One of the most important aspects of the installation of the tombstone is the fixation in the ground. There has been a lot of publicity about the dangers of falling or unsecured headstones and recent health and safety legislation has been implemented and many unsecured headstones have been placed to prevent accidents.
It is the mason’s responsibility to evaluate the ground conditions and decide which is the most appropriate foundation and fixing method to use. There are certain recommended fastening methods detailed in the NAMM Code of Practice, which have been tested by an independent structural engineer. Special attention must be paid to hole size and depth stops to ensure that fixing is not compromised. The most common types of fasteners recommended by NAMM and adopted by masons are anchor fasteners.
There are several fixing methods depending on the ground conditions, the size of the tombstone, etc. The method that is becoming one of the most popular is the ground anchor and is highly recommended by NAMM. This is where a steel rod/ground anchor extends from the headstone foundation to the ground. With this method, if a joint breaks, the tombstone will not fall immediately, but will need repair, but it will only fall if force is used instead of falling on its own. You can also screw the headstone back on with a reliable method using resin and stainless steel dowels.
Some headstones are set on a concrete base and it is normal for the headstone to be re-leveled and your mason must come back and make 2 free visits to re-level.
Cemeteries will now perform regular checks on all headstones in the cemetery and if a headstone needs to be repaired or replaced, the owner of the grave will be held responsible.
As long as the correct procedure is followed, the headstone should be securely attached and not pose a hazard.