Intersect, June 2020

ED27 JUNE 2020



2

Contents 01. Project Matters

4

- Firewood and Candles

Thank you to Sponsors our sponsors

Matter

Design Matters National appreciates the support of our sponsors.

of Victoria appreciates the support and assistance of our sponsors.

- Heathmont Passive House

02. Planning Matters

15

03. Industry Matters

19

Here for members during COVID-19

Our team at Design Matters National is set up to work remotely to ensure there is no interruption to services provided to our members. We are here to help, so email us at info@designmatters.org.au or call on 03 9416 0227

DISCLAIMER Publication of an article or inclusion of an advertisement in this edition does not infer that Building Designers Association of Victoria Inc trading as Design Matters National agrees with the views expressed, or message conveyed, nor does it imply endorsement of products. In addition, Design Matters National does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. No content may be reproduced without the written permission of Design Matters National.

Requests should be lodged to The Editor, at info@designmatters.org.au. ďťż

3

Issue 27

01.

Project Matters: Firewood and Candles



4

"Firewood and Candles pays homage to long-forgotten life set amongst the backdrop of the Australian wilderness."

01. Project Matters: Firewood and Candles

Winner: Restoration ++ Firewood and Candles’ restoration beautifully respects the authenticity, charm, history and character of the original building ++ Calm grey tones in stains and paints are applied to re-used and reclaimed timbers ++ A custom-built fireplace is the heart of the building providing additional warmth amongst an array of interesting textures Firewood and Candles is the type of project many would see as a complete rebuild but Rachcoff Vella Architecture’s clients saw its potential beauty. Keeping the shell of the former dairy shed mostly untouched to preserve the character and charm of the building’s previous use, the interior has been revitalised with a combination of raw materials and soft furnishings.

Located on agricultural acreage on the Mornington Peninsula, Firewood and Candles is set amongst large established eucalypts and old native vegetation. Adjacent to wineries and animal agistments, the site is in a hidden valley abutting a creek, removed from the rest of the world.

The large surrounding trees and vegetation meant solar access, natural light and unobstructed views were going to be tough to achieve. A dairy isn’t originally designed with such criteria in mind!

The interior design brief was set around celebrating the authenticity of the building. Landscaping was strategically pruned back and the clerestory windows were added to allow in natural light and views of the bush.

The main challenge for the project was to convert a dilapidated building into a habitable and structurally-sound dwelling without demolishing it all and losing its authenticity, character and charm.

By holding on to the main structure and original fabric of the building, Rachcoff Vella Architecture was able to peel back the internal skin and insert all the essential 21st Century utilities and conveniences.

This allowed the building’s legitimacy to remain and become the hero whilst all the new elements were designed to complement and work to the old-world ethos.

The building envelope of concrete block walls retains the raw agricultural nature of the former dairy. The insertions within this envelope are joinery and hand-crafted furniture and these are offset with a homogenous wash of calm, muted-grey tones in stains and paints applied to re-used and reclaimed timbers. Interior elements are layered against the more structured, utilising natural colours and textures as seen in the clay, timber, coir and linens. 

5

Issue 27



6

01. Project Matters: Firewood and Candles Retention and rejuvenation of a forgotten and rejected building epitomise a sustainable approach. The existing structure, cladding, walls, roof and some old fixtures were all salvaged to ensure re-use and re-purpose of an otherwise easily demolished building. In lieu of a shiny new contemporary pod, the client brief was for a simple low-energy build.

Heat retention and airtightness were addressed with the insertion of floor, wall and roof insulation. Relying on its own water collection and solar PV farm, the result sits very comfortable with an energy-conscious occupants.

Rachcoff Vella Architecture set out to retain the raw and utilitarian nature of an agricultural building. The home responds to and is beautifully grounded within its surroundings and provides the desired outcome: a private sanctuary. Responding to the elements, the home provides shade and comfort in the summer and shelter coupled with warmth in the winter.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Designer:

Rachcoff Vella Architecture

rachcoffvella.com.au

Builder:

Koorool Constructions

Photographer:

Tatjana Plitt

7

Issue 27

“Working within and designing around a onehundred-plus-year old utilitarian outbuilding, originally laid out for milking cows, made this project even more interesting.”

Rachcoff Vella Architecture Firewood and Candles



8

01.

Project Matters: Heathmont Passive House 

9

Issue 27



“Heathmont Passive House takes full advantage of a difficult site, demonstrating a skillful and creative approach to passive design.”

01. Project Matters: Heathmont Passive House

Commendation: New House $1M-$3M Construction Cost ++ Designing an environmentally-connected and environmentally-conscious dream home, with ample spaces, required careful, precise planning ++High first-floor ceilings, triangulated roof peaks and strategic glazing ensured abundant natural sunlight, views and passive gains Located in the outer Melbourne suburb of Heathmont, the client brief required a four-bedroom home with ample spaces where the client could host regular community meetings and accommodate interstate family visitors. The design solution took careful consideration of the environment providing a strong connection to the immediate landscape.

The site, in the leafy pocket of Heathmont in Melbourne's Eastern suburbs, is within walking distance to nearby shops, public transport and the Dandenong Creek Trail. The elevated site was part of a four-lot subdivision, with each lot approximately 850 to 950 square metres. The site's topography fell 5.7m to the South East and hosted two significant eucalypt trees on the Northern boundary.

The site's constraints provided Maxa Design with the most significant challenges. An initial site meeting with the clients, prior to their purchase of the land, identified that something unique would be needed to resolve the site's complexities and to harness the highly desirable view opportunities of the Dandenong Ranges to the East.

Steep, falling land to the South East required a plan skewed to the West. Large trees on the North West restricted any possible winter solar gains after midday. The streetscape required considered planning of ‘levels’ that would allow access for all ages, selective privacy, and solar gains from the North and North East.

The steep, falling site was further complicated by a lack of privacy from the Northern roadway and this resulted in the lower level being cut into the earth, eliminating opportunity for Northerly solar gains.

An early spatial assessment directed the plan toward a two-storey ‘reverse-living’ home, prioritising access for the owner’s frequent visitors and maximising views, solar gains and zoning.

A thorough feasibility process resolved that solar gains could be harnessed by facing the home’s living/communal spaces towards the North East. This connected the home to the Northern landscape, and privacy from vehicular and pedestrian movement on the street would be achieved through an integrated and strategic landscape design.

Aligning the building to the site’s contours achieved a more cost-efficient solution however, resulting in a North-Westerly orientation.

An array of triangular extrusions on the South-Eastern facade provide views to the Dandenong Ranges, and triangular vaulted ceilings on the first floor with highlight windows ensure abundant natural light, all culminating in a certified passive house design.

11

Issue 27

01. Project Matters: Heathmont Passive House Guest accommodation is provided in a bedsit studio on the lower level, accessed via a glazed bridge link crossing an artificial creek.

Targeting the pinnacle of energy efficiency standards - a certified Passive House - ensured not only a high-performance home, but integrity of building fabric for generations to come. Zoned for varying occupant numbers and ages, access to the lower level is ensured with the allocation of space for a future lift.

Certified Passive Houses do not typically look like Heathmont Passive House! Typically, they take on a very monolithic form.

This home breaks down the misconception that a Passive House is mundane architecture. Angled extrusions on the roof and southern facade allow this home to harness views and solar gains however, they increase the internal surface-area-to-floor-area ratio, something usually frowned upon in Passive House design.

Sustainability Considerations Sustainability outcomes were intrinsic to the client brief and critical to the success of the home. Addressing energy efficiency through Passive House design certification ensured efficiency of the home, rather than simply thermal comfort. Heating and cooling was integrated into the heat recovery ventilation system, minimising mechanical systems and ensuring even distribution. In addition to Passive House standards was the rainwater collection, plumbed throughout the house with mains back up for extended dry periods.

The fireplace, a folly (the flue terminates at the ceiling), provides ambience in the colder months; heating is rarely required. This is an all-electric home.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Designer

Maxa Design

Web maxadesign.com.au Builder Carbonlite Interior Designer

Hunter & Richards

Building Surveyor

Watershed Building Consultants

Energy Rater

Graham Energy

Passive House Consultant

Williams Energy UK

Structural Engineer

Solid Structural Engineering

Passive House Certifier

Grun Consulting

Photographer

Chris Neylon Photography

MAJOR SUPPLIERS FOR THE PROJECT

Panellite Kingspan Neuffer Germany

12

“Integrating sustainability through specific and targeted strategies, including intelligent water and energy systems, and adoption of the Passive House standard, the quality and longevity of this home goes well beyond its finishes.�

Maxa Design Heathmont Passive House

13

Issue 27

YO U K N OW B U I L D I N G

WE K N OW INSUR ANC E Specialist Insurance Providers to the Building Industry

Sketch Building Design Pty Ltd Photographer: Dana Beligan

BUILDING DESIGNERS • CONSTRUCTION • ARCHITECTS • ENERGY RATERS • ENGINEERS

W E B B E R I N S U R A N C E . C O M . A U / D E S I G N M AT T E R S designmatters@webberinsurance.com.au

• 1300 668 553

WEBBER INSURANCE SERVICES PTY LTD | ABN 88 648 036 929 | CAR: 413233 As Authorised Representative of Webber Insurance Group | ABN: 70 612 339 894 | AFSL: 488465 14

02.

Planning Matters

ďťż

15

Issue 27

Little bits that can make a big difference to your town planning outcomes.

02. Planning Matters

COVID-19: What Planning Permit Applicants Need to Know COVID-19 has temporarily stalled many facets of life. As we work from home, our fears reducing, feeling a warmth of pride that our community has prioritised public health over all else, it is dawning on us that there will be a ‘new norm’. Things change quickly in this new norm, so readers should be aware this piece was written on May 20th.

At any point in time, billions of dollars of development proposals are tied up within Victoria’s planning regime. Now more than ever, the efficient processing of these applications is critical. Victoria’s planning industry is moving to get things back on track. Here’s a brief summary of the initiatives, permit applicants should be aware of, at State Government, VCAT and Council levels.

The eligibility criteria ensure projects (among other things): •

Are of state or regional significance

•

Have experienced unreasonable processing delays

•

Will deliver jobs and significant economic value to the state and

•

Are shovel ready.

For more information regarding Building Victoria’s Recovery Taskforce and project eligibility please contact our office or visit: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/buildingvictorias-recovery-taskforce

Victorian Government

VCAT

In April, the Covid-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Bill 2020 came into being and provided some small, but important, changes to legislation to ensure the ability of Council and VCAT to continue their work. The bill is expected to expire in six months and temporarily provides the following (among other things):

VCAT has fundamentally closed its doors to the public and has been working very hard to put in place safe procedures that will allow day-to-day business to continue. Permit applicants should be aware:

•

•

Planning documents previously required to be physically available to view at state or local government offices are now only required to be available for online inspection. This includes copies of planning scheme amendments and submissions, and planning permit applications and objections The requirement that Planning Panels Victoria must conduct its hearings in public will be satisfied if the hearing is available to be viewed by the general public by electronic means, either while the hearing is being held or as soon as reasonably practicable afterwards. Those entitled to or invited to participate will be able to do so using remote technology.

The Victorian government has also established a new task force that will provide advice to the government on industry issues, including barriers to building works, and oversee the fast-tracking of planning approvals using ministerial ‘call-in’ powers. DELWP has released “priority project eligibility criteria”. Although no minimum project value is prescribed, the criteria sets a high bar and it is expected the taskforce will focus on ‘major projects’.

•

The Tribunal is advocating for legislative change to bolster Tribunal Members’ ability to direct expert evidence and cross examination, presumably to make this process more efficient, and

•

Allow the Tribunal to limit the issues under contest at the hearing, without such a request being made by parties

•

The Tribunal is also looking to increase its ability to strike out applications that are considered baseless and without merit

•

Objectors’ appeals are now being listed for an initial compulsory conference, in an attempt to shortcut their determination times

•

More onus is being placed on parties to ensure procedural compliance, as a result of less matters being listed for directions-hearings

•

For matters that were originally listed for hearing between March 17 and May 15: -

The Tribunal has sought to confirm if all parties consent to the matter being determined on the papers 

16

-

Where all parties have agreed, matters have been set down for determination without a hearing

-

Where all parties have not provided consent, the matters will be listed for hearing between August and September 2020.

All of these matters will be heard via video or telephone conferencing and may be set down at short notice.

•

All matters previously listed for hearing between 18 May and 29 May are to be re-listed for hearings between October and November 2020

•

Matters listed for hearing from 1 June will be heard via either video or telephone conferencing, as scheduled

•

New appeals and requests for adjournment are resulting in hearing dates being reset in 2021

•

The tribunal does not expect to contemplate resuming face-to-face hearings until 2021, at the earliest – however, there is no guarantee this expectation will not be extended

•

The Tribunal is also actively encouraging parties to contact each other and mediate outcomes or reduce the number issues under contest, in order to simplify hearing requirements.

Clause 1 recommends that permit applicants, with current VCAT matters, diligently pursue without prejudice negotiations with all parties, as early as possible and ensure that any opportunity for consent is completely exhausted, in an attempt to cut-short the expected delays.

In instances where objectors have lodged reviews against Council’s decision to grant a permit, we recommend permit applicants obtain advice to confirm whether it might be possible to have the appeal summarily struck out. A recent VCAT case, Axicom Pty Ltd v Melton CC (Red Dot) [2020] VCAT 190, provides some useful guidance on this option.

Councils The impact on local councils has varied significantly. Here’s what we know some councils are doing: •

Allowing staff to work from home (often part-time) to ensure social distancing can be maintained within existing office areas

•

Offering online or telephone pre-application and consultation meetings with applicants

•

Elongating the normal 14-day public notification period

•

Undertaking council meetings via video-conferencing without a public-gallery

•

Requiring any submission or questions to be submitted prior to council meetings

•

Accepting more material via email or online (electronically)

Beyond the initial onset of COVID-19 restrictions in March, our office has not noticed a significant change in the timeframes that councils are taking to progress our permit applications. Our discussions with council planners have revealed that some feel they are being more efficient without the daily distractions of the office environment.

In summary, we do not expect there to be a significant change in the timeframe council takes to process applications. We strongly recommend that permit applicants familiarise themselves with new council-meeting protocols to ensure you have a chance to be heard in relation to your applications.

Planning Permit Decision Time Frames One of the most common complaints from regular permit applicants is the length of time the planning process takes. In Victoria, councils have a statutory requirement to determine a planning permit application within 60 days, subject to certain milestones which start and stop the clock (readers can visit the Clause 1 website for an in-depth article regarding calculating council’s 60-day statutory timeframe). Despite the 60-day statutory timeframe, it is not uncommon for applications to take more that six months to move through the council process.

As a Victorian planning permit applicant, you have the right under Section 79 of the Planning and Environment Act (the Act) to lodge an appeal with VCAT if council fails to determine your application within the 60-day statutory timeframe. Applicants contemplating appeals under Section 79 should also be aware that Section 115CA of the VCAT Act obligates council to reimburse the applicant the whole of any fees paid by the applicant in the proceeding, unless council can convince the Tribunal it would be unreasonable to do so.

However, a Section 79 appeal can add significant cost and time delays to the finalisation of a matter.

It is interesting to compare Victoria’s system with the statutory timeframes for planning permit processing, in other Australian states: -

New South Wales – has a “Complying development” fast-track approval process combining planning and construction approval for straightforward development, issued in as little as 20 days.

Other development assessments which are not regionally or state significant and are not fast-track applications should be determined within: •

40 business days for standard applications

•

60 business days for more complex applications or where other parties are involved and

•

90 business days for state-significant development.

If the relevant authority does not determine the application within this time it is deemed to have been refused. continued over page

Ph: 03 9370 9599 www.clause1.com.au

17

Issue 27

Other states and territories have varying timeframes based on the type of application lodged. A number of states have a “deemed to be refused” or “deemed to be approved” provision which applies when a decision is not made in the specified timeframes, with these automatic outcomes subject to appeal.

notification period. If an application has all the necessary information and a decision is not made in the timeframes, then the application is considered to be approved, although in those cases the applicant needs to appeal to the Appeal Tribunal for an order determining the conditions (if any) of the permit approval.

The planning decision timeframes of other states are, in summary: -

-

-

-

-

South Australia has a five-business day “deemed to satisfy” pathway if a proposal meets specified criteria; 20 business days for a Commission or Panel decision; and up to 60 business days where an agency referral and/or public notification is needed. Subdivisions also generally have a 60-business day timeframe, after a 5-business day verification period.

Queensland has distinctions between “Code” assessment and “Impact” assessment applications and has provisions for the application to be deemed to be approved if not otherwise determined within the specified timeframes. Timeframes are 10 business days for the assessment authority to confirm the application is received concurrently with 10 business days for the assessment authority to request further information; up to 35 business days to refer and receive assessment from a referral authority, then up to 35 business days for a decision to be made (less up to 10 business days for any time taken to make an Information Request).

Western Australia’s timeframe is 60 calendar days to determine applications where no consultation is required and 90 calendar days if any consultation/referral is required. If local government has not made a decision within these timeframes the application is deemed to be refused, although a decision can be made after this timeframe.

Northern Territory is covered by the Northern Territory Planning Scheme except for areas covered by the Jabiru Town Plan. The Planning Scheme is administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.

Applications are made on-line. Applicants have a right to appeal if a decision is not made by the Department within 12 weeks (84 days) of making the application.

Tasmania requires that decisions must be made on a “permitted application” within 28 days of the application being received. This timeframe can be extended within that 28 days by written agreement. A decision must be made on a “discretionary application” within 42 days of the application being received, which includes a 14-day public

-

ACT statutory timeframes are 20 working days from date of lodgement for “code track” applications and 30 working days from date of lodgement for “merit” and “impact tracks” if no representations are received, and 45 working days from date of lodgement when representations are received.

Readers should keep in mind that the above timeframes are also subject to the complexities of state- and territory-specific regulations, adding even more diversity between jurisdictions.

If Victoria was able to pick some of the best bits from other states and territories, to assist permit applicants, here’s a bit of a wish-list of what we could learn: •

Addition of ‘deemed to be approved’ provisions for applications that meet specific criteria

•

More ‘streams/types’ of applications (similar to our VicSmart system) that provide for shorter timeframes and/or more confined considerations

•

Reconsideration of the ‘clock-stoppers’ that currently unreasonably elongate decision timeframes

•

Increased delegation from councillors and/or more frequent council meetings to determine applications

•

More significant consequences for authorities that take too long to determine applications

•

‘Deemed to be approved’ provisions for applications that extend beyond the statutory timeframe.

Ahhh, it’s nice to dream…

These tidbits are part of the regular contribution made by Clause 1 Planning to Intersect. For more information visit www.clause1.com.au Don’t worry, you can purchase webinars from the Design Matters National webshop and listen to them in your own time. Topics include:

Missed a CPD Session?

•

Designing the Home of the Future Part 1 , 2 and 3

•

Revit Training Series Part 1. 2. 3 and 4

•

The Latest Advancements in Timber Construction

•

It's all in the Preparation

•

What will Ballarat be like in 2050 and are we ready?

FREE for members

•

Planning and COVID-19: Councils and Authorities

•

HIA: Building Industry - Past, Present & Future.

FREE for members

•

Volume 1 NCC 2019 Section J Update & Fire Testing Changes

•

Air Tightness Testing

Purchase CPD webinars at our webshop www.designmatters.org.au 

18

03.

Industry Matters

ďťż

19

Issue 27

Precision in the design stage leads to fewer delays on site by reducing the likelihood of misinterpretations and ambiguities.

03. Industry Matters

Documenting quality design

By Emma Green, NATSPEC Communications Cross-laminated timber, first manufactured in Europe in the 1990s, is gaining popularity in construction projects around the world, including in Australia. A structural solid-engineered wood panel made from layers of timber glued perpendicular to each other, the material is strong, versatile and sustainable.

In order to best use new materials in ways that fulfil their sustainability potential, building professionals need high-quality documentation.

In April this year, NATSPEC released a new National Building Specification work section dedicated to cross-laminated timber to help designers better use the material in appropriate ways, ensuring it contributes to the quality of each project.

Design and construction are major parts of Australian industry and will be essential to the community and the economy as the COVID-19 crisis diminishes. However, the building and construction industry will be faced with certain challenges, dealing with disrupted supply chains, transportation difficulties and raised prices for materials, especially if these are imported from overseas. Many building designers will not be able to escape these difficulties. A focus on quality is therefore essential.

A high-quality design marries ecological and economic sustainability.

The key to achieving this is by selecting the appropriate materials, products or techniques for the appropriate purpose. A lower up-front cost does not necessarily mean that a project will be economically sustainable in the long term. Similarly, selecting a sustainable product with no real consideration of its durability nor its suitability for the project in question does not instantly make it environmentally friendly.

A crisis like a pandemic throws underlying problems into relief and highlights several new ones. Social distancing guidelines have shown just how dependent many businesses and industries are on frequent contact between people. Building design is certainly not an area untouched by these changes. Safety is of the utmost importance: social distancing, self-isolation and caring for family and community members impact how building designers can continue their work, as well as how the construction process can be carried out.

Limitations and changed circumstances make the time spent during the design and documentation process all the more valuable. Greater care and precision in the design stage leads to fewer delays on site by reducing the likelihood of misinterpretations and ambiguities.

This is always important but especially so in the time directly following a global health crisis. It also underlines the need for appropriate materials fulfilling their appropriate purpose—the need for quality.

Building designers stipulate their projects' required quality, and the most efficient way of doing this is by using specifications.

Specifications can be used to ensure the quality of any project.

Drawings are an integral part of design work however, specifications provide the clarity and additional information needed to complement the details in drawings. This is particularly useful when working with a new material like cross-laminated timber. The precise level of quality required is detailed in specifications. Ecological and economic sustainability are part of a project's level of quality.

Building designers can ensure that the appropriate material is used for the appropriate purpose.

Specifications are part of the process at every stage of design and construction. They greatly reduce the risk of miscommunication between professionals involved in different aspects of the one project. By using specifications, building designers have greater control over their projects and have a record of all design decisions.

The National Building Specification is a clear, customisable specification system for all varieties of design and construction projects in Australia. Maintained by NATSPEC, the National Building Specification is updated twice a year to incorporate changes to Australian Standards, legislation and industry practices. NATSPEC specifications are organised in numbered worksections. The latest update includes the new worksection 0385 Cross-laminated timber (CLT) to support the sustainable use of cross-laminated timber as it becomes more common across the country.

Good specifications demonstrate compliance, indicate the required quality and record design decisions, including decisions about materials, products and sustainability requirements. This makes specifications an indispensable part of any building designer's work.

Using the National Building Specification to document design decisions means the designer can ensure that the end product is just as high quality as they envisioned from the beginning.

NATSPEC, a not-for-profit, government- and industry-owned organisation, maintains the National Building Specification and has been a valued part of the Australian construction industry for 45 years.

For more information, visit www.natspec.com.au

20

NCC 2019 compliance doesn’t have to mean thicker walls or smaller windows STANDARD WALL SYSTEM

CONTINUOUS INSULATION WALL SYSTEM

Wall Thickness 270mm

Wall Thickness 193mm

Traditional Insulation R-value 1.5

Kingspan Kooltherm R-value 1.6

To comply with NCC 2019 Section J, architects & designers will have to rethink their wall insulation solutions, to avoid thicker walls and smaller windows. Specify Kingspan KoolthermÂŽ to get a thinner profile, faster install and less on-site waste.

For assistance with the NCC 2019 changes regarding thermal insulation, contact our technical services team on 1300 247 235 or info@kingspaninsulation.com.au

Kingspan Insulation Pty Ltd

Tel: 1300 247 235 Email: info@kingspaninsulation.com.au

www.kingspaninsulation.com.au Authorised Stockists: Eureka Sustainability Group Pty Ltd | Primo Building Services Pty Ltd | PlastaMasta Melbourne City | PlastaMasta South Side | Network Building supplies | Hume Building Products | Archiclad Building Products Pty Ltd | Archiclad Pty Ltd | Melbourne Building Supplies

Issue 27

Better buildings and new efficiencies through technology and collaboration.

03. Industry Matters

Building 4.0 CRC The building industry is central to Australia’s economy, contributing 13% of GDP and employing more than 1.4 million Australians.* Unlike other sectors, it has failed to modernise and is plagued by rising costs and stagnating productivity.

In Australia, evidence of the building sector’s shortcomings are found in the housing affordability crisis, several recent high-profile safety events, falling quality, skills shortages and the highly disproportionate levels of insolvency of the industry’s 345,000 SMEs.

TARGETS •

Energy - 40% reduction in life cycle costs through high-performing, efficient buildings

Building has not kept pace with the rapid technological and organisational change of modern business and society, which has led other sectors to gains in productivity and customer satisfaction.

•

Sustainability - Up to 50% reduction in CO2 emissions for more sustainable buildings

•

Regulation - policy & regulatory frameworks

Building’s core challenge remains the modernisation of a fragmented and adversarial industry, which has hitherto blocked the collective problem-solving approach required for change.

•

Quality and Safety - Fewer defects and improved quality, customer satisfaction, safety and certainty.

Through deep collaboration and new technologies of the 4th industrial age, Building 4.0 CRC aims to catapult the industry into an efficient, connected and customer-centric future and deliver better buildings at lower cost and the human capacity to lead this future industry.

NEW EFFICIENCIES & MARKETS

Australia’s existing high-cost, low-tech building sector is an ideal target for disruption. Building 4.0 CRC will prepare the industry for this event and place Australia among world-leaders in the field.

By taking a ‘whole-of-system’ approach, the Building 4.0 CRC aims to create an innovation ecosystem. This leverages the entire construction value chain to underpin the sector’s future prosperity and unlock opportunities for growth and productivity.

This will lead to an increase in GDP share, growth in high-value employment for Australians, a reduction in greenhouse gases, and make better housing that is more liveable and affordable for Australians.

* https://campaign.propertycouncil.com.au/our-campaign/australiasproperty-industry

BETTER BUILDINGS

•

Cost - Up to 30% reduction in project costs through digital technology and off-site manufacturing

•

Time - 40% reduction in project delays through integrated, live scheduling

•

Waste - 80% reduction in construction waste and re-work for higher productivity

•

Exports - Up to 25% increase in the export of building products and construction services

•

Communication - Connect industry with common protocols and interfaces, and shared data.

HUMAN CAPACITY •

Education - Train 36 PhDs and 1,000 Masters students

•

Jobs and Training - Create new high-skill jobs - training 7,000 apprentices in new technologies

•

Culture - Create an open, collaborative, innovative, inclusive and gender-diverse industry.

22

rials Mate New stems & Sy

Impr ove & Val d Supply ue Ch ain

ed gn nc si va De Ad ing ild Bu

Opti m Prod ised uctio n

ent & lopm s Deve e Model c n a n i F

on & isati Digit lisation a Digit

DfMA processes and smart engagement with changing construction sites

Sust ain Perfo ability & rman ce

Sa Imp fe ro r A ve ss d & em bl y

Leverage smart materials and develop new construction systems

ure Cult e g Chan

Deliver high performing buildings across the whole building lifecycle

er e tt nc Be rna ve Go

More effective policy and regulations & stronger governance

New business models that capitalise on new opportunities

S En tak ga eho ge ld m er en t

Redefining the culture & identity of traditional construction

New Busi Mod ness els

Building 4.0 CRC Enabling a customer-centric and connected transformation of the building industry.

Enabling a customer-centric and connected transformation of the building industry.

Responsiveness to increasingly diverse stakeholder groups

Innovative business development and financing models

Improved value chain & smart supply chain management

Advanced design that delivers community and customer value Embracing the potential of new technologies in this digital age

Advanced & efficient manufacture of building components

ALIGNMENT WITH NATIONAL PRIORITIES AND GROWTH CENTRES Building 4.0 CRC aims to develop an internationally competitive, dynamic and thriving Australian advanced manufacturing sector for building, in alignment with the Commonwealth Government’s national priorities and the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre’s (AMGC) objectives.

$ Further to the AMGC’s priorities all governments of the past decade have nominated housing affordability as a significant national challenge.

Recent experiences and research show that the market alone cannot address this problem.

The Building 4.0 CRC will contribute by providing innovative housing solutions which are affordable, comfortable and healthy and suitable for long-term tenure .

AMCG Objectives

Building 4.0 CRC Contribution

Improve Competitiveness of Australian Manufacturing Industry

Australian industry will gain an early-mover competitive advantage, realised in new products and intellectual property that will position Australia as a global leader.

Access to Global Supply Chains

Multi-national partners open doors to global opportunities and have a commitment to grow their Australian supply chain as new opportunities emerge.

Improved Managerial and Workforce Skills

A highly-skilled digitally-oriented workforce is required for successful industrial transformation. The Building 4.0 Training Program has been designed with these critical needs to deliver.

Cooperation between Industry and Research Institutions

Providing much-needed R&D to a consortium of industry and research partners who have a demonstrated track record of collaboration and R&D investment.

Reduction of Red Tape

Digital solutions based on cross-enterprise protocols and standards will substantially remove red tape, blockages and inefficiencies.

Transformational Impact

Where competition and antagonism is currently the rule, the future industry will be collaborative, and share risk with increased transparency.

Market and Consumer Needs

The future building industry will put the consumer’s needs at the centre of the building experience.

Capacity / Capability Increase

The Building 4.0 CRC will grow the work force of the future, and up-skill the current workforce. 

23

Issue 27

RESEARCH PROGRAMS Research programs, representing the three irreducible elements of the future building industry, will deliver: new products, services and businesses; new jobs and relationships; new systems, protocols and networks; and ultimately, new buildings, precincts and ecologies.

SECTORAL TRANSFORMATION aims to develop new industry-wide culture, practices and standard protocols that will enable the transformation of the entire sector. This includes skills and training development, policy and regulations improvement, supply and value chain connection, and consumer and market engagement.

1 PROGRAM 1 SECTORAL TRANSFORMATION

Activities include…

Training that addresses the existing lack of emphasis on the customer experience at all project stages from feasibility to handover Research to unlock the professional and trade ‘silos’ that fragment traditional construction’s value chain

Objectives Customer-focused Industry Integrated Value Chain

Facilitating dialog between all tiers of government and industry bodies to develop codes and regulations that are responsive to future building needs Defining skills training that responds to new technologies and advanced manufacturing processes and systems

Optimised Supply Chain Responsive Regulation Jobs for the Future Smart Contracts Continuous Improvement Collaborative Business Transformed Industry Culture

Investigate new procurement processes that are networked with responsive and smart modes of managing legal contracts Securing investment for continuous improvement and entrenching a collaborative mindset between business and research institutions Defining new business models that favour collaboration over competition, and use digital technologies to create a construction ‘ecosystem’ Research and training that informs a new culture in construction focused on sustainability, advanced technology, and is diverse and inclusive

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION will leverage the latest technologies, data science and AI in the development of new building processes and techniques. This will enable the application of IoT and smart field technologies such as AR/VR and robotics to optimise all phases of building delivery.

2 PROGRAM 2 DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Activities include…

Moving from ‘project’ focus to product platforms with high knowledge transfer

Analysis and collection of data from building projects to generate clear metrics for benchmarking of building improvement

Objectives Digital Platforms

Implementing new and appropriate technologies to inform design, construction, and occupant management

Data Collection New Technology Integration

Design and production automation, monitoring, and optimisation through data and applied technological solutions

Automation & Optimisation Connected Building Sites

Digital connection of construction sites to provide live progress monitoring and feedback, with connection to the factories

Internet of Things Deployment End-to-End Integrated Technology Data Driven Decisions Use of Digital Twins

Tracking of building elements through the use of IoT tags and devices for streamlined supply chain management and building occupancy and performance monitoring

Reducing the ‘tech-stack’ of construction through the elimination of stand-alone solutions

24

BUILDING TRANSFORMATION This program targets the improvement of building 'hardware' and processes, and their interaction with the digital and sectoral programs. This aims at improving all aspects of the key building phases: development, design, production, assembly, operation, maintenance and end-of-life.

3 PROGRAM 3 BUILDING TRANSFORMATION Objectives Improved Performance

Activities include…

Improving building operation and performance, including — structural, material, acoustic, fire safety, thermal, energy consumption, health and well-being Investigate new, cost-effective, high-performance building materials, systems and processes Faster construction that reduces disruption to neighbouring sites and local infrastructure. Safer buildings and sites that reduce worker injury and fatalities

New Materials & Systems Faster & Safer Building

Innovative building design to create an enhanced and interactive customer experience and respond to changing customer demographics

Customer Interaction Production & Assembly

Improved production and assembly techniques that leverage design for manufacturing and assembly, and advanced manufacturing processes

Cost Reduction Time Certainty

Development of IoT solutions for building management, sensors that provide reliable and real-time performance data

Smart Sensors Clear Sustainability Targets

Development of strong and clear ecological sustainability targets that prioritise a zero impact built environment across the whole life-cycle

Lower Waste Elimination of harmful and toxic materials to create healthy buildings that prioritise the wellbeing of occupants

Town Planning Consultants

"Building 4.0 CRC will lead to a growth in high-value employment, a reduction in greenhouse gases, and create better housing that is more affordable, liveable and environmentally friendly for the future of all Australians."

Professor Margaret Gardner AC, Monash University President and Vice-Chancellor,

The Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Program is the peak funding initiative of the Australian Government for industry-focused Research & Development.

CRCs focus on medium to long-term industryled collaborations to develop important new technologies, products and services and assist in driving the growth of new industries.

For more information, please visit www.building4pointzero.org

Where Your Vision is Our Purpose 435 Nepean Highway Frankston Victoria 3199 03 8765 2455 info@townplanningco.com.au townplanningco.com.au 

25

DESIGN Issue 27

MATTERS NATIONAL

Upcoming CPD Events Latrobe City Council Planning and Major Building Developments

CLICK. LISTEN. LEARN Design Matters National Virtual Series

15 JUN

Monday 15 June 2020 | 11am – 12:30pm AEST

Week 1:

Gail Gatt - CEO Latrobe City Council

1.5 Non-Technical Points Gail will discuss large-scale construction projects currently underway in the Latrobe Valley, including: •

$57 million Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre, the first public aquatic facility in Victoria to incorporate a geothermal heating system

•

$38.5 million Latrobe Creative Precinct, designed by Jackson Architecture in association with Katsieris Origami, and Becon Constructions, and

•

TPA 2-week Intensive Fast track your CPD requirements

22 JUN

23 JUN

1 NatHERS Technical Point per session

Façade Calculator Darren O’Dea

11am - 12pm AEST

Continuous Insulation Systems Ryan Hitzman

11am - 12pm AEST

$30 million GovHub Office in Morwell with developer Castlerock Property.

Windows in a 10 Star House: Considerations and Compatibility

16

JUN

James Matejko - Oknalux (Window supplier for Adelaide’s first 10 Star Home )

1 NatHERS Technical Point The webinar will explore the features to consider when comparing high performing double glazed systems. It will also explore the challenges that can be faced when trying to achieve a 10 star rated home and some key methods to consider when looking at windows.The webinar will also outline some interesting home automation systems to assist in achieving incredible energy efficiency results.

25 JUN

NatHERS Whole-of-Home (WoH) for Assessor Jo Brennan

11am - 12pm AEST

JUN

Tuesday 16 June 2020 | 10am – 11am AEST

Revit Training Series Part 5 Structural Project

24 25 JUN

Principles of Thermally Broken Systems/WERS James White

10am - 11am AEST

26 JUN

Are you following Assessor Best Practice?

Matthew Graham 11am - 12pm AEST

Week 2: Webinar details will be released at www.designmatters.org.au/Events from 10 June 2020.

Thursday 25 June 2020 | 6pm – 8pm AEST Tomislav Golubovic

2 Technical Points This fifth session for Revit Training series will cover how to create our first structural project. From placing Columns and Beams, and then look at how to create some Structural Connections, and output drawings.

To book your next CPD Event visit www.designmatters.org.au/Events 26

27

Issue 27

How volume home builders’ advertising can fail consumers.

03. Industry Matters

Spruiking the stars: some home builders are misleading consumers about energy rating

By Erika Bartak (Design Matters National Member), Georgia Warren-Myers - Senior Lecturer in Property at University of Melbourne, Lucy Cradduck - Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law at Queensland University of Technology A recent study, by Erika Bartak, in collaboration with others, has found some volume builders may be using logos and language to promote energy efficiency and sustainability performance to entice customers and these could be misleading consumers and breaching Australian Consumer Law. Australia’s competitive volume-housing construction sector is busy spruiking various upgrades and packages to sell the appealing notions of lifestyle and luxury on a budget. Along with sparkling stone benchtops and alfresco dining areas, some builders use sustainability and energy-efficiency features to entice customers.

Understanding the stars Stars are a simple shorthand or ‘measuring tape’ to help consumers quickly and easily identify the energy efficiency of each home, and to compare one house with another. Under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), the best rating is 10 stars. Six stars is the regulatory minimum required of most new homes in Australia.

A NatHERS rating is the most common method of demonstrating compliance with energy-efficiency standards. The 10-star NatHERS scale differs from many other commonly-used star-rating schemes, such as Green Star, where five or six stars indicate best, not minimum, performance. This is where the potential for consumers to be misled begins.

NatHERS (on the left) uses a 10-star scale, on which six stars is the minimum standard for most new homes built in Australia. Other six-star energy-rating systems, such as for home appliances (right), add to the potential for confusion about the use of NatHERS stars. Source: NatHERS, Energy Rating/Commonwealth of Australia

28

Most new home buyers are not well-versed in building design or energy-efficiency regulations. They tend to rely on industry experts, such as builders, when making such decisions about their new home.

We wanted to find out how Australia’s volume home builders communicated to consumers about energy ratings. Were they meeting their obligations under the Australian Consumer Law? What does the law say?

Section 18(1) of the Australian Consumer Law states: A person must not, in trade or commerce, engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive or is likely to mislead or deceive.

As the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s guide on green marketing points out, when making statements about green initiatives the overall impression to a typical audience is most important. It cautions businesses: You should be careful that the overall impression you create about the goods or services you sell is not misleading. In other words, it is not enough for each representation to be technically or narrowly correct. It is just as important to look at the overall impression created in the minds of average consumers in the target audience.

What we found Our study examined the websites of Australia’s largest volume home builders to see how they explained the energy efficiency of their homes to potential buyers. We found logos and language that could mislead consumers about the energy-efficiency performance of those homes.

No websites we examined actually used the official NatHERS logo. Instead, some builders had created their own version of a six-star logo. Each example we found showed a grouping of six stars only, suggesting a rating of six out of six was the best rating.

Buyers are likely to interpret these logos as meaning six stars is superior or excellent performance, rather than the minimum performance benchmark that applies to all new homes. One logo went further, claiming six-star 'sustainability' – when a NatHERS rating only measures thermal energy efficiency.

We also found statements on websites that inaccurately equated a six-star rating with a high energy performance. The website of one builder suggested six stars was a “superior” measure of service or quality. Another linked six stars with broader sustainability performance and commitment (not just thermal energy efficiency). One volume builder even described a six-star rating as an “award”!

In each case these statements could easily be misinterpreted as meaning the home was an exceptional product offering, rather than meeting the basic industry standard.

These volume home builder websites use logos and language that imply a high level of energy efficiency or a superior product offering, rather than simply indicating compliance with the minimum regulatory standard that applies to all new homes. As a result, home buyers are likely to be misled about the energy efficiency of these new homes.

Effect matters, regardless of intent Our research does not seek to suggest volume home builders have deliberately set out to mislead potential buyers. However, Section 18(1) is concerned with effect rather than intent. While builders may not intend to mislead buyers, this may be an outcome of current advertising practices.

Therefore, as we point out to both volume home builders and new home buyers, any information about house energy ratings needs to be clear and accurate. It should reinforce that six stars is the minimum standard that applies, not the best.

Energy-efficiency measures, such as star ratings for new homes, are an important part of efforts to reduce Australia’s energy demand and minimise contributions to climate change. Misleading statements about house energy ratings not only risk breaching the Australian Consumer Law, but also weaken community trust in star ratings and in the information the home-building industry provides. It’s time to review the spruiking.

Logos the study found show a grouping of six stars only, suggesting six is the best rating, claiming six-star ‘sustainability’ and even offering this minimum standard ‘at no extra cost’. Source: Observing energy rating stars through the Australian Consumer Law lens, Author provided.

29

Issue 27

How draughty are Australian homes?

03. Industry Matters

Testing the ‘leakiness’ of Australian homes

By Kate Cranney, CSIRO With the cold snap shocking us into our winter woollens, we’re looking at how draughty Australian houses are, and the science behind how we test for ‘leakiness’ in our homes. Parts of southern Australia have experienced their coldest May in a century.

Many Australians have probably felt the warmth leak out of their homes, only to be replaced by wintry winds that rush through gaps in windows and doors.

“Some houses in Australia are designed to be passive ventilated,” says Michael Ambrose, Senior Experimental Scientist and former architect. “In northern Australia, houses are often carefully designed to be open to breezes, to keep the house cooler in summer.”

But draughts—the uncontrolled air movement in a building—are an issue in southern Australia, where they can add up to 20 per cent to energy bills. In terms of energy efficiency, air-tightness is more important in colder regions, in southern Australia. In warmer regions natural ventilation can more provide comfortable internal conditions throughout the year.

Leakiness became topical during last summer’s bushfires, when the smoke haze was at its worst. Australians were encouraged to close all their windows and doors to avoid the smoke, but in many homes it seeped inside, through cracks and holes.

Testing leakiness with blower door tests Michael Ambrose and Mike Syme are behind the most comprehensive study on infiltration rates (or ‘leakiness’) of new Australian homes. Until their study, there was little data collected on newly-built houses.

The study quantified the air-tightness, insulation quality, and heating/cooling ductwork of 125 homes around Australia. The houses were located in each capital city, excluding Darwin, and leakiness was tested using a blower door test.

A blower door test calculates how many air changes per hour (ACH) occur in a house. During a blower door test, the equipment sucks air into the house, before reversing it and blowing the air out again. Michael explains that when the equipment sucks the air in, it mimics windy days when you might feel the breeze blow through the house. Blower door tests find potential air infiltration points, such as downlights, exhaust fans, floorboards, and the quality of door and window weather sealing.

The higher the level of air changes, the leakier the house. Michael says that new houses should aim for about five ACH@50Pa: five complete air changes per hour at 50 Pascals of pressure.

Air-tightness is more of an issue in southern Australia, where the colder climate means we feel those chilly winter draughts (Image: Toni Rodi)

“You want to ‘seal tight and ventilate right’,” explains Michael. “If you seal the homes up too tight—towards zero ACH@50Pa—you will need a controlled ventilation system, otherwise you get problems like headaches and nausea from the high carbon dioxide and monoxide levels in the home.”

30

Blower door tests calculate how ‘leaky’ a house is. (Image: Lutz Weidner)

Blower door tests find potential air infiltration points, such as gaps around old built-in appliances.

Overall, the study found that newly-constructed houses in Australia:

There is an assumed leakage rate of around 15ACH@50Pa in the software, however, this cannot be directly translated to the air change rate.

•

Have a broad range of air-tightness levels, ranging from world’s best practice through to much higher than the assumed air tightness levels in the NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) software.

•

The average air change rate was 15.4 ACH@50Pa. This is leaky by international standards.

•

Several houses recorded air change rates above 30 ACH@50Pa, which is common amongst old poorly sealed houses, but should be considered unacceptable for a newly constructed house. There is reason for concern about why so many houses recorded poor results.

If NatHERS allowed high performing houses to receive higher star ratings by incorporating certified air pressure results into NatHERS calculations, then this could lead to the greater uptake of air pressure testing of new houses and help reduce energy requirements.

Increased uptake of blower door testing could also lead to better understanding in the broader residential construction industry about how to improve air-tightness of dwellings. In turn this may lead to simple measures that can be employed during construction that could lead to tighter houses.

That said, there were some welcome surprises from the data.

Thermal bridging: a window to the outside world

•

A third of the houses had results lower than 10 ACH@50Pa, which demonstrates that well-sealed houses are possible and occurring across Australia.

•

The average air-tightness of houses in all capital cities around Australia, except Adelaide and Hobart, is considerably higher than the maximum requirement in the United Kingdom. In the UK, dwellings must have a permeability not greater than the equivalent of 10 ACH@50Pa.

The air-tightness study highlighted the importance of good window sealing. Houses with good window weather sealing recorded better average air change rates, when compared to houses with average sealing.

It’s worthwhile highlighting that the study only tested new homes.

The houses in most cities were up to three years old and assumed to be at the six-star NatHERS standard.

“Leaky houses tend to go with age—the older the home, the leakier it is.” explains Michael. “Old weatherboards from the 1950s are very leaky, especially if they’re on stumps—you don’t get as much leakage through concrete slabs. If older homes were included, the level of leakiness would have skyrocketed. We tested some old houses and they were up at around 30ACH@50Pa.” What do the guidelines say about ‘leakiness’?

Australia’s National Construction Code does not specifically quantify an air leakage rate. But it does have a performance requirement that states: “A building must have, to the degree necessary, a level of thermal performance to facilitate the efficient use of energy for artificial heating and cooling appropriate to the sealing of the building envelope against air leakage”. NCC Volume 2 (2015) – clause P2.6.1 (Australian Building Codes Board, 2015).

Currently, houses that have achieved good air infiltration results get no energy-star rating benefit from this. At the moment, builders can construct tighter, less leaky houses, but a specific, measurable air-tightness is not included in the NatHERS software, so this will not be reflected in the house’s NatHERS rating.

The AccuRate software allows for thermal bridging, but it’s not yet at part of the NatHERS rating.

CSIRO is currently looking at thermal bridging. Thermal bridging is the movement of heat across an object that is more conductive than the materials around it. In this case, it’s looking at the ability of steel frames to act as transmitters of heat.

“Metals act like a thermal bridge between the inside and the outside. If you touch an aluminium window frame it’s likely to be cold in winter: it’s a very good transmitter of heat. If it’s not thermally broken (and few are), aluminium window frames will take heat from inside and transfer it to the outside,” says Michael.

Timber framed homes don’t tend to have these problems, as timber is quite a good insulator and a poor thermal bridge.

“Timber window frames are also good at reducing heat transfer.”

A well-sealed or leaky future?

While Michael’s research shows that even new Australian homes can be highly leaky, he points out that there are some positive stories to tell.

“Even though there aren’t specific regulations or requirements, some homes performed really well, with air change rates below 10 instead of 15. Some homes were specially designed to be tight, but plenty of others just had a better build quality, a bit of attention to detail and they ended up performing at a really high level.”

“I suppose that’s a nice message for the building industry: constructing a well-sealed home is not new and scary, it doesn’t take that much, and plenty of builders are already doing this, 3 1 with great results for the homeowner.”

Issue 27

Grandiose art making us take a fresh look at our surroundings.

03. Industry Matters

Christo Javacheff - the artist who wrapped the world After more than five decades of grand-scale public art installations, famed Bulgarian artist Christo Javacheff, otherwise known as ‘Christo’ has died, at the age of 84.

Over the years, Christo brought his ambitious visions for monumental art to sites as far-flung as the Australian coastline and the German parliament, always looking to spark the public’s imagination and inspire them to engage with their surroundings differently.

His career was defined by his decision to largely abandon the traditional gallery space, opting instead to drape curtains across valleys and weave fabric around bridges. He had the vision and ambition of an artist, the precision of an engineer, and a level of grit, determination, and pushiness that few could match.

Together, Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude (dec. 18 Nov 2009) completed 23 projects over 50 years, and they were unable to realise 47 more. The products of sometimes decades of unglamorous work included: •

wrapping the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris

•

wrapping the Reichstag in Berlin

•

installing 7,503 gates with saffron-coloured nylon panels in Central Park, New York

•

surrounding 11 islands in Biscayne Bay, Miami, with PeptoBismol-coloured fabric

•

simultaneously installing 1,760 umbrellas (each 6 metres high and more than 8 metres in diameter) across 18 kilometres in Japan and 25 kilometres in California. While the umbrellas in Japan were blue, in California they were yellow, each conveying the seasonal colour and light of the region

•

building massive floating piers on Italy’s Lake Iseo. Visitors could walk from Sulzano on the lake's eastern edge to the island of Monte Isola and use two paths to reach the islet of San Paolo, which is encircled by the pontoons

•

wrapping one million square feet of coastline at Little Bay, Sydney, in 1968.

The duo, who worked under the single name “Christo,” spent years—and sometimes even decades—conceiving their monumental projects in what they called the “software” phase of each work. During this time, the artists pulled off herculean collaboration with governments, landowners, historic preservation groups, environmental advocates, and architects and engineers to realise their large-scale visions, which were always site-specific, free to the public, and primarily self-funded.

And they were temporary: the “hardware” phase, when the works were built and on view, could last as little as two weeks, though they were always preserved by photographer Wolfgang Volz, with whom Christo worked on each project.

At the time of his death, Christo had several works in progress, including his first permanent installation: a larger version of The Mastaba, a pyramid-like sculpture built of 7,506 oil barrels and floated on London’s The Serpentine in 2018. If plans move forward, the new sculpture will be built in the Abu Dhabi desert and will comprise 410,000 oil barrels; it would be one of the largest sculptures in the world, coming in at 11 feet taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Another planned project that will also definitely come to fruition, is one that Christo and Jeanne-Claude first conceived in 1962. In September 2021, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris will be wrapped in blue fabric, per the artists’ wishes.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude encouraged the viewer to look on landscapes and buildings through new eyes. The absence of what was there causing the viewer to look deeper than they previously have. Their form of art and creations are now firmly etched into 20th-Century art.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, walking through The Gates in New York’s Central Park.

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

32

New York City, 2004. Christo in his studio working on a preparatory drawing for The Gates Photo: Wolfgang Volz Š 2004 Christo

Christo with his work "Mastaba", built on The Serpentine lake in London, 18 June 2018. Andy Rain/AAP

Woven polypropylene fabric surrounding 11 islands, styrofoam, steel cables, and anchoring system, 6.5 million square feet of fabric overall.

One million square feet of coastline at Little Bay, Sydney in 1968.

33

Issue 27

“We practiced on a castle in Hannover.” Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Wrapped Reichstag in 1995.

Photograph: Reinhard Krause/Reuters 100 rock climbers abseiled down the façade of the Reichstag, slowly unfurling a huge silvery curtain. There were no cranes or machinery, just people descending in a kind of aerial ballet.

The Floating Piers on Lake Iseo, Northern Italy, stretched across the lake for 16 days during June 2016. Filippo Venezia/EPA

Proposed drawings to wrap the Arc de Triomphe in Paris – due to open September 2021 

34

Bupa offers the value you need Discover the benefits of being a Bupa member, which you get in addition to your corporate benefits, to help you take care of your health and wellbeing and live a healthier, happier life.

Pay nothing for dental check-ups

Taking care of your mental health

Pay nothing for regular dental check-ups, mouth guards, bitewing X-rays, scale and cleans and fluoride treatments at Members First Platinum dentists when you have selected combined Hospital and Extras cover (up to yearly limits).2

To support our members, we pay towards the cost of both psychology and counselling, at recognised providers, under our mental health category on most Extras and packaged covers.

Age-based discount on all Domestic Hospital covers

Corporate cover with great benefits

If you’re aged 18-29, you could be entitled to receive an agebased discount on your Domestic Hospital cover in addition to your current corporate benefits. The discount is calculated at 2% for each year you’re aged under 30, when you first purchase Domestic Hospital cover. 3

Bupa have teamed up with your employer so you can access a range of health and wellness services as well as unique corporate benefits. Join your colleagues on your corporate health plan to take advantage of these benefits, including discounted health insurance premiums that may be available to you.

Switching is easy. Talk to us today.

1800 777 623 bupa.com.au/corporate-offer Visit your local Bupa centre

1

Only for new customers on selected combined corporate Hospital and Extras cover issued by Bupa HI Pty Ltd ABN 81 000 057 590 who join on direct debit or payroll deduction (if available) between 01/09/2019 and 31/10/2019 and who mention the phrase “Get Bupa corporate six weeks free” upon joining. Offer excludes Overseas Student Health Cover and Hospital products combined with Orange 50 or Orange 60 Extras products.

Members must maintain a combined corporate Hospital and Extras cover for 30 consecutive days from the join date to be eligible to receive the six weeks free offer. 2 and 6 month waiting period waiver commences from the join d ate and only applies to selected Extras. Other waiting period s apply. Yearly limits, fund and policy rules apply. Not available with other offers. See the full terms and conditions here: https://www.bupa.com.au/ health-insurance/campaigns/6-weeks-free-terms 2Available to Bupa members who have selected combined Hospital and Extras cover that includes general dental. Excludes Your Choice Extras 60 when general dental is not selected and Orange 50 and Orange 60 prod ucts. Yearly limits, waiting period s, fund and policy rules apply. Full details at bupa.com.au/members-first-platinum. 3The age-based d iscount is calculated at 2% for  35 each year you are aged under 30, when you first purchase Domestic Hospital cover. The maximum discount is 10% for 18 to 25-year-olds. The discount applies based on how many adults are on the cover, and the size of their respective discounts, which are based on their age. Discounts will begin to phase out from 41 years of age. This is a voluntary Australian Government initiative that Bupa has chosen to adopt. Bupa HI Pty Ltd ABN 81 000 057 590. (BKQY-VQS6)

Issue 27

Ways to comply with the Standard AS 3959-2018.

03. Industry Matters

Build or rebuild with timber in a BAL-rated location?

By WoodSolutions With the devastating results of recent bushfires top-of-mind for may Australians, thoughts turn to designing and building to minimise the potential risk of damage to homes in areas that may be affected in future. While it may seem logical that building a bushfire-resistant structure would preclude the use of wood and wood products, this is not the case.

Designing to ‘build out' bushfires requires minimising the risk of ember, radiant heat and even flame damage. With appropriate design decisions, an attractive timber home can be created, using sustainably sourced timber both inside and out.

In Australia, the updated Standard AS 3959-2018 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas has the benefit of many years of scientific development, and provides an extensive guide to building homes to minimise risk for different levels of bushfire vulnerability. The guide, available for download (see links below), has been written to help building designers, builders and owners understand the Standard and what is required for each of the new Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) areas. It focuses on traditional building methods using timber.

Where applicable, the contents explain alternative ways of compliance. For example, there are several ways to comply with the Standard with respect to windows. One is the permanent fitting of bushfire shutters or screens. Another is to lift windows higher than 400mm off the nearest external ‘horizontal' surface - this saves on the extra glazing and joinery requirements needed to protect a lower window. Building safely means building bushfires out - it does not necessarily mean abandoning timber.

In fact, the first roof system tested to comply with the most demanding BAL-FZ (Flame Zone) requirements uses seasoned plywood as a roof membrane to provide additional ‘insulation' and to support other components.

These free resources include a comprehensive design guide, Building with Timber in Bushfire-prone Areas, a calculator that allows building designers to estimate the BAL of their site, and an expert advice service through which people can seek answers to their bushfire-design-related questions.

•

Building with timber in bushfire-prone areas - This Technical Design Guide #04 has been written to help architects, designers, builders and owners to understand the Construction of Building in bushfire prone areas Standard AS 3959 and in particular what construction requirement is required for traditional building methods using timber for each Bushfire Attack Level (BAL).

04

Sustainably produced wood can offer environmental and practical advantages in comfortable, affordable designs that meet AS 3959.

A range of prevention strategies has been developed, aimed at diminishing the risk of ember, radiant heat and even flame damage.

Roofing is the critical element in appropriate construction in a bushfire prone area, and several studies have been completed to provide a guideline as to most appropriate roofing material and style.

Forest and Wood Product Australia Limited (FWPA), the industry body that resources WoodSolutions, has updated resources to help re-build resilient homes in bushfire-prone areas.

Incorporatin g AS 3959-201 8

Building with Timber in Bushfire-prone Areas NCC Compliant Design and Construction Guide Technical Design Guide issued by Forest and Wood Products Australia



36

•

The WoodSolutions Bushfire Calculator V2.1 is an online (not downloadable) design tool from WoodSolutions to assist building designers, builders, regulators and homeowners in determining the relevant Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) for a specific building site.

Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL) are calculated to assess the degree of risk of bushfire attack of an individual building site. There are six BAL ratings and each has specific construction requirements relating to the materials that may be used, and how they are used, in residential construction.

Timber can be used for house framing and all interior applications, including flooring, skirting, architraves and cabinetry in all BALs.

•

Building with Timber in Bushfire-prone Areas - a one-page A4 summary

Timber Talks Series 3

Building with Timber in Bushfire-prone Areas

With the appropriate design considerations, you can create a safe and desirable timber home in bushfire-prone areas using sustainably sourced renewable timber products both inside and out.

The emphasis is on keeping out embers and protecting against radiant heat and even flame contact. These are the key aspects of building-out bushfires.

In bushfire-prone areas, all new buildings must be constructed in accordance to the current Australian Standard AS 3959:2018 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas.

AS3959 utilises six bushfire attack levels (BAL’s) ranging from low to extreme risk (BAL LOW, 12.5, 19, 29, 40, FZ) and provides construction requirements for each of these zones. The BAL takes into consideration a number of factors including the Fire Danger Index, the slope of the land, types of surrounding vegetation and its proximity to any building.

•

AS 3959 provides detailed requirements for construction in the different BAL areas for all elements of a home including: • roofs, • external walls, • flooring systems including supports, • external glazed windows and doors, and • verandas, decks, steps and landings.

It should be clearly understood that there are no issues with the use of timber-framed construction for homes built in bushfire-prone areas, when constructed (as with all building materials) in accordance with AS 3959.

AS 3959 • makes no demands on structural framing material, • allows the use of suspended timber-floor construction, and

Wherever you are building, you can safely use cost-effective and sustainable timber framing.

There are a wide range of resources available explaining how to build with timber in bushfire-prone areas.

If you or your builder has any questions on the use of timber products and construction in bushfire-prone areas then please refer them to www.woodsolutions.com.au.

Resources include the following:

By WoodSolutions

• WoodSolutions Technical Design Guide No. 4 Building with Timber in Bushfire-prone Areas

Presented by Adam Jones, an Australian engineer working in the industry, Timber Talks, gives you an informative and inspiring insight into the best design practices, latest innovations and interesting case studies from the world leading experts in timber design, specification and construction.

• WoodSolutions Bushfire BAL Calculator • Timber Framed Housing in Bushfire-prone Areas - Flyer • Construction Requirements in Different BAL Areas - Summary Table

• includes options for weatherboard and other lightweight external cladding materials.

Building with Timber – Construction requirements for Bushfire Attack Levels as per AS 3959-2018 (Amdt No. 1) Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas - an A3 matrix showing the requirements for various BAL sites

Episode 1: Recent Advancements in Construction Technologies Episode 2: The Seedhouse – Timber Design Award 2019 Winner Episode 3: Impacts of COVID-19 on Construction Episode 4: Environmental Product Declarations

Building with Timber – Construction requirements for Bushfire Attack Levels as per AS 3959-2018 (Amdt No. 1) Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas

Building Element Roof

BAL-12.5

BAL-19

BAL-29

BAL-40

Tiled

NR

• Fully sarked (Flammability Index not more than 5) • Installed directly below tile battens • Must cover entire roof area including ridge and extend into gutters and valleys with no gaps where the sarking meets facias, gutters, valleys and the like.

Sheet

NR

• Fully sarked (Flammability Index not more than 5) • Foil-backed insulation blankets may be installed over battens • Have any gaps sealed with – - Mesh or perforated sheet used as a screen with a maximum 2 mm aperture made of corrosion-resistant steel, bronze or aluminum, or - Mineral wool, or - Other non-combustible material

BAL-FZ • Constructed in accordance with AS 3959 Appendix H, or • System complies with AS 1530.8.2 when tested from the outside

Fascia & bargeboards

NR

NR

NR

• Bushfire-resisting timber • Metal fixed at 450 mm centres

• Complying with AS 1530.8.1

• Complying with AS 1530.8.2

Eaves linings

NR

NR

NR

• 4.5 mm fibre-cement • Bushfire-resisting timber

• 6 mm fibre-cement • 6 mm calcium silicate

• FRL - /30/30, or • Complying with AS 1530.8.2

Windows

NR

• Behind bushfire shutters (any timber-framed window), or • Behind screens (any timber-framed window), or • Less than 400 mm off horizontal surface - Frames - Bushfire-resisting timber, or - Timber species from E2 - Glazing: 4 mm Grade A safety and openable part screened • Greater than 400 mm off horizontal surface - annealed glass - screens to openable parts of window

• Behind bushfire shutters (any timber-framed window), or • Behind screens (any timber-framed window), or • Less than 400 mm off horizontal surface - Frames - Bushfire-resisting timber or - Timber species from E2 - Glazing: 5 mm toughened glass and openable part screened • Greater than 400 mm off horizontal surface - annealed glass - screens to openable parts of window

• Behind bushfire shutters (any timber-framed window), or • Windows - Glazing: - 5 mm toughened glass and if less than 400 mm from a horizontal surface and externally screened - Screens to openable parts of window - Frames: Bushfire-resisting timber

• Behind non-combustible bushfire shutters (any timber-framed window), or • Windows - Glazing: - 6 mm toughened glass - External screens to all parts of window - Frames: metal - Seals: Flammability Index not more than 5

• Behind bushfire shutters (shutters complying with AS 1530.8.2 when tested from the outside – any timber-framed window), or • Window system having FRL of –/30/– and screens to openable part of window, or • Window system complying with AS 1530.8.2 and the openable part of the window screened

NR

• Behind bushfire shutters (any timber door), or • Behind screens (any timber door), or • Unglazed Door - Joinery - Non-combustible or - Solid, laminated or reconstituted timber having minimum thickness of 35 mm for the lower 400 mm or - Timber hollow core with a non-combustible kickplate for the lower 400 mm • Glazed door - Glazing: as per windows - Joinery less than 400 mm from a horizontal surface: - Bushfire-resisting timber or - Timber species from E2 - Joinery greater than 400 mm from a horizontal surface - NR • Door frame/jamb - Less than 400 mm from a horizontal surface - Bushfire-resisting timber or - Timber species from E2 - Greater than 400 mm from a horizontal surface - NR

• Behind bushfire shutters (any timber door), or • Behind screens (any timber door), or • Unglazed Door - Joinery - Non-combustible, or - Solid, laminated or reconstituted timber having minimum thickness of 35 mm, or • Glazed door - Glazing: 6 mm toughened glass - Joinery: Bushfire-resisting timber • Door frame/jamb: Bushfire resisting timber

• Behind non-combustible bushfire shutters (any timber door), or • Unglazed Door - Joinery - Non-combustible, or - Solid, laminated or reconstituted timber having minimum thickness of 35 mm, with lower 400 mm screened with a mesh • Glazed door - Glazing: 6 mm toughened glass and externally screened - Joinery: Non-combustible • Door frame/jamb: Metal • Seals: Flammability Index not more than 5

• Behind bushfire shutters (shutters complying with AS 1530.8.2 when tested from the outside – any timber door), or • Door system having FRL of –/30/–, or • Door system complying with AS 1530.8.2

• Behind bushfire shutters (any timber-framed door), or • Behind screens (any timber-framed door), or • Glazed door: Grade A safety glass min.

4 mm thickness - Joinery less than 400 mm from a horizontal surface - Bushfire-resisting timber or - Timber species from E1 - Joinery greater than 400 mm from a horizontal surface – NR

• Behind bushfire shutters (any timber-framed door), or • Behind screens (any timber framed door), or • Glazed door - Glazing: 6 mm toughened glass • Door frame/jamb - Bushfire-resisting timber

• Behind bushfire shutters (any timber-framed door), or • Glazed door - Glazing: FRL –/30/–, or 6 mm toughened glass behind screens to all parts of door - Door frame/jamb: Metal - Seals: Flammability Index not more than 5

• Behind bushfire shutters (shutters complying with AS 1530.8.2 when tested from the outside – (any timber-framed door), or • Door system having FRL of –/30/–, or • Door system complying with AS 1530.8.2

External Doors

Side hung

Sliding door

NR – No requirement.

•

BALLOW

(This summary of timber requirements, extracted from AS 3959-2018 (Amdt No. 1), does not cover all aspects of AS 3959 which should be referred to when designing and specifying to the Standard.)

NR

• Behind bushfire shutters (any timber-framed door), or • Behind screens (any timber-framed door), or • Glazed door: 5 mm toughened glass - Joinery less than 400 mm from a horizontal surface - Bushfire-resisting timber or - Timber species from E1 - Joinery greater than 400 mm from a horizontal surface – NR

(Note: Seals are not to compromise performance)

Note: Construction requirements required for a higher BAL can be used for a lower BAL e.g. BAL–FZ requirements can be used in BAL–40.

Timber Framed Housing Options in Bushfire-prone Areas - a 4 page brochure showing a range of solutions for building with timber on BAL sites.

Download the FREE resources from www.woodsolutions.com.au/articles/ construction-bushfire-prone-areas

Timber is becoming known as the building material of the 21st Century. It is strong – a high strength to weight ratio is recently being utilised with innovative developments; it is safe – being both durable and achieving fire ratings; it is sustainable – the most viable mainstream building material option, storing carbon to reduce the effects of global warming.

Research by McGraw and Hill suggests that innovation in the construction industry has been stagnant for over 50 years - with less than 2% being invested in R&D in the USA. Now, innovation suggests that timber may match the productivity gains shown by other industries, as new applications of traditional products and new engineered wood products are suitable for prefabrication that allows rapid construction cycles and reduces costs.

WoodSolutions is an industry initiative designed to provide independent, non-proprietary information about timber and wood products to professionals and companies involved in building design and construction.

Download the series here: www.woodsolutions.com.au/podcasts/ timber-talks-series-3 

37

DESIGN MATTERS NATIONAL BUILDING DESIGN AWARDS

2020

2 YE

ANN

ENTER NOW The Design Matters National 25th Annual Building Design Awards will go ahead. We appreciate the enormous amount of effort made by members to prepare submissions and we are absolutely committed to these awards proceeding.

Categories include: • Residential New Home • Alterations and Additions • Small Home • Heritage • Multi-Residential • Environmentally Sustainable • Bathroom

• Kitchen • Excellence in Documentation • Excellence in use of materials including glass, steel, masonry, timber, concrete, lightweight materials, recycled materials • Non-Residential building design.

As a Building Designer this is an excellent opportunity to showcase your skills and be recognised for your excellence in building design.

Entries extended until Monday 20 July 2020 Restrictions imposed by COVID-19 see many members unable to gain access to their designs to take photographs and complete their submissions for this year’s Building Design Awards.

Register at: designmatters.awardsplatform.com