Builders & Contractors Magazine, Spring 2016

Issue 3 - 2016 Spring Edition

Meth affected property A double-edged sword

Christchurch International Airport Aligns with the world's best

Roofing Association of NZ Fishing in a new pond

New Zealand Concrete and Cement Industry Focus

Engineered timber CLT takes timber structures to new heights

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PPS Industries

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Tai Poutini Polytech

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Invalid Payment Claims

By Marcus Beveridge and Tina Hwang

What are the conditions and common issues?

A payment claim must be in wri ng and appropriately served to the recipient. It must include adequate informa on to iden fy the construction contract, project, particular construc on works, relevant period, which progress payment (if any), exact amount due, how that amount was calculated and the due date for payment. It must also clearly state that the claim is made under the Act or risk being treated as a simple invoice.

As of 1 December 2015 (with the introduction of the second phase of the Construction Contracts Amendment Act 2015) all payment claims (not just residen al contracts) must a ach in wri ng and in the prescribed form, an outline of the process required to respond to that claim and an explanation of the consequences of not responding to the payment claim. This is compulsory, but is still being overlooked by many. This requirement (previously only applicable to residential contracts) was strictly applied by the Court where many claims were invalidated (e.g. Berg v Franix Construc on Ltd HC Auckland CIV-2008-4043421, 24 September 2008).

The Court of Appeal has rejected technical arguments to invalidate a claim (George Developments Ltd v Canam Construction Ltd [2006] 1 NZLR 177 (CA)). The Courts have taken a robust approach and rejected “technical quibbles” (Complete Construc on Ltd v Lyon Electrical Ltd [2014] NZHC 3116).

For instance, a claim that incorrectly referred to the Act as being in “2003” rather than “2002” was found to be a technical quibble and did not invalidate the claim (Invent Solu ons Ltd v Chan Developments Trustee Ltd [2009] NZCCLR 37 (HC)). One instance of a case that was more than a “technical quibble” was where a contractor failed to specify the applicable construc on contract.

This was found to be invalid as there were five construc on contracts for varying projects (Ellis Build 2008 Ltd v NZ Chemical Care & Storage Ltd [2013] NZHC 3204).

It seems that as long as the payment claim reasonably iden fies the construc on work, the claims will be valid. A tax invoice without a reference date including an order number

By Marcus Bathan

With new legislation comes new confusion. As an ambassador for Health and Safety training I hope to bring you information that will help in thoroughly understanding the new Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) and how it relates to your business and industry.

I will break down the HSWA Worker Engagement, Par cipa on and Representa on Regulations, in particular, the importance of effec ve communica on. The following advice will outline how to efficiently have Worker Par cipa on and Engagement in the workplace no ma er the size of your business or workforce.

Timely payments in the construction sector is the bloodline for the sector.

A late (or no) payment is fatal to the contractor or subcontractor. Sec on 20 of the Construc on Contracts Act 2002 (“Act”) sets out the mandatory requirements for valid payment claims which, if unpaid, could provide the basis of a statutory demand or summary judgment. However, if the prerequisites are not met, the payment claims are invalid and disastrous. It is therefore impera ve to issue valid payment claims, but so many par es in prac se are crea ng void ones at their own expense.

Health and Safety at Work Act: Worker Participation and Engagement

The full Worker Engagement, Par cipa on, and Representa on Regula ons 2016 can be found by visi ng www.legisla on.govt.nz.

Engagement

Marcus Beveridge.

was held to be sufficient as was a case where the period of works was uniden fied, but the Court found that the principal would undoubtedly know the period date as this was the material supply date in this par cular case.

The Court has specifically stated that the claim must do more than just iden fy the contract (sec on 20(2)(b)) as the descrip on of works is a specific and additional requirement under section 20(2)(c). The Court recently undertook an examina on of the level of detail required in the case of Can Build Ltd v Kirkpatrick [2015] NZHC 1161.

Two out of three claims were rejected as the deficit informa on was more than “technical quibbles” and was required to understand the claim and meet the mandate under the Act. The High Court recently approved payment claims in Stead Construc on Ltd v Chillex Mid Island Ltd [2016] NZHC 594 as they were itemised, showed a breakdown of the different works and varia ons, percentage claimed and the amount of work completed.

The fact that a payment schedule had been provided in response showed that the works could be adequately iden fied by the recipient.

Where an amount or due date for payment is missing, the Court have been somewhat unclear on whether it would be void. Where the construc on agreement lacks a workable provision, the Courts have applied the default provisions of the Act including the 20 working days meframe (Suaniu v Hi-Qual Builders Ltd HC Auckland CIV-2008-404-1576, 26 June 2008). Numerous cases have subsequently held payment date errors does not invalidate a claim.

The general resounding test is the “technical quibble”, but why risk this when so much is at stake? Contractors and subcontractors should ensure every payment claim meets all the requirements of the Act including the new requirements under sec on 20(3) which requires a specific prescribed form.

For further assistance, please contact Marcus Beveridge/Tina Hwang at Queen City Law 09 970 8810

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Engagement means talking and listening to your workers. It is par cularly valuable at key mes, like when iden fying hazards and risks, making changes to work that affect health and safety, or developing worker par cipa on practices. Sometimes engagement will be directly with the workers, and sometimes through Health and Safety Representa ves.

Par cipa on

Worker par cipa on prac ces are there to provide effec ve ways for your workers to talk to you about health and safety ma ers, so that you’re in a be er posi on to manage the risks in your business or workplace and keep people safe and healthy. There is improved flexibility in the new HSWA as it does not specify what types of worker par cipa on practices a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must have. Different types of prac ces will suit different workplaces and the important thing is that workers can be involved in an effective way. A PCBU must have prac ces that provide reasonable opportunities for workers to participate effec vely in improving health and safety in the business or workplace on an ongoing basis.

Representa on

Health and Safety Representa ves (HSRs) are elected by a work group, which is a defined group of workers who work for the PCBU. The work group can be the whole workplace or it can be workers grouped by work areas, occupa ons, work sites or other arrangements. How a work group or work groups are organised will depend on what is effec ve for the PCBU and the workers, given the structure of the business or undertaking.

Depending on what suits its workplace best, a PCBU could comply with this duty by having Health and Safety Representa ves (HSR) or a Health and Safety Commi ee (HSC) - or both.

Or they might have neither and rely on more informal prac ces instead.

These might include regular toolbox talks, having health and safety as a regular agenda item at team mee ngs, or another feedback mechanism so staff have a clear way of raising any health and safety concerns with the PCBU. Informal prac ces like this may well be enough for smaller or low-risk businesses. Engagement, Par cipa on and Representation cannot happen without Effec ve Communica on.

Effec ve Communica on

Communica on is a transfer of informa on.

Effec ve communica on is when the ‘meaning’ of the informa on is successfully ‘exchanged’ and the information is ‘understood’.

An HSR needs to communicate effec vely, and must be comfortable with the different

Marcus Bathan is Training Manager for Ver cal Horizonz who provides consultancy to businesses on Industrial and Health and Safety training prac ces. He has spent seven years in the Bri sh Army and five years working in the NZ construc on industry. forms of communica on – face to face, voice to voice, wri en, and so on.

Communica ons between PCBUs and workers may include the following:

• Formal and informal discussions (i.e. one on one, interviews, or group discussion) • Meetings (i.e. tool box, tail gate, commi ees, site and team) • Awareness and training sessions • Wri en communica on (i.e. le er, email, memo, and intranet).

It is important that information about health and safety matters are shared so that workers are well-informed; it also gives workers reasonable opportunities to contribute their views and to par cipate in decision-making. Feedback is the first step to con nuous improvement. People cannot be expected to improve without feedback. PCBUs and workers should provide feedback to each other; the HSR can be a conduit between both par es.

Feedback methods may include:

• • • • • •

Sugges on for improvement forms Feedback boxes Tool box and tail gate mee ngs Staff surveys Focus groups of interested par es Creating online communities/Social Networking

Effective communication can spell the success of worker participation and engagement in rela on to health and safety issues in the workplace and on the worksite.

Having tools and processes in place for workers to communicate without fear or confusion means knowledge is shared and feedback can provide informa on instrumental in making posi ve changes. www.ver calhorizonz.co.nz | 0800 72 33 84 B1603

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Tax implications How to find staff of rewarding and keep them high performing employees

By Kevin Evere

As we are always being reminded building work has ramped up and so has the need to find and retain staff. Often, upskilling and promoting current staff is the best choice.

Employers face a challenge finding staff when the market is ght.

By Jamie Tulloch

Hard working and committed employees always stand out. They are hard to find and when you do find them, you want to retain them by rewarding them with something meaningful and thoughtful – and something that will express your gratitude.

We o en get asked what can be given to employees that are of the best tax benefit to the employer and of full value benefit to the employee.

You are probably aware that the IRD has received extra funding to track cash transac ons in the building and construc on industry. That means that it is almost inevitable that within say five years, every company in the sector will have had an IRD eye go over its records.

And to make it tougher to escape the IRD’s net, just one cash transac on that is uncovered will implicate every single business that has traded with that company.

So, when it comes to rewarding your employees, play by the rules. There are lots of ways to be kind, generous and helpful with your employees – which are always appreciated – but be aware that when certain thresholds are exceeded, the tax man may be lurking.

Here are some op ons to consider: Cash as a bonus. How do you give your employees a lump sum? Fact is you can’t without it coming from a cash source and if it does, then you are going to struggle to account for it. If you take cash from your company bank account to pay your employee, what are you going to record it as? The correct way is to pass all cash bonuses through the pay roll system and deduct PAYE. The employee will be then taxed at their marginal tax rate. For example, a $100 cash bonus will be fully deduc ble to the company and the employee (if they are earning more than $70,000 per annum) will receive $67.00 in the hand. The company will add the $33.00 tax to their monthly PAYE return.

Goods, services or vouchers as bonuses.

Any bonuses that fall into this category fall under the Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) rules. If you offer any employee this type of bonus with a value up to but not exceeding $300 per quarter, then there is no FBT to pay. The employee gets the benefit of the full value and the employer gets to claim the value as a deduc ble expense. However, if the value of any bonus exceeds $300 in any one quarter, then FBT is payable on the full amount. Quite an incen ve to keep the value down under $300.

Some other points to note on the tax treatment of vouchers, for example MTA vouchers.

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Jamie Tulloch is managing director of e3 Business Accountants in Christchurch based Chartered Accountants specialising in family owned and owner manager businesses throughout New Zealand. Visit e3accountants. co.nz or phone 03 3792343 Your company can’t claim GST on the purchase of vouchers as they are not goods or services.

If you purchase a gi for an employee then you can claim GST on the purchase assuming you have a valid GST invoice.

Maximum Exemp ons that apply to FBT You can provide up to $300 of free, subsidised or discounted goods and services per employee per quarter without having to pay FBT. As soon as the value of the benefits goes over $300 per employee per quarter, the full value of the benefit is subject to FBT. The $300 exemp on isn’t deducted first.

If you file annual returns, you have a yearly exemp on of $1,200 for each employee.

The maximum exemp on you can claim is $22,500 per year.

If the value of the benefits you provide goes over $22,500, then you must pay FBT on the total value of the benefits for the year in the current quarter.

In summary, it’s great that you have high performing employees and want to reward them but be careful that you don’t over-extend your generosity to find that you have fallen foul of the tax rules. Invariably your employee might be exempt if you make errors, but you the employer won’t be.

And finally, do not collude with employees to defeat the tax rules. This has the poten al to back fire should any employment issues arise..

Recruitment methods may include: • Filling gaps with overseas applicants • Headhun ng staff from other companies • Promo ng from within • Attracting new staff with higher than standard industry salaries • Looking well in advance and star ng a longterm campaign to a ract new employees.

• Looking more to the temp to perm channel • Solely relying on temp workers • Most methods have their pi alls Bringing staff from overseas is time consuming due to interview restric ons, me differences, different skill levels, a lack of New Zealand industry knowledge and immigra on requirements.

Many European economies are also showing signs of growth in the building sector so there is strong compe on, and although parts of Australia are showing a decline in job openings, this will not last.

Headhunting can also have issues – prospects may use you to increase their current salary and then stay with their employer or bring your salary levels to an unsustainable level.

Promote your own staff • Promo ng from within is a great long-term op on. It’s best to decide this before you start recrui ng so it can be part of your skill requirements. Profiling staff ensures you are targe ng the right person for the future.

• Career advancement can be an alterna ve benefit to simply money for joining a company. Like headhun ng, offering high salaries is a short-term game – if someone comes to you for money, they will leave for more. High salaries also place pressure on your overheads, especially when margins remain tight, and can impact on your current staff salaries if it becomes known that someone is being paid more.

Put a plan in place • So what is the ideal strategy to get the staff you need and keep those that you have: • Start planning 2-3 months in advance of looking for staff.

• Iden fy your staffing needs well in advance.

Look at your tenders and forecasted workload. Ask, ‘what if I win this project?

When will it be likely to start, and what extra staffing needs will be required?

• Are you prepared to bring someone into your business early if they’re available and you can afford it?

• If you bring someone in from overseas, consider ways of conducting training while they are wai ng for visas. Perhaps send them an electronic version of NZ Standards they will be working with or provide so ware for them to train on. Give them small projects to work on to gauge their learning.

Kevin Evere is Managing Director of Building Recruitment which provides permanent and temporary staffing solu ons for the building and construc on industries.

• Make me to work on recrui ng without disrup on – don’t take calls or allow people to walk in with ques ons during interviews.

If you’re under pressure, you may make a costly rash decision.

• Respond and make decisions quickly. If you procras nate, you are likely to either lose the candidate to someone else or demonstrate an inability to make decision.

• Remember, you are also trying to make a good impression on the candidate. Gone are the days of the employer holding the ace, candidates know they are in demand and will be selec ve.

• Look at your compe tors and iden fy the key differences in what you do for your staff compared to them as they are likely to be looking for the same skilled labour as you.

• Develop a reputa on as a great employer, and ask yourself why someone would work for you. That can be the one thing that gives you an advantage.

• Partner with professional recruitment firms, especially those with a focus in your industry and with networks worldwide.

• Just because someone has no NZ experience doesn’t mean they are not good at what they do, so give them a chance.

Tips for using a recruiter • If using a recruiter, ensure they are professional and screen applicants to a high standard, especially those from overseas. Ask the candidate coming from a recruiter what the process was to get to this interview.

• Make sure recruiters are working for your best interest, not theirs. In my experience many recruiters have never interviewed candidates and candidates don’t even know their resume has been sent. So don’t be fooled. Find out exactly what they offer you in their service promise.

• Be diligent with your staff and watch for changes in performance or moods, as recruiters are known to unse le staff to create movement. This is unethical but is being seen as the shortage bites. www.buildingrecruitment.co.nz 0800 EMPLOY 0800 367 569

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Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand

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Quality at the heart of the concrete sector Concrete is the second most consumed substance in the world after water, with the appetite for it in New Zealand matching worldwide demand, says Rob Gaimster, chief executive of the Cement and Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ).

Concrete is the second most consumed substance in the world a er water.

“Huge volumes are going out producers’ gates. We’re predic ng that around four million cubic metres of concrete will be produced this year to exacting standards. This is the equivalent of 4000 rugby pitches covered in 100mm thick concrete, or a six-lane road between Auckland and Wellington.”

Driving demand is the es mated $30 billion of construc on ac vity in New Zealand this year alone.

The buoyant mes look set to con nue for the sector with around 13,000 new dwellings required in Auckland each year for the next 30 years, the commercial rebuild in Christchurch finally hi ng its straps, and growth strong in many other regions throughout the country.

The recently released Na onal Construc on Pipeline Report 2016 (4th ed.) produced by the Ministry of Business, Innova on and Employment (MBIE), BRANZ and Pacifecon paints a bright picture for the New Zealand building industry across its forecast period to 2021, says Rob.

produc on in New Zealand.

“We are ahead of the game in terms of ready mixed concrete, having had a quality assurance scheme for around 40 years. Add to that a new precast concrete quality scheme, and we are well placed.”

Procuring from a Precast NZ (PCNZ) Cer fied Plant or a facility that is part of the New Zealand Ready Mixed Concrete Associa on (NZRMCA) Plant Audit Scheme assures specifiers and purchasers that precast concrete components and ready mixed concrete are manufactured using quality systems, with audits carried out by an independent body to ensure they meet robust standards.

“These schemes provide a rigorous audit of the quality systems in place at a concrete plant,” says Rob. Although concrete standards can be assured, in recent months there have been some quality issues around steel reinforcing mesh products and other cri cal building materials including glass balustrades and plumbing fi ngs.

“Auckland residen al building is projected to increase by another $3.3 billion by 2017, while Waikato/ Bay of Plenty region is predicted to grow significantly. The construc on industry now employs 500,000 people in New Zealand who are going to be busy for a number of years to come.”

“This issue has been very topical, a rac ng a lot of media a en on. Current concerns, along with the shadow of leaky buildings, demand that issues of product performance be addressed to ensure confidence amongst architects, designers, engineers, builders and their clients.”

Rob says consumers can have ‘great confidence’ in the quality of concrete

Seismic grade steel reinforcing mesh was one of the products in the spotlight.

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The huge appe te for concrete in New Zealand is set to con nue for years to come.

The quality of precast and ready mix concrete in New Zealand can be assured through third party audited quality assurance schemes.

“The Commerce Commission took this very seriously with its inves ga ons revealing that a number of products did not comply with the Australia/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4671 Steel reinforcing materials. As a result some products were temporarily withdrawn from the market un l the suppliers in ques on could demonstrate they had passed specific independent tes ng.”

tes ng laboratories,” says Rob.

In response, MBIE sought feedback on proposed updates to one of the Acceptable Solu ons and the Verifica on Method for Building Code clause B1, in rela on to tes ng of 500E duc le steel mesh.

“The Government is ghtening the requirements for verifying that steel mesh used in New Zealand matches up to our standards. They are increasing the number of tests required, clarifying exactly how the tests are done and requiring the tests be undertaken by interna onally accredited

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MBIE consulta on closed 8 September 2016.

From a strictly concrete perspec ve, he says product assurance op ons are well established, with industry suppliers aware of the importance of demonstra ng excellence across all areas of opera on and output.

“As such, specifiers, prac oners and consumers should remain confident with their informed choices when it comes to concrete products. Our independently verified quality schemes for precast concrete and ready mixed demonstrate an ongoing commitment to safeguard product performance.”

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The construc on industry now employs 500,000 people in New Zealand, with demand set to con nue.

Exciting concrete innovations Although it has been around for centuries, concrete is continually evolving as a construction material, with some exciting new innovations entering the market.

Recent developments include SelfCompac ng Concrete (SCC), a concrete that is able to flow under its own weight and completely fill formwork, while maintaining homogeneity even in the presence of congested reinforcement, and then consolidate without the need for vibra ng compac on.

De-pollu ng concrete, which incorporates photocatalysts that help to decompose organic materials such as dirt, soot, mold and bacteria is another recent development.

“Photocataly c concrete has environmental benefits and provides aesthe c endurance, keeping the structure looking like new,” says Rob Gaimster, chief execu ve of the Cement & Concrete Associa on of New Zealand (CCANZ).

Translucent concrete is another emerging material, which is being used to stunning effect in a variety of architectural applica ons. The translucent or ‘light emi ng’ proper es of the material are achieved by embedding fibre op cs.

A microbiologist in the Netherlands has been developing ‘bio-concrete’ over the past 10 years, which uses bacteria to heal cracks in concrete as they appear. The bacteria and calcium lactate are set into capsules and added B1603

to the wet concrete mix as a ‘healing agent’.

If a crack eventually forms and water enters, the capsule opens. The bacteria then germinate, mul ply and feed on the lactate, and in doing so combine the calcium with carbonate ions to form calcite (or limestone) that closes up the cracks.

“This product could be the start of a new age of biological buildings,” says Rob. Even ‘bendable’ concrete is now a reality.

Flexus is a concrete material bonded with polyvinyl alcohol synthetic fibres to give it tensile strength. It can be sprayed onto structures and even interior walls to provide earthquake strengthening.

“Other concrete systems that continue to evolve include engineered concrete raft systems for residen al founda ons in seismic regions”, says Rob. “Furthermore, Monocast is a system in which every concrete wall is poured onsite in one con nuous pour.”

Compass Homes has just opened the first Monocast concrete show home in Huapai, Auckland that demonstrates this technology.

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Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand The exterior wall of the show home is fully insulated encapsulating a continuous 50mm insulation barrier, with excellent thermal benefits.

“Monocast has spent three years developing this system, and claim they will be able to build the concrete structure in five to seven days, reducing the overall house build me to eight to 10 weeks. It is another exci ng innova on for the concrete industry.”

The architectural merits of concrete con nue to be explored from a design perspec ve too, says Rob. “Architects and designers these days really know how to get the best out of concrete. We are seeing a host of interes ng buildings go up in both the residen al and commercial space.

The new Len Lye building in New Plymouth is a fantas c example of what can be achieved. It’s absolutely stunning.”

Self compac ng concrete being discharged for Troff beams on a Tauranga bridge.

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Bio-concrete, which uses bacteria to heal cracks in concrete as they appear, is an exci ng new innova on.

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Concrete the ideal choice for highdensity structures Concrete has long been a material of choice for both commercial and residential buildings, with the sector well poised to meet the growing trend towards high-density living, says Rob Gaimster, chief executive of the Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ).

“The choice of material for the structural frame of a high-rise building has a significant impact on its build me, cost and performance.

Reinforced concrete has a range of inherent performance benefits, giving it many compe ve advantages over other structural op ons.”

Apartment living is on the rise, par cularly in Auckland, with mul -unit dwelling consents

represen ng around 30 percent of all residen al consents in 2015.

“As people live in closer proximity issues such as soundproofing, fire resistance and thermal performance all come under scru ny.

Concrete, with its many benefits can ck all of these boxes for developers and residents.”

Rob says concrete offers a range of cost-

A new concrete apartment building under construc on.

The growth in high density living will lead to more stylish concrete buildings like these do ed across the skyline.

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Concrete is a material of choice for high density structures such as apartment buildings.

effec ve op ons for large commercial developments with both in-situ and pre-cast construc on solu ons, and a ‘whole host’ of seismic concrete founda on solu ons such as ra flooring and base isola on technology available.

“The speed of erec on provides me and cost savings for the contractor and their client, with the durability of concrete a major benefit for building owners. Concrete structures won’t rot and require minimal maintenance.”

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“With its high mass, concrete can reduce the low frequency noise that may occur with high density living. It also has inherent fire safety properties and excellent thermal performance, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night. This creates a more comfortable climate for the residents and helps them to save on energy costs.”

With the skylines of our major ci es being filled with more high-rise, mul -tenanted buildings, the inherent benefits of reinforced concrete will con nue to make it a popular choice.

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Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand BC Student design competition goes from strength to strength &

An initiative conceived by the Cement and Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ) five years ago to encourage aspiring construction specialists to work together to incorporate the best insights and latest technology into a building design, continues to go from strength to strength.

This year 30 of New Zealand’s top final year students in architecture, engineering and construction management from nine academic institutions competed over three days at ArchEngBuild, a design compe on that simulates real-life to demonstrate the importance of effective cross-disciplinary collabora on.

Rob Gaimster, CCANZ chief execu ve says the organisation came up with the idea in 2011 when it realised there was no vehicle to get young engineers and architects working together while they were still studying at university.

“The ini a ve started as ArchEng, which involved giving the students a concrete focused design project to collaborate on together over a few days. It proved a rewarding experience and a great way for them to develop their skills, create a professional network and enjoy themselves at the same me.”

Interest in the project has con nued to grow year on year, and in 2015 CCANZ decided to hand over ownership of the event to BRANZ, which had supported it for a number of years.

“We felt we’d taken it as far as we could and it was a natural progression to pass the baton to BRANZ. They have elevated it to the next level by adding the ‘Build’ component that includes a neutral use of construc on materials. However, we are s ll very much connected to the project and are proud that it has grown from a CCANZ concrete ini a ve.”

Rob says the addi on of the ‘Build’ aspect to

the event has been ‘thoroughly supported’ by construc on management students who were keen to contribute and help shape the crea ve design process.

“Using a contractor’s specialist knowledge of construc on processes early in the process helps to ensure building designs can be readily built.”

This year’s winning team of Amber Haddock (construc on manager), Emily Pearce (architect) and Kha Pham Nguyen (engineer) combined a shared passion for 1950s cinema and community spaces to create ‘Sunset Boulevard’.

The concept was inspired by a movie of the same name from the era and combined a residen al development with commercial and community space.

Features included a small bou que cinema, café, bar and gelato shop on the ground level, with the first floor above set aside for private residential living. Large green spaces and communal break out spaces filled the balconies and roof top areas.

“The judges were really impressed with this entry across the board.”

Rob says ArchEngBuild highlights how teamwork across the disciplines is cri cal to ensuring the best outcomes for be er buildings.

“By strengthening the bonds between future architects, engineers and construc on managers and supporting a collaborative working rela onship today, the be er the built environment outcomes will be tomorrow.”

Sunset Boulevard - winner of the 2016 ArchEngBuild design compe on for architecture, engineering and construc on management students.

Winners of the 2016 ArchEngBuild compe on (from le ) Amber Haddock, Emily Pearce and Kha Pham Nguyen.

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Top concrete apprentices to be recognised Industry awards have become an important way to recognise and honour individuals or companies who have made a significant contribution.

Across a two-year meframe the wider concrete industry celebrates its own success in terms of ready mixed concrete, finishing and placing, engineering and architectural features, as well as its contribu on to a sustainable built environment.

“In doing so we shine the light on a wide range of professionals, including concrete technicians, mix designers, operational staff and placers, as well as builders, architects and engineers,” says Rob Gaimster, chief execu ve of the Cement & Concrete Associa on of New Zealand (CCANZ).

Yet until this year, there is one group that has been neglected in terms of recognition – the industry’s people in training.

However, that is all about to change with the introduc on of the inaugural Concrete Appren ce of the Year Award that will be presented at the New Zealand Concrete Conference in Auckland in October, he says.

“While our industry is busy promo ng the importance of training, we should take me to acknowledge the effort of current appren ces, as well as the support offered by their employers.”

With an ageing workforce, he says it is a priority for the wider concrete industry to ‘train well and train a p p ro p r i ate l y ’ i n o rd e r to secure strong future prospects. “ Tr a i n e e s n e e d n o t necessarily be young people but rather those who have a desire to expand their skill set and become qualified professionals.”

“In saying that however, it is important to understand Genera on Y (15 to 35 year olds) will make up a significant propor on of the workforce by 2025. Young workers need a reason to stay in the industry, with appren ceships, mentoring and recognition helping greatly in this regard.”

The Award is open to all trainees enrolled in Level

3 and Level 4 Building and Construc on Industry Training Organisa on (BCITO) concrete qualifica ons.

“We are pleased to be working with BCITO to iden fy the best-of-the-best in terms of concrete industry trainees,” says Rob. There are currently 350 appren ces in the industry and like most trades the concrete sector hopes to a ract more ‘good, keen young people’. “ We are trying to encourage young people to enter the industry and believe the Award will help us do that, as well as promote concrete as a great career choice. It is an industry with a wide range of pathways. For example, a technician could work their way up to becoming a technical manager or even produc on manager at some facili es.”

Another high profile set of honours to be presented at the annual Concrete Conference is the 2016 Concrete3 Sustainability Awards, which

Like most trades, the concrete sector is keen to a ract more appren ces (photo - BCITO).

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five categories: Excellence in Residential Concrete Construction, Commercial Concrete Construc on, Civil C o n c re t e C o n st r u c t i o n , Concrete Innovation, and Concrete for the Community; from which a supreme winner will be chosen.

The 2015 Supreme Award went to Warren and Mahoney for the EA Networks Centre in Ashburton, a multi-purpose indoor sports and aquatics complex.

The concrete sector is looking for its top appren ce to honour at this year's New Zealand Concrete Conference (photo - BCITO).

acknowledge those who have adopted sustainability as a core business strategy.

T h e a wa rd s , i n t h e i r eighth year, are open to anyone from architects, designers and engineers

to contractors, builders and clients, and encourage responsible design, building and opera ng prac ces across environmental, economic and social considera ons.

Winners are selected in

Rob says the award celebrated the way the Christchurch architectural firm incorporated concrete as a cost effec ve and resilient solution for the Centre’s simple concept of a single linear space, housing a stadium and aqua c facili es at each end.

“The judges applauded Wa r re n a n d M a h o n ey ’s use of concrete to achieve durable permanence, thermal efficiency, an attractive aesthetic, as well as space flexibility. It is a stunning building that has deservedly won several other awards.”

Consolidation on the cards The Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand (CCANZ) provides a range of services and facilities that are available to the wider industry, says chief executive, Rob Gaimster.

“We offer an enormous amount of resources, with around fi y documents available to be downloaded free of charge.

We also run a helpline, with a team of technical experts and specialist concrete engineering staff on hand to answer technical or research enquiries, and provide expert advice and consultancy services free of charge.”

“It is not en rely efficient to work this way as we each have our own membership databases and awards. It is also difficult to gain trac on from an advocacy point of view. Discussions to consolidate industry representation have been ongoing for around 18 months and we are star ng to make some real progress in this area.”

A library is the hub of the Associa on’s informa on services, with links to cement and concrete information services worldwide. An in-house information professional abstracts recent publica ons and can provide literature searches on request.

Rob Gaimster has been chief execu ve of CCANZ for the last eight years. He is a former senior civil engineer from the United Kingdom who joined the CCANZ team as a project manager in late 2006.

CCANZ also produces information bulletins, technical manuals, and the quarterly Concrete magazine containing informa on on current concrete prac ce.

Training is another important aspect of the Associa on’s work, says Rob. “We tailor on-site or in-house basic and special interest training courses on cement and concrete applications for New Zealand, along with seminars, lectures, and demonstra ons covering the latest developments in concrete design, technology and prac ce.”

Despite the effec ves of CCANZ as a representative body, progress is being made to consolidate the various concrete industry associa ons.

EA Networks Centre Ashburton, designed by Warren & Mahoney, won the 2015 Concrete3 Sustainability Award.

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“We have a number of affiliated concrete associations such as Precast New Zealand, the New Zealand Ready Mix Concrete Associa on, Concrete Society, and Concrete Masonry Associa on, which all work collegially under the umbrella of CCANZ, and have representatives on our board.”

He has broad technical knowledge and experience in concrete, being the former Na onal Technical Manager with heavy building materials giant Cemex Materials UK and a Past President of the Ins tute of Concrete Technology.

“It’s been a really interes ng few years in New Zealand with significant changes in the concrete sector. We’ve had the Global Financial Crisis, Christchurch earthquakes, and now the boom, making it a hugely dynamic period.”

Rob says he and his wife moved their family to New Zealand for the lifestyle, and says it is a ‘fabulous’ place to bring up their two boys.

He is also excited about the future of the concrete industry here.

“There are some great new ini a ves coming into the market and some exci ng new architectural concrete buildings being developed. We also hope to reach a decision on the industry association consolida on over the next few months.

It is a really interes ng me.”

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Cement & Concrete Association of New Zealand BC Substantial changes to concrete industry ‘bible’ &

Representatives from the New Zealand Concrete Society (NZCS) have had significant input into amendments to the New Zealand Concrete Structures Standard (NZS3101) primarily intended to address recommendations from the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission.

“Work on this important Standard has been ongoing for the last couple of years and is in the final stages of development. It is essen ally the concrete industry bible,” says Allan Blue , secretary/ manager of NZCS. R i c h a rd H e n r y, N ZC S member and senior lecturer at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Auckland worked on the Standards committee and says there have been significant changes to a number of sec ons. “ The key amendments relate to deformation c o m p a t i b i l i t y, p r e c a s t floor unit seating, and wall design. Explicit considera on of axial elongation is now required as well as total deforma on demands during a m ax i m u m co n s i d e re d earthquake for components such as floors, cladding panels, and stairs.”

He says the extensive research into precast concrete floor systems has resulted in further revision to the support connec on detailing.

“A m e n d m e nt s to t h e

structural walls chapter (Chapter 11) are extensive, with significant changes as a result of the observed performance of concrete walls in Christchurch. The minimum vertical reinforcement requirements have been rewritten, limitations placed on the use of singly reinforced walls, refinement of transverse reinforcement detailing, addi on of axial load limits, and provisions for the overstrength of coupled wall systems.”

A number of design issues with concrete walls are still the subject of ongoing research and additional amendments are expected in future revisions to NZS 3101, he says.

“All of these changes are expected to improve the robustness of reinforced co n c re te b u i l d i n g s a n d make them safer during earthquakes.”

Allan Bluett says New Zealand is recognised as a world leader in seismic concrete construc on due to the work of some ‘very clever professors’ (Park, Paulay and

Priestly), in the 1970s.

Until 1980, NZCS was known as the New Zealand Prestressed Concrete Ins tute, which was incorporated in 1964 For the last 52 years, under both guises, the Society has encouraged a greater knowledge and understanding of all aspects of structural and architectural concrete, says Allan.

“As a learned society we work closely with universi es in the development of new construction methods and uses for concrete. We have always taken great pains not to have a commercial bent but to remain focused on the technical side of the industry, encouraging new technologies and facilitating training, as well as contributing to the development of Codes and Standards.”

He says the organisation ca m e i nto ex i ste n c e i n response to steel shortages in the years following the Second World War. “Precast concrete was just being developed and going

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ahead in France, but the whole industry sector in New Zealand was controlled by the Ministry of Works, which was loathe to look at new technologies. The Institute was formed to essentially convince MOW to consider precast concrete.”

Allan says more informa on about the ‘fascinating history’ of the Society and concrete sector can be found in the History and Heritage sec on of the NZCS website, c o n c r e t e s o c i e t y. o r g . n z which includes a 10 minute video looking at post war construc on in New Zealand.

Today, NZCS also facilitates the New Zealand Concrete Industry Conference and bi-annual awards, which recognise excellence in concrete construc on.

This year’s event is being held from 6 to 8 October at the Ellerslie Event Centre in Auckland, where keynote speakers include Professor Joost Walraven from the Te c h n i ca l U n i ve rs i t y o f Delft, who is an expert in many aspects on concrete technology and structural

On its comple on in 1910, Auckland's Gra on Bridge was the world's largest span-reinforced concrete arch bridge. It took over two and a half years to complete.

applica ons, with his recent work focused specifically on the development of new types of concrete and their applica on.

Professor Ken Elwood, who serves as the MBIE Chair in Earthquake Engineering and Director of the newest Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE), QuakeCoRE: Centre for Earthquake Resilience, will present on his post-

earthquake residual capacity research.

“We are looking forward to another great conference.

The scale of the venue at Ellerslie enables our trade exhibitors to exhibit some heavy equipment, including live demonstra ons. Interest is already very high and we are hopeful of a rac ng close to 400 plus delegates,” says Allan.

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Recent concerns around the compliance of some concrete reinforcing steel mesh products and other critical building materials entering this country has seen the New Zealand Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA) call for third party verification of all safety critical building work, regardless of the sector or type of building materials involved.

HERA Director, Dr Wolfgang Scholz says the ini a ve came about a er HERA was one of the ‘first ports of call’ for comment from the media when news broke of compliance issues around concrete reinforcing steel mesh.

“Given this mesh is largely used in concrete construc on it is not essen ally a HERA interest. However with reinforcing steel also used in steel-concrete composite construc on such as composite flooring systems, we recognised we needed to take a stronger stance in advoca ng the compliance of reinforcing steels in all applica ons. But more importantly it is about the demonstrated compliance of all safety cri cal products and not just steel used in reinforced concrete.”

This led to consulta on across the steel construc on sector with HERA asking its members to endorse or reject a dra policy statement along calling for third party verifica on of all safety cri cal building work, regardless of sector.

“This feedback was overwhelmingly posi ve, with forty seven member companies supporting the draft policy document and only four against with qualifica ons not excluding its future endorsement if certain condi ons are met. Given most of these companies would be directly involved in the proposed conformance scheme, this is a very strong endorsement.”

establishing the Steel Fabrica on Cer fica on scheme, which now covers over 70 percent of New Zealand construc onal steel work capacity. This scheme supports demonstrated conformance of products used in a project and requires full traceability of steels used in safety cri cal applica ons.

However, based on the media reports and MBIE advisories received, he supports a media-coined comment from the Associa on’s structural systems general manager, Dr Stephen Hicks that New Zealand is the ‘wild west’ of steel tes ng.

“Stephen has an extensive background with the Steel Construc on Ins tute of UK and is well versed on the European situation. Over there all steel for critical applica ons must come from third-party cer fied suppliers, whom take a legal responsibility for the conformity of the construc on product through a Declara on of Performance.

This certainly lends weight to his opinion.”

With the floodgates open to ‘cheap’ steel and external pressures to reduce costs, o en at the expense of quality, seeking all steel for cri cal applica ons via cer fied supply lines is a must, he says.

Dr Scholz says as a key members of the steel supply chain, HERA and

“There is nothing wrong with following the European lead here, especially given our industry is not too far behind.

For Importance Level 3 and 4 steel framed structures, this would mean all steel would have to come via ACRS or other creditable cer fica on provider cer fied supply chains.”

Steel Construc on NZ have already led the industry in

HERA has outlined a pathway for which steel and other

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Wolfgang Scholz 2016

construc on sectors such as mber and concrete could develop third party product conformance schemes for safety cri cal building work.

“This would require industry-wide consulta on in the different sectors and with MBIE to determine the cri cal building work that warrants formal third party verifica on.

We envisage schemes would then run on a voluntary basis un l the framework has been developed with the regulator in order to become mandatory. With MBIE’s assistance, we could improve standards and ensure a level playing field, both when it comes to imported products and across compe ng New Zealand construc on systems.”

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From small beginnings to industry leaders From its state-of-the-art plant in Tauranga, Supacrete Concrete produces and supplies concrete products for some of the largest construction and infrastructure projects in the city.

It also works with many leading New Zealand construc on and civil companies on projects outside the region.

Don set up the fully independent concrete business in 1988 with just himself and a second-hand Bedford ready mix truck.

Supacrete Concrete’s success, along with his ‘open door policy’ that has served the business well during its 28 years in opera on.

Owner Don Mahoney says in Tauranga, the firm has recently supplied concrete for Trust Power’s new head office (for CBC Construc on), the Te Tumu Road to Paengaroa shared walk and cycleway (Downer NZ), Tauranga Crossing Retail Shopping Mall Stage 1 (Hawkins Construction), and the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic MASS 2 Building (Marra Construc on).

In the early days he lugged 40kg bags of cement up the back of the truck and manhandled the cement in for mixing with aggregate and water to make concrete for mainly paths, driveways and house slabs.

“My door has always been open for anyone to wander in and talk about any ideas or concerns they might have. It’s the same for everyone who deals with or works for Supacrete Concrete. We have a flat management structure and take a team approach which works well.”

“We also supply a considerable amount of precast concrete to HEB Precast, which has widened the geographic use of our product.

In Auckland it can be found in structures like the Victoria Park Tunnel and Carlaw Park redevelopment, as well as the Hewle s Road Flyover in Mount Maunganui, Transmission Gully project in Wellington, and the Tauranga Eastern Link Project.”

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The growth of the company since then has been impressive, with it tackling many projects of importance in Tauranga over the years such as The Lakes, Oropi Reservoir and the Te Maunga Expressway.

Longstanding commercial relationships are another hallmark of the business, with firms such as J Swap Contractors having close links with Supacrete Concrete since it was established.

“From day one J Swap Contractors have supplied us with all our aggregate requirements and I continue to value the ongoing rela onship.”

“Things have come a long way. When I started out I was happy to produce 100 cubic metres of concrete each month. We can produce that volume within an hour at our current plant these days.”

Don says building relationships with suppliers, clients and staff has been a key to

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Don says many other valued suppliers and clients have also played their part in Supacrete Concrete’s success, including the likes of GBC Winstone, Hino Trucks, Mimico, Peter Fell and Fulton Hogan Bay of Plenty.

of-the-art, fully automated concrete plant, designed by Don in conjunc on with Bryan Fraser of Bryan Fraser Engineering, and built almost entirely by local trade and service providers.

“We seem to a ract customers who have the same values we do, such as doing a good job, looking a er customers and going the extra mile. This builds trust which allows all of us to be more produc ve.”

The 15m high and 43m long plant is highly technically advanced, with equipment and informa on technology systems sourced from companies worldwide.

Don’s right-hand-man and general manager Jeff Burgess is another key part of the opera on.

Jeff left a corporate position to join the company over 20 years, and like Don, has the technical knowledge, ins nct and vision to help bring clients’ projects to life.

“Our great team of loyal, skilled staff are the backbone of the business, with several staff members working with us for many years.”

When he started the firm, Don’s philosophy was for it to be ‘Simply the Best’, an ethos that con nues today.

“The focus has always been to produce and supply the best possible product to suit the applica on for which it is intended. We’ve always been focused on combining the best raw materials with technical ability to make that happen.”

In the early years, Supacrete Concrete grew steadily as it developed relationships with new suppliers, technology was improved, and new colours and addi ves were added to the manufacturing process.

The firm’s original batching plant was significantly modified, rebuilt, modified and rebuilt again over a 20 year period, un l the need to develop a new, purpose built facility became apparent.

In 2007, Supacrete moved into its state-

“It is still among the fastest automated concrete batching plants in the area and we con nue to source and u lise the latest equipment to improve product quality, make our systems work be er and more efficiently and provide a great work environment for our team.”

Don says a huge amount of reinforcing steel was used to form the plant’s concrete founda ons, and structures such as the 1000 tonne cement and aggregate storage towers.

“Another feature of the plant is the two weigh and storage hoppers, that each hold over 500 tonnes of materials for concrete manufacture.

The innova ve drive-through design has increased both efficiency and the safety of Supacrete Concrete’s opera on, says Don. “Everything is laid out logically in the drivethrough and drivers don’t have to contend with other traffic. The layout has really improved our health and safety and reduced the me it takes for trucks to get in and out.”

Accessible from the front of the site is a full outside display complete with many examples of aggregate, finish style and colour op ons.

“Peter Fell Colour Limited con nue to be an enthusias c partner in this area,” says Don. The plant is in its eighth year since commencing opera on with modifica on and

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A large concrete supply underway to Brian Perry Civil for the Maleme Street waste water project.

innova on con nuing.

“Mimico who supply our concrete mixer units have just commissioned a screening plant to handle returned concrete for recycling and too meet environment compliances.”

Don says the plant has also allowed Supacrete Concrete to extend its service offering to the market, which has been important given the way different cements and aggregates are blended these days.

“We have clients incorpora ng materials such as micro silica, fly ash or blast furnace slag in various types of concrete. The process has become rela vely more complicated and

sophisticated, which is why our high-tech facili es are so cri cal.”

Don acknowledges that with over 150 concrete mix designs both BASF and GBC, Winstone are not only product suppliers but also provide some technical support to Supacrete Concrete directly as well as ongoing information to its company engineer Brett Beatson of Beacon Services.

Supacrete constantly tests its products for quality and can provide its clients with a range of informa on such as hardness and curing results.

“Sometimes our clients need to know

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The Hewle s Road flyover in Mount Maunganui is one of many projects Supacrete Concrete has carried out with HEB Construc on.

things about the concrete out in the field, so it’s important we have the informa on at our finger ps.”

The business is supported by a well presented vehicle fleet. Several years ago Don moved away from using second hand trucks to only introduce purpose-built brand new units to the fleet.

Today Supacrete has an almost exclusive fleet of Hino mixer trucks, a brand he has favoured for some me.

“They are a great truck, and we have built up an excellent rela onship with the guys at Hino over the years. We’ve even introduced the brand to one of our associated companies, Chinook Bulk Haulage.”

As Supacrete has grown, new businesses were introduced under its umbrella to support

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its own needs and infrastructure requirements.

The Coloured Concrete Floor Company was first, opening in 1998 and specialising in decora ve residen al floors.

This opera on has since been absorbed into Supafloor, which provides a range of concre ng solutions such as house floors, driveways, pa os, tennis courts, commercial and industrial pavements.

Kerbline is a concrete placing company created by Don and several business partners, which undertakes curb and channel and a lot of flat work, o en for Supafloor.

“We ins gated this company to ensure our concrete product was handled correctly and finished to the highest possible standards,” says Don.

Concrete being supplied to Seovic Construc on for a con nuous roading barrier at Te Maunga, Tauranga.

Chinook Bulk Haulage is a separate but associated transport business that delivers some of the products required by the concrete manufacturing plant.

“These associated businesses provide synergy, and allow us greater control over the en re process, from the collec on of raw materials, through manufacture to laying and finishing the concrete.”

Nowadays concentra on is on the core line business of concrete manufacture and the umbrella units are independent of Supacrete Concrete.

The company is a recognised leader in the Bay of Plenty concrete market, with many awards rewarding its business and management acumen.

Don and his general manager Jeff Burgess

con nue to champion the industry.

“A team ethos and working in partnership with our suppliers, staff and customers has brought us huge sa sfac on and rewards to the business.”

Don also con nues to enjoy the challenges of concrete manufacture, he says.

“A lot of people don’t realise concrete is created through science and it’s not just about throwing some sand and stones into a ready mix bowl. Although it wasn’t always done this way, concrete manufacture today is a carefully engineered and tested process, with the correct amount of ingredients essen al so the concrete can perform exactly as required. If you make a cake and leave out a cri cal ingredient, it’s not going to work. Concrete is the same.”

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Reliable Foundations

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Reliable RibRaft specialists

One of Reliable Founda ons' commercial projects.

Hot edge insula on of founda ons is an exciting innovation improving the thermal efficiency and warmth of New Zealand homes and buildings, says Aaron Craig of Reliable Foundations, raft foundation specialist designers and installers.

edge insula on prevents heat from escaping around the edge of the founda on and really beefs up the R ra ng. Our standard insulated RibRa floors are already high performing at R1.6, however we can achieve as high as R3 with hot edge insula on.”

fully engineered foundation systems for clients New Zealand-wide from branches in Auckland, Paraparaumu, and Christchurch.

Reliable Founda ons has specialised in RibRa founda on systems since Aaron’s brother Jason formed the company in Wellington in 2007.

“Over the last six months this technology has really come into its own as more people understand its future proofing benefits. Hot

Aaron says insulation, warmth and energy efficiency are a big focus of Reliable Foundations, which designs and installs

Aaron, who joined the company in 2010 and is now its managing director, says the RibRa system is now one of the fastest growing residential and light commercial flooring op ons in New Zealand.

“The benefits of this innova ve solu on for concrete flooring construc on are now well recognised, par cularly since the Christchurch earthquakes. The disaster has really raised the profile of ra founda ons throughout New Zealand, largely due to their superior seismic performance, strength, and suitability for compromised land. A superior, engineered ra

founda on can be five to seven mes stronger than a standard 3604 founda on.”

The raft system designed by Reliable Foundations uses polystyrene pods, plastic spacers, steel reinforcing pods and Ra Mix concrete, components that help to drama cally reduce labour and time used compared to tradi onal concrete founda ons.

“They are a lot quicker and easier to put down. We can complete a standard founda on in around five days, which is of huge benefit to builders given the pressure they are under at the moment.”

RibRa founda ons are also non-weather dependent, elimina ng costly delays that can otherwise occur.

“There is no need to dig trenches for foo ngs with the RibRa system. All of the

LASER GRADING EXCAVATIONS DRILLING HOUSE FOUNDATION EXCAVATION SPECIALISTS OBLIGATION FREE QUOTES www.diggersnz.com| (03) 3811 200 | admin@diggersnz.com 250 Oruarangi Road Mangere Auckland

Proud to be associated with Reliable Foundations Ltd

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foundation construction occurs above the ground, and construction can continue as normal throughout wet weather.”

Before the earthquakes Reliable Founda ons was only comple ng a handful of jobs in the South Island. However it has since set up full me in Christchurch market, where it currently has 12 managers.

“We construct about 60 foundations a month in Christchurch, with our other main growth area being Auckland where we do around 70 or 80 founda ons a month. Our other markets are also steady, with our teams building an addi onal 30-plus founda ons in Wellington, around 10 in Queenstown/Wanaka, 15 in Tauranga, and several more in Dunedin each month.”

Reliable Foundations provides other foundation options, including the Cupolex foundation, a patented structural dome concrete slab system, made from recycled nontoxic polypropylene.

“This floa ng concrete founda on arrives on site ready to be installed, which is quick and simple using basic tools. It is an eco-friendly and cost-effec ve alterna ve to a tradi onal concrete founda on,” says Aaron.

He says one of the main advantages of dealing with Reliable Foundations is that the company’s team of managers and staff provide a full service from geotechnical, to cost effec ve design and plans, installa on and engineering sign off to the required cer fica on.

“Our builders are all Licensed Building Prac oners, which gives clients confidence they are dealing with professionals who specialise in founda ons. We also have our own earthworks company which takes care of these services in Christchurch and Auckland.”

Reliable Foundations can also provide design for structural elements connected to the

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founda on, such as framing, bracing, lintels, steel laterals, can levers and a building’s front entranceway, as well as block and retaining walls.

The company’s clients include many of the big housing group firms, such as Horncastle, Jennian, Milestone, GJ Gardner, Benchmark, Maxim, Fletcher Living and Signature, as well as the Summerset Re rement Village for whom it as completed both standard ra floors and founda ons for TC2 and TC3 land.

In addi on to the residen al market, Reliable Founda ons is a specialist in founda ons for light commercial buildings, such as playcentres, schools, garden centres, and multi-storey commercial structures.

“Our versa le systems adapt perfectly to a range of projects from small homes to large developments,” says Aaron.

A Reliable Founda ons project under construc on.

Reliable Founda ons also deals directly with numerous private clients, he says.

“In Christchurch we have completed a lot of rebuild and insurance work for private clients, which has had its challenges at mes. However it’s been great to help people out.”

A foundation is such a critical part of a building’s structure, so it pays to deal with a firm like Reliable Founda ons, says Aaron.

“The most important aspect of a house is the founda on, so it makes sense to engage a specialist designer and installer to ensure the delivery of a fit-for-purpose, high quality solu on.”

A founda on project in the early stages of construc on.

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United Steel

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United Steel committed to local market

Mesh in produc on at United Steel.

Tes ng quality and compliance is a priority for United Steel.

Quality and service are the major focus for United Steel, a ributes that are cri cal in the current climate, says Ryk Kleynhans, manager of the firm’s Auckland opera on.

configurations to meet our customers’ needs. Products include hard-drawn wire mesh, seismic mesh and a smaller amount of engineering mesh.”

“With uncertainty around the quality of some building products in the market, including steel reinforcing mesh, we believe it is more important than ever to deal with a reputable, local company such as United Steel. We have been around more than 20 years and have proven quality and technical excellence with service and reliability that is second-to-none.”

Ryk says the importance of dealing with a local firm shouldn’t be underes mated, par cularly when it comes to seismic mesh, with the supply of some imported product already stopped from entering the country due to quality issues.

United Steel is New Zealand’s largest manufacturer of steel reinforcing mesh, supplying the residen al and commercial construc on markets, as well as pre-cast, other manufacturing and ‘cut and bend’ companies in New Zealand and the Pacific.

“We manufacture everything from standard mesh sizes to custom mesh products of all different sizes and

“It is quite a tricky product to manufacture to ensure the duc lity and seismic quali es are right. The proper es are very sensi ve and can change every me the wire is pulled or bent. We stand by the quality of our seismic mesh which has been tested and approved.”

Ryk says the company has ‘very thorough’ manufacturing quality and management systems in place to ensure quality across its product profile.

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“Products are tested right throughout the manufacturing process in our well-equipped labs. This ensures quality and that the mesh complies with AS/NZ 4671:2001 and the Building Code. We are in the process of having our labs cer fied by IANZ.” Most of the raw material for the mesh comes from another local company, Pacific Steel, which provides a quality product and good lead mes, says Ryk. United Steel also manufactures gabion baskets, folded fence panels and nails.

Structural steel and other commercial steel products are distributed through its general steel division. These products are delivered to engineers, fabricators, and other manufacturing companies.

“We buy some of our raw material for products that is locally available from New Zealand Steel and import the others from companies we have established long term

rela onships with. We regularly visit these suppliers’ plants and laboratories offshore and have the checks and balances in place to ensure the product we import meets our expecta ons and quality standards.”

United Steel is part of the wider United Industries group, which has nine companies in the construc on sector.

In addition to its Auckland and Christchurch manufacturing plants, United Steel has sales and distribu on facili es in Wellington and New Plymouth. It employs 100 permanent staff across its opera on.

Many of New Zealand’s major engineering and construction projects use products sourced from United Steel, says Ryk. “We’re proud to be privately owned and locally made, and are commi ed to building and retaining a strong steel manufacturing base in New Zealand.”

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Balcrom Ltd

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High performance concrete solutions In the four years since Balcrom was founded by Phillip Bates, the Otago firm has made its name as an innovative product of precast and pre-stress concrete solutions.

“Precast panels and architecturally finished products are what we’ve become renowned for, especially our wood grain and exposed aggregate finished concrete panels. Our ability to produce premium quality finished products is seeing us pick up more jobs on our merits,” says Phillip.

From its yards in Cromwell and Balclutha, Balcrom has completed several high projects, including the manufacture of precast panels, stairs and flat slabs for projects at the Highlands Motorsport Park; and the precast panels for the sizeable Lachlan McDonald residence as featured on the TV3 show Grand Designs New Zealand.

“We are just comple ng the new high-spec Noel Leemings building at Frankton for Naylor Love Construc on, which has feature woodgrained finished panel throughout, and have just finished Pak ‘n Save at Frankton where we also made precast panels for the new Mitre 10 MEGA store.”

Balcrom is about to start the new Waka pu High School project with Hawkins Construc on and is currently pricing several large-scale jobs in and around Otago and Southland.

The company is also busy in the residen al market, par cularly with its range of flooring products.

“We have just finished a job with Amalgamated Builders in Queenstown, where we supplied polished concrete floors and precast concrete stair treads suspended off the wall in addi on to precast architectural panels.

This is an example of how we can use our range

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of skills to add value to projects.”

Balcrom Polished Concrete Solu ons are created using the latest top quality industrial equipment and HTC Superfloor TM products.

“Concrete floors are transformed into brilliant, easy clean, environmentally friendly and durable polished concrete surfaces.”

A lot of the company’s flooring product ends up in Christchurch, a market it has supplied throughout the rebuild.

The control tower at Highlands Motorsport Park was an interes ng project for the Balcrom team.

Balcrom’s versatility also extends to infrastructure and rural projects.

“We regularly manufacture bridge beams, retaining panels and barriers, and are still making precast concrete dairy sheds despite the downturn. Earlier this year we were a bit nervous, thinking the dairy projects may not go ahead, but with slightly more favourable market conditions, they have continued to progress.”

Storage units with a dis nct architectural feel.

Balcrom is renowned for wood grain and exposed aggregate finished concrete panels, used here to great effect on a public toilet block.

in the precast industry for quite a while before star ng Balcrom.

Another product is the Balcrom Premaloo, a pre-finished toilet of up to three cubicles with modifications and accessories to suit clients’ requirements. It has a wide range of appearance op ons available to blend in to any landscape and is easily transported to site.

local councils, as well as camping and sports grounds. The unit can also be modified into a dangerous goods store or killing shed.

An outside showerhead is often installed in Premaloos located near a beach, lake or river.” Building relationships with large firms such as Naylor Love, Hawkins, Ebert, Amalgamated Builders, Calder Stewart, and Breen Construc on has been another key to the company’s success and con nuous growth.

“ The product has been popular with

Phillip was a builder by trade and worked

The firm services the rural market with other products, such as bridges, pivot bridges and troughs and even concrete precast dog bowls, which are popular.

“Diversity is the key in a smaller market. You need to lend your hand to almost anything to reduce risk.”

“When we started we had around 18 staff, but we’re up to 40 now across the two opera ons due to the huge amount of growth.”

“We have an experienced design and production team who deliver an extensive range of high performance, cost effective, engineered precast concrete solutions, backed by expert technical advice and quality assurance.”

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Safer Site

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Metal Man

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David Reid Homes Queenstown BC Sister company offers smart, smaller solutions &

A stylish new home from Smart Solu ons, a sister company to David Reid Homes Queenstown.

David Reid Homes Queenstown has introduced an exci ng new sister company called Smart Solu ons, delivering architecturally designed, thermally efficient homes of a smaller scale to the homes in the company’s tradi onal high-end market.

“The Smart Solu ons homes are a great op on for people who don’t want quite as much space, or who are willing to compromise on size to allow them to achieve a be er, highperforming, more thermally efficient home with their budget,” says general manager Abi Mackenzie, who took over the franchise with husband Fraser in 2011.

The new brand was launched six months ago, and has already a racted keen interest from the market, with a handful of new Smart Solutions homes already built, and several more poten al homeowners showing strong interest.

“We’ve had an incredible response from buyers in Hanley’s Farm, Queenstown’s newest subdivision where the first release of 100 sec ons have already sold, and a further release is due to hit the market by Christmas.

This is a more high-density development than others in Queenstown with numerous sec ons of around 400 to 500 square metres, so the Smart Solu ons product is very well suited to it.”

The company has already designed around six standard plans to meet the Hanley Farm’s guidelines and expects to increase this number

to around 12 designs before construc on gets underway at the development next year.

“We will have plans ready to go straight up, or be adapted to meet our clients’ needs.”

Abi says the plans have been carefully thought out and smartly designed to include two storey op ons.

Standard features in the homes include a MaxRa ® fully insulated and thermally broken floor slab, thermally broken windows, and increased insula on in the walls and ceiling.

“The homes have also been designed to utilise standard sized building materials to make them quicker to erect, with less cu ng and wastage. This creates a simpler, most cost efficient process, well-suited to the entry and mid level market,” says Abi. Smart Solutions and David Reid Homes Queenstown operate independently with different teams, however both companies remain under the oversight of Fraser and Abi Mackenzie.

“The new Smart Solu ons team is benefi ng from our knowledge of the market and the well established David Reid Homes Queenstown brand.”

Abi says the construction market in Queenstown is booming across all sectors, so the introduc on of the Smart Solu ons product has been mely.

“There is huge growth in the region which

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Residents enjoy mountain views from the living area in their Smart Solu ons home.

runs the gamut from people wan ng a 130 square metre home up to a 440 square metre home or larger.”

taking over the David Reid Homes Queenstown

She says David Reid Homes Queenstown’s tradi onal market of ‘architecturally designed, 100 percent bespoke, thermally efficient homes’ remains strong.

in construc on and project management in

“Our premium homes are designed specifically for each individual owner. We really pride ourselves on efficient, quality builds and having a loyal team of excellent subcontractors who make the building process so much smoother.”

David Reid Homes Queenstown has designed a ‘stunning’ new showhome for a site overlooking Lake Hayes, with which Fraser and Abi hope to achieve a 10 Star Homestar Rating and for it to become a Certified Passive House.

“This home really takes thermal efficiency to a new level. It is the most thermally efficient, eco-friendly, energy efficient home we have ever constructed as a showhome, and will not require any energy for hea ng or cooling. We hope it will be the first 10 Star Homestar home south of Christchurch, with the interna onal Passive House cer fica on giving it an extra point of difference.”

The plans for this luxury home have been completed and are currently being consented.

Managing director Fraser Mackenzie has been a carpenter for 20 years, and prior to

franchise, his career included 10 years working

Queenstown; and s nts building in Australia, UK and USA. “Fraser’s oversight of both companies sees him keep a close eye on the progress and quality of our projects, to ensure our high standards of workmanship and finish are upheld on every job,” says Abi. Overall she says the couple are happy with the way the David Reid Homes Queenstown brand has been embraced in the local market over the last five years, and says the couple are excited to grow the new Smart Solu ons company alongside it.

“Things are going really well. We are certainly busy but also like to keep things at an even pace to ensure we maintain the level of service and quality on which we have built our reputa on.”

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Winstone Wallboards

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Elevating Work Platform Association

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BC Non-complying bucket trucks major issue &

Elevating Work Platform Association

An issue that has been brewing in the elevated work platform (EWP) sector for some time, could compromise safety and potentially cost contractors thousands of dollars.

Mike Breen, board member of the Elevated Work Pla orm Associa on (EWPA) says second-hand bucket trucks that don’t meet New Zealand regula ons (AS/ NZS1418.10) are being imported from Japan and illegally sold for this purpose.

“Almost every used Japanese bucket truck on the market imported a er 2011 is likely to be non-compliant. They are not built to the required Australian and New Zealand standards, and may lack safety equipment that is mandatory here. It is a major safety

establish whether relevant safety upgrades have been completed to the manufacturers specifica on before the vehicle was exported to New Zealand, and if there have been any factory recalls of the make and model.

For a lot of these machines it is difficult or impossible to contact the manufacturer, as they have either gone out of business, or refuse to answer the ques ons and support the vehicles once they are in New Zealand.”

As there are no regula ons banning the importa on of these machines a dealer can

This bucket truck currently for sale on an Auckland vehicle yard is unlikely to meet New Zealand regula ons so is poten ally being sold illegally, says EWPA board member Mike Breen.

problem facing the industry.”

Mike says among the risks of buying one of these machines is that it is nearly impossible to prove their structural integrity and safety.

“They might look pre y with a new coat of paint, but could be rusted out inside. This could result in the machine seizing up, or worse failing under a load.”

Non-compliant bucket trucks are more likely to arrive without load cells or safety interlocks – connected to the four legs that extend out from the truck to level it out and provide stability while in use, he says.

“If the buckets are raised without interlocks, safety can be compromised straight away.”

Second hand bucket trucks are also required by law to have a Major Cer ficate Inspection completed at the time of importa on, which is almost never done, says Mike. “The requirements of the Major Inspec on almost certainly indicate that a machine would be completely dismantled, inspected and crack tested before being put into service. Be very wary of ‘cheap imported’ trucks as it is likely these are non compliant”.

“A condi on of the safety rebuild is that the manufacturer must be contacted to B1603

simply say they are impor ng them for spare parts before adver sing them as working bucket trucks.

This makes it difficult to ascertain culpability if an accident occurs while a machine is in use on a work site.

Mike says buyers must beware because if something goes wrong with the machine, they, and not the dealer, will probably be liable, even if the dealer has misrepresented the machine at the point of sale. It is the responsibility of the company buying and pu ng the machine into service to ensure it meets the required safety standards.

“If a company buys a non-compliant second-hand bucket truck and has an accident on their , or another commercial site, WorkSafe would get involved and probably ask EWPA to provide a report on what caused the accident. The first thing we will look at is if the truck complies with New Zealand regula ons and if it has had a major service rebuild when first imported. If the answer is no to these ques ons we would have no choice but to advise WorkSafe that the machine was non-compliant and they would then likely prosecute the owner.”

Mike says there are several used truck dealers around New Zealand who are blatantly flou ng the law by impor ng and selling these vehicles from their yards or

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Elevating Work Platform Association

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online, adver sing them as fit for purpose working bucket machines or cherry pickers.

they use has full compliance and is fit for purpose.

He believes there are at least 10 ‘dodgy and probably illegal’ machines currently for sale at Auckland vehicle yards, and undertook a quick Trademe search during the interview with Builders and Contractors and found at least four others for sale on the site.

“From every angle, there is no way these trucks should be on the road. However we know of plenty of guys driving around in them. They are par cularly popular with smaller building firms, and installers of alarms, and aerials who may not have done proper due diligence and are unaware of the risks.”

“We have even heard of some dodgy companies putting certificates on trucks sugges ng they have had a major cer fica on check completed when this is actually impossible, as a truck can’t be certified unless it meets New Zealand regula ons in the first place.”

It is these sorts of hazards that poten al buyers need to be aware of, as ul mately it is their responsibility to ensure any equipment

imports for some me, and has requested that WorkSafe be more proac ve, rather than being the ambulance at the bo om of the cliff. Mike suggests that “all prospec ve buyers of recently imported EWP’s should contact a reputable inspection company before buying to ensure the machine meets required standards and has had mandatory inspections completed” The EWPA can provide a list of inspec on companies in your area and you can contact them through the

website: www.ewpa.org.nz.

“Until there is legislative change preven ng the selling of these machines, unscrupulous dealers will con nue to bring these potentially dangerous and illegal trucks into circula on. All we can do in the mean me is educate poten al buyers to be aware of the risks and ensure they do full due diligence before purchasing a second hand bucket truck imported from Japan.”

If there is an accident and the machine was found to be non-compliant by Worksafe, owners could face a he y fine:, o en around $25,000 - $50,000 and could also lose their investment in the vehicle. Worse s ll; the lives of users of these machines may be put in danger.

Mike says the EWPA has known about the problem of second-hand Japanese

Bri le hydraulic hoses can be another issue.

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Safety major focus of EWPA Safety has been the primary objective of the Elevated Work Platform Association (EWPA) since its inception in 2003, says its CEO, Phil Tindle.

Elevated work pla orms are useful but complex pieces of equipment that require care to operate safely.

“Mobile elevating work platforms are useful but complex pieces of equipment that are o en used for access in hazardous areas.

The aim of EWPA is to promote the best and safest prac ces for the use and maintenance of EWPs, with a major focus on the person in the basket. The biggest risk is usually with the operator rather than the machine.”

competency as well as EWP inspec on and maintenance requirements. This document is available on both the EWPA and WorkSafe websites.”

He says the establishment of the Associa on was triggered by the rapid emergence of EWPs in the early 2000s.

Phil is a trade qualified automotive technician, who has owned several successful businesses and served as a volunteer firefighter for over 20 years. He has been CEO of the Hire Industries Associa on of New Zealand (HIANZ) for the last 11 years so is able to bring good synergies to his role with EWPA, considering access is a big part of the hire industry, he says.

“These machines were very new. In the past people had used scaffolding and ladders, but now we had mechanical equipment taking people to greater heights. If something did go wrong and a fall occurred there was the poten al for more serious harm or even death.”

The EWPA was set up as a not-for profit associa on and was run purely on a voluntary basis un l three years ago, when it took on Phil Tindle as its CEO in a part me paid posi on.

The forma on of EWPA was spearheaded by a group of business owners who worked within the industry and recognised the need for safety regula ons, training, and the se ng of formal industry standards.

“At the me I was taken on as CEO, EWPA had no full me resource and was struggling to maintain the momentum it needed to carry forward a lot of its objec ves. With my understanding of both the hire and access sectors it has worked well.”

“This group included Bryan Nunweek, owner of Centre Hire, Dean Manley who owned New Zealand Access at the time, and Roy Norgrove owner of Access Special es, along with a number of others.”

Although the organisations are closely aligned and led by Phil, they continue to operate completely independently with separate board of directors, he says.

In the early days the Associa on worked closely with the Department of Labour around the compliance aspects of EWPs in the workplace.

“EWPA has its trade show within the HIANZ Annual Conference, but aside from that there is really no crossover, with independent boards working on their own business.”

A Code of Prac ce, referred to as the ‘Blue Book’ was developed soon a er the forma on of the Associa on, which became out of date and was superseded in 2014 by new Best Prac ce Guidelines for Mobile Eleva ng Work Platforms developed in conjunction with WorkSafe.

Health and safety con nues to be the big focus, from both an opera ng perspec ve, and rela ng to the environment in which the machine is working.

“ The intention of the new document was to make it less ambiguous and provide greater clarity, par cularly around operator

It has also collaborated with WorkSafe, ACC and other industry stakeholders to define competence for EWP maintenance in a

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Operator safety has been a key focus of the EWPA since its incep on in 2003.

framework administered by the Cer fica on Board for Inspec on Personnel (CBIP) “To achieve compliance and ensure their insurance coverage, end users should only use EWPs that are cer fied by a CBIP inspector.”

The Association’s members now include hire companies, manufacturers, suppliers, end users, trainers and specialised support and service companies who cover the full spectrum of the EWP industry.

Phil says there are numerous benefits of becoming a member.

“The EWPA website lists our members’ businesses under a range of categories, which can reach potential customers. Our members can also gain access to networking opportunities at national and international conferences; as well as industry meetings, lobbying, training courses and events.”

EWPA regularly provides its members with industry updates, support and advice; provides them with access to industry standards and Best Practice material, offers member-only discounts, and has a members only area on its website with further benefits.

EWPA issues Safety Alerts to ensure EWP operators and owners are made aware of any known concerns or issue.

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Gather the facts when buying a second hand EWP There is no doubt that buying second hand is a cost effective way to become an owner of a Mobile Elevating Work Platform.

However people must ensure their EWP meets New Zealand and Australian Standards (AS/ NZS1418.10, 2011), otherwise the cost may be high, whatever the purchase price.

Phil Tindle, CEO of the Elevated Work Pla orm Association (EWPA) says buying second hand equipment is popular for small rental fleet owners and end users, with the world market for preowned EWP’s expanding rapidly over the last 10 years.

“Major rental fleet owners tend to remove rental units a er four to seven years of service, which then enter the second hand market.”

Phil says all EWPs are a poten ally high-risk asset given the nature of the product and condi ons they operate under.

“It is essen al that before buying a perceived bargain, people do their homework to ensure the EWP meets required standards, is suitable for the purpose it is being purchased for, and is in a condi on that meets the level of risk the new owner is prepared to take on.”

New Zealand sets a high regulatory standard when it comes to EWPs, helped by manufacturers, rental fleet owners, owners and end users working together with the relevant statutory bodies to ensure standards are maintained.

Suppliers of EWPs must ensure each unit meets legal, safety and operational standards, while employers are obligated to ensure all operators have been adequately trained in the safe use and opera on of the machine.

Pre-owned EWPs must have six monthly inspections carried out along with a Major Inspec on called the Ten Year Inspec on, (which is carried out every five years therea er).

This inspec on is par cularly relevant when buying pre-owned EWPs, as they must be inspected in accordance with Standard AS2550.10, a requirement of the Code of Prac ce for Safe Use of Eleva ng Work Pla orms, which requires machines to be dismantled, stripped down, and all structural components put through nondestruc ve crack tes ng.

This non compliant bucket truck had a catastrophic failure due to overloading

“If the first Major Inspec on (10 year) has been completed, the full report should be sighted along with confirma on of who did the tes ng and their be checked.” qualifica ons.”

It is a requirement of the Standards and Industry Phil says there are a number of other checks Best Prac ce Document that original opera ng people can make when considering the purchase and service manuals are available, with Decals in place and legible. of a second hand EWP. Other considera ons include checking who the “It is important the Compliance Plate matches what is adver sed when it comes to pla orm manufacturer is and seeing if they are represented height, date of manufacture, model type and in New Zealand. serial number. The EWP’s maintenance history “Poten al buyers could contact the manufacturer including retrofits and safety upgrades should also and seek advice on the EWP they are interested

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in. They could also contact the previous owner to confirm its working history.”

Phil says by gathering the facts, people can eliminate a significant amount of risk when purchasing a second-hand EWP. “Legisla on can be par cularly onerous which is why it is important to be pre-warned. If people are still unsure, they can ask themselves one cri cal key ques on, ‘If there is an accident will I be blamed?’”

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Elevating Work Platform Association

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Elevating Work Platform Association

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Training essential for safe operation Since it was established 13 years ago the Elevated Working Platform Association of New Zealand has advocated for consistently high standards of training for operation, maintenance and certification of EWPs.

“Quality assured, unit sta n d a rd b a s e d N ZQ A operator training is now widely available from a number of independent trainers throughout New Zealand, something that h a s b e e n e n c o u ra g e d and endorsed by the Associa on,” says CEO, Phil Tindle.

He says training is also mandatory for anyone hiring out access equipment to ensure they provide fit-forpurpose machines to their customers, and provide the correct instruc on and safety familiarisa on of the machine to the operator.

“It is essen al the people providing information to the customer are trained and competent themselves, as inadequate training or operational knowledge is one of the leading causes of accidents, along with not following manufacturers’ recommenda ons, and not fully assessing the hazards and risks of the equipment, Arborists are one group to use EWPs in their daily work life. the job and the work site.”

“The industry decided the I t i s m a n d a t o r y f o r development of one standard operators to be competent, of competency, NZQA Unit if they are being used in a Standards was the preference. place of work the employer We have essen ally gone from must ensure the operator having nothing in terms of a is competent. NZQA unit programme to developing an sta n d a rd s a re p ro o f o f industry accepted standard competency. for operator training, industry “A nyo n e n o r t h o f a n has embraced this which is employee who is involved great.” in providing guidance or information to operators must be qualified as well.”

He says this unit standard has become the baseline for operator competency.

During the development of the latest Best Practice Guidelines in 2013/14, WorkSafe consulted closely with industry, from manufacturers right down to end users to develop a suitable competency baseline, says Phil.

“ We ’ v e r e a c h e d t h e point where the delivery of that training is an option nationwide, with opportunities for private training en es and industry training organisations to become involved in its delivery.”

Training for employers and operators of hire fleets is mandatory to ensure they are providing correct instruc on and safety familiarisa on to operators

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Christchurch Airport

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Christchurch Airport

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RANZ

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Fishing in a new pond The Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ) is taking a strategic approach to ensure the future sustainability of the roofing industry, says new chief executive officer, Graham Moor.

“There are several challenges facing the sector. In the short term this includes finding people of the right calibre and quality we need to take the industry forward. Like all employers in the construc on sector, we tend to fish in the same pond. Perhaps we need to look at things differently and try to find a new pond.”

Graham says it is essential that people coming into the sector as specialist skilled roofing installers are the right fit, but says the current model may need to change in order to a ract more trainees. “ The employees of today are totally different to past genera ons. We need to adapt to the fact young people will have lots of career changes. Instead of trying to fit them into our businesses, we may need to look at how we can fit around them a bit be er too.”

A rac ng new recruits to the roofing sector

is one thing, but keeping them is another, he says.

“A lot of effort goes into ge ng people through the door, but presen ng them with opportunities for an exciting career is the key to retaining them. A roofing specialist might start out on the tools but once they have a grounding in the trade there are many other areas they can progress into such as sales, quan ty surveying, management roles, business ownership, and even working for manufacturing partners or other companies associated with the sector.”

Graham says roofing is not currently on the skills shortage list, which is a problem giving the looming pressure on the sector.

“With the Auckland building boom and ongoing Christchurch rebuild there will soon be a massive shortage of roofing personnel.

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If roofing was already on the skills shortage list we could prepare now by bringing in skilled migrant labour. Wai ng un l there is a shortage and trying to address it then doesn’t make sense.”

With so many trades compe ng in the same labour pool, Graham says RANZ will con nue to highlight the benefits of working in the roofing sector to young male and female trainees to help bridge the gap.

“Roofing is a great trade, with huge poten al and career path opportuni es. We are keen to talk to more young trainees about why the industry could be an a rac ve proposi on for them, and also to establish how the roofing sector can adapt more to their needs. If we keep doing similar things we will get similar results, so it is exci ng that RANZ is moving ahead in a proactive rather than reactive fashion.”

Graham Moor, new CEO of RANZ.

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RANZ

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RANZ a collective voice for roofers Over the last 30 years innovative architectural designs and the introduction of new and different roofing systems to the New Zealand market has seen roofing evolve to become a skilled specialist trade.

RANZ member Tony File Roofing Ltd was involved in the restora on of this historic church near Gisborne, replacing a decramas c le with a diamond shaped metal shingle in embossed aluminium from the USA.

Innova ve use of Dimond Rib 50 cladding on this Avondale childcare centre included sail forms in the outer curve of the building. The cladding was installed by RANZ member Cooper Roofing.

The Roofing Associa on of New Zealand (RANZ) was established in 1994 to provide a collec ve voice for the industry, advocate on its behalf with regulatory authori es, and to ensure its members adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, health and safety, quality, skills and training.

CEO Graham Moor says there are many reasons why companies should engage a RANZ member when choosing a roofing contractor.

One of its most notable achievements was the development and introduction of

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apprenticeship training and formal roofing industry qualifica ons registered on the NZQA framework.

With a strong membership base of 356 members, RANZ is moving forward confidently to explore new opportuni es for its members such as the wider use of technology, resource projects, representa on and problem solving in the technical area.

“RANZ members are reputable companies, having passed a strict criteria in terms of workmanship standards and business conduct to be accepted into membership. We operate a professional work referral service of members

for consumers, either by searching our website, or contac ng the RANZ office directly.”

Although the association does not underwrite any guarantee or warranty issued by members, should any serious issue arise in respect to workmanship that cannot be resolved between the member and their customer, then advice and assistance can be sought through the associa on.

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Falls reduced by a third The roofing sector has made ‘massive strides’ in health and safety over the last couple of years, ahead of the new Health & Safety at Work Act which came into force in April this year, says Graham Moor, chief executive of RANZ. “We were given a target to reduce falls by 25 percent by 2020. However falls have already reduced by more than a third over the last two years which is great progress.”

He says there is still a long way to go, with RANZ working closely with Master Builders, Cer fied Builders and the Scaffolding Associa on to con nue to work smarter and make improvements in health and safety prac ces.

“Although we have been collabora ng with other associa ons for years, this heightened effort is exci ng. For too long, I believe the various associa ons and organisa ons in the construc on sector have operated in silos. If more of us work smartly together and take a whole site view of health and safety, we get be er results and produc vity goes up too.”

He says one of the issues with so many different interest groups in the construc on sector is that government is some mes unsure which ones it should be communica ng with on industry ma ers.

Height Safety Accord for its members, created specifically for the construction sector in Christchurch.

“Firms in Canterbury tend to like things to be black and white. However there has been a lot more grey areas during the rebuild. The new Canterbury Height Safety Accord provides the assurance of a high level of accepted behaviour when a RANZ member is on site.”

Graham says RANZ members in Canterbury wanted the ini a ve established and helped to put the guide together, as it gives them a point of difference from their compe on from a safety and reputa onal perspec ve.

“This is a great example of how RANZ members take control of their own des ny.

They understand as a single business it can be difficult to achieve a lot but with a collec ve group of forward thinkers we can get things done. Many RANZ members give back to the industry that gives them a living rather than be passengers in it. The more assistance the RANZ execu ve has with these sorts of ini a ves the more we can achieve for everybody.”

“I think consolidation is necessary, with some groups needing to join together for the good of the industry rather than being a li le too protec ve of their history. That way we can get some economies of scale, be er leverage with the regulatory bodies, and reach our goals faster.”

Over the past year RANZ has reviewed or been represented on number of other Standards and Guidelines commi ees, working with organisa ons such as MBIE, Scaffolding Association, BRANZ, and WorkSafe New Zealand.

RANZ has also launched a new Canterbury

RANZ has also published two ‘How To’ guides

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Falls with the roofing sector have dropped by 30 percent over the last two years.

on flashings and penetra ons in response to the growing tendency for architects to seek informa on from RANZ, par cularly when it comes to flashing design detail.

“These guides have excellent graphics

to assist with some of the least understood installa on methods. They been welcomed and are also available outside of RANZ membership – such was the importance of ge ng these details out there,” says Graham.

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RANZ

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Change at the top following loss of dedicated CEO As the Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ) heads into its 23rd year, it is mourning the loss of its dedicated former CEO Lorraine Mills, who passed away in April.

“Lorraine’s sudden death hit us all particularly hard. Having worked with her since 2002 it is difficult not having her around, especially as she had an amazing ability to recall anything we had done or been involved with. She was a fastidious record keeper and the annual conference was always an opportunity for her to catch up with members from around the country. Her efforts for RANZ and the roofing industry were recognised in 2014 when she was made a Life Member,” says Graham Moor, who has taken over the CEO’s role a er being on the execu ve con nuously since 2002.

Lorraine had worked with the Associa on since its forma on in 1994 in response to the widely held view in the early 1990s that roofing work was best le to plumbers and some mes carpenters.

The founding members of RANZ, all key roofing contractors from around New Zealand,

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had clear objectives and goals focused on professionalism in the industry.

Lorraine Mills was secured from Auckland Master Plumbers to assist the executive board of the newly formed associa on, who soon realised they had found someone with ‘extraordinary ability’, says Graham.

“In those fledgling years Lorraine managed industry training, health and safety, workmanship warran es, dispute resolu on procedures, membership, financial services, the in-house magazine, conference, legisla ve issues, industry standards, technical and general industry problems. In 1998 she was appointed full me CEO and established RANZ headquarters in Albany with addi onal staff employed for the first me in 2002.

Her meticulous attention to detail, passion and enthusiasm, par cularly for the contrac ng fraternity, has been a major factor in RANZ earning the respect and recogni on

it now enjoys."

Graham, owner of Kerikeri-based business Roof Resolve, is a former president of the association and long term member of its execu ve. He was appointed as new CEO of RANZ in May. In the building industry for the last 37 years, Graham was a member of the former DBH Building Practitioners Board for five years, served as the New Zealand Specialist Trades Federa on representa ve on BRAC, was for 18 months was on the Board of the former PGDR ITO and was an ITO assessor. He is currently an assessor for the Open Polytechnic which provides training materials for all roofing trainees.

Chairman of the RANZ Health & Safety committee since 2010, Graham has been dedicated to improving health and safety in the roofing industry, and was closely involved in the development of the two Best Prac ce

The late Lorraine Mills relessly served as CEO of the Roofing Associa on.

Guidelines for Working on Roofs and Working at Height, published by WorkSafe.

Since taking on the role Graham and the RANZ execu ve have accelerated a review of the Associa on’s purpose, direc on, funding and skill sets, but will not be making change for change’s sake, he says.

“Any changes we introduce will be to increase effiiciencies and to ensure we are as relevant as possible to our members and those we interact with.”

During this me of change and transi on Graham would like to thank the members, sponsors and RANZ staff for their ‘great support’.

“The associa on will con nue its advocacy work in the construc on sector, building upon the recogni on of roofing as a specialist trade which was the inten on of Lorraine and the founding execu ve in 1994”.

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Conference one of the best yet Another successful RANZ annual conference was held at SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre in July, with one of the highlights being special guest speaker Hamish Matheson, RoofStar Technical Advisor for the Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia, based in Vancouver.

“Hamish’s presentation really opened our eyes to the opportuni es out there, par cularly around training.

Our Canadian equivalent association has its own in-house roofing school, where intensive training is undertaken during the winter

months when the industry effec vely shuts down due to the climate. Luckily we don’t have those sorts of winters here. However it would be great for us to introduce training to a similar level, to raise levels to the high bar of performance roofers in

Canada achieve,” says CEO Graham Moor.

T h e c o n fe r e n c e a l s o included a trade show with 32 exhibitors from manufacturers and suppliers to the roofing industry.

Independent economist

Chris Kay of New Zealand Steel speaking at the RANZ conference where he said roofers subs tute product without homeowners' permission at their peril.

Dawson Chung, a director of Roof Improvements (Auckland) receives the award for the 2016 Top Roofing Training Company from Lance Riesterer, Skills GM for Specialist Trades & Business.

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Shamubeel Equab was the opening keynote speaker with ultra-marathon runner Lisa Tamati the evening’s inspira onal closing speaker.

“The quality of speakers and general programme was one of the highest we have achieved, covering

everything from the economy, finance, managing risk, technical issues and the licensing environment, to defects, training (including literacy and numeracy and unlocking the skills poten al of employees), and the skills shortage.”

Kirk Hardy from The Drug Detection Agency provided a fascina ng insight into the obliga ons of employers with regard to the new Health & Safety at Work Act, and modifying behaviour when it comes to employees’ use of drugs and alcohol.

Two Life Memberships were created this year for long serving members of the RANZ Executive, John Seamer (Wellington) and Keith Ivey (Invercargill).

Other awards presented at the event included Professionalism in

Metal Tile Installation for 2016, won by Telfers Roofing, Kerikeri; Top Roofing Trainee 2016, won by Sam Tolra of Graham Hill Roofing Ltd, Christchurch; and the Top Roofing Training Company for 2016, won

by Roof Improvements 2014 Ltd, Takanini.

Jonathon Telfer (second le ) of Telfers Roofing, KeriKeri winner of the 2016 RANZ Professionalism in Metal Tile Installa on Award, pictured with Rob Lawson, Harry Boxall and Vaughan Holdt of sponsors Metro le.

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Free benchmark service could save thousands in ACC Builders and Contractors readers are being offered a free ACC Benchmark service, which could potentially save their businesses thousands in costs.

The new ini a ve is being offered by Manage Company, which has acted as ACC advisors for around five years.

Managing director Mar n Wouters says a er working with more than 2000 different employers during this time the company had gathered a host of data that has revealed some significant and surprising differences in ACC costs for rela vely similar companies, par cularly in the construc on sector.

“It became clear there were some real discrepancies with some building firms paying thousands more than others with a similar profile. We decided to present the data we had gathered in a way that allowed businesses to be benchmarked against their peers and the wider industry to allow them to get on top of their levies and ul mately reduce them.”

So far this year Manage Company has saved an average of 38 percent on ACC levies for the clients it has provided the benchmarking service to, which is close to last year’s average of 41 percent savings.

“It’s crazy for people to pay around 40 percent more than they need to.”

He says one factor is the ACC base rate for construc on, which based on our data can vary from $2.15 to $3.72 per $100 of payroll depending on the business set up.

“We help companies to take advantage of the legisla on and can also provide ps on how to improve their score, and ul mately reducing their ACC costs.”

Manage Company is fully independent and works with a number of builders ranging from self-employed sub contractors B1603

to main contractors employing several hundred employees.

The firm specialises in helping firms to manage claims, manage risk and lower liability, predominantly in the ACC space.

“We cover areas such as ACC costs, ACC Claims, ACC Experience Rating, and Health & Safety. With a strong understanding of ACC’s processes we also do a lot of advocacy.

This lets our clients get on with their businesses while we take care of what can be quite complex nego a ons on their behalf.”

The ACC Benchmark will be updated in November each year once the ACC employer invoices have been sent out.

To register for the service, businesses can access a construc on-specific ‘landing page’ on a dedicated website http://workrisk.co.nz/acc-benchmark/builders-contractorsmagazine where they can automa cally sign up.

“This takes around 10 minutes do, complete an ACC Authority form and answer a brief ques onnaire. We do the rest from there. Once we have benchmarked the business, we provide a comprehensive report detailing where the business sits, what it can do to improve its benchmark, and how it can save on ACC levies.”

Manage Company charges a one-off success fee of 40 percent of the savings it creates for the service, with no addi onal costs to clients.

“We think this is a great ini a ve, that we plan to extend to other trades and riskier industries such as forestry, transport, and manufacturing,” says Mar n

Mar n Wouters of Manage Company which is helping builders and contractors to save thousands on ACC costs.

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Engineered timber

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CLT takes timber structures to new heights The development and introduction of cross-laminated timber (CLT) is causing a lot of excitement in the Australasian construction sector, says Jeff Parker, technical manager of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association.

“CLT is a structural product suitable for loadbearing construc on including mul -storey buildings. It is effec vely a wooden form of a concrete lt slab, which has already been u lised for several exci ng commercial projects on both sides of the Tasman.”

Jeff says CLT has numerous advantages over other construc on materials.

“It is environmentally friendly and prefabricated to customers’ specifications including pre-cut openings for windows and doors, which makes it quick and easy to assemble. It is also strong, has excellent seismic resistance, and appears to cost around 10 to 15 percent less than concrete or steel equivalents.”

CLT panels have been produced in Europe for some me.

However they have only recently been introduced to New Zealand in recent years through Nelson firm XLam NZ Ltd, the only manufacturer of the product in the Southern Hemisphere.

XLam has developed design and construc on methodologies for local condi ons and has now supplied more than 200 CLT projects in New Zealand and Australia.

An Australian firm Hyne Timber, has become an equity partner in XLam, which now has an Australian sales and design office, with a 12,0002 manufacturing facility set to open in Wodonga, New South Wales in mid 2017.

In New Zealand the firm has already doubled its factory space to meet demand.

CLT is made of layers of solid timber, alternating grain direction at 90 degrees (whereas glue-laminated mber is layered with the grain). The grain of the exterior layers runs lengthways, providing op mum strength.

It can be produced with three, five or seven layers of different thicknesses with a range of strengths and physical characteris cs suitable for a large variety of architectural and industrial uses.

Jeff says one of the main benefits of CLT is that when combined with other engineered wood products (EWP) such as LVL, plywood, glulam and light timber truss systems, it enables the economic construc on of taller,

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mul -occupancy wooden buildings.

“That’s when these products really come into their own, par cularly for large commercial buildings with big spans that need Glulam or LVL for long reach members, and u lise CLT for floors and walls. Architects and designers are star ng to come up with all sorts of exci ng combina ons for these products which can prove more cost effec ve than some other conven onal builds.”

The cost savings are often created by a combina on of easier founda on work, rapid construc on, and smaller work crews, with added benefits of using EWPs being improved thermal mass and insulation, increased sustainability and a ‘huge amount’ of carbon sequestered in the building.

The CLT system is also air ght, fire resistant, provides thermal and acoustic insulation and has no toxic elements, making assembly environmentally and health friendly, says Jeff.

CLT was used in the construc on of the new Hagley Backpackers in Christchurch.

“As a dry building system there is also a minimum of swelling and shrinkage of the elements.”

Commercial projects constructed using CLT include a 300 bed backpackers building in Bealey Avenue, Christchurch, which comprised around 540 cubic metres of CLT in the floors, walls and ceiling structure.

“This building was modeled in 3D on CAD/ CAM software, with all panels CNC cut to millimetre precision. This allowed for a rapid build programme,” says Jeff.

In Melbourne a 32 metre, 10 storey apartment building was built in the Docklands area of the city in 2012-2013 utilising CLT, and has achieved an es mated reduc on in CO2 equivalent emissions of more than 1,400 tonnes compared to concrete and steel.

The building, which had a mber volume of 1,010 cubic metres also requires less energy to heat and cool, crea ng significant energy cost savings.

CLT is also highly suitable for residen al applica ons, with speed of erec on a par cular benefit.

A home built on a steep site in Nelson had its 100m2 XLam floor installed in one hour, the upper 100m2 floor in 1.5 hours, and 200m2

CLT used to great effect inside the Hagley Backpackers building.

pitched roof in 2.5 hours.

It appears the sky is the limit for the future of engineered mber products in the commercial sphere.

In London researchers from the University of Cambridge and PLP Architecture have revealed a concept for the city’s first wooden skyscraper, a 300 metre tall, 80 storey building using the latest timber technologies. If realised, the building referred to as ‘The Toothpick’ would

become the tallest wooden structure in the world and the city’s second tallest building a er The Shard.

“The whole design envelope for wood structures has changed with the emergence of engineered wood products. It is exci ng to see larger and taller wooden buildings being planned and built in Australasia and around the world, as well as the growing use of these technologies in the residen al sector,” says Jeff.

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Cutting edge Nelson Airport terminal a showpiece for timber industry

Ar st's render of the exterior of the new Nelson Airport building.

Nelson Airport's futuris c new terminal building will u lise local mber materials and technologies.

Nelson Airport’s new $32 million terminal redevelopment will highlight the capability of engineered wood products, says Jeff Parker, technical manager of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association.

“This stunning building will showcase wood in its construc on and once complete will be a showpiece, both for the Nelson region and the wider mber industry.”

LVL from Nelson Pine Industries is integral to the structure, which will incorporate around 440 cubic metres of locally sourced mber.

“A lateral bracing system to be provided by can levered portal legs will allow for wide open internal spaces in the terminal building.”

A dampening system is being incorporated into 24 columns that can absorb large seismic

loads. The roof is a lightweight engineered panel that acts as a ceiling diaphragm.

Nelson Airport chief execu ve Rob Evans says Studio Pacific Architecture presented the airport company with the ‘courageous’ proposal for the new terminal around a year ago.

“They wanted to create a mber building that represented the region, reflected the scenery and utilised locally grown and processed materials. We realised it was a magnificent opportunity.”

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Nelson Airport consulted with airlines to ensure the floorplan of the new terminal was func onal and worked in an opera onal capacity before the architects and engineers got to work designing the structure, along with the roof and columns to support it.

coming through the airport. It’s hard to knock a project using a local, environmentally friendly resource, that showcases what the region can do when it comes to mber produc on and processing.”

Rob says a er months of planning behind closed doors it has been great to release the designs to the public, which has been overwhelmingly posi ve in its support.

Construc on will begin on the new terminal building in around April next year once some car parking and services work is completed, and Airways builds a new control tower at the airport.

“It’s amazing the amount of great feedback and support we’ve had from the highest levels, to the local community and customers

“We look forward to opening this exci ng new terminal building in late 2018.”

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Kaikoura civic building uses world first technology The new Kaikoura District Council building is a great example of Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) being combined with other engineered wood products including CLT in a Pres-Lam (Prestressed Laminated) timber building.

“Pres-Lam is the result of years of research and a unique collabora on between commercial and academic partners at the University of Canterbury’s School of Engineering to create innova ve structural mber solu ons, under the leadership of Professor Andy Buchanan.

The result is a flexible, durable, eco-conscious long span or multi-storey building system that moves predictably in an earthquake but sustains no permanent damage,” says Jeff Parker, technical manager of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Associa on.

The Pres-Lam prefabricated technology, owned by PTL Structural Timber Consultants, u lises engineered wood beams with cleverly embedded steel post-tensioned tendons that lock the system together. The range includes a revolu onary mber frame, wall and floor systems and quick-connect portal frames, with the flexibility to create open spaces and building layouts without the need for closely spaced columns or walls.

Jeff says Nelson Pine LVL was the predominant structural material used for Kaikoura District Council’s three-storey

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‘craypot’ building.

The structure has a unique combina on of LVL components glued into the CLT used in the 15 rocking shear walls, which are ed to the founda ons with high strength steel bars.

He says it is the first me in the world an LVL and CLT combina on has been used to make shear walls.

“The LVL is significantly stronger and was added to areas where there was maximum strain such as the each end of the walls and within the core of the walls where the largest post-tensioning strain was.”

A Po us stressed skin panel flooring system, fabricated using LVL, was also used. “The floor acts as a diaphragm between the shear walls, and unlike most commercial buildings, there is no concrete in the flooring systems. Po us roofing panels were made from a similar system and pre-insulated with polyurethane spray foam. The internal finish, which provides the ceiling lining, is a pre-primed MDF surface.”

Along with the numerous construction

The new Kaikoura District Council building was the first in the world to u lise an LVL and CLT combina on to make rocking shear walls.

and sustainability benefits, one of the biggest advantages of this project for the Kaikoura District Council was the cost-to-build, which was significantly less per square metre than some other conven onal builds, says Jeff.

“The result was a cost effective, time efficient, system that opens new doors in design and construc on of commercial and industrial buildings.”

Professor Andy Buchanan, now retired from the University of Canterbury, is a consul ng engineer with PTL Structural Timber Consultants. Andy says that the dozen or so Pres-Lam buildings in New Zealand include the Young Hunter and Trimble buildings in Christchurch, and the Massey University College of Crea ve Arts building in Wellington,

as well as others in Nelson and Carterton.

“PTL is working on the design of many exci ng new mber buildings in New Zealand, Australia and the USA, in collabora on with the suppliers of engineered mber such as LVL and CLT. Many of the taller buildings include Pres-Lam technology for rapid construc on and resistance to wind and earthquakes.”

He says timber buildings are also high performers from a health and safety perspec ve.

“The building sites are quiet and not dusty.

It is also easier to a ached handrails and safety equipment to a mber structure rather than a steel or concrete building, which is an added bonus.”

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Bigger timber structures now a reality LVL columns suppor ng the College of Crea ve Arts at Massey University, Wellington Campus which is a Pres-Lam building.

New Zealand has always had the ability to build bigger timber structures.

However it wasn’t until the emergence of the latest timber technologies that this has become a cost effective possibility, says Jeff Parker, technical manager of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association.

“The economies of using products such as CLT and LVL, combined with new construc on systems and connectors being developed by the Universi es of Canterbury and Auckland have seen the industry reach a pping point which has extended mber construc on into areas where it has not competed before.”

He says this is s ll however dependent on greater government recogni on and support for the sector.

“Carbon sequestration is a big driver of change resul ng in a growth in the mber sector in Australia. If the government here wants a low carbon economy similar changes seem like a no brainer. However the New Zealand government s ll seems pre y deaf to the wood industry overall.”

Jeff says this is frustra ng when the industry is making large investments in CNC and other machinery, which has extended the u lity of Glulam, LVL and CLT, making the produc on of ‘extremely complex’ structures significantly more cost effec ve.

“These technologies can rapidly saw, rout, bore and groove the timber products into components ready to be li ed, placed and fixed on site.”

Jeff says an example is a machine used

by Timberlab Solutions, which enables the processing of Glulam, LVL, CLT and solid mber elements up 30m long, 4m wide and 600mm deep. “ The speed and accuracy of these manufacturing processes has significantly decreased construction time and the time required on site for heavy li ing machinery.”

Although the ‘new kid on the block’ CLT is se ng the industry abuzz, LVL is now a mature

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engineered wood product with engineers and architects harnessing high structural and aesthe c proper es, says Jeff.

“LVL can be manufactured to required strength, s ffness, shear, bearing and connector proper es, with components for par cular jobs manufactured to perform at op mum cost and use of resource.”

He says the very high strength to weight ra o of LVL means gravity loads are lower and therefore other structures such as founda ons and connec ons can be smaller.

There are more new innova ons entering the market when it comes to other structural products such as sawn mber, says Jeff.

“Sawn sizes of structural mber are being increasingly used in complex truss layouts, where the advanced engineering so ware, increased reliability of graded structural mber and ability to place LVL components in par cularly high loaded areas has extended the op ons available to building designers.”

There are also some exci ng non-structural timber products including weatherboards, decking and decora ve linings being introduced to the market, says Jeff.

“One of the more spectacular’ new products is a curved 215mm timber weatherboard, which can be used to great effect to create curved exterior walls and even spiral staircase banisters.”

These weatherboards are produced by Auckland firm, Woodform, a specialist in the wood bending market for around 30 years, that has developed its own unique systems.

Jeff says several other producers have gained New Zealand Building Code approval for new conven onal weatherboard systems,

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which have improved detailing and fixing systems.

“Some new heat treated weatherboards have also been approved for use under the Building Code, which provide an alterna ve to the more common mbers treated with processes infusing an -decay chemicals.”

For products used internally there have also been developments in the ‘Reac on to Fire’ area.

The Fire clause in the Building Code previously restricted the use of clear-coated mber products in public spaces.

However the introduc on of the European Single Burning item test to assign Materials

Groups under the Code, has opened the door for a new, affordable range of clear coa ngs with Materials Group ra ngs of up to 1S to be available in New Zealand.

“These economic coa ngs stop the spread of flame but allow the timber to be left exposed, even in public areas. It is a big leap forward.”

Overseas, applied research into fire resistant systems has allowed the use of ‘light’ mber framing systems to be extended to six storey buildings.

“Work is also progressing on this front in both Australia and New Zealand. There are exci ng mes ahead for the industry,” says Jeff.

Inside Timberlab's high tech plant in Auckland.

Glulam at Bahrain Hospital, manufactured by Timberlab in Auckland.

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Classroom at Waiariki Polytechnic with LVL beams and EXPAN connec ons.

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New Scheme ensures quality A quality assurance programme for structural timber called the Timber Quality Scheme (TQS) is focusing on the material’s two main properties – durability, and physical characteristics of strength and stiffness.

The new scheme is being established by the New Zealand Timber Industry Federation (NZTIF), with the Wood Processors and Manufacturers’ Associa on, in conjunc on with the Ministry of Business, Innova on and Employment.

“ The Timber Quality Scheme is based on Standard Operating Procedures se ng out quality assurance protocols. It is a good thing for consumers who can be reassured the mber used in their home or building project meet the highest standards.”

NZTIF director, Kevin Hing says mber produced under the new programme will be branded with a unique symbol so builders and other mber users will be able to instantly recognise it has been produced under strict QA guidelines.

All par cipa ng producers will be subject to regular audits of their products by independent third party auditors to ensure their adherence to required standards for timber grade (strength and stiffness) and treatment (durability).

Kevin says in the last decade or so there has been an emphasis within the mber industry on producing be er quality timber in order to meet a more demanding customer base.

“Examples of this include kiln-dried timber with its greater stability; machine v e r i f i e d t i m b e r, w h i c h has more reliable timber proper es; and light processes for trea ng mber, resul ng in a drier product. The new programme will ensure these materials are produced and verified to comply with

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Timber has been a popular construc on material in New Zealand since pre-European se lement.

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New Zealand Building Code requirements.”

He says the Timber Quality Scheme will be accredited by JAS-ANZ to ensure it is a truly independent and reputable programme for mber quality.

Two of NZTIF’s quality a s s u ra n c e p ro g ra m m e s , WOODmark and Verified Timber are aligned with the Timber Quality Scheme.

Timber has been used in New Zealand since preEuropean se lement to create sustainable, comfortable living environments, with the material still as popular as ever for its lightness, ease of use and familiarity, says Kevin. “ Timber has many benefits in addition to its natural qualities such as strength, durability, warmth and beauty. It comes from a plen ful renewable source, is incredibly cost effec ve, and is the kindest construction material to the environment with excellent green and sustainability creden als.”

He says other factors, such as thermal and electrical i n s u l at i o n a n d re d u c e d condensation issues make timber a superior product; with innovative new engineered wood products like LVL (laminated veneer lumber); glue-laminated mber; and cross-laminated mber, ensuring an exci ng future for the industry.

The new Timber Quality Scheme ensures the durability, strength and s ffness of branded products.

In Melbourne a 12-storey apartment building has been constructed, and there are plans in London to build a 50-storey timber building.

There are many other examples underway or being planned across the globe” NZTIF has supported the New Zealand mber industry for 100 years, with its role

evolving over me according to changes to the regulatory environment and market condi ons.

“Immediately after the S e c o n d Wo r l d Wa r t h e F e d e ra t i o n h e l p e d t h e industry deal with timber shortages and had a role in pricing and distribu on. Later it coordinated the supply of

railway sleepers for NZ Rail, and in the 1970s and 80s when Radiata Pine became a more prevalent species, the Federa on had a major role in developing export markets and promo ng New Zealand mber overseas.”

More than 50 percent o f N ew Ze a l a n d ’s s aw n timber production is now

exported, with most ending up in the three main markets of Australia, China and the United States, with smaller amounts going to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific.

“We have a reputation as one of the best timber producers in the world and are fortunate to have a plen ful,

sustainable supply of high quality mber that will more than meet the future needs of our New Zealand and interna onal markets.”

NZTIF was a signatory to the New Zealand Forest Accord which was signed 25 years ago last month.

“ These products have been developed with superior strength and seismic resistance, a ributes that are par cularly well suited to the Christchurch rebuild. Studies by the University of Canterbury have demonstrated that buildings with mber framing and mber piled founda ons came through the Canterbury earthquakes very well, ahead of other construc on materials and methods.”

The new genera on mber products are also allowing mber structures to be built much larger and higher.

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Expansion for specialist scaffolding firm

The South Pacific Scaffolding team outside its striking new premises.

South Pacific Scaffolding’s new premises in Henderson are providing numerous benefits to the company and its clients, says managing director Mark Radcliffe.

“The move has consolidated the business, given us more space, and once the new motorways are finished, will give us greater access to several areas of expansion in the Auckland market.”

The company previously operated from

a base in Otahuhu and offices in Takapuna, so combining everyone under one roof has created efficiencies, he says.

“The operation is a lot more seamless.

We’ve also purchased new vehicles, which allows our guys to go straight to the job site.

If they need any materials they o en load up the day before, or we can deliver to the site in advance.”

equipment. As a medium-sized opera on we are s ll big enough to take on some larger contracts.”

South Pacific Scaffolding is one of Auckland’s leading medium-sized scaffolding firms, servicing the construction and marine industries in the city for more than 20 years.

He says the company aims to ‘lead the way’ when it comes to health and safety.

Mark, whose background is in quantity surveying and project management, founded the firm with a business partner.

“I stayed behind the scenes to begin with, working as a development consultant for large projects such as shopping centres until 10 years ago, when my business partner passed away. That’s when I took over the full me management of the company.”

Mark’s son Jarrod is also involved in the business as its general manager.

Together they look a er a team of 18 full me scaffolders plus contract staff.

With scaffolding on the skills shortage list, Mark says it is not easy to find experienced staff in New Zealand, so the company has taken on some Filipino scaffolders to boost numbers, which has worked well.

“We are focused on employing good people who are well supported by quality gear and

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“We’ve made a massive commitment in this area. The company is fully drug compliant and we hammer health and safety through training and our toolbox mee ngs. We try to go the extra step, with the move into the new, bigger premises part of that commitment.”

South Pacific Scaffolding was the first New Zealand firm to use the German-engineered Layher scaffold system, which was first introduced to Auckland by the French sailing syndicate, racing in the America’s Cup in 2000.

“We built their base out of it and since then haven’t used any other brands, other than our own tube and clip. Layher is the biggest and I would say best scaffolding supplier in the world. It uses ingenious connec on technology, has superb fi ng precision, and gives us huge flexibility to produce a wide range of scaffolds.”

Mark says safety, reliability and durability are other key a ributes of the brand.

“In my mind, the quality of Layher scaffolding is far superior to what I see on other building

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Marine scaffolding has been a speciality of South Pacific Scaffolding for more than two decades.

A commercial scaffolding project.

sites, par cularly in regards to galvanizing and general durability.”

In addition to the Layher Allround and Speedyscaf modular systems, South Pacific Scaffolding provides a wide range of specialist scaffolding components, including large-span Keder protec ve roof systems, access stairs, and rubbish chutes.

“We’ve supplied the industry, including other scaffolding companies with rubbish chutes for several years.”

The firm works on a wide range of projects, from small residen al homes to large industrial projects, he says.

“Our team of highly trained scaffolders and riggers are capable of tackling the most challenging scaffolds. We specialise in projects that are outside the norm and have a couple of clients that provide us with some pre y interes ng projects.”

One such job was the Auckland Town Hall,

apartments over the last few years and there are many thousands s ll to be done. A lot of houses are also being re-clad. We usually have around six homes completely covered in scaffolding at any one me.”

which threw up a host of technical challenges, not least being that the clock tower scaffold could not touch the roof of the Town Hall itself, a similar situa on occurred on the downtown Ferry Building.

A mobile scaffold spanning a 17 metre Mt Roskill pool using the Layher Allround modular system was another interes ng job.

Mark says the team at South Pacific Scaffolding likes to be tested with these sorts of projects, and he enjoys working with his designers to figure out how they will work.

“We have a lot of fun establishing how things will fit together, where the weight needs to be distributed and how best to use the scaffolding system.”

The Auckland residen al market has always been strong for the company, with the current boom driving growth along with ongoing leaky building work.

“We’ve worked on thousands of leaky

The commercial market is also buoyant for the firm, he says.

“We’ve got some reasonable sized commercial projects underway, including a 4000 square metre hotel in Albany, a set of apartments in the city and a job at King’s School in Remuera.”

Since its establishment, South Pacific Scaffolding has provided scaffolding for the maintenance work of all Royal New Zealand Navy vessels, as well as for a wide range of privately owned launches and yachts.

“Our specialist team has completed over 200,000 hours of marine scaffolding over the years, and we have a crew based pre y much full me at the naval base.”

Shrink wrapping is another service provided by the firm, which has completed jobs as large as 10,000 square metres.

“We used to have our own shrinkwrapping company but have forgone that to focus on our core business now, and contract these services to specialist shrink-wrapping firms “ The company has three trainees on its team, and Mark would like to encourage more young people to enter the trade.

“It is a hard trade but there are good financial rewards and opportunities in the industry for the right people. Scaffolders learn a wide range of skills and within our team they get work on a number of different worksites, including marine projects. I would like to see scaffolding recognised with the same esteem as other trades such as builders, plumbers and electricians, as the training our guys undertakes is just as intensive, and in some cases probably more so.”

The Layher Allround modular scaffold system was used by South Pacific Scaffolding to span the 17 metre Mt Roskill swimming pool.

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Review: Mazda BT-50 GSX

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The impressive Mazda BT50.

Review: Mazda BT-50 GSX is a smooth operator.

By Damien O’Carroll

The current Mazda BT-50 is arguably a better ute than the Ford Ranger, particularly when it comes to value for money. But it has always been the Ford’s more traditional and truck-like looks that have seen it win out over the Mazda.

With the recently faceli ed BT-50 Mazda New Zealand decided on a change of direc on in where it wants to compete in the u lity market. The company has abandoned the highend ute segment (an area where the Ranger holds the high ground), making the $57,295 4WD automatic GSX you see here the top model in the BT-50 range.

The company reasons that it is easy enough to op on a GSX up to Ranger Wildtrak-levels, so a fully-ki ed model wasn’t necessary. Neither was the $70K price tag that the top spec utes are star ng to exceed these days.

On the road, the GSX is, as you would expect very much like the old model, as minimal changes have been made to its essential underpinnings. And neither did there need to be, as the BT-50 (alongside the Ranger) was easily one of the best in its segment for handling and ride quality with one of the roomiest and most comfortable cabs available.

And so that stays, with the BT-50 proving to s ll be a very all round ute that handles in a whole unexpected nimble fashion when called upon to do so. Tipping the BT-50 into a corner a bit faster than you intended it handles it

with remarkable grace and ability by the wellsorted chassis, while it s ll somehow remains effortlessly good off the road as well.

The big 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel engine is every bit as powerful and torquey as it is in rival Ford products, while the six-speed automa c transmission is equally as good Inside the changes are subtle as well, meaning the BT-50 s ll has one of the best and most car-like interiors in the ute segment. The Bt-50’s interior is comfortable, roomy and well laid-out, although the ny colour screen for the infotainment system is star ng to look a li le small and dated by today’s standards.

In terms of standard equipment, the GSX comes well-endowed with 8-way driver’s seat adjustment (including lumbar), a lockable tailgate, an illuminated lockable glovebox, 17inch alloy wheels, side steps, an automa c day/ night rear view mirror, an in-mirror reversing camera, satellite navigation, automatic headlights, rain sensing wipers and a centre rear seat armrest.

Then we come to how it looks.

While s ll not to a lot of people’s tastes,

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Mazda has given it a great nose job, introducing stronger horizontal lines in order to reduce the worst of the swoopy, smiling face of the previous model. Most of the chrome has been replaced by ma black, while the grille shape is far more horizontal and forward-thrus ng. New headlights, with a strong horizontal chrome element also help fla en things out, while clear indicator lenses improve the headlights. To my eye, it works well, bringing a strong, more masculine look to the nose, but it s ll lacks the square-jawed tough truck look of the Ranger.

you also get 3 years of Mazda On Call Roadside Assistance plus an industry leading 3 years or 150,000km (again, whichever occurs first) Mazda Warranty included in the entry price.

While Mazda haven’t followed Ford’s lead and treated the BT-50 to a comprehensive mid-life update, what they have done has made significant improvements to an alreadyexcellent ute. The underlying characteris cs of the BT-50 are as good as they ever were, with the big diesel engine providing heaps of power and quite remarkable amounts of torque and the chassis being remarkably capable and Unfortunately, while Mazda have upli ed civilised on the road. the nose rather well, the weird and awkward The fact that they have done it without an horizontal tail lights s ll blight the rear. equally significant price increase is par cularly This is the single worst visual aspect of the impressive. Just like the BT-50 itself, really.

BT-50 and I think it is best that we all agree that horizontal tail lights just don’t work on THE SCORE utes and move on.

Engine, Drivetrain and Chassis 17/20 Of course, one of the bigger advantages Price, Packaging and the BT-50 has over the compe on is Mazda’s Prac cality 16/20 “CommercialCare” programme that brings Safety and Technology 16/20 Behind the Wheel 18/20 fixed price servicing for 3 years (or 100,000km, X-Factor 16/20 whichever occurs first) meaning the owner only pays $200 including GST per service at OVERALL 83/100 scheduled service intervals. Along with this B1603

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Insulation Association of NZ

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Legislative changes present opportunities for insulation sector A key piece of new legislation is starting to have a significant impact on the insulation sector, says Hamish Aitken, immediate past president of the Insulation Association of New Zealand (IAONZ).

“Earlier this year the Government passed an amendment to the Residen al Tenancies Act (RTA) which included new requirements for insula on and smoke alarms, strengthens enforcement powers and makes other Residential Tenancy improvements. The amendments to the RTA require insula on in all rental homes to comply with the New Zealand Building regula ons by 2019. These changes aim to make homes warmer, drier and safer for hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders without imposing excessive bureaucracy or cost.”

Hamish says IAONZ is working to ensure the Insula on industry is well prepared with a ‘sensible and workable’ programme put in place to supply more than 188,000 rental proper es with insula on over the next three years.

“The industry developed a lot of skills and capacity to deliver EECA’s Warm Up New Zealand scheme, so is well poised to meet the demand, which equates to around 5220 homes per month over 36 months. We have advised the government that industry can cope provided the workload is evenly spread over the three-year programme.”

However there are already indications

many landlords may wait before installing the insula on. If everyone waits un l the last minute the industry will not have the capacity or ability to deliver, says Hamish.

“If there is a bo leneck at the end it could push prices up significantly, create quality problems and also may mean landlords cannot get the insula on installed in me. This is why our big message to landlords is don’t delay.”

Another new requirement under the Residen al Tenancies Act Amendment is that the level of insula on in a rental property must be recorded on any new tenancy agreement from 1st July 2016.

“It is great for tenants to have better, healthier homes and we think the rental market will start asking whether a home is insulated or not. This could be the difference between a landlord securing a good tenant or not, so there are definite benefits for them ge ng in early to have their investment proper es insulated.”

A small funding programme is being launched by Energy Efficiency and Conserva on Authority (EECA) to help landlords whose tenants have Community Services Cards, with subsidies available of up to 50 percent from select providers in some cases.

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Retrofi ng insula on for rental proper es presents opportuni es and challenges for the insula on sector.

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Insulation Association of NZ

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Hamish Aitken, immediate past president of the Insula on Associa on of New Zealand.

A revision of NZS 4246 has provided greater clarity around the installa on of insula on around downlights.

“The total amount of funding available is small compared to previous funding schemes and may only be available to the end of 2017 or earlier,” says Hamish.

The revision of New Zealand Standard NZS4246 Energy Efficiency – Installing Insula on in Residen al Buildings, has recently been completed. This guideline is also set to have an impact.

Hamish says IAONZ and a host of other stakeholders such as BRANZ, EECA, Master Builders, and the electrical and ligh ng sectors have also worked hard to ensure the revision of Standard 4246 resulted in a more specific, yet clearer and easier to follow document “ The review of NZS4246 included improvements in health and safety guidelines, the addition of information for blown-in products, and most importantly, providing clarity around how insulation should be

treated around electrical equipment especially downlights and vents .”

able to be installed right up against them in most cases.”

Hamish says older, cheaper downlights had the poten al to cause a fire if the insula on came into contact with them.

Hamish says IAONZ is upda ng its training modules in line with the revised Standard.

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“Historically the insula on had to be cut up to 200mm away from each older cheaper downlights to avoid the risk of fire, which made the insula on ineffec ve in these areas. The New Zealand Ligh ng Council has also been very effec ve trying to resolve some of these issues, working with IAONZ and a number of other par es to provide more clarity and take the confusion out of the market.”

“These will become the new platform for training which we intend to roll out later this year, following the release of the new guidelines in September.”

IAONZ was established by representa ves of some of the major manufacturers, suppliers and installers in residen al insula on, with the support and involvement of EECA.

In simple terms, the solu on is for installers to follow downlight manufacturers’ instruc ons to determine how insula on should be treated.

Its primary role is to establish na onwide performance benchmarks for the supply and installa on of residen al insula on, and to develop and deliver training programmes to the industry.

“The more modern LED lights these days don’t have the same heat, with insulation

Hamish says it is wise for anyone engaging an insula on specialist to check if they are

IAONZ members, particularly with the risk of ‘cowboys’ entering the market given the opportuni es on the horizon.

“As much as we can we ensure IAONZ members are reputable professionals with the right training and prac ces in place, and good health and safety policies.”

He says a recent case in Nelson where an elderly woman was pushed into buying insula on for her home by a cold-caller at twice the price of other insulators highlights the need to make these checks.

“We recommend people don’t be fooled by the offers of huge discounts offered by telemarketers and do their own research into a company. If unsure they can always get another quote from an IAONZ member in their region.”

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Acousitics, Noise Reduction & Sound Proofing

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Expert tips for noise reduction on the job site The rise in high-density living and developments being undertaken closer to busy roadways has heightened the need to control noise and vibration on the construction site.

With many new local and overseas builders and contractors entering the market, par cularly in Auckland, it is cri cal they are made aware of the limits they must adhere to when it comes to noise and vibra on.

Many construc on ac vi es are inherently noisy, although most noise generated is usually of a temporary nature

throughout the construc on program. This has been accelerated in Auckland due to the current demand.

NZS 6803:1999 Acous cs – Construc on Noise; allows for the produc on of reasonable noise between the hours of 7.30am and 6pm during weekdays.

However contractors are s ll required to prevent unreasonable noise emissions, or noise occurring at inconvenient mes.

To mitigate adverse effects of ongoing noise from inconvenience and irrita on for neighbours, to more serious consequences such as fatigue, loss of efficiency and even structural damage, a range of solu ons can be considered.

These considerations need to be made at the design stage and are increasingly important with the move to more high-density living and mixed use developments crea ng the poten al for greater noise.

Acous cs and soundproofing of buildings is also a major considera on for these types of development to prevent noise transfer between tenants.

Features such as double-glazing, insulation and good cladding go some way to resolving these issues.

Smart, economic solu ons for inter-tenancy walls and floors ranging from tradi onal pre-cast concrete to Comflor slabs and mber-framed systems can also be applied to prevent noise transfer.

These include limiting work hours, selecting quieter equipment, carrying out work as far away as possible from neighbours, erecting solid fences or barriers, installing an acous c enclosure for fixed equipment such as compressors or vacuum equipment, and keeping up with regular maintenance on equipment.

Heritage buildings, especially those divided into multitenanted, mix used facili es can also be retrofi ed with modern technologies such as acous c ceilings, raised floors, acous c walls and sound insula on during upgrade works to improve acous cs and soundproofing.

Although it is not possible to eliminate noise and vibra on, applying mi ga on measures can reduce it to a manageable level.

The historic beauty of these buildings can be preserved while providing a modern 21st century environment for their occupants.

The noise and vibra on effects of a construc on site are usually considered as part of a resource consent, with some Councils requiring cer fica on from qualified acous c engineers at the beginning, end, and even during projects.

It is cri cal to work with a specialist firm, with the experience to manage the complexity of architectural and building acous cs, sound insula on, noise and vibra on control and provide an integrated, cost effec ve solu on.

There are many steps that can be taken to minimise noise on the construc on site.

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Arrow International

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Central Wellington apartments open for business Since late April, guests have been enjoying five-star facilities at the Boulcott Conference Suites and Apartments in the heart of Wellington.

The $15 million mixed use building was the fourth apartment building built by Arrow Interna onal’s Wellington team in as many years.

Its loca on, on a car park that was between St Mary of the Angels Church and the St George Hotel made it a challenging project, says Robb Noble, project director of Arrow Interna onal.

“The site was par cularly challenging in terms of access and servicing on what must be one of Wellington’s busiest street corners.

With several other buildings sites up the road it at mes resembled more of a war zone than a building site.”

an aesthetically pleasing building which complements the surrounding environment and the whole team should be proud of.”

The building attracted some interested onlookers and posi ve comments, par cularly when the scaffolding and scrim came down to expose an impressive façade of exposed precast concrete and zinc cladding combined with glass and cedar balconies.

Six of the building’s eight levels are being used for serviced apartments ranging from a studio apartment, to a four-bedroom, threebathroom townhouse over three levels with a private pa o area.

He says the project was well supported by a ‘great’ design team, in par cular Huw Parslow of Archaus Architects and the ‘wonderful’ clients, Mike and Gay O’Sullivan represented

by Melissa Ridley.

The ground floor has 250 square metres of restaurant space, and the first level has conference facili es that can cater for up to 110 people.

Melissa says the Arrow team’s vast experience on these sorts of projects paid dividends.

Fully secure undercover car parking is another feature of the property, with its 5-star Qualmark rating making Boulcott Suites a premier accommoda on op on for Wellington.

“While there have been a number of challenges and tight timeframes with this project, Arrow have been very responsive to work with. I believe we have achieved

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Arrow Interna onal has completed construc on of the new $15 million Boulco Conference Suites and Apartments in Wellington.

The project was developed by Boulcott Village Proper es led by Mike O’Sullivan, which also owns apartments behind the new site.

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Civil Contracting

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Civil Contracting

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CCNZ National Awards The following people and companies were recognised at the national awards ceremonies during the CCNZ annual conference in early August.

Category 1: Projects with a value up to $1M Winner Groundfix – Waterview Tunnel The Waterview Tunnel is a $1.4 billion project being delivered for the NZ Government by NZTA and a consor um of contractors working as the "Well Connected Alliance".

During the first tunnel drive, high ground water flows were experienced near the tunnel midpoint where cross passages were to be constructed. Work within the cross tunnel passages during excava on and lining processes would have been extremely difficult without a reduc on of these ground water flows.

A project to drill through the tunnel lining to within 300 mm of the adjacent tunnel wall and pressure grout the rock fissures between the tunnels was entrusted to Groundfix. Groundfix performed this work in a mely, efficient way, working with the client to reduce cost and be safe and environmentally friendly.

Highly Commended - Bridge It NZ – Pedestrian Bridge

Category 2: Projects with a value between $1M and $10M Winner McConnell Dowell Constructors – Waitaki Dam Meridian Energy is upgrading this power sta on to give it another 80 years of life. McConnell Dowell was engaged to resolve erosion problems on the right bank and sluice pier while the sta on maintained its full power genera on.

Through all phases from planning to delivery they engaged fully with the client and used very robust processes to iden fy and manage the risks around working within an opera ng sta on, managing the difficul es and challenges of construc on and in ensuring the quality required was delivered. The client was very pleased with the outcome and delivery on me.

Highly Commended - Downer NZ - Bridge 28 Mid Railbeam Replacement Project

Category 3: Projects with a value between $10M and $50M Winner HEB Construc on - Wero Whitewater Park

Category 4: Projects with a value of $50M plus Winner Downer NZ - Holcim import cement terminals contract

The Wero Whitewater Park project by HEB Construc on exemplifies what can be achieved when Client and Contractor have trust in one another and work collabora vely to develop a project solu on for a “first in the country” project, combining their talents with those of numerous consultants and suppliers to achieve a world standard outcome.

This project for the Second Nature Charitable Trust, involved the development of a world-class whitewater facility with a short course able to be used as a recrea onal facility by the general public and a long course with the capacity to be used for Olympic level canoe and kayak slalom events.

The Holcim Import Cement Terminals are a fine example of client, contractor and consultant working together with specialist offshore suppliers to successfully implement new and unique technology in the construc on of cement storage facili es in New Zealand.

This project by Downer for Holcim involved construc on of two new cement import terminals located in Auckland and Timaru. They comprise of 30,000 tonne cement storage domes, ship unloading and truck loading facili es and associated systems for pneuma c transport of the cement. The domes, which are up to 32m high and 45m in diameter, were constructed of reinforced shotcrete using an inflated industrial fabric as the formwork.

Joseph Beskalo from Ross Reid Contractors Auckland Category 5: Excellence in the maintenance and management of assets Winner Auckland Motorway Alliance - Auckland Motorway Alliance The Auckland Motorway Alliance is an organisa on created from the NZTA, Fulton Hogan, BECA, OPUS, Resolve Group and Armitage Systems.

Star ng in 2008 the Alliance has worked to constantly refine and improve systems and methodologies resul ng in reducing costs while maintaining or improving levels of service.

The Alliance is an excellent example of what can be achieved to improve efficiencies and service levels through strategic thinking and collabora on while s ll responding to the needs of motorway users.

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Hugh Johnstone from Johnstone Construction Auckland.

Z People Awards Emerging Leader Award - Winner Hugh Johnstone from Johnstone Construc on Auckland Runner Up Daniel McKessar from Fulton Hogan Auckland Training Development Award Winner Joseph Beskalo from Ross Reid Contractors Auckland. Runner Up Stacey Walker from Fulton Hogan Waikato Connexis Company Awards Under $10M Turnover - Winner Construc on Contracts Limited from Wellington Under $10M Turnover - Winner Texco Group from Christchurch $25M + Turnover - Winner Higgins Contractors from Palmerston North B1603

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Civil Contracting

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Civil Contractors New Zealand – from Peter Silcock, CEO Despite the high level of contracting work available in many parts of the country, as we play catch up on past under investment in infrastructure, civil contractors are facing some big challenges with low margins, uncertain forward work programmes, ongoing industry restructuring and a shortage of skilled people.

I have been on a steep learning curve since star ng my role as CEO of the industry body represen ng civil and general contractors in July last year. It has been a great me to join the industry because our members have massive opportuni es and at the same me big challenges. There are huge changes going on and it is a very dynamic and s mula ng environment.

Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ), was formerly the New Zealand Contractors’ Federa on and Roading New Zealand un l the two associa ons merged in September 2014.

There are great opportuni es in the industry and it is our job to help our members make the most of these opportuni es.

CCNZ has three primary roles: we represent and advocate for the civil construc on industry and our members; we provide informa on and advice to members and; we run programmes that support the development of the industry and our people.

By working together through Civil Contractors New Zealand contractors have a stronger voice to influence the business environment they work in, have the ability to develop resources and programmes that meet their needs and can create networks which are vital for their business success.

One of our main objec ves is to ensure we have a healthy and compe ve industry which provides opportuni es for all sizes of contractors and an even playing field. We work at both a na onal and regional level with clients providing contractor input into their procurement policies and processes. Over the past few years we are seeing more bundling of contracts and this concerns us. If we go too far down that track the opportuni es for small and medium sized contractors will not be there (except as subbies) and that is not a good thing. Clients need to take a longer term view. They need a healthy and compe ve contrac ng market because it is the basis for them ge ng value for money and innova on.

A good example of our work around advocacy is the work we did on Voidable Transac ons. Our advocacy and the support provided by contractors on this issue dates back to mid-2013 and took the issue right to the Supreme Court. We hailed the final decision on a liquidator’s powers to claw back payments made by an insolvent company to a contractor, as a victory for common sense. The Supreme Court overturned an earlier Court of Appeal ruling allowing liquidators to claim back payments made by a company up to two years before its collapse. The decision was a very important one and gives contractors the confidence to invest in new equipment, training staff and expanding their businesses to meet the growing demand.

The civil contracting industry is looking forward to a busy period of high demand over the next few years. New infrastructure developments are taking centre stage and urban growth is fuelling the need to renew and upgrade our roading, energy, communica ons and water assets. We have, the 30 Year Na onal Infrastructure Plan released in August last year which iden fies the need for a $110 billion investment in infrastructure over the next 10 years; NZTA’s investment planned for New Zealand’s land transport system over the next three years (a 15% increase over the last three years) and; na onal and local governments star ng to step up to the challenges of affordable housing and the infrastructure services they will require.

Na onally the work is there, however we are also seeing the wind-down of the bulk of the civil infrastructure work required for the Canterbury rebuild and the energy and dairy sector downturns have impacted on contractors servicing those sectors.

The work programme varies a lot between regions and increasingly the success of contractors will be based on their specific areas of exper se and their ability to work in partnership with other contractors, clients, engineers and designers.

These partnerships work at all sorts of levels not just through subcontracts but alliances, partnerships and joint ventures.

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With CCNZ Sign.

star ng to meet the need for new infrastructure development, we seem to be standing s ll or losing ground on the maintenance of some of our existing assets. NZTA’s investment on road maintenance has significantly reduced over the past few years and there has been plenty of talk about “swea ng” the asset.

Many contractors I have spoken to say they are already seeing the impacts on our roads.

The con nued roll-out of NZTA’s Network Outcomes Contracts has reshuffled the deck and there has certainly been some winners and losers. Those results are having flow-on effects in terms of compe on for other work, which impacts on all contractors.

The fact that there has not been any real progress in finding a way for Local Authori es to sustainably fund the massive investment required to upgrade, maintain and renew our aging Three Waters (water, waste water and storm water) Infrastructure is a very big concern. In a number of areas where the popula on is forecast to stall or decline and the propor on of re rees is growing, the challenges are simply ge ng bigger.

Another major challenge is ensuring we have enough people with the right skills to construct and maintain the $11 billion per year programme in front of us. The launch of the new Civil Trades regime by the Hon Steven Joyce and Hon Louise Upston in December is a game-changer for the civil construc on industry and this will help a ract more people into the industry. For the first me people working in civil construc on can obtain a formal cer fica on recognising their skill, exper se and experience.

This puts our people up there with other well established trade qualifica ons. Seeing the first 14 Cer fied Civil Tradespeople receive their cer ficates from the Minister was a real thrill for the many people who have supported them and for CCNZ, which has worked to establish the new regime in partnership with our ITO Connexis.

We are also placing greater emphasis on recrui ng more women into the industry. We need to ensure that women see construc on as a viable and rewarding career opportunity. We have always had quite a few women involved in administra on and business management roles but what we are seeing and encouraging now is women to take on roles out on the sites. It is changing the industry for the be er and is part of the change the

industry needs to make. We simply can’t afford to ignore half of the workforce and the skills that they can bring to our businesses.

Some of the ongoing work we are doing at present includes preparing submissions on behalf of the industry on proposed laws and regula ons including driver licensing, worker health and the new retentions regime under the Construction Contracts Act. We are also involved with the development of central government procurement policies and local government guidance around procurement, plus are in discussions with NZTA regarding members’ concern about the new prequalifica on system NZTA has introduced.

Over the past 10 years we have encouraged and helped our members develop good health and safety systems. For contractors that have good systems, the new Health and Safety at Work Act will not have had too much impact, apart from stepping up staff engagement. Earlier this year CCNZ, in partnership with our Core Associate lawyers Kensington Swan, ran a na onal roadshow visi ng 14 loca ons around NZ, with the primary focus being educa on on health and safety reforms and the Construc on Contract Act Amendments.

I represent CCNZ on the Construc on Safety Council and a great initiative we are presently working on is the new “ConstructSafe” competency framework and assessment tool.

This is not another training programme, the framework sets the level of competency that people need to have to safely enter a construc on site (whether you are a carpenter, civil contractor or a mber salesperson). The system has been developed by the whole construc on industry and is supported by an online tool that quickly assesses people’s competency. “ConstructSafe” has been comprehensively tested in a variety of construc on sites, large and small, horizontal and ver cal. It creates a single competency standard and ensures that everyone on site has the knowledge to protect their own safety and the safety of their workmates.

We are in a posi on to add value to our members and the wider industry. It has certainly been a me of challenges and learning for me over the last year and I am looking forward to what will be an interes ng and exci ng me for our members as they con nue to build new and replace old infrastructure in New Zealand.

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Education & Training

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Construction - How a booming industry can open its doors to young New Zealanders You only have to read any job forecasting report to know the construction industry is buoyant, with Seek construction job ads for May up by almost 40% in Auckland alone.

Photo courtesy of BCITO.

The latest findings from The National Construction Pipeline Report (MBIE, 2016) confirms the sector is experiencing steady growth. New Zealand Ins tute of Building (NZIOB) Chief Execu ve Malcolm Fleming is posi ve about the prospects, saying the $30 billion a year forecast for the foreseeable future will create good job security for those entering the industry.

“Employers can take on young people straight from school or from their local polytech pre-trade course and give them a shot at becoming a fully qualified tradesperson. With mentoring and support, the opportunities for apprentices to move upwards into B1603

supervisory positions to management, and even owning their own business are real,” says Mitch de Vries, Careers New Zealand General Manager – Educa on to Employment Connec ons.

through apprenticeships and on-the-job training. We’re working closely with industry partners to showcase the outstanding growth opportuni es and connect upcoming talent with employers,” says Mitch.

available, the event showcased the $1 billion dollar Wynyard Quarter Redevelopment project, and involved visits to global design agency AECOM and industry supplier Metro Glass.

BCITO says the benefits of hiring an apprentice are twofold. It allows you to develop your workers’ skills according to your standards and is an investment in growing both your business and the industry. Currently more than 5400 employers across New Zealand train appren ces.

A ‘behind the scenes’ view of work In June, Careers New Zealand and NZ Ins tute of Building brought over 30 teachers, advisors and industry representa ves together for an Industry Big Day Out.

Twelve young people shared their experiences of how they found a pathway into the industry – whether through a trade training programme or professional degree in architecture or engineering.

Designed to give them a behind the scenes look at careers within Auckland’s fast-growing construction industry and to help them understand the diverse roles and pathways

And what advice did these young employees have for students choosing what industry to get into?

“The construction industry is a sector that has opened its doors to young people

“Work experience! Before you take on

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Education & Training

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Construction - How a booming industry can open its doors to young New Zealanders... a course - go and see a day in the life of a workplace first.”

business and the future workforce.”

“This is sound advice from those new to the industry and supports Careers New Zealand’s ini a ves to create real-world work experiences for a smoother transi on from educa on to employment,” says Mitch.

Another programme giving secondary school students the chance to experience a real workplace is Gateway, funded by the Ter ary Educa on Commission (TEC). BCITO runs a Gateway programme based on theory and prac cal work.

Industry Big Day Out events are also run for young people. If you’re interested in ge ng involved, please get in touch. We’d love to have you on board.

Find out how to get involved in Work Inspira on at workinspira on.nz or in Gateway at bcito.org.nz/schools-and-providers/ gateway-programme/

Showcasing your industry through Work Inspira on and Gateway One ini a ve that’s helping young people get a taste of how businesses and industries run, is a new employer-led work explora on programme called Work Inspira on.

Trades Academies – connec ng students with trades Another avenue for young people and employers to connect are Trades academies, which deliver trades and technology programmes to secondary students through partnerships between schools, tertiary ins tu ons, ITO’s and employers.

Piloted by Toyota, Westpac and Grow Wellington, findings indicated a number of key benefits for the businesses that took part.

“Employers found it helped them connect directly with schools and young people who might be interested in their business. It also boosted staff morale having young people showing interest in their jobs. For construc on companies, it would help to attract muchneeded new blood to the industry,” says Mitch.

Mitch believes there is a lot of poten al for the construc on industry to tap into the talent young New Zealanders possess.

“Work Inspira on allows a business to really showcase their industry and its career op ons, so they can a ract mo vated young people who are the best fit for their industry. Career development opportuni es are cri cal for any

guidance about the types of employability skills employers want to see in those entering their industry.

He Toki Ki Te Mahi is a trust that supports Māori appren ces in the construc on industry and Manager Hemi Inia says for those rangatahi keen on entering the industry it’s very important to have employability skills like resilience, the right a tude, the drive to be the best at what they do and to show up for work on me.

Hemi outlines all these skills and more in Māia - a new Careers New Zealand video series showing opportuni es for rangatahi to work in Māori businesses.

“We’re sharing Hemi’s ps to help young people recognise the skills they already have and to help them effec vely market themselves to employers,” says Mitch.

Visit careers.govt.nz/maia

Students in years 11 to 13 are able to combine study at a trades academy with studies towards their National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and a na onally transferable ter ary qualifica on Level 1, 2 or 3. It is expected that students could achieve an award in at least one of the Voca onal Pathways for NCEA Level 2.

Find out more at youthguarantee.net. nz/secondary-tertiary-programmes/ and youthguarantee.net.nz/voca onal-pathways/ Helping young people build the skills for success Employers play an important role in helping support their young apprentices through their career journey. Young people become well rounded employees when they are given

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Crea ng a popula on of well qualified kiwis “There’s a vital role for employers in helping young people to know themselves, explore opportuni es and make choices and decisions.

With the fast pace nature of work today, people want to have career progression and work for a business they’re proud to be part of,” says Mitch.

Consider following the two steps below to upskill and mentor your new recruits through their journey.

1.

Start having career conversa ons It’s useful to have career conversa ons with the young person when they’re first being inducted into your business. This will help set employer and employee expecta ons for

the job, crea ng a smooth transi on for both of you.

“It’s also beneficial for you to talk to employees about their career ideas and the opportuni es available to develop the skills they need. By doing this you’ll build loyalty to your business, li performance and earn a reputa on as an employer of choice,” says Mitch.

2.

Talk to employees about the opportuni es you can provide Employees find job sa sfac on and career success through a range of opportuni es - not everyone is looking for progression upwards.

Some starter op ons to consider providing are: • feedback to help employees recognise their skills and personal quali es • literacy programmes and support to complete qualifica ons • coaching in an area where they lack experience • project work to build their experience • buddying opportunities to help show different roles or approaches • job rota on to take on other roles outside of work that will build their skills.

Visit careers.govt.nz/practitioners/ employers/engage-and-retain-employees/ to help you prepare for career conversa ons.

Interested in finding out how to connect your business with young people?

Call us on 0800 222 733 or email careers@ careers.govt.nz to talk through the op ons.

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Floor NZ

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FloorNZ – The Trade Association for the Flooring Industry FloorNZ is the trade association for the flooring industry. We have two main functions – membership services and training for the industry.

Unlike other trade associa ons FloorNZ is also the owner of a Private Training Establishment, the Allied Trades Ins tute, which is approved by NZQA to run na onal qualifica ons for the industry. We work in partnership with the BCITO to provide training for flooring appren ces across the installa on sectors and also provide basic product training for people working in the flooring retail sector.

FloorNZ has recognised the projected labour shortage in the installa on sectors and is intending to try and a ract more people into the industry by providing pre-appren ceship training for those interested in joining the industry. This will be provided by the Allied Trades Ins tute and would be available to school leavers, second chance learners and people wishing to change job roles. The training would consist of some classroom learning and job placement so that learners would get to try their hand on-job in a real work environment. It is es mated the course would take about six months to complete which will give learners plenty of work experience to determine whether the industry is for them and they will receive a na onally recognised qualifica on upon comple on.

FloorNZ has also recognised that consistent installa on quality is a problem for the industry. While there is a percentage of the installa on market that are qualified with a trade or NZQA recognised qualifica on in flooring installa on there is also a number of installers that are not qualified. To help address this issue the flooring industry, through FloorNZ, will be implemen ng a Licensed Flooring Prac oner programme. The programme will require trades people to prove their competency through an assessment system to enter the programme and receive their license. Once they have met the competency requirements they will be required to complete a series of con nuing professional development requirements to show they have maintained their

competency level. The licensing period will be current for three years during which the con nuing professional development requirements can be achieved. This programme is supported by manufacturers, suppliers and retailers and support will also be sought from MBIE and the Government contracts agency to ensure that only licensed installers are sought for Government work. To ensure we provide a high quality of professional work in the industry it is vital we show that we have consistent competency standards in installa on methods and techniques.

FloorNZ also provides a range of non-training services to our members. We act as an advocate for the industry and are involved, through our membership of Business NZ, in commen ng on both general and specific issues that affect our members. We are involved with BRANZ and provide advice and comment on issues affec ng the AS/NZS installa on standards the industry work to. We work closely with the manufacturers, suppliers and retailers to gain consistency on manufacturer’s guidelines and provide informa on on best prac ce methods and techniques for industry products. To assist our members to comply with the changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act we have produced a health and safety manual that members, and non-members, can purchase that covers the policies, procedures and documents that a flooring business will need to meet the requirements of the Act. The FloorNZ website provides opportuni es for members to use our con nuing professional development library to access webinars on general business skills or to enrol for specific business skills training. This enables FloorNZ members to access a range of materials designed to make a business successful along with the technical skills to provide a professional job.

If you wish to find out more about FloorNZ or about the FloorNZ ini a ves listed above, you can visit our website on www. floornz.org.nz or contact us at info@floornz.org.nz.

Got a Trade Day - ar cle

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Holmes Construction

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Holmes Construction Group specialists in long span construction

Placemakers' Seaview CoreSteel rising.

Greytown based HCG covers construc on scene na onwide.

Holmes Construc on’s Placemakers’ project features long span CoreSteel.

Having just completed its third Placemakers’ outlet, Holmes Construction Group, the Greytown-based firm is dedicated to a quality product when projects are completed.

Director and es mator, Marc Jurlina says: “We are commi ed to quality at our core; we don’t like to drop our standards. Our shareholding group is very strong on quality.”

Greytown, about an hour’s drive north of Wellington, is centrally located to work around the North Island and is prepared to cover the whole country if a contract is a rac ve enough.

However, Wellington is the theatre of the latest Placemakers; at 2500 square metres,

due to open in September, in Seaview in the capital, it is among a string of HCG projects undertaken there.

A key element for the erec on of retail, or industrial buildings such as Placemakers, is the applica on of a structural system called CoreSteel. It is franchised from a Whangarei firm and Marc says “It is a cost-effec ve way to build large structures.”

The principle of the system is that it is a large structural steel portal structure which is bolted together onsite and needs no welding.

The components of the beams and shapes are in a cold-rolled prefabricated form and, when transported to work sites, can be erected very quickly.

Combined with a system called Zirka beams – which are basically tapered box beams – trademarked as Verte Beams the beams are

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modelled to each project specifically. HCG designs the buildings with the CoreSteel system in mind and the engineers of Whangarei’s franchising company do the engineering of the beams.

Mark says the great advantage of the system is that it suits any size of building, but is par cularly effec ve with larger buildings.

It is able to provide longer clear spans, with 36-metre spans currently being achieved easily.

He says it is possible to achieve 60-metre clear spans.

Such spans are a par cular advantage in larger buildings, enabling wide spans without structural support. “That’s when CoreSteel comes into its own as the price is driven down.”

Nevertheless, HCG prepares design-andbuilds structures on many jobs, with the Placemakers’ contract being “a li le different”

in terms of its requirements and as main contractors, the company is in a posi on to use the most relevant system for a par cular job.

With eight management staff and a direct labour force of 30, most of whom are highly skilled tradesmen, HCG can handle a range of sizeable projects. Marc says, unlike many companies which do not retain a large workforce, it keeps the sizeable team because contract labour is o en difficult to hire.

He believes HCG has “a great crew who will work around the country”. The company, a medium-sized one, is growing and it has goals, which include con nued growth. One of its aims is to promote the use of CoreSteel, while con nuing to offer poten al clients the op on of conven onal construc on, which con nues to be the basis of its opera on.

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Managing Risk in the Workplace

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Consumer rights and remedies in relation to residential building work (Implied Warranties) Introduc on The residential building contract is an agreement between two or more parties to complete building work in exchange for some considera on. Such contracts can take a number of forms, they can be wri en or verbal, but if the essential elements of a contract exist then they are enforceable by law. In most residential building contracts the terms and condi ons of the arrangement are specifically stated. This provides certainty in respect of crucial details such as price, expected start and comple on dates, and any dispute resolu on process. However, some terms of the agreement are also implied despite not being wri en or expressly stated.

All residential building work is covered by implied warran es. They apply for up to 10 years regardless of whether you have a wri en contract or what the contract terms are, and regardless of the cost of your building project.

This is established by the Building Act 2004.

The implied warran es The implied warran es are set out in sec on 362I of the Building Act. They require that: All building work will be carried out in a proper and competent manner; and in accordance with the plans and specifica ons set out in the contract; and in accordance with the relevant building consent: All the materials used will be suitable for the purpose for which they will be used; and unless otherwise stated in the contract, will be new: The building work will be carried out in accordance with, and will comply with, all laws and legal requirements, including, without limita on, the Building Act 2004 and its regula ons:

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The building work will be carried out with reasonable care and skill, and completed within the me specified or a reasonable me if no me is stated.

The home will be suitable for occupa on at the end of the work.

If the contract states the par cular purpose for which the building work is required, or the result that the owner wishes the building work to achieve, so as to show that the owner relies on the skill and judgement of the other party to the contract, that the building work and any materials used in carrying out the building work will be reasonably fit for that purpose; or be of such a nature and quality that they might reasonably be expected to achieve that result.

It is important to note that these warran es also cover subcontractors. Therefore, as a builder it is important that you make all subcontractors aware of the required standards. For example, any amendments to the plans a subcontractor may be forced to make should be communicated to the builder. This means that party benefiting from the service can be informed so that the amendment can be agreed to. It is common for varia ons to occur during a construc on project. It is important the owner’s instruc ons or agreement to varia ons proposed by the designer or building contractor are recorded to avoid differences in expecta ons and poten al disputes.

Remedies for breach of implied warranty Just like any issue between the builder and other party, most breaches of the above warran es can be resolved through nego a on and compromise. However, if the par cular issue covered by the implied warranty cannot be resolved through media on there are a

number of remedies available.

If the breach can be remedied…

The party may require the building contractor to remedy the breach (including repairing or replacing defec ve materials supplied by the building contractor or the building contractor’s subcontractor).

If the building contractor, after being required to remedy the breach, refuses or neglects to do so, or does not succeed in doing so within a reasonable me, the party may have the breach remedied by someone else and recover from the building contractor all reasonable costs incurred in having the breach remedied; or cancel the contract.

The party may obtain from the building contractor damages for any loss or damage to the client resul ng from the breach (other than loss or damage through reduc on in the value of the product of the building work) that was reasonably foreseeable as liable to result from the breach.

If the breach cannot be remedied…

The party may obtain from the building contractor damages in compensa on for any reduc on in value of the product of the building work below the price paid or payable by the client for that work; or cancel the contract.

Therefore, the type of breach and its surrounding circumstances will dictate the remedy available, but as detailed above an awareness of the warran es is crucial as the remedies can o en be substan al.

None of the above limits or derogates from any remedy for defective building work expressly provided for in a residen al building contract.

Remedy of defect no fied within 1 year of comple on As well as the implied warran es, there is a 12 months defect repair period. If any defects are iden fied in the building work within 12 months of the completed build date, then the builder has an obligation

to fix them. This also covers a person who on-sells the property within that 12 month period. The affected party may obtain from the building contractor or the on-seller damages for any loss or damage to the client resul ng from the defect (other than loss or damage through reduction in value of the product of the building work) that was reasonably foreseeable as liable to result from the defect. If a building owner believes they have iden fied a defect, they should immediately talk to their building contractor about the issue and how to resolve it. If the defect is suspected or known to be a Building Code compliance issue, the next step should be to contact the relevant council that issued the building consent or code compliance cer ficate.

Conclusion It is important to recognise that the builder and building owner rela onship is governed by more than just the terms and condi ons agreed and recorded in the wri en contract. There are expecta ons that derive from consumer protection laws that have been enshrined in the Building Act 2004, and are consequently implied into those arrangements. It is important that all the interested par es work together to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. Compliance with these provisions is mandatory. If you require any assistance in rela on to your rights and obliga ons, please contact GTODD LAW.

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Managing Risk in the Workplace

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Managing Risk in the Workplace Health & Safety legislation has undergone a significant change with the passing of the Health & Safety at Work Act and subsequent regulations made under that Act. The Health and Safety at Work Act changed the focus from compliance by managing hazards to managing Risk.

Risk and Workplace Management) Regula ons 2016 came into force in February of 2016 and these regula ons cover the following:

Despite our best efforts, fatalities and serious injuries con nue to occur, even among organizations with “industry best practice” safety management systems.

Part 1 General du es: • Risk management process to be followed by PCBU in specified circumstances;

We have to move forward and evolve and the development of a risk-based approach to OSH is that evolu on. There is an old saying that insanity is doing the same doing the same thing over and over again and expec ng different results.

A lack of injuries does not automa cally translate to a first-class safety culture and doesn’t necessarily mean the workforce is safe (they may just be lucky).

If safety is to become a core value within a company culture then the safety strategy must be aligned with and support the business strategies, and it is achieved by con nuously doing things be er and capturing and delivering real value.

There is an increased emphasis on having good safety management programs, which protect employees from injury, in place when tendering for contracts and this requirement will only con nue to grow and develop with the due diligence requirements for directors under the new legisla on.

The Health and Safety at Work (General

• General workplace facili es; • First aid; • Emergency plans; • Personal protec ve equipment; Part 2 Management of par cular risks: • Remote or isolated work; • Atmospheres with potential for fire or explosion; • Raised and falling objects; • Containers of liquids; • Loose but enclosed materials; • Substances hazardous to health; Part 3 D u t i e s re l at i n g to ex p o s u re monitoring and health monitoring: • Exposure monitoring; • Health monitoring; Part 4 Young persons at workplace: • These regula ons describe the du es and responsibilities for PCBU’s, Officers and Other persons in relation to the above headings.

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• Under these regula ons there is a much greater focus on worker health than there was under the previous legislation. It is es mated that there are approximately 600 to 900 deaths each year from workplace exposures that have not been directly a ributed to the OSH accident sta s cs due to the lack of repor ng requirements in the past.

• Construc on is one of New Zealand’s biggest industries with almost 200,000 workers – but it’s also one of the four sectors with the worst worker injury rates.

• Worker fatali es are more than double the average for all other sectors.

• The cost of workplace injuries is huge – ACC pays more than $100 million dollars per year in the construc on sector. And that doesn’t include the cost to businesses in terms of lost produc vity.

• Construc on workers risk exposure on a daily basis to poten al harmful dusts, fumes and asbestos that can lead to serious illhealth or even an early death.

• Figures on the Worksafe New Zealand website show that since 2008, an average of 10 workers died on construc on sites per year; there were 14,000 serious injuries with more than a week off work; airborne substances have caused 185 deaths and 731 hospitalisa ons; and there were 3,055 falls from height requiring an average of

236 days off.

• Worksafe released their ten-year strategic plan (‘Healthy Work’) for work-related health in August 2016 and this document outlines their vision for a New Zealand in which everyone who goes to work comes home not just safe, but healthy too.

• The management of work-related health risks remains unacceptable. Ten mes more people die each year from work-related diseases than work-related safety incidents, and thousands of workers experience illhealth because of their work. Recent reports have highlighted the need for more focus on work-related health and this strategic plan outlines the approach they will take to support and enable this.

• This strategic plan reflects the emphasis of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 on more proac ve leadership and management of work-related health risks.

• Worksafe New Zealand already has significant activity underway in relation to work related health but despite this, they recognise that there remains a need for significant change in how work-related health risks are addressed, and this strategic plan is an important step in that change.

They are confident that this plan, and the ac vi es described within it, will enable them to achieve the aim of a future in which healthy work is the norm.

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Extracts from the Strategic Plan:

Similarly, we recognise that social partners and key stakeholders will play an important part in influencing how risks are managed. These include trade unions, business representa ves, Government agencies, health professionals and those who design, manufacture, produce or import substances, plant and equipment.

The ac vi es within this theme will enable us to influence the Industry leadership necessary for las ng change in how work-related health is addressed.

“WORK-RELATED DISEASE AND ILL-HEALTH Too many people in New Zealand die or suffer from work-related ill-health and diseases, indica ng that work-related health and healthrelated safety risks need to be managed be er.

The latest estimates4 are that 600 to 900 people in New Zealand die each year from diseases caused by health risks associated with their work, a figure which has not changed significantly since 19996. In addi on, it’s es mated that a further 30,000 workers develop non-fatal work-related ill-health each year, such as noise-induced hearing loss or non-fatal lung diseases. This figure is likely to be an underes mate as much of the workrelated harm that occurs is not reported or is not correctly linked back to a person’s work.

EXPOSURES TO WORK-RELATED HEALTH RISKS Unlike harm from most acute safety incidents, the harm from work-related health risks generally depends on the level of exposure a person has to a hazard (the dose).

Understanding exposure levels to various risks is therefore an important measure of poten al future ill-health and disease. Reducing exposures to health hazards is the ul mate aim for improved management of work-related health risk.

The level of exposure to various health risks across all types of work remains unacceptably high. Work-related health hazards with high exposure levels include solvents, dust, noise and fumes.

There is a strong case for improving the way that work-related health risks are managed.

Morally, it is unacceptable that several hundred people die each year from largely preventable risks at work. The same is true for the thousands of workers who develop nonfatal work-related ill-health.

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Socially, the impact of work-related ill-health includes not only the societal costs of caring for those with poor health caused by their work, but also the impact on families, whānau and communi es.

Economically, interna onal evidence shows that addressing preventable health condi ons in workers is good for business. Workers who maintain good levels of health are at work more o en, report higher levels of produc vity, and are more likely to feel engaged with their employer.

We a r e c o n f i d e n t t h a t i m p r o v e d management of work-related health risks would bring mul ple benefits to New Zealand.

Our approach to enabling change must be built on strong guiding principles that can be applied across all of our programmes and ac vi es over the coming ten years.

Worksafe’s guiding principles: • We will develop evidence-based interven ons through research and intelligence-led analysis.

• We will take a high-engagement approach with social partners, key stakeholders, workplaces, agencies and communi es.

• We will use our levers of educate, engage and enforce transparently and propor onately.

• We will proac vely consider the perspec ves of those we are aiming to support.

• We will recognise and focus on groups who are vulnerable to work-related health risks, including Māori and other ethnic groups.

STRATEGIC THEME 1: INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP We recognise that, to achieve our longterm vision, those who create and interact with work-related health and health-related safety risks are the best placed to iden fy and manage them effec vely. They therefore need to take greater ownership for managing and controlling them. This will require PCBUs and officers to demonstrate sustained, focused and effective leadership on work-related health ma ers. Workers and HSRs must be empowered to par cipate in risk management and raise concerns about poten al risks.

S T R AT E G I C T H E M E 2 : R E G U L AT O RY EFFECTIVENESS As the primary regulator for health and safety, we recognise that while we are not directly responsible for how risks are managed, we have an important leadership role to play in the work-related health system. We also recognise the need to con nuously improve our approach to work-related health if we are to achieve our long-term vision. Our levers of educa on, engagement and enforcement are how we develop wider change in the health and safety system; these must be con nuously improved to reflect the importance of workrelated health. The ac vi es in this strategic theme will enable us to become a con nuously improving regulator in the area of work-related health.

STRATEGIC THEME 3: STEP CHANGE If we are to achieve the significant change needed in overall work-related health performance we need to target our efforts on priori sed risks. We will implement a series of multi-year intervention programmes to address these priori sed risks over the course of this strategic plan. Over me, the cumula ve effect of these targeted programmes will be a step change in the overall work-related health capability and performance across the wider health and safety system.”

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NZ Joinery Manufacturers Federation

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Buy your timber joinery with confidence Deciding on your new timber joinery, whether for a new or existing home, is a complex decision.

Timber joinery is meless in appearance and will suit modern architectural or tradi onal building methods.

But not all mber joinery is created equal. There is quality timber joinery and there is cheap mber joinery, but there is no cheap, quality mber joinery.

So choosing the supplier of your new mber joinery is very important.

Registered Master Joiners provide full consulta on and

design services for all joinery needs and work closely with other design professionals to ensure that the finished product looks and func ons at its best.

Exterior and interior joinery are premium products, which require a level of protec on to enhance the proper es of the products. It is therefore important that you take your me in selec ng who designs, manufactures and advises on care and maintenance.

Registered Master Joiners bring innova on to the joinery industry. They encourage compe on and the pursuit of excellence between and from its members, their employees and appren ces.

The annual Master Joiner Awards promote excellence in design and joinery cra smanship, encourage use of sustainable mber and best practice, and showcase the finest work from the industry.

Whether renovating or

rebuilding, don’t take a gamble with a major investment in your home – the best kitchens and cabinetry don’t just happen. It makes sense to consult a professional for the planning, manufacture and installa on in your home.

Environmentally, timber joinery is manufactured from

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a renewable resource, is low in energy to produce and has thermal insulation qualities b ette r t h a n a l te r n at i ve products.

JMF NZ LTD was formed as a partnership between Registered Master Joiners and McNaughton Windows and Doors to undertake a rigorous

weather tightness testing programme with a number of profiles of Windows and Doors. JMF NZ LTD now have a Website showing a range of products that have been tested and comply.

The system can only be manufactured by Joiners that are affiliated to Registered

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NZ Joinery Manufacturers Federation

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Master Joiners and who are authorised to manufacture.

There is a list of authorised manufacturers available f ro m a l i n k f ro m w w w. masterjoiners.co.nz or on the JMF NZ LTD website www. jmfnz.co.nz

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Members of the group are also able to provide assistance to building consent authorities, specifiers and architects that specify or use these products, by providing drawings, speciďŹ ca ons and installation instructions.

Specifying authorities can register for detailed information, drawings etc at no cost, here www.jmfnz. co.nz Masterspec have released a new section covering the range, entitled 4511JF JMF

EXTERIOR TIMBER WINDOWS AND DOORS available in Standard and Basic.

To find a Registered Master Joiner in your area, check o u t t h e we b s i te w w w. masterjoiners.co.nz or email info@masterjoiners.co.nz

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TM Consultants

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New Auckland branch for TMCo A new Auckland office is allowing TM Consultants (TMCo) to provide enhanced service to its clients in the city.

The Christchurch-based engineering consultancy was established around seven years ago, and since then around 20 percent of its work has been looking a er the Auckland market, says director, Mike Baker.

so is a great asset to TMCo. Our clients have confidence she knows the standards and rules inside out. With her experience, assessments are carried out incredibly quickly which results in lower cost ra ngs.”

“Having a permanent presence in Auckland is helping us to be er facilitate clients’ needs.”

NABERSNZ is an independent Australian ra ng system, backed by the New Zealand government. A building achieving four stars is good, five is outstanding, and six is ‘off the chart’, says Mike.

“For energy efficiency p ro j e c t s we a s s e s s o u r clients’ buildings, performing condi onal assessments, find out where improvements could be made, then help them to implement the appropriate changes.”

TMCo, in a joint venture with IAG and Goodman Property at 14 Show Place in Christchurch, achieved a five star ra ng, which is New Zealand’s highest NABERSNZ whole-building ra ng so far.

Mike says a ‘good chunk’ of the company’s me in this market is paid for by EECA grants, which help to remove financial barriers so clients can proceed with upgrade projects.

“Achieving this market leading result was challenging but the close team rela onship allowed us to deliver higher energy savings that exceeded our client’s requirements.”

“We help clients strike the balance between capital and opera ng expenditure so they can achieve energy savings without having to necessarily invest in the most expensive systems.”

The new Auckland office is managed by senior m e c h a n i ca l a n d e n e rg y ratings engineer, Vanessa McGrath. She is the former New Zealand Green Building Council ra ngs manager and NZBERSNZ national trainer and assessor who joined TMCo in May. “It’s great to have Vanessa in Auckland to provide our fantastic clients the local s u p p o r t t h at o u r l a rge Christchurch team is known for. The Christchurch team s ll regularly frequent Auckland too. The large workload and successes of the team mean we are ac vely seeking addi onal permanent staff in Auckland.”

M i ke s a y s Va n e s s a McGrath has vast experience with NABERSNZ, a system for ra ng the energy efficiency of commercial buildings.

“Vanessa has been the national NABERSNZ trainer and rating supervisor for the last three years for a l l N A B E R S N Z p ro j e c t s undertaken in New Zealand,

TMCo engineered and monitored construction of the HVAC, hydraulics, BMS, electrical and ligh ng upgrade, delivering the building owners with an annual saving of a ‘whopping’ $60,000 in energy usage, says Mike.

“This project shows how fantastic savings and space comfort improvements can be delivered to an existing building, improving building value, tenant opex and enjoyment of space by users.”

Energy efficiency and sustainability projects are a big

part of TMCo’s work in addi on to the other specialist high quality solu ons it provides for structural engineering, fire safety systems design, mechanical engineering, hydraulic, electrical, and civil.

Being paid by government grants might sound like easy money. However the process comes with its own risks for TMCo, says Mike.

“EECA essen ally buys the energy savings we iden fy for our clients’ projects, providing a CAPEX grant to the client to complete the upgrades.

Once construc on is finished, the project’s energy use is monitored for 12 months, and if the energy savings are less than we identified, we pay back the grant whilst the client gets to keep it.

On a recent project TMCo nego ated a $345,000 CAPEX grant provided the annual energy savings were 36%.

With 12 months of postcommissioning data received, we are pleased to announce a 37.8% saving. We can only get involved in this sort of work by really knowing our stuff

and demonstrating energy savings of $4m in the past three years shows the benefit of our accurate modeling.”

TMCo was established in Christchurch at the end of 2009 by Mike Baker, a mechanical and hydraulics engineer, along with fellow directors Tim Gwatkin (a structural and civil engineer) and structural engineer Ma Blyth.

“We started with just the three of us and now have around 50 staff between the two branches,” says Mike.

Engineering consultancy for services and structures is the firm’s core business.

“We consult and manage the installa on of a range of building services, including mechanical, electrical, fire, lighting , medical gases, security - any service whatsoever in a building.”

Left, Senior mechanical and energy ratings engineer Vanessa Mcgrath who is managing TM Consultant's new Auckland branch, Right, Mike Baker, director of TM Consultants..

He says the company is careful to spread its risk across all industries and parts of the country.

“We comfortably service the commercial, residen al, i n d u s t r i a l , h o s p i t a l i t y, healthcare, educa on, civic, residen al care and re rement care sectors throughout the whole of New Zealand from our bases in Christchurch and Auckland.”

Some of the company’s notable projects include Orana Park (where TMCo was engaged to provide s t r u c t u ra l , m e c h a n i c a l , hydraulic, electrical, H1 and fire engineering for the new Gorilla Enclosure; and Blackwells Holden and Mazda’s new state-of-the-art showroom in Christchurch, said to be an international benchmark for these types of projects.

Engineering consultancy firm TMCo specialises in a wide range of building services including mechanical, electrical, fire, ligh ng and security.

“Our team managed the seamless integration of services within the architecture of the new vehicle dealership. We were very pleased with the result and have applied for a ligh ng award for the project.”

Other projects of note include the Jus ce Precinct,

Rydges Latimer Hotel (the lowest energy using Rydges in the world), Metropolis Re s i d e n c e s , G l o r i ava l e , Ravensdown Fer liser, Air New Zealand, Auckland Council, Cranmer Gardens apartments, the luxurious Braemar Lodge and the very exciting new $20m Christchurch Adventure Park (the largest mountain bike and adventure park in the southern hemisphere).

Mike, who was awarded a Highly Commended for Business Service Excellence at the 2016 EECA Energy Awards, says there are many reasons to choose TMCo for engineering consultancy services. “ We l i ste n a n d o ffe r sensible, technical solu ons to challenging projects, innovative design options, and a prac cal, cost-effec ve approach to sustainable engineering that results in successful projects, which are tailor-made to our clients’ needs.”

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MethAffected Property

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The Double Edged Sword that is MethAffected Property

By Miles Stra ord

NZ’s ongoing fascination with meth/P, has created something of a crisis for our society. In the Chinese language, ‘crisis’ is made up of two characters – Risk and Opportunity. This neatly sums up what MethAffected property represents to builders and contractors.

The experiences you have with MethAffected property will be influenced by how well you understand the risk and the systems and processes you have in place to manage these risks.

users on the team, residues can be le behind. Even new builds can be affected by this reality, causing major problems on handover.

What is a MethAffected Home?

Any home with any amount of meth in can be described as MethAffected.

Is it safe?

Guidelines produced by the Ministry of Health in 2010, are the benchmark against which Health and Safety considera ons are measured. The currently acceptable level of meth is 0.5μg per 100cm2

Meth residues get into property through both use and manufacture. For many people any amount of meth in a property is too much. A posi ve meth test, brings people uncomfortably close to our meth problem and they don’t tend to like it. This powerful emo onal response, means a property doesn’t have to be a risk from a health and safety perspec ve to be considered less desirable.

With this in mind, if you or your subcontractors have meth

Official police busts ±2000

Where meth is manufactured, a wide range of chemicals can be present for which meth is an indicator of risk. Working in these environments without appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), steel toe cap boots and ear muffs don’t cut it, can seriously compromise health and safety.

Work place H&S legisla on increases the business risk presented by proper es with a meth history.

How will I know?

The problems being reported in the media, have built up over many years. Few builders or contractors are likely to consider the risk before they commence work. This lack of awareness creates risk.

If you or your team experience some or a B1603

The proper es of greatest concern have had labs opera ng in them. When you look at how the number of meth labs busted

by Police might relate to MethAffected property numbers (diagram below), you can understand why the word ‘Crisis’ fits the bill. There are likely to be tens of thousands of proper es where labs have operated.

Es mates of P lab totals 20,000 to 40,000

number of the reac ons noted below, they could be working in a meth lab contaminated site: • Metallic taste in the mouth • Frequent or persistent head aches • Light headed/disoriented • Eyes/nose irritated • Itchy/sensi ve skin What should I look for?

Highest r isk properties are those with a rental history (+70% of labs are found in rentals). But any property in any suburb in any town can have a history. Some risk factors to look for are: • Damage that appears to be caused by violent behaviour • Unusual stains on carpets and/or walls • Chemical smells and/or chemical and/or

Labs move around ??,000 to ???,000

• • • • •

Miles Stra ord.

Use contaminates property ???,000 to ???,000

dis lled water containers Modifications to plumbing and/or electrics Hidden rooms CCTV installed in a property with a rental history Blacked out windows Etched concrete

Most people are spending $2-300 to screen out the risk. This is low and importantly, when done using lab based tes ng, will provide a high level of surety for the person controlling the business or undertaking, that a hidden meth issue is not a factor on the site being worked on.

What about the opportunity?

As noted, the scale of our meth crisis is enormous. Tens of thousands of proper es

need work to make them fit from an occupant health, safety and wellbeing point of view. The same step that screens the risk of significant meth contamina on out, may also iden fy a more significant issue. Resolving these issues involves more than bogging up some holes in the walls and a can of paint.

Meth Lab Affected homes often see materials being removed and all of this needs to be replaced. A ending to employer Health and Safety obliga ons, will flush these problem proper es out into the open. This benefits all members of society.

Good luck out there!

Miles Stra ord is a Director at MethSolu ons a unique MethRisk Management business www.methsolu ons.co.nz 0800 638 4522

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