NCCER Masonry case studies
NCCER Masonry · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The NCCER Masonry Journey-Level Assessment is part of NCCER's National Craft Assessment and Certification Program (NCACP), which offers over 50 knowledge- and performance-based assessments across construction crafts. It is aimed at experienced masonry craft professionals who want to validate journey-level competency rather than learn a trade from scratch. The NCCER Masonry case studies are 5 cases and about 2,695 words.
1Field Mortar Cubes Fail Below Type S Minimum
A 6,000-square-foot single-wythe 8-inch CMU warehouse wall is specified with Type S mortar conforming to ASTM C270 and a minimum compressive strength of 1,800 psi. The subcontractor uses a preblended mortar that requires only water, but the foreman adds one 80-pound bag of masonry sand per batch because the mix "feels stiff." On a 92°F day, the mortar sits on the board 50 minutes before use.
563 words, about 3 min2Grout Voids in a 20-Foot Reinforced CMU Shear Wall
A 20-foot-high, 12-inch CMU shear wall is reinforced with No. 6 vertical bars in grouted cells at 48 inches on center.
513 words, about 3 min3Brick Veneer Leakage at a Shelf Angle
A four-story wood-framed building has a brick veneer exterior. The veneer has a 2-inch air space, corrugated steel ties, and a drainage plane.
522 words, about 3 min4Prism Test Fails While Unit Strength Method Passes
An 8-inch hollow CMU bearing wall is specified with f'm = 1,500 psi, Type S mortar, and 2,000-psi grout in cells at 32 inches on center. The contractor proposes the unit strength method: the CMU units have a net-area compressive strength of 2,150 psi, and the mortar and grout mix designs meet the specified requirements.
543 words, about 3 min5Corner Lead Fails Plumb, Level, and Joint Tolerances
During a performance verification, a masonry trainee builds a 6-course, 8-inch CMU corner lead with 4-foot legs. The evaluator records: first course level within 3/16 inch over 4 feet; corner plumb 5/16 inch out of plumb over the 4-foot height; bed joints vary from 1/4 to 1/2 inch; head joints vary from 1/4 to 5/8 inch; the sixth course top is 50 1/4 inches above the base; mortar is struck flush on the exterior face and not tooled; several blocks are laid with the hollow cores not aligned.
554 words, about 3 min