.

3 ~ NAMM qualification (City & Guilds RQMF) ~ the applicant must successfully complete an online CPD test.

Q. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY BRAMM FIXER LICENCE IS DUE TO EXPIRE?

A. You will need to complete Continuous Professional Development (CPD) on-line, you will automatically be contacted by email.

Q. WILL I BE ABLE TO WORK IN A CEMETERY IF I AM NOT ACCREDITED?

A. If a Burial Authority is signed up to the Scheme and insists that fixers must be accredited then anyone not accredited will be unable to work in that Authority’s Cemeteries unless supervised by a BRAMM accredited fixer.

Q. DO ALL OF MY EMPLOYEES HAVE TO BE ACCREDITED?

A. Every ‘fixing team’ erecting a memorial must have at least one Licensed Fixer. If you have three teams working on three memorials you would need to have at least three Licensed Fixers (one working/supervising on each memorial). No fixing work in cemeteries on any memorial can take place without a Licensed Fixer being present at all times.

Q. WHAT CAN I DO IF MY BUSINESS HAS FAILED THE BUSINESS ACCREDITATION?

A. You will be provided with a report which will detail why you have failed and what you need to do to gain accreditation next time.

Q. WHAT HAPPENS IF I FAIL THE PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT BUT PASS THE WRITTEN TEST?

A. You can retake the BFL Practical Assessment once without having to take a full re-assessment.

Q. WILL ALLOWANCES BE MADE FOR THOSE WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES OR RECOGNISED ISSUES WHEN TAKING THE WRITTEN TEST?

A. If the employer has confirmed in writing that an employee has learning difficulties and would be unable to do the written test then arrangements can be made for an oral test to be taken.

Q. “I HAVE BEEN A MASON FOR 30 YEARS, WHY DO I HAVE TO BE TESTED?”

A. There have been a lot of changes in the methods of erecting memorials over the past 30 years and an increasing number of Burial Authorities are insisting that masons working in their cemeteries can prove that they can erect a memorial safely by achieving a recognised qualification to prove current competence and compliance with BS 8415