This British Standard, having been prepared under the direction of the Building and Civil Engineering Sector Policy and Strategy Committee, was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee and comes into effect on 15 October 2001

First published October 1989
Second edition August 2001

The following BSI references relate to the work on this British Standard:
Committee reference B/525/6
Draft for comment 99/101454 DC

Committees responsible for this British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by Technical Committee, B/525, Building and civil engineering structures, to Subcommittee B/525/6, Use of masonry, upon which the following bodies were represented:

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products Association
Brick Development Association
British Ceramic Research Ltd.
British Masonry Society
British Precast Concrete Federation
Construction Confederation
Concrete Block Association
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions represented by the Building Research Establishment
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Construction Services Directorate
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Structural Engineers
National House Building Council
Royal Institution of British Architects

Foreword

This part of BS 8000 has been prepared by Subcommittee B/525/6, Use of masonry. It makes recommendations and gives guidance on basic workmanship for conventional types of building work. It supersedes BS 8000‑3:1989 which is withdrawn.

The recommendations given are not fully comprehensive as particular project documents, e.g. project specifications, may need to cover particular recommendations not dealt with by this standard. This standard may not be applicable to the use of some proprietary systems¹⁾.

BS 8000‑3 is unique in that it draws together recommendations given in other British Standards.

The purpose of BS 8000‑3 is to encourage good workmanship by providing the following.

The most frequently required recommendations on workmanship for building work in a readily available and convenient form to those working on site.
Assistance in the efficient preparation and administration of contracts.
Recommendations on how designers’ requirements for workmanship may be satisfactorily realized.
Guidance on good practice on building sites for supervision and for training purposes; this guidance is not intended to supplant the normal training in craft skills.
A reference for quality of workmanship on building sites.
The recognition that design, procurement and project information should be conducive to good workmanship on site.

During the preparation of BS 8000‑3 the Building Industry’s Co-ordinating Committee for Project Information (CCPI²⁾), produced a Common Arrangement of Work Sections (CAWS) for building work. BS 8000‑3 has been drafted in accordance with this CAWS so that it can be used easily with project specifications and bills of quantities using the CAWS. Other major documents are being restructured in accordance with the CAWS.

BS 8000 is published in the following parts:

Part 1: Code of practice for excavation and filling;
Part 2: Code of practice for concrete work;
Part 3: Code of practice for masonry;
Part 4: Code of practice for waterproofing;
Part 5: Code of practice for carpentry, joinery and general fixings;
Part 6: Code of practice for slating and tiling of roofs and claddings;
Part 7: Code of practice for glazing;
Part 8: Code of practice for plasterboard partitions and dry linings;
Part 9: Cementitious levelling screeds and wearing screeds — Code of practic
Part 10: Code of practice for plastering and rendering;
Part 11: Code of practice for wall and floor tiling;
Part 12: Code of practice for decorative wallcoverings and painting;
Part 13: Code of practice for above ground drainage and sanitary appliances;
Part 14: Code of practice for below ground drainage;
Part 15: Code of practice for hot and cold water services (domestic scale);
Part 16: Code of practice for sealing joints in buildings using sealants.

The content of BS 8000‑3 is based on and is consistent with that of BS 5628 and BS 8215. However, BS 5628 and BS 8215 cover the subject matter more comprehensively and include design, materials and other related aspects in addition to workmanship on site. The user’s attention is also drawn to [1].

In this standard a commentary on the relevant principles accompanies the recommendations that are made. The commentary is intended to provide further guidance.

NOTE Commentary text is printed in italics.

As a code of practice BS 8000‑3 takes the form of guidance and recommendations. It should not be quoted as though it were a specification and particular care should be taken to ensure that claims of compliance are not misleading.

This standard was drafted on the assumption that the execution of its recommendations is entrusted to appropriately qualified and competent people.

A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.

Summary of pages

This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i to iv, pages 1 to 26, an inside back cover and a back cover.

The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued.

1 Scope

BS 8000‑3 gives recommendations for basic workmanship in relation to masonry but does not specifically address health and safety issues.

For design aspects of masonry, the user is referred to BS 5628.

BS 8000‑3 does not necessarily cover the use of proprietary systems. The user is referred to the particular recommendations of any technical approval in this case.

2 Normative references

3 Definitions

4 Materials, handling and preparation

4.1 Checking, handling and site storage of materials and components

4.2 Preparation of work, materials and components

5 Brick and/or block walling

5.1 General

5.2 Jointing and pointing

5.3 Laying DPCs

5.4 Cavity walling

5.5 Fair faced masonry

5.6 Construction details

5.7 Flues and linings

Bibliography

BS 8000-3:2001

Workmanship on building sites - Code of practice for masonry

Published:

15 Oct 2001

Withdrawn:

29 May 2020