MHA Sponsored Workshops and Annual Conference

The MHA offers various workshops throughout the year. These workshops are sometimes for members only and sometimes for the general public.

The annual conference is held at Wildacres Retreat in North Carolina. The event includes a business meeting and educational workshops that last 7 days/6 nights and is available only to MHA members. Each conference has workshops geared to educate all experience levels from beginner to professional.

Basics and Theory of Masonry Heaters

During the MHA annual meeting, the education committee offers a class titled the Basics and Theory of Masonry Heaters. It is a great educational opportunity for the mason or homeowner wanting to learn more about masonry heaters.

This class is available for MHA members attending our annual meeting. The MHA offers two levels of  membership: Affiliate – $275 and Full Voting – $375.  Memberships are renewed every 12 months from an enrollment date.

The cost of the Basics and Theory course is $600 in addition to an annual meeting registration. Space is limited to 12 students.

For more information or class registration, please contact the MHA office.

Class Specifics:

The class runs approximately 20 hours. Four of those hours will be virtual classroom scheduled in the evening the week just before the annual meeting, and the remaining hours are a hands-on demonstration where attendees have the opportunity to be part of a masonry heater build.

The curriculum for the class includes:

• What is a Masonry Heater?  

• Types of Masonry Heaters

  • Core Kits

  • Complete Units

  • Hand-Built Units

• Governing Bodies

  • ASTM

  • Building Codes

  • EPA

  • Insurance

  • Local Regulators

• Methods and Materials

• Core Materials

• Insulation & Expansion

• Facing Materials

• Professional Trade Association

• Suppliers, Customers, and Builders

• Masonry Heater Association and Certification

Hands-On Demonstration Build

As part of the class, students will be participating in a masonry heater build.  Attendees are introduced to the following:

• Selected tools and safety equipment

• Skills needed for the build

• Construction of the heater

This class is designed to introduce masonry heater design concepts and construction standards on an exploratory level for both novice and professional masons. The goal of this course is to provide foundational knowledge of the masonry heater industry as it currently is, and introduce the tools, methods, and materials that are necessary for building successful masonry heaters.

Certified Heater Mason Program

• Introduction

• Application for Certification

• Requirements for Certification

• Maintaining MHA Certification

• List of Certified Heater Masons

Revised 3/12

1.  Introduction

The MHA is a professional association of masonry heater builders that was formed to advance the technology of masonry heating in North America and to increase the knowledge and skills of professional heater masons. The MHA fulfills its mandate by sponsoring laboratory research into masonry heating technology and by publishing information of interest to practitioners.  The MHA also maintains a professional training and certification program to advance the competency of qualified heater builders.

This manual has been prepared to assist candidates in achieving and maintaining MHA certification, and to guide the administration of the program.  The requirements presented in this manual have been established by the MHA Board of Directors, and it is the Board’s responsibility to apply and interpret them, primarily through its administrative designate.  The manual may be amended from time to time to account for changing conditions.

2.  Application for Certification

2.1 Application Procedure

To initiate the application procedure, a person must be an MHA member* in good standing and apply in writing to the MHA administrator and provide:

(a)  a completed application form

(b)  a check or money order in the amount of US $300.

*If a person becomes an MHA member and applies for certification in the same year, $100 of the application fee can be waived.

2.2  Administration

Upon receipt of a completed application form and fee, the administrator will supply the applicant with:

(a)  a copy of the MHA Heater Mason’s Reference Manual,

(b)  a copy of the Occupational Analysis Manual,

(c)  a copy of the Policies and Procedures Manual,

(d)  and such other documentation deemed necessary to prepare the applicant for the certification
process.

3.  Requirements for Certification

3.1  Professional Credentials Required

A candidate for MHA certification must demonstrate a working knowledge of relevant housing and fuel burning regulations, and sufficient knowledge of masonry work by providing proof* of successful completion of at least ONE of the following:

(a) a bricklayer apprenticeship program

(b) certification issued by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) (rev. 3/12)

(c) certification issued by Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc.

(d) Successful completion of a Level 1 HMED class or an equivalent professional credential deemed acceptable to the MHA (rev.3/12)

AND at least ONE of the following:

(e) 40 hours of work under the direct supervision of an MHA certified heater mason

(f) successful completion of an MHA Hands-on Workshop and Test

*Proof of certification or participation, i.e. copy of certificate, diploma, letter of successful completion.  Other credentials can be judged for their equivalence.

3.2  Field Experience 

A candidate must provide evidence of a working knowledge of masonry heater design and construction as set out in the MHA Occupational Analysis Manual. The required evidence must consist of verifiable documentation of THREE masonry heater construction projects professionally contracted and completed within the past five years. The candidate must have served as the lead mason on at least TWO of the required projects. One of those 2 projects must have a firebrick firebox (rev.3/12)

Required documentation for EACH of the three projects must consist of the following:

(a) 12 photos of the project: (rev. 3/12)

 Photos required:

•        Foundation

• Base pad and first course

• Core at floor level

• Core at firebox level

• Completed core

• Facing with soot doors or 1 foot from floor

• Facing at lintel level

• Downward picture of channels just before capping slab

• Completed heater front Completed heater rear Chimney connection

• Full post break-in fire through door

(b) a thorough description of the heater including firebox dimensions, overall dimensions, wall thicknesses, main materials used, including scale drawings with plan sectionals.

(c) the name and address of the client, and the date of construction.

(d) a completed “New Owner Survey” for both of the units built as the lead mason. (Rev.3/12/)

3.3  Examination

(a)  The candidate must achieve a passing grade on the MHA examination. The passing grade is 70 percent.

(b)  The taking of the examination may be administered by the MHA or

(c)  The examination may be proctored by an independent agency such as a public library which is deemed acceptable by the administrator.  The MHA will pay the proctor for the service.  All other costs related to the proctoring of the examination will be paid by the candidate.

(d)  The fee for the administration of the examination is US $100 which must be received by the MHA before administrative arrangements are made.

(e)  The candidate may take the examination before the other certification requirements are met, but certification will not be granted until all requirements are satisfied.

3.4  Summary of Certification Requirements

To achieve certification under the Heater Mason Program, the candidate must:

(a) supply a completed application form

(b)  pay the application fee of $300

(c)  provide proof of relevant professional credentials

(d)  provide documentation of three heater projects

(e)  pay the examination fee of $100

(f)  achieve a passing grade on the MHA examination

4.  Maintaining MHA Certification

4.1  Annual Certification Renewal

To maintain MHA certification in good standing, a certificate holder must be a MHA full voting member and pay an annual renewal fee of $50.  The fee covers administrative costs, validation of renewal and information updates. Failure to pay the annual renewal fee will result in the withdrawal of certification after two payment notices have been sent and no response is received by the administrator within 90 days.

4.2 Continuing Education Requirement

Within each five year period after certification, the certificate holder must accrue MHA continuing education workshop points, or other relevant professional credentials deemed equivalent by the MHA. Points accrued must be a minimum of 3 to 5 each year or 30 or more for the five year period. Continued Education Credits are awarded by the following: (Rev. 3/12)

• The instructor of a MHA sponsored workshop would be awarded one CEU per 3 hours of instruction.

• The assistant instructor of a MHA HMED class would be awarded one CEU per 4 hours of instruction.

• Participation in a MHA sponsored workshop would be awarded one CEU per 4 hours of instruction.

• The instructor of a non sponsored MHA workshop would be awarded one CEU per 4 hours of instruction.

• Participation in a non sponsored MHA seminar or workshop would be awarded one CEU per 5 hours of instruction.

• Holding an elected position in MHA warrants 2 c.e.u.s per year.

• Chairman of a MHA committee warrants 2 c.e.u.s per year.

• Documentation  of  site built masonry heater with written description, firebox plan drawing, owner contacti nformation and at least 12 photos would be awarded 3 c.e.u.s

  • Photos required:

    1. Foundation

    2. Base pad and first course

    3.  Core at floor level

    4.  Core at firebox level

    5.  Completed core

    6.  Facing with soot doors or 1 foot from floor

    7.  Facing at lintel level

    8.  Downward picture of channels just before capping slab

    9.  Completed heater front

    10.  Completed heater rear

    11.  Chimney connection

    12.  Full post break-in fire through door

• Owner survey must be completed and is part of the documentation required in the above for 3 c.e.u.s

Failure to comply with the continuing education requirement will result in withdrawal of certification after two notices have been sent and no response is received by the administrator with 90 days.

4.3  Leave of Absence

Any Certified Heater Mason leaving North America or becoming inactive as a working mason must remain a paid Associate Member of MHA and keep annual certification fees up to date.