From block to building... Stone and its trades

Stone and its fields od activity are richly diversified and varied :
diversity of material, bringing a possibilty of choosing a solution according to constraints and use ;
diversity of trades, ensuring a top quality finished product thanks to the highly specialised skills of each actor in the chain.

Quarrymen :
They have the privilege of being the first to have a contact with the material and the responsibility of rational sampling taking into account the environment. With regard to “heroic times”, the difficulty of their task has lessened as modern quarrying means and worksite machines have become used regularly yet their working conditions are still often hard (noise, climate…).

Stonemasons (Transformers) :
They see to the different production tasks of the pieces of stone meant for worksites : (sawing blocks, polishing, heating to a high temperature, moulding, boring, ... This branch comprises differents types of know-how, some of which go back to ancestral traditions and methods. We should not forget that the Stonemason and Carver existed already in Neolithic times and since then a huge amount of knowledge has accumulated over the centuries !

For more information about stone trades consult : Institut de la Pierre

Layers :
They work on worksites, which can have very different levels of importance and duration - from laying paving stones for a private home to restoring historic monuments. At this stage, the numerous different aspects that the delivered material can present (nature, size, weight, destination, …) require that the technician-layer be able to decide its most suitable implementation as well as being able to advise and direct the designer of the work.

Finishers :
They bring the indispensable final touch to the material (sanding, treatment), which will ensure that it is aesthetically enhanced as well as being protecting against the wear and tear of passing time and aggressions of outside factors (damp). This trade demands good skills in chemistry and knowledge of the technical characteristics of different stones.

Architects :
As prescribers, they define, in a general way, the choice of stone to be used in building and decorating the work.

(extracted from the Technical Guide of the Pierres du Sud association)

Training and Diplomas

Diplomas :

C. A. P. (Professional Skill Certificate)
CAP Stonemason, option granite, soft stone
CAP Stone engraver
CAP Stone trades
Duration : 2 years
Public : students over 16 years of age, 4th year secondary school level.
Organisation : 20 hours per week in professional subjects (art drawing, technology, technical drawing, workshop) and 12 hours per week in general subjects (French, maths., English, family and social education, physical education). There is also a CAP to be done in 3 years for students from 2nd year secondary school ; CAP of 1 year for students from another CAP or last year secondary school level.

Complementary subjects
Monumental masonry / stone engraving / fireplace making / stone carving / decorating and restoring stone / perfecting sculpture
Duration : 1 year
Public : students having passed their CAP (Stone trades, shell, masonrywork, tiling mosaics, public works)
Organisation : half of the time at school (22 hours of professional subjects and 8 hours of general subjects) and the other half of the time in work experience in companies.

Professional Certificate of Technical Education
Duration : 2 years
Public : Students having passed their CAP
Organisation : either continuously with work experience in companies, or work-based
Also : A unique and paid training scheme in France : Historic Monuments Technical Stonemason Certificate (Ecole Saint-Lambert : (+(33) 1 45 54 92 32)

Technical Bacalaureate in crafts and art
Option : Stone art
Duration : 2 years complementing the training sector : 27 weeks of teaching in the first year and 25 weeks in the second year plus 16 weeks of professional training over the two years.
Public : priority to students having passed their CAP
Orgaisation : syllabus divided into four distinct sectors : technological, artistic and scientific professional training - expression and opening onto the world - art - physical education

Master's Certificate
Duration : 2 years
Public : experienced stonemason workers with at least 2 years' professional experience after a CAP or its equivalent.
Organisation : 22 weeks of 39 hours alternating between a firm and the Institut Supérieur de Recherche et de Formation aux Métiers de la Pierre in Rodez.
Syllabus : drawing, practical work, surveying, technology, security, psychopedagogy, general culture

DEUST : Scientific and technical University diploma in ornamental stones and ballast.
Duration : 2 years
Public : Persons having passed their baccalaureate
Organisation : professional, peripheral and fundamental education. Superior diploma studied in 2 years at the University of St Etienne, in collaboration with the Institut of work-based education and Unicam of Montaleu (38).

Superior Technical Certificate (BTMS)
Duration : 2 or 3 years depending on the level of the student. (total of 1,170 hours)
Public : workers having 4 years' practical experience or holding a Technical or Master's Certificate.
Syllabus : (at the Institut Supérieur de Recherches et Formation aux Métiers de la Pierre in Rodez) : selling, law, foreign language, company environment, computer studies, management-accounts, history of architecture, surveying, worksite organisation, geology-quarrying, dissertation, technology.

Further Training :

CEFICEM - National Training Centre for Quarrying and Building Materials
Types of training courses : improvement courses, qualifying courses (CQP)
Themes : extracting and cutting rocks with explosives, with cutting machines - sketching, sales tools - scheduling natural materials - funeral legislation …
Public : company employees
Location : in-company or in a CEFICEM centre

AFPA &endash; National Association for Adult Vocational Education
Types of training courses : improvement courses
Themes : Stonemason (5 to 28 weeks) - paver, border layer (3 to 26 weeks) - building and decoration marble mason (6 to 28 weeks)
Location : AFPA centres
Public : any employees over 17 years of age having finished the first cycle of secondary school education

CAPEB National Craftsmen's Union of Stone Trades
Types of training courses : training or improvement courses
Public : craftsmen in the building trade and their employees

Workers' Association of the Fellows of Trade of the Tour of France
Types of training courses : improving courses
Public : stone and building professionals

Fellows Federation of Building Trades
Types of training courses : improving courses
Public : stone and building professionals

GRETA
Types of training courses : training and improving courses
Public : all adults