Builder judged personally liable for renovation stuff ups 07
NEW PRODUCT
Introducing the new generation Sikaflex®-11 FC Purform® 08 - 09
TIMBER
Exposed timber trusses: more than just structural support 10 - 11
SUSTAINABILITY
Take responsibility for sustainability and build for the long-term 12
BUSINESS ADVICE
Help! My phone’s not ringing 15
TIMBER
Midfloors from IBuilt 16 - 17
INSURANCE
If you could eliminate risk from your business, would you do it? 18 - 19
CODEWORDS
Supervision 21 - 22
Building Business contributes towards your LBP skills maintenance requirement. Log in to the LBP portal lpb.govt.nz and update your Skills Maintenance activities today.
Remote inspections
By Bruce Duggan, Senior Technical Specialist, Occupational Regulation, MBIE
The Government has announced there will be a public consultation in the coming months on a range of options to increase the uptake of remote inspections.
Remote inspections are when building inspection activities are conducted remotely using digital tools and technologies. Instead of visiting the site in person, inspectors may, at their discretion, use live video streaming or review photographic evidence to assess the building work from their office, with the builder following their instructions on-site. The use of remote inspections increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and can also be used when factors such as extreme weather has caused road closures, heavy traffic disrupts appointment times, or the building site is in a remote location.
Remote inspections have been gaining further acceptance, with building consent authorities (BCAs) using them to save inspectors time on the road, reduce travel costs, provide business continuity, and ensure a timelier service to applicants.
Roles and responsibilities for inspections
The Building Act outlines the responsibilities of different parties involved in the building process under this Act, which includes:
▶ The owner has overall responsibility for ensuring the building work complies with the building consent and must ensure that they or their nominated representative enable inspections to be completed as required by the BCA.
▶ The designer is responsible for ensuring that the plans and specifications or advice they give on compliance are sufficient, if followed on-site, to result in the building work complying with the building code.
▶ The builder is responsible for ensuring that the building work is carried out in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
▶ The BCA is responsible for checking that an application for a building consent complies with the building code, and that the building work has been carried out in accordance with that consent.
Benefits of the remote inspection process
Remote inspections benefit everybody involved in the inspection process.
Building consent authorities will be able to increase the number of inspections they carry out by eliminating travel time. This will also create cost savings in vehicle and travel expenses, minimise exposure to safety hazards on-site, help upskill inspectors, improve record management through high-quality digital records that are geographically stamped, and make it easier to share resources with other BCAs.
Builders will get more timely inspections undertaken at a time that suits them rather than relying on the inspector’s availability. They will also see cost savings in not having subbies being paid while waiting for an inspection, a shorter build process through reducing downtime waiting for an inspection, a better understanding of the building code requirements through gaining an in-depth understanding of what’s required for the inspection, and, of course, safety – fewer people onsite reduces the likelihood of accidents.
The wider building industry benefits through a collaborative approach, which assists in building trust and reducing environmental impact through reduced travel-related carbon emissions. Remote inspections also provide business continuity and resilience for the whole building and construction industry.
Using new tools and considerations for BCAs
The industry has developed various tools to undertake remote inspections, which support the user to capture the information and evidence the inspector needs to check that the building work complies with the consent.
There are a number of considerations BCAs need to keep in mind with the remote inspection approach, including the building complexity and inspection types. They may use their data on inspection failures to determine which inspections and building types they would consider for the early stages of adopting remote inspections. It may be that builders with higher inspection pass rates would be preferred as early adopters of the BCAs approach.
Another consideration is the skillset of both the inspector and the builder. The inspector will need to be proficient in the remote inspection tool the BCA adopts, particularly for the livestream inspections. Similarly, the builder will need to be competent in using the chosen software and technology and have a good understanding of the inspector’s expectations. BCAs could use existing relationships to identify suitable builders for early remote inspection adoption.
More information about remote inspections can be found on the building.govt.nz. Talk to your local council to find out if they are looking to use remote inspections in the future, if not already.
Further guidance from MBIE
MBIE has just released a guidance document for BCAs on adopting and growing the uptake of remote inspections. Although this guidance is aimed at the BCAs, it is also particularly relevant to licenced building practitioners and other tradespeople participating in the inspection process. You can see the guidance document at building.govt.nz.
Learning how to use the particular tools the BCAs adopt for remote inspections is also a relevant on-the-job learning activity for skills maintenance.
Codewords
Quiz
1. What is remote inspection?
a) The inspector does the inspection from their car while parked outside the site.
b) The builder gives the inspector some random photos of what they’ve done on the job.
c) The inspection is conducted remotely using digital tools and technologies instead of the inspector visiting the site in person.
2. What is the builder’s responsibility under the Building Act?
a) To complete the building as cheaply as possible for the client.
b) To ensure that the building work is carried out in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
c) To finish the work as quickly as possible so they can get paid and get to the next job.
3. Is there any real benefit in making these changes?
a) Yes, there are many benefits to building consent authorities, builders, and the wider industry in adopting remote inspections.
b) No, it’s just something else I have to learn.
ADD TO YOUR LBP ACTIVITY LOG
This article is from Codewords Issue 120. Log in to the LBP portal lbp.govt.nz (or scan the QR code below) and update your Skills Maintenance activities.
A modern range of interior, pre-finished wet wall and ceiling panels manufactured on a high density mineral composite board - ideal for shower enclosures, bathrooms, new builds and renovations.
Smooth glass like finish panels provide a tough, durable, nonporous, easy to clean surface that resists marks, stains, steam or moisture. Dimensionally stable, panels will not swell, rot or expand and contract.
Colour matched or anodised fixing system jointers integrate joins and minimise mould and grime.
*Please refer to Technical Installation Manual for Splashback compliance.
Decor: Mineral Gloss
Builder judged personally liable for renovation stuff ups
The high court ordered a Christchurch builder and his company to pay more than $430,000 for a renovation project that went off the rails due to multiple blunders, cost overruns and a blown-out schedule for an 8-week project that went on for 16 months.
Christchurch homeowners commissioned the Christchurch LBP builder and his company to undertake renovations on their house, a 347m3 dwelling of timber-framed construction on a concrete slab, built in 1985.
The house was clad with red bricks and horizontal kahikatea weatherboards, with long-run roofing and butynol above aluminium dormer windows. The owners signed a certified builders contract with the building company to carry out work that included:
▶ Replacing timber cladding
▶ Replacing all exterior windows
▶ Lifting roofing iron, removing roofing nails and replacing them with screws
▶ Placing spray foam insulation into all exterior walls where the cladding is being replaced and around dormer windows
▶ Replacing all butynol roofing
The clients agreed to a fixed price contract of $166,323.30. The work was scheduled to take approximately eight weeks.
What went wrong?
▶ The 8-week project ended up taking 16 months
▶ Fixed price exceeded
▶ The builder installed new 200 mm horizontal weatherboard directly to existing framing without a cavity system, ignoring the manufacturer’s guidelines, voiding the manufacturer’s warranty and in breach of NZBC requirements
▶ Sub-contractors were not paid on time, leading to walk-offs
▶ Holes for external cladding drilled through cladding joints instead of the middle of the boards
▶ Kitchen windows were installed out of square and would not open
▶ Failed to install pans/trays when installing windows resulting in leaks
The builder did not follow the manufacturer's installation guidelines for weatherboard therefore voiding the warranty.
In initial discussions with the homeowners, the builder said that building consent was not required because it was a renovation project that did not involve major structural work. Expert witnesses disagreed, and the council confirmed a consent should have been sought before building work began.
In his summary, the judge said the builder and his company should pay $400,852.75 to the homeowners for remedial work, including removing and replacing the cladding, a further $30,000 in compensation, and legal costs.
He wrote in his judgement that “a builder has a personal duty of care to a building owner to meet the standards of a reasonable builder when engaging in building work. That is so whether they are an employee, a director of a company or are selfemployed.”
Introducing the new generation Sikaflex®-11 FC Purform®
Most trade professionals will have used Sikaflex®-11 FC adhesive and sealant at some point in their careers. It has been the professional's go-to for construction sealing and bonding in New Zealand for over 50 years. And it's not just a Kiwi thing either - it's been a trusted product in over 100 countries around the globe for projects of all sizes.
As the construction industry moves towards products with less chemical and environmental impact, Sika has released a new version of Sikaflex-11 FC: Sikaflex®-11 FC Purform®. This new version will build upon Sikaflex-11 FC's longstanding legacy in the construction industry, offering enhanced performance through a new generation of advanced polyurethane technology.
Pure polyurethane performance
Polyurethane provides an ideal balance of properties for construction applications, delivering strong, durable bonds and tight, permanent joints. Its unique polymer network meets essential on-the-job requirements such as adhesion, strength, elasticity, and resistance to chemicals, UV, and tear.
Sikaflex®-11 FC Purform® represents the latest generation of polyurethane, with "Purform®" standing for "Pure Polyurethane Performance." This innovation allows for the creation of pure pre-polymers with ultra-low free monomer diisocyanate content, meaning (in builder-speak) it's:
▶ Stronger – gives you more durable bonds to many substrates (that's peace of mind!).
▶ Faster – cures faster, so you can move on to the next job quickly.
▶ Safer – with less 'nasties' in the product, so it's safer for you and your teams to use.
Environmental information
▶ Conformity with LEED v4 EQc 2: Low-Emitting Materials
▶ VOC emission classification GEV-Emicode EC1PLUS, license number 11290/20.10.00
▶ Class A+ according to French Regulation on VOC emissions
▶ VOC emission classification of building materials RTS M1
Approvals /
Standards
▶ CE Marking and Declaration of Performance to EN 15651-1 - Sealants for non-structural use in joints in buildings - Facade elements - F EXTINT CC 25HM
▶ CE Marking and Declaration of Performance to EN 15651-3 - Sealants for non-structural use in joints in buildings - Sealants for joints for non-structural use in sanitary areas - XS 3
▶ CE Marking and Declaration of Performance to EN 15651-4 - Sealants for non-structural use in joints in buildings - Sealants for pedestrian walkways – PW EXT-INT CC 25HM
▶ Migration Behaviour EN 1186, EN 13130, CEN/TS 14234, Sikaflex®-11 FC Purform, ISEGA, Certificate No. 54312 U 21
▶ Water Potable - AS4020:2018 Certificate
Engineered for getting the job done quickly and easily, Sikaflex®-11 FC Purform® is the next-generation multitool for sealing and bonding jobs around Aotearoa – check it out instore now as Sikaflex-11 FC sells out and 11 FC Purform is phased in.
The beauty of engineered timber exposed
Exposed Trusses
A stand-out solution inside or out, Prolam Exposed Trusses combine a natural timber look with the strength, support and ease of Prolam. Perfect for creating airy and spacious interiors, and statement making facades and alfresco areas for homes, and robust industrial complexes and sheds.
Stronger by design
Engineered for structural integrity and stability from premium visual grade structural timber.
Easy compliance
Simple to design using the Prolam Specifier, with PS1 certificate for building approval.
Building better together
Standard or bespoke
Choose from standard profiles, pitches and sizes in a variety of finishes or custom design a solution.
Ready to install
Beams, plates and bolts packaged and delivered as a kit via your local timber merchant.
Exposed timber trusses: more than just structural support
Are you embracing the exposed truss trend? Prolam’s Exposed Truss Design Service supports builders in creating standout spaces inside and out. Prolam have a wide range of trusses in standard pitches and sizes or they can custom design a solution to match a project’s exact requirements.
A brilliant blend of form and function, exposed timber trusses are an enduring trend in contemporary residential and commercial architecture.
Used to extend ceiling height and create visual impact, they feature prominently in the design of airy and spacious indoor living spaces and alfresco entertainment areas, with applications extending to industrial complexes and sheds.
Beauty and structural integrity
Designed to be seen, Prolam Exposed Trusses combine the natural beauty of timber with the strength, structural integrity and dimensional stability of its industry-leading engineered timber solutions.
The trusses are manufactured at Prolam’s glulam production facility in Motueka and delivered through ITM stores nationwide.
Prolam precision engineers the trusses and plates to an architect or builder’s design specifications for a superior fit and packages the beams, plates and bolts in a build-ready kit for easy onsite assembly and installation.
The visual grade timber trusses can be treated for interior or exterior use and are available in various finishes, including bandsawn, sanded and sealed or pre-primed – ready to be oiled, stained or painted to match the desired aesthetic.
High on appeal
New Zealand architects and builders are taking full advantage of the versatility of Prolam Exposed Trusses to achieve a wide array of architectural styles – from industrial chic to modern rustic, through to minimalist elegance.
Prolam Exposed Trusses provided a seamless solution for the indoor-outdoor living spaces of a Ramarama home designed by Draftline and built by Gordon Stevens of Buildrite Partnerships. Crafted using machine-finished visual H1.2 glulam for the interior and visual H3.2 glulam for the outside area, with powder-coated black plates, the trusses will look stunning and ensure durability against the elements.
Sustainable design trends also drive the demand for Prolam Exposed Trusses manufactured from renewable New Zealand plantation timber and have a low-carbon footprint compared to steel alternatives.
Exposed truss design made simple
With the addition of the new Exposed Truss to their glulam product range earlier this year, Prolam also introduced its Exposed Truss Design Service.
Exposed truss design requests can be submitted and managed via the company’s online specification tool, the Prolam Specifier. This gives you seamless access to Prolam’s expertise in designing robust and building code-compliant structural timber elements in fast turnaround times for residential and commercial buildings and sheds for the industrial and agricultural sectors.
More information
Want to specify Prolam’s exposed trusses? Visit specifier.prolamnz.com and head to the Design Request page to start the Prolam Exposed Truss design and order process.
Take responsibility for sustainability and build for the long-term
New Zealand’s building and construction industry uses vast amounts of timber, concrete, steel and other materials every year. It also generates a considerable volume of waste – an average of four tonnes and around $30,000 worth of materials per house. Sounds crazy? It is.
No matter how you look at it, from an economic or environmental point of view, current building practices in New Zealand are not as efficient as they could be. On a sustainability scale, things don't really measure up.
The UN's sustainable development goal regarding responsible consumption and production is especially relevant to builders, as it addresses not just short-term waste but long-term waste as well.
It means selecting materials that are produced sustainably and taking account of the materials' performance over the building's life cycle.
Responsible materials decisions
How do you know if the materials you choose measure up in terms of sustainability? The materials are often certified or verified as being sustainably produced with positive life-cycle performance.
Timber is a good example. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) labels ensure the timber is sourced from sustainable forestry operations that have been independently verified and are continually monitored.
Another example is insulation. Whether it's natural wool, glass wool, polyester, mineral wool, polystyrene or foam, the Environmental Choice New Zealand ecolabel has a certification scale that verifies their performance in terms of sustainable production.
The Environmental Choice New Zealand ecolabel identifies which products are environmentally preferable in terms of managing environmental risks, such as greenhouse gas emissions.
For many building products, the most significant environmental impacts occur during manufacturing. Building products and materials often have hidden environmental impacts, highlighting the usefulness of ecolabels in creating awareness for more sustainable decisions to be made.
Waste: The elephant in the room
By any measure, the volume of building materials going into landfills is a glaring problem throughout the country. Different councils have tackled the issue in various ways, and there will likely be legislation to address it.
The New Plymouth Council requires that anyone applying for building consent for non-residential building work with an estimated value of $500,000 or higher must submit a Construction Waste Reduction Plan (CWRP) for approval.
For Homestar projects, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is mandatory to receive up to 6 points towards a Homestar rating.
This article is the fourth in a series of articles exploring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and how they affect building and construction in New Zealand.
Goal 12: Responsible production and consumption.
For further information, visit sdgs.un.org/goals
*Available to ITM trade account customers. Purchases must be invoiced on a current trade account between 1 October - 30 November 2024. Qualifying products are a carton (20 x 375mL) of BOSTIK WALLBOARD GOLD cartridge or a carton (20 x 600mL) BOSTIK WALLBOARD GOLD sausage. KFC voucher is an instant reward. One voucher per carton purchased, only while stocks last. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with KFC. See staff for details. FOR EVERY CARTON OF BOSTIK WALLBOARD GOLD* AT ITM STORES IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2024
• Zinc Rich Primer and Sealer
• Contains 85% zinc in dry film
• Bonds directly to bare metal or most surfaces, including painted surfaces
• Ready to paint or leave uncoated
• Ideal for interior and external applications
• Long term corrosion protection
• Ideal for use after rust treatment including CRC Rust Converter
Step 1
Clean surface by brushing off loose rust and other residue.
Step 2
Prepare area and apply CRC Rust Converter.
Step 3
Apply CRC Metal Armour once the surface is dry.
Step 4
Dry & Recoat once dried, either leave it as is or add a final coat from the CRC Coloured Zinc range or any decorative paint.
Help! My phone’s not ringing
By Andy Burrows, Business Advisor, The Trades Coach
Many people say that the market is significantly quieter now than last year and that they need to increase their lead generation performance. Those who have invested in their marketing over the years are a lot better off, but many people rely too heavily on word-of-mouth for their opportunities.
While a solid, long-term marketing plan is best, I have outlined a few options below for those who need more lead generation quickly.
1. Your client database
Your first port of call should always be current and past clients. It seems obvious, but it is often overlooked as a source of repeat work. They know, like and trust you (if those past jobs went okay) but may be thinking of another project and just need reminding that you are the best option to work with. Hopefully, you have kept in touch with them over the years through a newsletter or other communication, but whatever the situation is, pick up the phone and call them. Ask them how the last project is working for them and offer a special “friends and family” deal for the next month.
2. Referrals
Past clients are also your best source of referrals. If you don’t have a structured referral system with an incentive, now is an excellent time to implement one. A proper referral system takes passive word-ofmouth marketing and puts it on steroids. I have put together a guide on how to do this, so email me at andy@tradescoach.co.nz, and I will send you a copy.
3. Online advertising
Use online platforms such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or even LinkedIn Ads to target potential customers. It can cost a bit of money to achieve results here, so make sure you spend well on the ideal client and project. Create compelling ads with clear emotional hooks and calls to action that direct people to a landing page on your website or a contact form.
4. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Optimise your website with relevant keywords, highquality content, and proper meta tags to improve its visibility in search engine results. You can achieve improved organic search results for free by following some simple principles, but if you want to take this to the next level, you may need to bring in an outside expert. Good SEO can attract organic search traffic, the best quality website lead you will get.
5. Social media posts
Engage with your target audience on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Share project updates, before-and-after photos, client testimonials, and design ideas and engage in relevant conversations to build credibility. Link these back to your website and encourage people to follow the link for more information. While sometimes considered a poor cousin to Google ads for lead generation, social posts can help build your brand awareness and improve trust.
6. Content marketing
Create a few in-depth, valuable content pieces for your website. Articles or videos that address common questions and concerns of your target audience. Try to find out what people are typing into that Google search box and produce some helpful content to answer the queries. This positions you as an industry expert and helps attract leads actively seeking information.
7. Local alliances
Build relationships with local real estate agents, architects, interior designers, and other professionals who can refer clients to your business. Collaborate on projects, attend networking events, and explore shared marketing opportunities to expand your reach.
Those are a few ideas you can think about and try. If you want to book a Marketing Audit Review with me to go deeper and develop a customised marketing plan for your business, email me at andy@tradescoach.co.nz or call on 027 6886721. Andy
specialises in working with the owners of construction related businesses to build systems and profitability into their operations.
HYNE BEAM15
Pre-cambered glue laminated timber for high strength beams in load bearing application.
NELSON PINE LVL
Available in 45mm, 63mm and 90mm thicknesses, LVL frames openings and voids or used as minor load bearing members.
PRODUCER STATEMENT
PS1 supplied as required for MultiStrut and I-Joist midfloors.
ON SITE SUPPORT
Training and on site support available as required.
Design process
Design process
We coordinate with the architect to provide a midfloor layout plan which is quoted through a merchant of your choice. Turnaround time of 5-10 working days.
Quality materials
All products are sourced from reputable suppliers. All timber components are third party audited and either PEFC™ or FSC® Chain of Custody certifed.
Efficient Installation
Efficient installation
Clear layout plans with labelled component schedules. Members supplied with a small trim allowance minimizing onsite waste.
Supply and support
Once supplied through the merchant, the experienced IBuilt team can provide on site training and follow up support.
IBUILT MULTISTRUT & I-JOISTS
Light weight and efficient, open web MultiStrut joists allow complete access for plumbing and services.
I-Joists can be supplied up to 12m for a simple and fast alternative to LVL or solid timber.
IBUILT FLOORPLY14™
All flooring types are compatible with MultiStrut and I-Joists, including IBuilt’s own high strength FloorPly14™.
IBUILT RIMBOARD
Use IBuilt Rimboard to prevent the possibility of differential shrinkage compared to conventional timber.
HARDWARE
A full range of timber hangers, brackets, nails and screws supplied for all typical connections.
If you could eliminate risk from your business, would you do it?
Ben Rickard, Senior Risk Adviser at Builtin Insurance Brokers, explains how a holistic approach to risk can improve outcomes for construction businesses.
Imagine a world where you could run your business without worrying about anything unexpected coming along to knock you off course. There would be no economic downturns, new government regulations, natural disasters, accidents on site, nightmare customers, staffing issues, defective products, or cashflow concerns. It would mean all your focus could be on taking advantage of opportunities, achieving objectives, growing profitability - and having a life!
Two types of risk
The risks we most commonly identify are threats, those things that can have a negative effect on our business. These are the ones we’re talking about in this article. The other type of risk is the positive type, where entrepreneurs see an opportunity and invest time and money in the hope of a return. Good planning and preparation are the keys to success for managing both types of risk.
In reality, eliminating all threats is impossible, but the next best thing is to plan for them so that if something does happen, its impact on the business is minimised. This is a crucial responsibility for business owners and directors since minimising threats leaves more room (in terms of both time and money) for leveraging positive risk (i.e. growth opportunities).
Creating a business continuity plan (BCP), which is the outcome of a proper risk assessment process, also means you can bounce back more quickly from crisis events, minimising the financial cost. Just recently, we had a customer unexpectedly pass away, and their family now has to figure out what to do with the business. Having a BCP would have greatly assisted them as they strive to keep things ticking along while still grieving.
Also, if you ever want to sell your business (which you should one day), having a comprehensive business continuity plan makes it much more
attractive to prospective buyers. It reassures them that there will be no surprises and gives them a template to follow if there is a crisis. This translates to more buyers interested and should mean they won’t need to discount the price as much to account for unknown factors.
How do you go about it?
There are three steps to managing threats to business success and creating your own business continuity plan.
Step 1: Risk identification
First, you need to know all the risks that you face. Without a meaningful categorisation, this can be difficult. Categories of risk may include:
▶ Natural risk (e.g. weather, climate)
▶ Technology Risk (e.g. cyber-attacks)
▶ Supply Chain Risk (e.g. product availability)
▶ Product Liability Risk
▶ Financial Risk (e.g. cashflow)
▶ Economic Risk
▶ Human Risk (i.e. people)
▶ Governance and Legal Risk
▶ Reputational Risk
▶ Business Risk (e.g. customers)
Within each category are individual hazards. It usually takes an experienced risk professional to help company directors and business owners complete this process, but there are inexpensive software tools that can make it much easier.
Builtin’s Construction Risk Management Programme is an ideal way for small to mediumsized building businesses to do this cost-effectively and well.
Step 2: Risk quantification
Once you’ve identified the risks, each one must have a price attached. What would the cost to your business be if that particular event were to happen? What would it cost if a large contract failed? Or if there was a cyber attack or a serious accident involving key staff? Identifying the likelihood and severity of each risk allows us to quantify and rank them. Often, this is more art than science. It is mainly intended to help identify the biggest threats so these can be addressed first.
Step 3: Risk treatment
This is where we determine the most cost-effective way to deal with each risk. That is, what’s the cheapest solution we can implement to get the most significant risk reduction? There are four options:
1. Ignore it (do nothing)
2. Avoid it (don’t do the thing that is creating the risk)
3. Transfer it (e.g. pay an insurer to take on the risk instead)
4. Treat it (implement an approach that minimises the cost or likelihood of the event happening)
Various treatment options may include:
▶ Additional training for staff, such as driver safety, customer relationship management, contract management, technical skills
▶ Incentive programmes for staff, such as for safety, customer feedback, sales targets, defect complaints
▶ Investment in security systems, fencing, cameras, fire prevention measures, lock boxes for tools and equipment
▶ Written policies
▶ Systems and processes
▶ Professional advice
▶ Robust contractual terms & conditions
You will already have many of these in place, so they can be noted in the register. But there will be gaps that need to be filled as well; that’s the benefit of this process.
The theory here is simple, but the effect can be transformative for those who do it well. However, it will generally only happen with high-level engagement by business stakeholders and leadership. The support of a professional risk manager and the right tools are essential to a successful transformation.
Our approach
To help construction businesses create their own risk register and business continuity plan, we follow four simple steps:
1. Workshop: we run a workshop with business owners, directors and key staff, where we work through what they see as the biggest risks to success in their operation. That’s the starting point to build a meaningful risk register.
2. Portal: the business subscribes to a lowcost software tool that helps them build and maintain the plan. Owners are assigned to each risk, and dates are set for regular reviews.
3. Commitment: we agree on milestones and keep on their case to ensure the customer completes the process.
4. Review: each year, the plan is reviewed and updated as needed.
The investment of time and money in this approach vastly outweighs the cost of any of these unexpected events impacting your business.
In a Nutshell
A business continuity plan helps ensure that any business is set up for future success. While eliminating all risk might be impossible, planning for a crisis and minimising the cost of risk is one of the most important responsibilities for any company owner or board of directors. Yet many are not adequately doing so or doing so in a haphazard way that can leave gaps.
Builtin is New Zealand’s Construction Risk Management Expert. For more information, visit builtininsurance.co.nz, email Ben Rickard at ben@builtin.co.nz, or call the team on 0800 BUILTIN.
Free 1-Hour Risk Review offer for ITM Building Business readers
If you’d like to kick-start a risk assessment of your business, Builtin offers a free 1-hour consultation.
Book your slot at: www.builtin.co.nz/itm
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Supervision
By Bruce Duggan, Senior Technical Advisor, Occupational Regulation, MBIE
Undertaking supervision is an important role, and all LBPs must consider the practical and legal implications of performing this function.
The Building Act 2004, in section 7, defines what it means to “supervise” building work:
Supervise, in relation to building work, means providing control or direction and oversight of the building work to an extent that is sufficient to ensure that the building work:
(a) is performed competently; and
(b) complies with the building consent under which it is carried out.
Only licensed building practitioners (LBPs) can supervise restricted building work (RBW), and only that which they are licensed to carry out themselves. For example, an LBP with a carpentry licence can supervise non-LBPs doing carpentry RBW but cannot supervise a non-LBP doing blocklaying RBW.
Can an LBP supervise another LBP?
An LBP cannot supervise another LBP undertaking work in the same licence class. LBPs are legally entitled to carry out RBW and are always individually accountable for the work they themselves produce. The LBP who completes RBW must also be the one who completes a record of work afterwards.
Different types of supervision
There are three different types of supervision –direct, general and remote. The supervising LBP needs to consider both the work being done and who is carrying it out to be able to gauge the level of direction and control necessary. It is important to remember that the LBP supervising RBW is accountable for that work and must complete a record of work.
Complex tasks involving risky details being undertaken by low or semi-skilled workers require direct supervision or working one-on-one with them. An example might be an apprentice installing weatherboards for the first time.
However, if the person doing the work has previously demonstrated the ability to perform the task with limited supervision, then general supervision may be adopted – with the supervising LBP working in a different area on the same site but periodically checking the work as it proceeds.
Remote supervision could be used when an LBP knows that the non-licensed workers carrying out RBW on a different site are highly skilled. It is important the LBP identifies specific tasks when they need to be on-site to provide direction or oversight, even when they can’t be there constantly due to running more than one job at that time. With remote supervision, good lines of communication must be available so that advice and assistance can be offered when and where required.
Design supervision
When a new graduate is undertaking Design RBW, direct or general supervision would probably be used when the design LBP works in the same office.
Where a competent but unlicensed designer who is well known to the supervising LBP works in a different office, remote supervision would be appropriate. It would be provided primarily by phone or email. As the supervising LBP will provide a statement about the building code in their certificate of work (CoW), dialogue with the nonLBP throughout the design process is essential.
Records and certificates of work
It is crucial that the LBP accurately completes their record of work or certificate of work, outlining what work was carried out or supervised. There is plenty of space to do this on the form. These forms will be held at the council for the life of the building they relate to. Therefore, having an accurate record is in the best interests of the LBP. You are unlikely to remember what you did on a particular job years from now, so accuracy is important.
Site licenses
Though not directly linked to carrying out or supervising RBW, the site licence is a critical part of the overall scheme. Holders of a site licence are practitioners recognised as possessing specific skills related to coordination, oversight, organisation and managing building projects. The site licence indicates that you have the skills to manage personnel and provide technical site supervision within the scope of your licence. The site licence holder undertakes supervision of general building work rather than the supervision of unlicensed people undertaking RBW.
What does poor supervision look like?
Poor supervision can involve poor on-site health & safety records, disorganised and untidy sites, little or no quality assurance, poor sequencing resulting in rescheduling of work, missed milestones or handover targets, or disgruntled staff or clients. It can result in failed building inspections, poor quality workmanship, and re-work – all of which will reflect poorly on the supervising LBP. Supervising in a negligent or incompetent manner is an offence, and you could be held accountable.
Good supervision
Good supervision requires a solid understanding of your co-workers’ skills and the complexity of the work being performed, alongside the right mix of control, direction and oversight.
Just being licensed does not mean you are capable of supervising non-LBPs carrying out RBW. It may be difficult for a newly licensed practitioner with only a few years of experience to supervise a nonlicensed tradesperson with 40 years of experience.
It all comes down to competence and not being afraid to say, “I need more experience before I can competently do that.”
The above is taken from the Practice Note on supervision.
Codewords
Quiz
1. What is supervision, in relation to building work?
a) Supervising other LBPs doing the same work as you
b) Providing control, or direction and oversight of the building work
c) You need to be the foreman to supervise building work
d) Making sure the work looks right even if it doesn’t comply with the building consent
2. What would need to be in place when using remote supervision?
a) Good lines of communication
b) The supervisor knows the workers to be highly skilled
c) The supervisor has identified certain tasks where he or she needs to be onsite to provide direction or oversight
d) All of the above
3. What is the Site licence holder able to supervise?
a) Licenced building practitioners
b) Non-LBPs doing restricted building work
c) General building work, rather than supervision of unlicensed people undertaking restricted building work
ADD TO YOUR LBP ACTIVITY LOG
This article is from Codewords Issue 120. Log in to the LBP portal lbp.govt.nz (or scan the QR code below) and update your Skills Maintenance activities.
NORTHLAND
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OTAGO/SOUTHLAND
☐ Dunedin ITM 03 262 1008
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☐ Southern Lakes ITM Alexandra 03 427 2221
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☐ Southern Lakes ITM Queenstown 03 451 1567
☐ Southern Lakes ITM Wanaka 03 443 2545
New GIB® Site Guide 2024
Includes:
- Updated GIB® Bracing System specifications, GIB Weatherline® options.
- Updated installation guidance, including timber scotia and square stopping.
