Builders and Contractors Winter 2015

ISSUE 2 - 2015 Winter Edition

INSIDE Arrow International (Wigan Tower)

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SARNZ leads industry to greater heights

Certified Builders Annual Conference & Expo 55 Clean Chem

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Clyde Quay Wharf Redevelopment Supreme Winner

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Directory

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Fire Protection

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Genesis Energy

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Height, Health & Safety 39 New Zealand Safety Council

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NZDAA

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NZ Master Joiners Association

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Rickie Shore Building

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Safety Nets NZ

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SARNZ

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Site Safe

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Southern Workplace Safety / Pace 50 Training & Recruitment

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Whelan Construction

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Scaffolding, once considered the orphan child of the construction industry, is coming into its own with modern legislative requirements for health and safety, calling for greater skill levels, increased training and a more responsible approach to its application in construction.

The voice of the sector is SARNZ – Scaffolding Access and Rigging New Zealand – scaffolders and riggers are coming into the sunlight more clearly, with an emphasis on the way they operate and legislation requiring top qualifications for operators working above five metres.

The outcome of the health and safety legislation – due to be revised later this year – is that scaffolding is becoming a bona fide skills-based, site-safe operation, which needs highly qualified personnel onsite. One of the impediments to scaffolding advancing is a lack of fully qualified scaffolders. Not enough have been trained in New Zealand and there are too few being recruited from overseas.

SARNZ president Nick Pfahlert, of Christchurch firm

Upright Scaffolding, says the organisation is acutely aware of the skill shortage, which he points out is not just a factor in the scaffolding and rigging sector, but is prevalent in many trades.

In addressing the shortage of skilled staff, he believes it is imperative to exhaust “every option with the local population and then investigate opportunities abroad.”

“We have made it easier for people to come into the industry and train them up to become qualified scaffolders and riggers.

We need to make sure our training organisations are robust and to maintain the quality of training in the industry.”

Nick says access to immigration would allow scaffolders and riggers to be brought into New Zealand from

overseas, while continuing to train existing workers. “It needs to be done in order to make sure we have a sustainable work force.”

Current training Nick says SARNZ has always had an excellent relationship with industry training organisations, first with Opportunity Training and latterly with Skills New Zealand. SARNZ also has a close link with regional training providers such as Tai Poutini Polytechnic.

One of the country’s top training representatives is on the SARNZ committee, meaning it has close contact with training processes. There are other training organisations, and SARNZ keeps an eye on their schedules to ensure they are able to give adequate scaffolding and rigging training. continued inside

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A solid platform for scaffolders and riggers fundamental health and safety factors. Accidents and injuries are likely in that scenario.

Current training Nick says SARNZ has always had an excellent relationship with industry training organisations, first with Opportunity Training and latterly with Skills New Zealand. SARNZ also has a close link with regional training providers such as Tai Poutini Polytechnic.

“With the shortage of skilled staff, growing scaffolding firms tend to promote assistants to foreman a little too soon.

So, because you’ve got less skilled, qualified and experienced foreman, you need to create another layer of management and have supervisors to go around and help them get it right.”

One of the country’s top training representatives is on the SARNZ committee, meaning it has close contact with training processes. There are other training organisations, and SARNZ keeps an eye on their schedules to ensure they are able to give adequate scaffolding and rigging training.

He says that exaggerates the problem: “With your top men off the tools as supervisors, it creates a void at the other end, with the new guys and fewer labourers.”

Safety “Accepting and believing in health and safety is part of the SARNZ outlook,” Nick says.

Opportunities SARNZ is trying to overcome the historical perception that scaffolding is not a true trade and believes this is being achieved, says Nick. One of the factors pointing in the right direction is the Certificate of Competence (COC) required for working at heights over five metres, because it is high risk.

Scaffolding has undergone a significant increase in the Christchurch and Auckland markets, following the Canterbury earthquakes, while Q u e e n s t o w n ’s r a p i d population increase has contributed, too. There are also surging markets in Taranaki and in several other regions, while increasing opportunities with new companies having “popped up in a standard supply and demand reaction.”

“It is really important that new companies comply with the bestpractice guidelines and look after their workers,” says Nick. To support this trend, companies should undertake the training of

SARNZ has an obligation to ensure competent people obtain their COC and work to certain standards. A potential candidate for training is put forward by a company trainer to start.

This is usually after at least two years of working as a ‘groundie’ and scaffolding assistant. Once the required standards and practical awards are achieved, candidates receive their national certificate.

SARNZ then issues the COC after checking for competence.

their own workers.

Memberships At present some 60 per cent of New Zealand’s scaffolding companies are SARNZ members, according to a survey commissioned by the industry body.

Nick believes that the body demonstrates strong representation among businesses operating in the

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sector, however SARNZ is committed to increasing the organisation further.

“To become a SARNZ member, companies have to demonstrate their qualifications in terms of providing information and you must be nominated by two existing members and show your training record.

“It is important if you are a SARNZ member that you believe in health and

safety and comply with the good-practice guidelines – and not just meet the minimum standards as per the Best Practice Guidelines (BPG), but also raise the bar.”

Start ups According to Nick, one of the problems with people setting up scaffolding companies in a rush to meet demand is that they often do not have any

qualified staff, although they may have two or three trucks and say, 12 men, but only one supervisor with the correct ticket.

Typically, he would drive around to job sites, signing off the installations.

“That’s pretty poor, and there are a lot of scaffolding firms that have been set up like this and their goal is to grow the business and then sell it for profit. So, often these companies lack the

SARNZ members must continue to maintain the highest professional standards, so that clients recognise that employing a member of SARNZ ensures quality and safety every time.

“Despite the challenges, the scaffolding and rigging industry is currently in good standing,” says Nick.

“That means we’re going to play a pivotal role in the construction sector in the coming years.”

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SARNZ president, Nick – banker to scaffolder It has been an unusual route for Nick Pfahlert to the presidency of SARNZ – Scaffolding, Access and Rigging New Zealand. His early work experience gave no hint that he would end up in the position, but it was somehow inevitable.

Yet it was not always certain, for his early postschool working life saw him travelling to Asia and then ending up as an investment banker in London.

After five years abroad he returned home to New Zealand in 2005 and went straight into scaffolding, not surprisingly, for he had come from a scaffolding family. He joined his three brothers in the Christchurch family firm, Upright Scaffolding, and is now its managing director.

The firm has grown since 2005, to the point where it now has a 50-strong workforce.

Nick had no thoughts of becoming president of SARNZ, the national membership organisation and voice of the industry, but was given a nudge and after some careful thought decided to take it on. Nick has become a driving force for SARNZ, espousing principles which are designed to take it forward and make the industry one which will play a forthright part in the development of building and construction in this country.

Nick has strong and positive views on the practices of scaffolding, access and rigging in New Zealand and is determined to drive it forward, lifting it to a higher level of application and achievement.

He is strong on health and safety; the dangers of working at heights are a major focus for him and his

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first answer to minimising these dangers are in making sure workers have the best possible skills base.

He is, therefore, clear on the need to train workers to gain the best possible skills to ensure they work at the highest possible level.

Added to that is the need to obtain enough staff to make sure safety standards are not breached.

As scaffolding workloads increase – driven by new health and safety legislation and increased work, especially in Auckland and Christchurch - SARNZ, with Nick leading the way, is pushing for higher skill levels and training, increased numbers of employees, more principled attitudes to safety generally and a higher profile, raising its status as a true trade.

Nick, president of SARNZ for a year, told Builders and Contractors that though the job is demanding at times, he is enjoying

the presidency because of what he thinks is possible to achieve in the scaffolding industry and his personal development.

He sees the need for greater skills in all the contracting and constructing industries. All industries are looking around for skilled

workers and are appreciating the need to train them, and that it will be a long and continuing process.

He believes the scaffolding industry, with SARNZ leading the way, is well placed to achieve the standards that will be required under the new

legislation due to be passed

by Parliament later this year.

The normal term for a SARNZ president is two years, but with Nick Pfahlert’s attitude and drive, it is possible the organisation may seek to have it extended.

A precedent has been set, with a previous president in office for five years.

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SARNZ web platform supports industry Platform spreads scaffolding word to SARNZ world High bar in SARNZ Platform newsletter In keeping with its efforts to modernise the industry and lift its performance, SARNZ – Scaffolding, Access and Rigging New Zealand – has established a website and produces a regular newsletter which would be amongst the best-presented by any such organisations.

The website w w w. s a r n z . o r g . n z i s attractive and laid out boldly, in a way which is easy to access from the home page.

There are no complicated, or difficult-to-follow links – the routes through the pages are simple.

What it provides on the home page is immediately relevant to members and prospective members – how to join, qualifications, best-practice guidelines and a panel for members.

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I n p a r t i c u l a r, t h e r e i s information regarding gaining certification to obtain higher qualifications in the industry.

There is even a Google map location finder for members wanting to visit the headquarters.

S A R N Z ’s o n l i n e newsletter is even more impressive. Called Platform, it is a wide-ranging quarterly bulletin of information for the industry.

Recent issues have outlined SARNZ’s drug and alcohol policy, a warning about the compliance of imported equipment and scaffolding, courses for workers who have prior learning being recognised, and changes in cheque payments for IRD requirements.

A later bulletin outlines Good Practice Guidelines (a new term) to describe methods of operation, rest and meal breaks, eye protection and an increase in

ACC reparation awards.

All in all they are impressive documents, well presented and highly informative.

Training websites AMS Training: www.amsgroup.co.nz/ Course-info/Scaffolding Tai Poutini Polytchnic: www.tpp.ac.nz/industrytraining/scaffolding-andrigging/ Vertical HorizonzGroup: www.verticalhorizonz. co.nz/new_zealand/courses/ industrial_safety

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New lightweight scaffolding system “exciting innovation” Layher has been manufacturing world leading scaffolding solutions since 1945.

The company prides itself on supplying high-quality scaffolding solutions, dependable partnership and its reputation as the scaffolding industry innovator.

In 1974 Layher revolutionized the scaffolding industry with its launch of the original ring type scaffold system called “Allround”. Almost 40 years later its newest version of this system “Allround Lightweight” is revolutionizing the scaffolding industry all over again.

Layher’s new modular Allround Lightweight scaffolding system is lighter, faster, stronger and more economical to build and transport than other conventional and cheaper imitation scaffolding systems, says Scott Bergstrom, managing

director of Layher New Zealand.

“Scaffolding is an extremely physical business, so Layher’s new Allround Lightweight system is an exciting innovation for scaffold users and business owners.

When people make an investment in scaffolding it’s not just about the cost of the scaffold, they should consider the total cost of ownership of the scaffolding. Around 80 percent of scaffolding companies costs are associated with employing people to erect, dismantle and transport the scaffolding over a period of many years.

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Any gains in efficiency will ultimately result in greater labour cost and transport cost savings, and ultimately more profit.”

This is where the new Allround Lightweight system offers “huge advantages”, he says. “ Wi t h t h e l i g h t e r components, assembly is around 10 percent faster, and transport is 12 percent more efficient. Vertical clearance has also improved by up to 10cm with changes to our transoms which makes working on the scaffold more comfortable and faster.

The structural strength and load-bearing capacity of the system has been enhanced, and with physical strain on scaffolders reduced, we now offer even better on-site safety. Allround Lightweight is also fully compatible with earlier versions of Layher Allround.”

Bergstrom says the Allround Lightweight system was the “highlight” of around 30 new innovations Layher displayed at Bauma, the world’s largest trade fair for constructions equipment and machinery that took place in Munich in 2013.

“We place priority on continued innovation, quality and safety,” he says.

Layher is the world’s largest producer of modular scaffolding systems for the construction, infrastructure, mining, petrochemical and event industries.

Its hot-dip galvanised and aluminium scaffold components are manufactured in state-ofthe-art production facilities in Germany, where the

family-owned company was founded 70 years ago.

Layher ’s extensive product range includes scaffolding, falsework, stairs, temporary roofs, cladding, containment, staging, grandstands and mobile tower solutions; with safety features such as lock-in decks, no-trip hazards, advance guardrails, childproof guardrails for public access stairs and site, stretcher and evacuation stairs.

The company set up its New Zealand headquarters and warehouse in Wellington 15 years ago and for some years has been the largest supplier of scaffolding in this country.

Bergstrom says the market here continues to grow at a rapid rate.

“Building activity is at a level I’ve never seen before. The Christchurch earthquake and subsequent remedial and strengthening work are obviously a part of the equation, but the shortage of housing across New Zealand, leaky building works, and new legislation around health and safety on residential building sites has led to a lot of new activity in the scaffolding market.”

Bergstrom says the company’s technical and design expertise is often called on by clients to help them make full use of the Layher systems.

“We invest heavily in supporting Layher users with extensive local stock holdings, technical data, engineering, training and design advice – and to help our customers to deliver reliable and economical

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solutions every time is our goal.”

Layher has recently provided scaffolding solutions to clients working on several challenging sites including

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the Makatote Viaduct restoration project, Te Mihi Geothermal Power Station development; demolition of the Grand Chancellor Hotel in Christchurch; the Waterview tunnel project

and numerous leaky buildings in Auckland. .

Bergstrom says “Our success is based on our customers’ success which is why we believe in forming close collaboration and

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genuine lasting partnerships with our clients as we strive to provide them with the most innovative and cost effective scaffolding solutions on the market.”

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The Absolutely Essential Health and Safety Toolkit

Everyone knows construction can be dangerous work.

People are hurt and injured every week on building sites. In 2014 alone five people were killed while working in construction – and each death was a tragedy for friends, family and co-workers.

The ugly truth is that fatalities in the sector are double the average for other industries.

I t ’s Wo r k S a f e N e w Z e a l a n d ’s j o b t o h e l p businesses and workers to turn that around and ensure everyone comes home safe and well at the end of the working day. But WorkSafe will never be able to reduce the toll of workplace deaths and injuries by itself.

Health and safety at work

is everyone’s responsibility.

WorkSafe can’t be in every workshop or on every building site – it is up to those that create workplace risks to manage those risks.

To help people working in construction do just that, WorkSafe has created The Absolutely Essential Health and Safety Toolkit for Small Construction Sites. It’s a starter-course in the basics of good health and safety practice that you can slip into your glove box.

The toolkit is broken down into a number of sections including working at height, hazardous substances, personal protection and how to handle emergency situations. But it starts with the basics – General Management.

At its heart, a lot of good health and safety practice boils down to sound planning.

When you are managing a building project, ask yourself these fundamental questions: • Are you giving enough time

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to planning, organising and controlling your work?

• Are you checking what actually happens and stopping dangerous practices?

• Do you have someone to turn to for health and safety advice?

• Do you take pride in your standards?

• Do you think about health risks as well as safety risks (it may help to think of them as ‘slow-acting accidents’)?

These five simple questions are a great place to start if you want to check whether your business is taking health and safety seriously enough. Don’t just ask them once – ask them again and again.

If you are an employer you have a duty/responsibility to look after those people working for you.

• Make sure they are trained, competent and fit to do the job safely • Provide proper supervision

and clear instructions • Ensure they have the right tools, equipment, plant and protective gear.

• Involve employees in any discussions about health and safety.

• Provide access to washing and toilet facilities.

Of course it is not just employees that need to be protected. The health and safety of anyone who is on site must be considered.

If you are a principal who contracts, or a contractor who sub-contracts work to others do you: • Check the health and safety performance of the people you plan to use?

• Give them the health and safety information they need for the work?

• Hold regular discussions about how the work is going, including safety problems and concerns?

• Make sure that you have provided everything you agreed (eg safe scaffolds, the right plant, access to toilets etc)?

• Check their performance and fix any problems?

There are other simple steps businesses can take as part of basic health and safety management - taking worker fatigue and workloads into account, for example. Make sure you allow adequate rest and meal breaks. If your project requires longer than usual working days consider staggering starting and finishing hours. Monitor and place limits around overtime worked, consecutive nightshifts and on-call duties.

It’s all about good planning. These sorts of measures are not difficult or

costly, but they can make a real difference to the health, safety and wellbeing of workers, contractors and subbies.

Of course, even with the best will in the world things can still go wrong. If they do and it is an emergency dial 111 but also notify WorkSafe New Zealand as soon as possible about any serious incidents, unsafe situations or work-related illnesses. You can call 0800 030 040, night or day, or submit a notification form online at worksafe.govt.nz.

And remember, if there has

been an incident you must not interfere with the scene until authorised by a health and safety inspector – unless you’re acting to protect people or property.

• There’s a lot more practical advice in the Absolutely Essential Health and Safety Toolkit for Small Construction Sites, which is available on the WorkSafe NZ website.

It does not cover legal requirements and is a guide only. There is also plenty more information at business.govt.nz/ worksafe/construction.

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Arrow International (Wigan Tower)

Arrow International Achieves with Wigan Tower Built on a constricted site in a narrow Wellington street, Wigan Tower Two presents an impressive front on the fringe of the central business district.

Close to the Cuba Street precinct, it provides inner-city living which is becoming a hallmark of Wellington’s modern environment.

An Arrow International project, the Wigan Tower No.2 was completed last December and has catered for a young adult market, including students – it is close to the Massey University campus – and young professional couples for whom the location appeals. The building’s appeal fits with its location in the city.

The Wigan Tower of 10 storeys, stands out, in spite of its compact nature and the closeness of nearby

structures. It stands close to a previous tower built by Arrow.

A r r o w ’s p r o j e c t manager on the job, Robb Noble, says one of the unique features of Wigan Apartments is the pile foundation, with a combination of 900 millimetre and 1500 millimetre cored, reinforced concrete piles. The deepest of these is 26 metres.

The unique feature of the building is the cantilever over the existing car park.

The structure consists of an extruded reinforced concrete core, built around the lift shaft and stairwell.

The shaft ris the full height of the building, typical of a sheer core design.

Mr Noble says to build the extruded concrete construction, a climbing form-work stem was used, working from the foundation independent of the rest of the structure. In that way it attaches below the level at that has already been poured, when it is possible to work beyond the remainder of the structure.

“We ended up building that core in about 12 weeks

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it went pretty well,” Mr Noble said.

The rest of the construction is structural steel gravity frames forming the frame which supports the sheer core. The remainder of the frame is mainly to do with gravity loading on the

structure.

The floors are also composite steel decking with reinforced concrete.

The design of the building incorporates a unique feature which has the whole structure cantilevered out over a car park ramp, which

goes up the side of the building to the building behind.

By cantilevering eight of the floors over the ramp “we could maximise development potential of the site.” There was some innovative engineering required to achieve that and ensure that all elements were done at a uniform rate, once the temporary prepping was removed.

T h e Wi g a n To w e r followed Arrow International’s building of another one on the adjacent site, the Peaks Apartments.

“We were able to take our lessons learnt from that and apply them to this one and the client was happy to ‘upspec’ it to prevent an imperfect end product. The combination was a better building, delivered in less time and everyone was pretty happy.”

The happy client was Taranaki Land Limited, for whom Arrow International have done previous design and build contracts.

With architects Archouse Architects of Wellington and engineers Aurecon involved, Arrow

International “turned up on site on the 5th of January 2014 and had the certificate of public use and practical completion on 18 th of December 2014. It went like a rocketship.”

Mr Noble says it was about being smart about the design. “Because it was a design-and-build lumpsum contract with early contractor involvement we were able to have a strong influence on how it was built.”

He said the company’s preference is to get involved ‘at the front end’ and have some influence on the course of the project.

There are 73 apartments, each with timber flooring, tiled bathrooms, double glazed windows and architecturally detailed kitchen. Each apartment also has a balcony oriented to the sun.

Early collaboration between the architect, engineer and service contractors meant that building services were coordinated with each other and the structure, avoiding costly time-consuming clashes on site.

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Fire Protection

Fire protection important modern service The Fire Protection Association of New Zealand’s (FPANZ) vision is to be the united voice of the fire protection community of New Zealand and by drawing on its expertise and collective knowledge reduce the impact of fire in New Zealand.

Formed over 40 years ago as a professional forum and with its key stakeholders it .is focussed on promoting its members who are fully trained and qualified. They are also preferred because they also have access to and apply the appropriate products in dealing with the wide range of fire protection and its

associated activities.

The Executive Director of FPA New Zealand, Keith

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Blind, says there are over 200 member companies and a variety of individuals

who work to the guidelines, codes of ethics and apply the principles it espouses.

He says “membership is transparent and we are out there representing our

membership base.”

A c c e s s t o practitioners.- One of the major aspects it promotes via its website is access to a wide variety of fire protection individuals, firms and practitioners.

On the home page of the website is a panel which points the way to appropriate companies.

The range is considerable; bathed in appropriate fire-red colours it carries the categories for perusal: certified evacuation consultants, fire alarm contractors, fire extinguisher agents, sprinkler contractors. It also points to fire inspection companies, and to a list of its members.

Skills programmes.The association also runs a range of training programmes and Mr Blind says: “We are working on

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BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS a variety of material at any one time and a recent survey of members raised a number of interesting opportunities to broaden the knowledge base.”

He says the fire protection industry is like a lot of others at present, with a real need to have skilled people in its workforce.

“So, there are around 500 companies who are registered in the fire protection space. It is a mix of people – engineers, consultants, and fire protection practitioners who are designing and installing services and maintaining equipment.”

“Out of the pool of 500 companies there are 3,700 people employed in the industry outside the New Zealand Fire Service, which has about 14,000 people in its ranks. It is a great industry to be in, it pays well.” Mr Blind says he is encouraged that the people working within fire protection are generally satisfied with their profile.

He emphasises that “skilled people are the key. It is about installing and maintaining products that are fit for purpose; and the right people to do the right job, with the right products,” Mr Blind says.

Legislative changes.Significantly, there are changes going on which will impact on fire protection practitioners. There are parliamentary changes in the offing, with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) currently reviewing the fire codes, with the building code, in particular, capturing their attention. in reference to fire. “We have provided

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Fire Protection a submission to them, as have other industries’ representatives.”

“They are in the process of looking to modify and improve some of the aspects of the code; where there are gaps or otherwise, trying to make it a more useable document.”

“We (the association) are obviously all about improving standards as well and driving codes of practice and accreditation.”

But, because the fire protection industry is not licensed like plumbers, gasfitters, or electricians, it is self-regulated. That presents both difficulties and opportunities in a variety of ways, such that entry to membership is reasonably low-cost, not presenting a high barrier to entry for practitioners, it is open to almost anyone to become one.

While licensing is not required, training is, which is where FPA New Zealand takes a hand by providing education and training. The industry has NZQA-registered training, provided through t h e I TO a n d i t s o w n registered P.T.E. The fire industry employs a wide range of skilled people – everything from electrical, mechanical, installers and designers, to project managers, accountants, marketing, administration, engineering and sales staff.

Disciplines.– Both paid and volunteer fire brigades are under the control of the New Zealand Fire Service, but are alliance members of FPA New Zealand – socalled platinum members.

The association has a board for governance and sits above a council which is represented by all industry

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BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS practitioners. While supporting this there are special interest groups who have a particular focus on a specialist need.

Mr Blind says they are all driven by discipline, meaning they are focussed on a particular element, or discipline of fire protection.

“There are half a dozen of these groups running at the moment, each with a different mandate, a

different set of drivers and goals to work to.”

“A lot of their issues interlink and at the end of the day each works well, but they are always being refined, of course.”

With the impending changes in the health and safety legislation, fire protection sectors are linked directly, each having an input into the building code, with a particular

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interest in the safe evacuation of buildings.

The requirement is that every building has an approved NZFS evacuation scheme, which depends on the number of people contained within each.

Both the fire service and fire protection practitioners are involved.

Equipment.- The health and safety driver means that there are

Fire Protection certain requirements, such as portable hand operated fire equipment, yet interestingly fire extinguishers – among the most obviously portable pieces of equipment – are not part of building codes, having been written out some years ago.

Currently, the FPA and the fire service are conducting a survey under a contestable research

fund grant seeking from practitioners information about the occasions a fire extinguisher has been used in saving property, to determine whether the use of such portable equipment can be justified.

The FPA’s primary income comes from members’ subscriptions, seminars and educational programmes and the major event, the annual

conference. This year it will be held in Wellington on the 15th/16th of October 2015. The theme is: “Transforming the fire triangle through design , safety and innovation”.

“It is about installing and maintaining products that are fit for purpose and getting the right people to do the right job, with the right products,” Mr Blind says.

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NZ Master Joiners Association

Why you should use a Registered Master Joiner encourage competition and the pursuit of excellence between and from its members, their employees and apprentices.

The annual Master Joiner Awards promote excellence in design and joinery craftsmanship, encourage use of sustainable timber and best practice, and showcase the finest work from the industry.

The Master Joiners A p p r e n t i c e Aw a r d s competition enables apprentices to enter any project manufactured by their company, which has been a minimum of 80% completed

Registered Master Joiners provide full consultation and design services for all joinery needs and work closely with other design professionals to ensure that the finished product looks and functions at its best.

A national and regional fellowship of members ensures that all are kept up to date with the latest trends both in craft practice and business developments.

Through its members, the New Zealand Joinery Manufacturers’ Federation is also a prime mover in the introduction of innovations and standards to the joinery industry.

Master Joiners belong to one of the world’s oldest trades, dating back to Europe between the 12th and 15th Centuries. Wooden and

kitchen joinery is often what sets one building or home apart from another. It is an area of professionalism and craftsmanship.

Master Joiners ensure high standards of workmanship and guarantee the warranty required under the Consumer Guarantee Act. Exterior and interior joinery are premium products, which require a level of protection to enhance the properties of the products.

It is therefore important that you take your time in selecting who designs,

entirely by the apprentice.

This is a great opportunity for apprentices to impress with their skill and enhance their CV with an exclusive certificate plus have their work featured in magazines.

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 installation in your home.

Registered Master Joiners provide this certainty.

manufactures and advises on care and maintenance.

In New Zealand, joinery is one of the few industries that has retained its apprenticeship tradition. The New Zealand Joinery Manufacturers’ Federation and local associations work together with training providers to provide pre-training courses and also sponsor youth skills competitions and events aimed at promoting excellence in trades training.

Registered Master Joiners bring innovation to the joinery industry. They

MASTER JOINER AWARDS The annual Master Joiner Awards and conference are being held at Mac’s Function Centre, Cnr Taranaki and Cable Streets, Wellington, Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 June 2015.

The winning entries in the Master Joiner Awards will be announced on Saturday evening 27 June at the Master Joiners Awards Dinner.

The aim of the Awards is to promote excellence in joinery, to encourage the use of sustainable timbers and best practice, and to

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showcase the finest work from the industry. These are the largest industry awards of their kind in New Zealand.

Judging criteria of the Master Joiner Awards includes design, quality of workmanship, use of materials, complexity of project, and visual appeal.

Kitchen design is judged on the WOW factor, cutting edge design, practicality, and creative use of materials and colour.

• Best Kitchen $15,000 to $30,000; Best Kitchen Design; Best Use of Colour; • Best Use of Creative Lighting; Best Presented Entry Board; • Supreme Award sponsored

by Carters.

Also announced at the Awards Dinner are the

Master Joiners Apprentice Awards.

This competition is open to all joinery apprentices in New Zealand who may present a project with a minimum of 80% completed entirely by the apprentice.

Prizes are awarded in the 0 – 4,000 hours and 4,0018,000 apprenticeship hours

categories.

The conference begins with the Wellington Welcome function on Thursday evening, where the Awards entries will be on display to delegates. The weekend concludes with the Awards Dinner on Saturday evening.

Keynote speakers are Nigel Latta, TV star “The

Politically Incorrect Guide to ….” and Davey Hughes, SWAZI Man. The conference programme is designed to update the joinery industry on the latest technology and enjoy a taste of the Wellington region.

Master Joiners website is www.masterjoiners.nz

The Award categories are: • Best Regional Award; Best Speciality, Stairs, Bar/ Counter, Fitment; Best Door or Window; Best Use of Imported Timber; Best Kitchen; Best Kitchen under $15,000; WINTER 2015 - BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS - 25

BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS

New Zealand Safety Council

The prevalence of prescribed and across the counter medication in our workplaces.

Approximately 32 percent of workers’ compensation patients take opioids, according to a 2012 study from Ohio State University. The strong pain medicine could have an effect on injured workers’ personal health and ability to function and work safely.

In New Zealand, a doctor is the advocate of an injured worker and as such is looking to relieve both

pain and discomfort for the patient.

Having been involved in the ACC Partnership programme managing workers back into the work place as the Health and Safety manager for 12 years, the prevalence of workers who are prescribed medication to alleviate their symptoms and allow them the continue working is the iceberg syndrome of impairment in our workplace.

According to Marianne Cloeren, medical director of Bethesda, MD-based Managed Care Advisors, she has concluded from her studies that most employers have little input or control over treatment choices, and so it’s very important to make

sure that the people who do have control over the choices are making good choices, or at least have enough information to be able to make a good choice about the suitability of medication and work requirements.

Employers have a role here at assist doctors in confirming role types and risks from the work that the employee is involved in.

A lot of employers have a drug and alcohol policy, but there is little focus on prescribed medication.

Employers need to become well-informed and monitor both sickness and injury related medication as part of their wellness and return to work responsibilities.

A n d r e w

Schirnack, Partner in LangtonHudsonButcher, specialist Auckland employment law firm commented in December 2014, that “Currently there is a positive obligation on all employees to be open, responsive and communicative in their dealings with their employer.

That duty may extend to requiring them to disclose that they are on prescription or even some over-the-counter, medication, especially if they know it may impair their ability to work.

As part of any rehabilitation plan or any alternative duties, return to work must also focus on the issue of ongoing medication and its effects on the person

to safely reintegrate back into the working environment, and the consideration of critical safety risks such as driving and machine use, to ensure impairment is not going to be an issue. This is not only a safety focus for the employee, but also everyone that that person encounters during the course of their working day.

T h e d i ff i c u l t y t h a t employers have, is the employee who does not declare medication, even such things as strong cough mixture with a no driving warning on the bottle as it might cause drowsiness.

The role of the employer in this situation is sometimes a struggle, balancing safely, quality, productivity and the

wellness of their staff in the daily routines of their work.

Some Health sectors around the world are reporting that significant amounts of workers take at least one prescription medication.

These can include antibiotics, anti-depressants and pain killers for chronic conditions such as blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis. There is also another subculture who mix both prescribed and illegal substances which complicates both addiction and the effects on safety.

Don’t let the use of prescription and over the counter medication endanger your workplace. Be vigilant for signs and symptoms, and what you think may not look right may not be, after all.

New Zealand Safety Council P O Box 200-080, Papatoetoe Central, Auckland 2156 Phone: 09 2799392, Mobile: 021379297, E-mail: ajloader@xtra.co.nz

Currently New Zealand is in the proces of undergoing a major change in Health and Safety legislation as a result of the Taskforce review of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and the Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy.

As a result of this there are a large number of business owners who know there are changes under way but who are looking for advice on how to ensure that they have systems in place to comply with the expected changes.

Particularly for SME’s, it is difficult to find a reliable

source of information as to what is required to ensure compliance with the proposed changes and to do so at a reasonable cost.

Currently there are a large number of people offering services in relation to compliance with the proposed legislation and although most are genuine there will be varying levels of knowledge and competency across the various providers.

The major problem for the SME is how to ensure that the provider they select, is competent to give the advice that they are looking for.

HASANZ (Health and Safety Association of New Zealand) of which the New Zealand safety Council is a founding member, has produced a simple tool that will help SME’s to decide if the provider that they are talking to has a minimum level of competency to

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provide them with advice.

This tool is “FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS for SME’s” as copied below.

Five Quick Questions (5QQ) resource has been developed by HASANZ as a first step in helping business to access quality workplace health and safety advisors particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises.

Longer-term, HASANZ will further assist this with the establishment of its online register of competent workplace health and safety practitioners and ongoing efforts to raise professional standards across the sector.

Right now, it may not be possible for every small business to confidently obtain a qualified and competent health and safety advisor.

5QQ gives them an easy way to initially screen prospective advisors and check the quality of their service.

Over time, it is expected that business demand for higher professional standards will help generate a positive behaviour change among health and safety advisors as a whole. This will see them stepping up to the quality mark upheld by HASANZ, by joining one of our member associations and enhancing their training and ongoing professional development, and the quality of their practice, in order to get work.

Key message: When choosing a workplace health and safety professionals, check if they are right for the job by asking these five quick questions.

Five Quick Questions: 1. Which professional organisation do you belong to – Can you confirm this?

2. What qualifications and/or certification do you have?

3. What relevant skills and experience do you have for this job?

4. Can you give me examples of similar work you have done recently?

5. Are you happy for us to contact your clients about your work for them?

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BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS

NZDAA

NZDAA demolishes cowboy reputation From his vehicle, trucking somewhere down a North Island highway, Pete Ward, just elected president of the New Zealand Demolition and Asbestos Association (NZDAA), tells of some simple aims and objectives, but he cites one in particular – he wants the organisation to become more closely alligned with Civil Defence.

Pete says that is because, “we have so much to do with that side of work.” He refers to the fact that “we had a 4.7 earthquake down in Dunedin at the weekend that rattled some structures.

The nuts and bolts of all this is that we need to be prepared if some bad stuff happens to us again.”

It has been happening already and after the Christchurch, Seddon and Wellington shakes, if ever the title of the Shakey Isles was properly applied to New Zealand it is now, with swarms of them all over the country and likely to continue. Another really big one is likely to happen any time.

In particular, the Alpine fault line, in the South Island’s backbone, the Southern Alps and continuing its course up through the central North Island, out through the Bay of Plenty to the Kermadec Islands is primed to go off anytime soon, in geological terms.

One of Pete’s reasons for leaning heavily towards getting closer to Civil Defence is because of his experience in the 2011 Christchurch quakes. With other demolition contractors, he spent many hours working the machinery, bringing down buildings – ones that had not already been lowered by the shake - and also trying to save citizens trapped under the heaps of rubble.

He points out that demolition contractors are in the second line of call ups when there are disasters like earthquakes, after the fire service and USAR. “With our machinery we will be picking and putting in those situations, so we must have the right tools to do the right job. That way, we can do everyting we need to do.”

In the Christchurch situation Pete says demolition contractors were working closely with the first line emergency troops and Pete says “we pretty much got it right, but it took us close to 30 hours before we made any changes of operator.”

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One of the things he realised during the disaster work was that operators were stretching themselves out for too long and then “ran out of steam. You need to have the next wave coming in; you shove some diesel in the machine and they carry on.”

He said contractors ran a continuous operation for a week, day and night: “I can’t tell you how many hours I did. I know when I took over from the South Island crew, they were dead on their feet.”

“We have to get our heads around the way we have to do it; we need a backup plan with people able to take over.” He also felt there needed to be backup to support operators who had had to pick people out of the rubble. “Just little tricks”.

There are sites available to the NZDAA which it could use to set up training exercises. He says it would be possible to rig up such locations to bring buildings down, and arrange for sniffer dogs to seek out dummies set up in the rubble.

Demolition operators

could practise lifting with the machinery to make the exercise complete.“I don’t think we have done anything with the lessons we have learned (from the quake operations).”

“None of us has really expected this sort of thing to happen, so we are sitting back and weren’t really prepared.”

Speaking of current issues and the new health and safety legislation which has every site operation apprehensive – while the Government is also having moments of doubt, as it has encountered concern about

what it will contain, largely from farmers and small businesses – Pete does not think it will contain much that is different.

“But, if we have some input into it so we can influence the direction we want it to go, that will be helpful.”

On the asbestos problem, he feels consideration of the direction for its regulation need to be considered by experts about its use and its dangers and for the NZDAA committee to “work through it and come up with a direction to be adopted.”

For his presidency, Pete

Ward admits: “There are some things ro work on.”

Training is another issue for Pete. “I’m hot on training and for the NZDAA to have its own. I want the group to own it. It’s one of the things that seems to be really lacking.”

Pete has an interesting background which adds up to unusual range of experience.

He is a member of the Demolition Association of the United States of America – has been for 25 years – and attends their conventions. He is also on that organisation’s Civil Defence committee – hence his interest in Civil Defence connections in New Zealand – and has more recently had contact with Australians in the demolition field and says “they are starting t talk to me.”

Using the analogy he applies regarding the intense work done by demolition machine operators in the Christchurch disasters, Pete Ward may find that the more he gets into the politics of the presidency of the New Zealand Demolition and Asbestos Association “thinking about things closely, it gets tougher and tougher.” It may well do.

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NZDAA

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NZDAA

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NZDAA

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NZDAA

Asbestos – what you can’t see kills Perhaps the major issue the New Zealand Demolition and Asbestos Association has to deal with on an ongoing basis, is asbestos.

For many years, buildings have been erected in this country, and many others, using sheets of asbestos or products containing asbestos with impunity. Originally there was little understanding and very little concern of its dangers. To some extent that lack of concern still has residual currency amongst workers.

But, now its dangers have been fully exposed and for some years, its use has been constrained by the imminent dangers of working with it.

Now, new health and safety legislation, due originally to be introduced into Parliament in September, will impose far stronger sanctions on its use and disposal. That will especially apply with regard to the protection of installers, renovators, demolition contractors and anyone who comes into contact with it.

Te r r y C o l e m a n , the current secretary of NZDAA and on its asbestos committee, is passionate about the safe use of asbestos and the protection of his organisation’s workforce – and any others who are exposed in any way to it. He is principal of an asbestosinvolved company, CEDA Environmental Services (Consulting Environmental Demolition and Asbestos).

He says “asbestos is an ongoing issue and will be even more so, when the proposed new regulations come into force. While there is an expectation for these to be on the books in September, Government apprehension about some aspects of the overall bill are delaying its introduction. Mr Coleman thinks it may be next March before its elements come into true force.

He believes asbestos is one of the main focusses of the new regulations, which will be administered under MBIE (the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment), with Worksafe having direct administration B1502

Peter Ward NZDAA President (think trains) containing asbestos. One of the problems foreseen, when deciding on the suitability of imports to New Zealand, is which government department will manage any regulation in this regard.

Vietnam and other Asian countries are also big users of asbestos in products, while India Is the third highest user of raw asbestos.

Contrary to public belief, asbestos is not a recent arrival. Historically it has been used for hundreds of years, with the Greeks and Roman weaving fibres into things like table cloths, which were used at banquets. It was often used as an additive for plaster, which created a smoother finish, so great frescoes could be painted on.Mr Coleman believes the new legislation will require all demolition and renovation projects, to first have a survey done for asbestos “as a matter of course.” Also, of the regulations controlling its use.

Worksafe already has powers with regard to the control of asbestos and Mr Coleman says there has been an exponential rise in the last six months of prohibition notices being placed on work sites. He says he knows of numerous prohibition notices in Auckland, where asbestos has not been handled properly, or even surveyed in the first place. He believes there are many more prohibition notices involving asbestos being enforced around New Zealand.

A prohibition order, means no one can work on a site, or even go onto it, without special permission from Worksafe.

He says,asbestos has never been treated with the respect its dangerous nature calls for. One respected scientist did a calculation which suggests that

approximately 250 people die in New Zealand annually from asbestos related diseases, When you consider the average road toll death rate over the last ten years is 346, you can start to see the scale of this problem. But, because asbestos deaths are not newsworthy, this is not largely publicised. It was the Christchurch earthquakes, demolition and renovations of buildings there, which brought concerns about asbestos into sharp focus.Asbestos is a natural product, a rock, which is made up of fibres as small as .3 of a micron, (compared with human hair, which averages 300 microns) and they cannot be seen. If taken into the lungs, a single asbestos fibre could lodge there and cause damage within the lungs.

The only way to positively identify asbestos is under a microscope.

every commercial property built before 2000, will need a survey. This will be similar to a building WOF, which will be used to produce a register.

Under the new legislation, every building renovation or demolition, will need to have an asbestos survey first. There is a huge range of products containing asbestos, so sites must be able to show an asbestos register.

There will also be a duty of care required by building owners, to make sure no one is exposed to it; including tradesmen employed to work on it.

There may also be a training regime imposed to ensure everyone coming into contact with asbestos, is aware and able to take all precautions to prevent unhealthy exposure. Mr Coleman says. “It is all about education; we are seriously lacking in education about asbestos”.

Most asbestos is quarried in Russia, it and China being the largest users of raw asbestos.

There are six basic types, with three of them – white, blue and brown – mostly being used in products.

China, which produces many products for export, imports approximately 600,000 tonnes of raw asbestos per annum, for use in production.

In a recent worldrenowned conference in England last year, the audience were told that if Chinese products contains less than 10 per cent of asbestos, it can be classed asbestos free. It does not have to be declared on exportation documentation, meaning asbestos-containing products could be imported into New Zealand without us knowing.

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BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS

Rickie Shore Building

Rickie Shore Building a Timaru treasure Rickie Shore Building, the Timaru firm started 22 years ago

by Rickie Shore, has built a top reputation for its work, with many clients repeating their use of the company’s team and some even being regularly on the books.

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BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS Rickie still maintains a presence daily on the job, dealing mainly with the clients who come to the firm with their plans for new homes. His son Nick is also employed by the firm and fills a similar role. Their other major role, however, is travelling between work sites ensuring that each construction contract is being progressed to their exacting standards and also maintaining regular contact with the building staff.

Those standards were typified by the national Supreme Builder of the Year award Rickie Shore Building won in 1996. The

wide range of housing in virtually any materials and also does light commercial work. Two retirement homes have been completed by the company in Timaru.

Currently, it has on the go a number of houses and a veterinary surgery and also two townhouse developments, which are the company’s own projects.

With an overall staff of around 20, including a construction manager, several foremen and also five apprentices, Rickie Shore Building is able to keep three or four construction staff on each

award resulted in a contract to build a home way out of the company’s normal territory, on Waiheke Island, Auckland.

The usual territory for Rickie Shore Building i s Ti m a r u a n d S o u t h Canterbury, North Otago, Central Otago, from time to time, where it has built houses in Wanaka. A sure sign of the quality of the company’s building is the amount of return work it is requested to do and the group of selected clients it also has on its books.

While it will work readily to plans provided by clients, Rickie Shore Building specialises in design and build in the construction of homes.

Speaking for the company, Nick Shore told Builders and Contractors “We can organise all the plans.”

“If a client comes to us with an idea for a house that he wants to have built, we use our own architects and designs and put together a free concept design. If they like what we offer, then we price it out and if they approve, go ahead.”

Rickie Shore Building is capable of building a

project simultaneously.

Nick says it is preferred to keep the same staff working at each site throughout a building’s development.

The company is expert in timber framing and the use of local Oamaru stone, and also Rokcote, exterior plasters, schist rock; one slightly different current enterprise is a tilt panel constructioncurrently under way.

The company works as a main contractor, using sub-contractors where necessary, in the traditional style. It also does regular insurance work for IAG, after also working for several years for Fletchers, completing earthquake repair work. Much of this work is in South and Mid Canterbury, largely small repairs including a large number of chimneys which have been dislodged.

Another sign of Rickie Shore Building’s standing is such that most of its staff have been employed by it ‘for years’, suggesting the value it places in their skills.

In any case, Nick says, there are few tradesmen ‘with decent experience’ who come into the area looking for work.

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Training & Recruitment

Looking to grow your business?

Just copy your competitors.

Get ahead in business – just do exactly what your competitors do!

The secret to getting ahead in business is surely to just copy what your competition does.

The competitive edge surely, lies in copying their strategies, right? No it doesn’t you say, oh and by the way I’m a plonker?

Interesting you say that.

The vast majority of renowned business leaders (eg Jim Collins) talk about unlocking business potential through hiring the best talent.

Get the right people on the bus and all that. Smash your competition by outwitting them and outthinking them with your recruitment strategy; and by doing so hiring the best possible talent available. Best talent = improved profits. To paraphrase Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly’s recent NZ Herald Article “a sustained shortage of top-tier talent is jeopardising chances of longterm prosperity. Business Leaders really need to up

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their game when thinking about attracting and retaining talent”.

And here’s you, copying your competitors by placing another advertisement on a Web Job board, putting your feet up, collecting some CV’s, doing some interviews, and hiring the best of a bad bunch.

And I’m the plonker?

As I see it this reliance on reactive job boards raises a question. What would you do if they didn’t exist. How would you look to engage with talent?

I just spent a fun couple of days interviewing candidates for opportunities with one of my clients who are expanding their team.

Across two roles I met with seven highly desirable candidates I had shortlisted.

Here’s an over view for you.

• Six of those seven candidates had come from a proactive approach on my part, one from a job page.

• Out of the Six candidates all of them were open to discussing a new role or

were thinking about making a move in the next three to six months. They were passive talent looking for a competitive employer.

Here’s the really interesting part – only two of those candidates were active on the internet looking for a job, and only one of them was actively responding to advertising. What this says to me is that advertising will only reach a small percentage of valuable talent. Imagine the effect on your bottom line of only ever talking to a small percentage of your clients.

Go on, walk into a sales meeting and declare “from now on we will only engage with two in seven of our potential clients” Craziness.

And yet, you’re ok with doing this when it comes to recruitment?

• Three of those candidates had spoken to recruitment companies since the beginning of the year • One of those candidates registered online with a company specific HR team and had met with them

• Four of those candidates expected that their next role would come from an introduction from a business colleague, recruiter or industry word of mouth.

Say what?

Read that last point again.

This indicates to me that there exists right now, a significant switch in thinking in the market for talent. Candidates expect you to come to them. They expect that in this global talent shortage they are no longer to be viewed as an infinite commodity pool, endlessly scanning the internet and pressing send in the hope of some return communication. And in turn this challenges traditional business thinking around recruitment so significantly that it’s not a matter of if your methods will change, it’s a matter of when.

Now’s probably a good time.

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Training & Recruitment

Learning on the job Wellington Regional School of Construction When he was still at school, 19 yearold Denno Veratau realised he had a natural ability for carpentry and excelled at it as part of his design and technology course at Onslow College. “My work was good, my teacher said almost as perfect as his! I told my Dad, I’m going to be a builder,” said Denno.

Denno’s ability and his aspirations to be a builder, lead him to apply for a place with WelTec’s Wellington Trades Academy in 2014, his final year at school.

This helped him successfully achieve NCEA level 2 and contributed to a Vocational Pathway award in Construction and Infrastructure. Denno also completed two constructionrelated National Certificates: Building, Construction and

DennoVeratau on the job Allied Trades Skills; and Basic Residential Property Maintenance. All of this while also playing rugby for his school’s first XV. Denno said from this, the obvious path forward was the WelTec Certificate in Carpentry Level 3 at WelTec’s new Regional School of Construction, which he began in March this year. By the end of the programme Denno’s class will have built a three bedroom, relocatable house.

Denno now spends four days a week on the WelTec construction site. Fridays

are a critical part of Denno’s learning as they are spent on the job with a qualified builder so that he gains knowledge of how to operate in a real work environment ensuring he is not learning in an ‘education’ vacuum.

Arthur Graves, the Ministry of Education’s Group Manager for Youth Guarantee said of the programme: “Learning happens both inside and outside of the traditional classroom. Relevancy in education is crucial, and can only be achieved when industry are actively involved

in supporting study. We are encouraging businesses and educational institutions around the country to source partnerships to provide this relevancy.”

Denno’s current Friday work experience involves putting up plaster-board for a friend’s father who is a builder. He says he has already had two other offers from local builders and once the club rugby season is over, he will be working weekends too.

Wellington Regional School of Construction tutor, John Clench says work experience is a valuable addition to students’ learning while on the programme. “ Wo r k e x p e r i e n c e can be the student’s ticket to a cadetship* with a construction company which combines full time employment with study and learning towards a national qualification. Some students like Denno will already have contacts in the industry through family and friends and will quickly develop a good reputation. WelTec also

has a Jobs Broker to assist students find work when they have completed their programme of study.”

John explains that students are learning skills in an environment that replicates the workplace.

“They are learning what it is really like on a building site, how components go together and they thrive in the environment. The way we deliver our programmes means our graduates are highly sought after by employers and appreciate the work readiness of our graduates.”

Denno agrees, already his work diary, which is a log of what he has done, is full of what he has learnt - reading and working from a set of construction

drawings, setting out profiles, constructing sub-floor bearers, joists, and putting in under-floor insulation.

By the end of the programme he will have added much more and can show this diary to potential employers. Although for this talented student, it is likely he will have already negotiated the next step on his career pathway in the form of a cadetship – working and studying towards achieving a Level 4 National Certificate in Carpentry. From there he will work towards becoming a Licensed Building Practitioner and with this qualification he would like to start up the Veratau Construction Company.

Denno is on a clear pathway to his building dream.

Construction company gives students learning opportunities Construction company, Hawke’s Bay Project Management, has partnered with the tertiary organization, Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), to provide school students with a pathway into the construction industry.

On site and under mentorship from the company’s owner, John Roil, a group of 14 Year 13 students from local secondary schools will be building a one bedroom property.

This allows them to earn sector-related credits making their learning relevant to an industry and preparing them for work.

“The skills they are learning are a starting point for their careers in construction,” John says.

“It’s incredible to see

those kids begin with a block of wood and end up with a completed building.

It’s giving them skills they can use anywhere in New Zealand,” he says. “This country needs construction workers, especially in Christchurch and Auckland.”

John says that creating a path for young people to follow is integral to education and he sees his involvement as a community responsibility. “What we’re doing is helping young Kiwis with career progression.

Students are fulfilling a cadetship, which can become an apprenticeship and then, with higher qualifications, leads to management.

The more influence from the world outside formal education, like from business, on this process the better.”

EIT also offers construction pathways to school leavers and experience like this will make the transition to further study in this industry more achievable.

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John also sees the benefit of this young and skilled workforce to the Hawke’s Bay economy. From a social perspective, this former

teacher, builder, mentor and Hastings District Councillor, says that education and work opportunities are the key to lifting the aspirations of

young people.

J o h n ’s c o m p a n y specialises in prefabricated buildings. He delivers prefabricated police stations to rural areas of New Zealand and came to the attention of EIT when he won the S u p r e m e Aw a r d a t t h e Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce business awards.

EIT saw assembling kitset buildings as a challenge for their students and asked John if he would be involved.

John saw the project as an ideal opportunity to combine his passions of teaching and of building. He agreed and has mentored and facilitated the programme where both EIT Trades Academy and tertiary students construct a range of prefabricated buildings.

The buildings are then sold to the Ministry of Education for use as classrooms, early childhood centres or offices.

Paul Hursthouse, Business Relationship and Trades Academy at EIT

Manager says: “From my perspective satisfaction is measured by the students’ engagement, motivation, achievement and ultimately their success. And so far, the students are loving it.”

Arthur Graves, the Ministry of Education’s Group Manager for Youth Guarantee says of the project “This sort of collaboration between business and education will ensure that school leavers are highly skilled and ‘work ready’. Relevancy in education is crucial, and can only be achieved when industry are actively involved in supporting curriculum decisions. We are encouraging businesses and schools to source similar partnerships around the country. Learning happens both inside and outside of the traditional classroom.”

CONTACT - John Roil, Managing Director, Hawke’s Bay Project Management 06-650-4591 or 027-4491-526 B1502

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Height, Health & Safety

ISO standard for companies IMSM goal IMSM, International Management Systems Marketing, which was established in 1994, in the United Kingdom, is a leading ISO specialist which provides high quality ISO consultancy standards to organisations everywhere.

ISO – International Standards Organisation – is the standard to which the independent certification company QAS International’s auditors will assess a company for certification gained through IMSM programmes.

This benefits companies by providing significant measurable dividends, with financial payback, increased customer base, and better management control.

Through IMSM, a range of ISO categories may be achieved. Its mission, to deliver high quality ISO consultancy services, is allied to its vision of being a leading high quality provider of ISO services, and recognised for that by consistently assisting clients with a continuous

improvement ethos.

In Occupational Health and Safety Management the BS OHSAS 18001 certification can assist in the protection of employees, reducing accidents and the risk of prosecution; and provide improved tender and insurance outcomes and give supply-chain advantages. There will also be less down time and fewer delays.

IMSM is also able to implement ISO standards in Food Safety Management, laboratory testing and with medical devices; Business Continuity, IT Service Management, even the automotive and aerospace industries are included.

IMSM will provide full implementation to

a company adopting the BS OHSAS 18001 standard, preparing the manuals, keeping the process simple by improving a company’s systems already in place.

After reviewing a company’s processes, IMSM will develop and deliver tailored training programmes, and will support a company throughout all stages onto to certification.

In another area where health and safety is an issue, the environment, an IMSM ISO programme (IS0 14001) will assist in reducing waste, risk and costs, enhancing company image, giving assurance to clients, investors and the local community.

Contact: www.imsm.co.nz

The Guide to tolerances, materials and workmanship in new residential construction The Guide to tolerances, materials and workmanship in new residential construction is now available for download from www.building.govt.nz/ guide-to-tolerances.

The guidance was written with advice from industry and supports the new consumer protection measures in Part 4A of the Building Act, which came into law on 1 January 2015. The guide represents current acceptable standards from a cross-section of the construction industry.

Under the new consumer protection measures, a 12-month defect repair period starts when residential building work has been completed. During

this time it is the main contractors’ responsibility to fix any defects or prove that any defective building work is through no fault of their own, the fault of subcontractors under their control, or products supplied if there is a dispute.

The Guide to tolerances covers mainly aesthetic issues (e.g. what is considered a reasonable slope in a floor, or what is an acceptable appearance for a newly painted wall) in new builds and additions

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at any price, whether or not the consumer protection measures and $30,000 threshold apply.

The guide does not cover tolerances for repairs, renovations, or alterations within existing buildings.

Tolerances for existing buildings are likely to be below those achievable with new buildings. There are a number of reasons for this, including the nature of the materials used in existing buildings and the effects of both time and natural events.

The guide is also a great tool to make sure clients under st and and agr ee what acceptable levels of tolerances, materials and workmanship are for new residential building work. It

can be used before contracts are signed to help align expectations of quality with choice of design, materials, finishes and costs.

The Guide to tolerances, materials and workmanship in new residential construction is not a mandatory set of standards. Contractors and clients can mutually agree to their own expectations, preferably within their written contract.

Find out more about the consumer protection measures at doyourhomework.co.nz, and download your copy of Guide to tolerances, materials and workmanship in new residential construction at www. building.govt.nz/guide-totolerances.

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Height, Health & Safety

How to avoid snakes when using ladders According to the dictionary, common sense is defined as ‘good sense and sound judgement in practical matters’. So you’d think that using a ladder safely on a construction site would fall pretty quickly into ‘common sense’ category.

It is often simple misjudgements that catch you off guard and cause a fall; so before starting a job consider how you can eliminate, isolate or minimise a possible accident.

But you’d be wrong. Statistics show that approximately 70% of construction-related falls from a height are from ladders and roofs, and more than 50% of falls are from a height of less than three metres.

1.Eliminate the chances of a fall by doing as much of the preparation work as possible on the ground.

Ladders are primarily for accessing hardto-reach places and carrying out short, light tasks, such as changing a light bulb or touching up paint.

2.Isolate the worker from the risk of a fall by using scaffolds and edge protection to prevent the fall.

While ladders are handy and easy to use they offer no protection from falling. By employing some ladder safety common sense, you can reduce unnecessary injury and keep you and your employees healthy and productive.

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3.Only when these steps are not achievable should the risk be minimised.

So how do you practice some ladderbased common sense?

DO: • make sure you have the right type/size ladder for the job you are doing • check the overall condition of the ladder– if there is any doubt, don’t use it!

• face the ladder at all times while working on it • maintain three points of contact while working from a ladder – e.g. two hands and one foot as you climb the ladder or two firm feet and one hand while working • secure the top and bottom of the ladder to prevent it slipping sideways or falling backwards • set up the ladder on a firm level surface • ensure you have at least one metre extending past the point at which you are stepping off

from, when used for access to rooftops, etc • wear appropriate PPE such as working boots with good grip, an industrial hardhat, fluro high-visibility jackets and gloves with grip.

DON’T: • over-reach. Keeping your belt buckle within the two styles will help to avoid this • climb any higher than the third step down from top of the ladder • work near openings or voids • have more than one person on the ladder at one time • assume that employees and others will automatically know the risks involved.

It is everyone on sites responsibility to practise basic safety. While ladders are an everyday tool used in construction, there is no reason to not use them safely. Doing nothing is not an option – always eliminate, isolate and minimise your potential risks.

Contact your local Site Safe Advisor for help in developing and applying your own ladder policy and procedures Site Safe is a notfor-profit, membership based organisation that promotes, inspires and supports a culture of health and safety in New Zealand construction.

For more information visit www.sitesafe.org.nz.

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Safety Nets NZ

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Site Safe

Health and Safety Prequalification – Introducing SiteWise Health and Safety Prequalification is a term that’s gaining some traction around New Zealand workplaces, and especially within the construction sector. But what is prequalification, exactly? And why does it matter? The team at Site Safe NZ have some answers.

As not-for-profit organisation, Site Safe is committed to creating a culture of safety in the New Zealand construction and related industries. As experts in both health and safety training and delivery, we work with businesses of all sizes across the sector to raise the bar in health and safety performance. We want everyone in our industry to

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go home healthy and safe at the end of each day.

SiteWise is a prequalification system that grades a contractor’s health and safety capability and publishes that grade in a database that can be viewed by main contractors and principal organisations. These organisations use SiteWise to make better-informed contractor selections, making the tendering process simpler and more efficient for everyone involved.

Following the Christchurch earthquake, main contractors and subcontractors alike wanted a system that could speed up the tendering process, particularly in relation to the health and safety systems

and capability. The result was an online questionnaire and database called AppCon. AppCon operated successfully in Christchurch for a few years, but the recent interest in health and safety prequalification saw it begin to expand to include main contractors and other principal organisations around the country.

In order to improve the performance and expand its benefits to all users, Site Safe has rebuilt the AppCon database and it re-launched it as SiteWise in March 2015.

SiteWise is now easier to use and more adaptable to users’ specific needs. It is built on a software platform that will provide improved performance and greater

flexibility.

How does SiteWise work?

Prequalification is designed to really help during the tender process for contract work. It means that the usually complex process of assessing a tendering contractor ’s health and safety practices has already been done, saving time and money for both principals and contractors alike.

Businesses (contractors or subcontractors) wishing to be considered for tenders complete a questionnaire on their health and safety systems, including: • Health and safety accreditation programmes

(such as ACC’s Workplace Safety Discount or Wo r k p l a c e S a f e t y Management Practices) • Site Specific Safety Plans • Accident/incident reporting and investigation • Hazard Management • Training • Employee and subcontractor engagement • Monitoring and performance.

The questionnaires are assessed by Site Safe’s qualified health and safety professionals. The assessment results in a grading (green, amber, red) and a detailed report is provided privately to the contractor, along with suggestions for improvement if required.

Major benefits of SiteWise Prequalification: For Main Contractors/ Principals • Vi e w a l l t e n d e r i n g contractor prequalification results in one place

• Create shortlists based on health and safety assessment results • View contractor health and safety performance across different worksites • Streamline your tendering process.

For Subcontractors • Obtain a snapshot of your health and safety systems performance • Save time by creating just the one health and safety document for tendering • Receive feedback from professional health and safety assessors • Use SiteWise as a framework for improvement in health and safety performance.

To find out more or to contact the team, visit www.sitewise.co.nz.

Site Safe is a not-forprofit, membership based organisation that promotes, inspires and supports a culture of health and safety in New Zealand construction.

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Site Safe

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Site Safe

Housekeeping horrors – Navigating a minefield of hazards Cleaning is nobody’s favourite job, but it is a necessary evil to prevent worksite injuries. Poor housekeeping is one of the most common causes of injuries at work – and the most preventable.

A tidy worksite is a productive and safe work environment for everyone. It can be easy for things to be forgotten, and it’s easy to fall into the, ‘someone else will do it’ mentality.

The state of your worksite also sets the tone for how your company is perceived and has an impact on your reputation, both to your clients and your peers in the building industry.

A tidy work site oozes professionalism.

But never fear, an unkempt worksite is one of the easiest problems to solve. All you need to know is what hazards to be aware of and how to minimise them. Creating a safe worksite and c leaning as you go is best practise for preventing a build-up of clutter – Also known as: accidents waiting to happen.

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What are potential hazards?

Wet and slippery surfaces: • weather can be unpredictable - rain, sleet or wind can make outdoor surfaces uneven or/or soft making slipping easy • oils and lubricants can spill creating a dangerous slippery surface and if the floor is oily while hot work is being done (i.e. welding or grinding), it could create a fire hazard.

Obstacles: • loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms, and excessive material or waste in the working area are all potential trip hazards • workers can easily bump into projecting, poorly stacked or misplaced material.

Waste: • rubbish accumulates quickly on site – it is often irregular in shape, hard to handle and full of sharp objects • Watch for overflowing waste containers and materials that have nails and wire sticking out.

Lighting: • inadequate lighting and dirty light fittings, windows and skylights can make hazards hard to see.

Hygiene: • bathroom and kitchen facilities that are not cleaned regularly can cause significant health hazards.

How can I minimise and control these hazards?

Organise storage: • provide sufficient and convenient space for materials and tools • create a layout plan for materials and only order supplies as needed • mark out work and storage areas – clearly separating work activities from materials • use racks when storing lengths of pipe or timber – don’t stack palettes too high.

clear loose mud before setting up and climbing a ladder, rid shoes of as much excess mud as possible/reasonable • make sure worksite is well lit – use natural daylight where practical.

Organise Waste Management: • establish suitable waste locations – separating waste where appropriate (i.e. controlled and special waste) • bag and tie lightweight waste to prevent it blowing around the work site • hammer in or remove nails from wood waste • never overload a skip

– permission may be needed to place it on the road and it should be suitably cordoned off from the public • beware of accumulating flammable waste • inspect your waste – can anything be reduced, reused or recycled? Waste costs money!

Maintain equipment and materials: • stack and store equipment and materials in fixed places, away from walkways and emergency exits • put equipment away when not in use (eliminates tripping hazard) • when glass cutting or welding keep a fire

extinguisher close by .

Implementing set standards of housekeeping at the beginning of each job is the best course of action.

Cleaning up after yourself during the day as well as a 15 minute tidy at the end will help you and others to concentrate on working hard rather than nursing a sprained ankle.

Site Safe is a not-forprofit, membership based organisation that promotes, inspires and supports a culture of health and safety in New Zealand construction.

For more information visit www.sitesafe.org.nz.

Create a healthy work site: • if working outdoors be aware of muddy areas –

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BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS

Southern Workplace Safety / Pace

Introducing Kevin Thompson ABOUT PACE PROJECT MANAGEMENT

I have since 1996, actively working with industry to create and implement solutions for Health and Safety requirements.

Having spent 12 years as the National Health and Safety Manager for an Australasian Construction company, and 7 years working with the small to medium business owners I have a vast background of diverse experiences.

I work with the business owner to allow them to own the solutions

and assist with ongoing advice and support. I can assist with both the ACC discount scheme applications for reduction of ACC levy’s (WSMP and WSD).

Experience in creating and trialling E m e rg e n c y r e s p o n s e plans, and worksite safety inspection’s.

Relationships are vital to my way of working, as is my ongoing and continuous learning through my membership with the New Zealand Safety Council as a Registered Safety Professional.

For 12 months in 2012, Kevin was seconded to the Major projects division of Downer NZ as a Health and Safety manager for

the Christchurch Rebuild contract. This allowed him to participate in a hands on application of safety management as well as contractor management.

Background and Experience • Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.

• Health and Safety Since 1996; • Safety auditing - Since 1996; • ACC Partnership program Since 2002 ;and • WSMP management Since 2002; • Wo r k p l a c e I n j u r y and return to work management - Since 2006; • Wo r k p l a c e A c c i d e n t Investigations – 1971; • Environmental auditing - since 2006

Pace Project Management was established in 2001 and bring over 80 years of years of expertise and success in the fields of Construction & Re-fit Project Management. Specialists in the complete project management of commercial construction & refurbishment works, projects range from works for private individuals, national and multi-national organizations, the public sector, health sectors and earthquake damage insurance claims and earthquake affected tenant access in Christchurch City.

In addition to the core Project and Construction Management business, Pace also undertakes: • Feasibility Studies • Design Concepts • Budget Estimation • Office Interiors • Restaurant Fit-outs • Retail Refurbishment • Building Construction • Building Renovation/Extensions • Earthquake Damage Repairs

Pace is affiliated with a number of industry bodies, including the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC), the New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB), the Lifetime Design Foundation, the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS) and the Property Council of New Zealand (PCNZ). These affiliations allow Pace to remain at the forefront of best industry practice.

Our people are also involved in a number of national and community organisations.

Pace believes that business is about people.

PACE people all share the same enthusiasm about our industry and the service we provide.

A fantastic collaborative culture exists within the company, making full use of people’s varied and extensive experience.

For more information on Pace Project Management contact Andrew Christian on +64 3 366 4282 or +64 21 888 628; or write to them at: Level 3, 112 Tuam Street, P.O. Box 36-546, Christchurch 8001

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BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS

Clyde Quay Wharf Redevelopment Supreme Winner

Clyde Quay Wharf Redevelopment Supreme Winner at Commercial Building Awards One of Wellington’s top residential addresses – Clyde Quay Wharf – was named Supreme Award winner at New Zealand Commercial Project Awards, held in Auckland.

Created by the construction team of LT McGuinness, architect firm Athfield Architects, and engineers Dunning Thornton, the wharf redevelopment took out the top prize against 33 of the country’s premium commercial properties vying for awards.

The extensive 239m-long development includes 76 luxury apartments, a concierge service, a business centre with a private meeting room, a boutique fitness centre, and a 16-seat movie theatre, while at street level are offices, shops and restaurants. An under wharf basement carpark – noted as the first of its kind in Australasia – posed an immense challenge and included 205 piles and strengthening of the existing wharf with 28 individual, 90-tonne slabs cast above the level of high tide.

Judges praised the mix of old and new in the development – which includes a number of heritage items found in the original building that were reused, such as mosaic artworks, a world clock and the original spire – as well as the way the project team collaborated with local authorities to overcome the challenges presented by redeveloping the 100-yearold wharf.

“The project team ventured into thoroughly uncharted territory, and by building strong partnerships with the regulatory authorities and

a whole range of local and international experts, have delivered a superbly detailed landmark building that is more than deserving of this accolade. “ A d e s i g n , engineering and construction masterpiece, this development is a fantastic enhancement to Wellington’s waterfront.”

As well as the supreme award the quay also took out the ‘Residential’ category award, a Gold award and the value award for top property over $15 million.

Awards spokesperson Greg Pritchard says the Award winners represent the very best in New Zealand’s commercial property sector.

“Once again, these awards have attracted high calibre entrants, and the winners are first class project teams delivering outstanding results for their clients. These awards reveal just how strong our commercial property industry is, with winners displaying excellence – from design to build.”

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This year the capital showed that its construction boom is matched with quality projects, securing the supreme award, two category wins, two value awards, three Golds, and five silvers.

Among those Wellington properties that received awards were buildings in the Government precinct and CBD, including the Ambassador’s Residence, 312 Lambton Quay, 15 Stout Street, Te Puni Kokiri and Shed 6.

Auckland also proved its design and construction prowess, securing 10 awards for the region, including the ‘Retail’ category win for MASU Restaurant at SKYCITY, a Gold and value ($2m-$5m) award for Takapuna’s Hurstmere Green, alongside other gold, silver and bronze awards. Christchurch’s new medical buildings stood out in the ‘Health’ category, with the city’s new Eye Surgery and the South Island Blood Centre both winning gold awards

(Christchurch Eye Surgery took out the category award), and Southern Cross Hospital winning silver.

Other winners around the country included the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre in Christchurch, the Avantidrome National Cycling Centre of Excellence in Cambridge – which received a Special Award, category and Gold award – the Tasti Products offices in Auckland, and the Sandilands Edwardian Development in Feilding.

Southern-based Amalgamated Builders also took out a Platinum Award – a special one-ina-lifetime award that goes to an organisation that has won five or more national titles – for previous projects including Queenstown’s Sofitel Hotel (2006 – Seismic Tourism and Leisure Project), Wanaka’s Rippon Hall at Rippon Vineyard (2013 Tourism and Leisure category, $2m-$5m value award), and Wanaka’s Puzzling World Sculptillusion Gallery

(2014 Tourism and Leisure category, under $2m value award).

Says Mr Pritchard: “As we come to the end of our third annual awards, this competition is quickly

securing its position as a leading commercial awards programme in New Zealand, celebrating building excellence by commercial construction professionals”.

Category winners are: • Education: Wintec Engineering and Trades Facility, Hamilton (entered by Chow: Hills Architects) – Gold.

• Health: Christchurch Eye Surgery, Christchurch (entered by Leighs Construction) – Gold.

• Industrial: Avantidrome National Cycling Centre of Excellence, Cambridge (entered by Livingstone Building) – Gold and Special Award.

• Restoration: 15 Stout St, Wellington (entered by McKee Fehl Constructors Limited) – Gold.

• Retail: Masu Restaurant, Auckland (entered by Naylor Love) – Silver • Tourism and Leisure: Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, Christchurch (entered by Leighs Construction) – Gold.

• Commercial and Civic: Norwest on Victoria, Christchurch (entered by Fletcher Construction) – Gold and Value Award $5-$15 million.

• Platinum award: Amalgamated Builders Ltd. The New Zealand Commercial Project Awards is owned by Registered Master Builders Association and is supported by a national sponsor family of PlaceMakers, James Hardie, GIB, NALCO and Allied Concrete.

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BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS

Whelan Construction

Heritage buildings enhanced

by Whelan’s work Whelan Construction of Central Otago, has done all the work to date on the Olivers, of Clyde property and has built a reputation for its work in the region, contracted to the restoration of many historic buildings there, while also playing a role in general construction in other parts of the South Island.

The company proprietor, Warren Whelan, has built a team of experienced restoration workers who have done many of the restoration projects on heritage properties in Central Otago. He also has a housing franchise, Highmark Homes which operates out of Central Otago.

He says the Olivers contract provided some particular difficulties and was undertaken in three stages, with work on the original homestead, the additions of ensuite to each room. A barn in the corner of the property was also converted into the owners’ residence, before

the restaurant complex was started. This involved the renovation of the existing restaurant, adjacent garage/ workshop and building an extension for a new café and bar, an area of 110 square metres.

Wi t h t h e b u i l d i n g s required by Heritage New Zealand to be restored and kept as original as possible, much of the original materials were recycled back into the job, Stone work on the restaurant building was repaired and in some cases rebuilt to match the existing structure from materials on site. Timber mouldings and doors were manufactured to replicate existing décor throughout from much of the

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existing materials salvaged from the site, The greatest difficulty was getting the restaurant and garage-workshop building linked together, because the two existing buildings, being connected by the new work, were not aligned with each other. The floor heights were three different levels and there was significant time spent between WCL and Jackie Gullies and Associates, the architects for the project, ensuring that the new and the existing structures blended together so that the building worked structurally and aesthetically.

One of the first tasks was to waterproof the old buildings, with the roofs

needing to be removed and strengthened to comply with earthquake regulations. While the roof was off, holes were bored down through the walls and grout poured in to provide earthquake strengthening and to ensure that the buildings were weather tight.

The timber framed walls in each of the buildings were stripped and these areas were modified and relined. The stonework was also repointed with the stonework being done by Whelan’s own staff.

New floors were also laid for a brewery in the restaurant

and existing floors were repaired after new drainage work for toilets and kitchens was completed.

New features added were two large commercial kitchens along with the small brewery, new toilets and cool and dry storage facilities.

A large exterior courtyard was also introduced with a steel pergola constructed over the area. For heating, gas overhead heaters were attached to the steel structure.

Exterior feature lighting was also installed to highlight the

Construction Ltd). The bar from the existing restaurant was altered and extend and then installed in the new bar area. Existing timber doors and many of the existing windows were dismantled and repaired prior to refitting.

Much of the internal match lining in the restaurant ceiling was retained and AAJ run recycled materials to match the existing ceiling along with all the internal finishing t i m b e r. N e w e x t e r n a l solid core doors were also manufactured to match in

outdoor areas and feature the 100-year old stone schist walls to the restaurant.

The existing dual large open fires were repaired during the strengthening work and are operated over the winter months, providing a cosy ambience in the restaurant area.

The property is also heated with a hydronic under-floor heating and wall radiators heated by diesel boilers The internal fit out was completed by All About Joinery (a division of Whelan

with existing.

Restoration of the existing painting, and completion of the new areas was completed by Whelan’s painters ‘Work started on the restaurant and cafe Bar in September last year and was completed in time for the building to be handed over to David Ritchie in time for an Easter opening this year.

Contacts for Whelan Construction Office – ph 03 448 7860, 8 Skird Street, Alexandra. www.whelanconstruction.co.nz

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Certified Builders 17th Annual Conference & Expo

Certified Builders 17th Annual Conference & Expo

Certified Builders conference panoramic trade expo area

Certified Builders held its largest ever Annual Conference & Expo at Horncastle Arena in Christchurch over 21-23 May, with a record number of over 550 attendees and over 75 trade exhibitors.

Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith opened the conference and Labour Party Leader Andrew Little closed the conference.

The results of the New Zealand Final of the Carpentry Apprenticeship Challenge were announced on day two of the conference, with 12 regional winners competing for the top spot. The winner was Lee Holloway (Hawke’s Bay), with Paul Maihi (Northland) coming second and Marcus Devereux (Otago) coming third.

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Photo: Paul Maihi (2nd), Grant Florence (Certified Builders Chief Executive), Lee Holloway (1st), Marcus Devereux (3rd)

topics, including health and safety, building law, apprentices, customer service, business development and leadership.

The Fletcher Window & Door Systems Charity Auction concluded the conference. The auction raised over $10,000 for the Certified Builders Apprenticeship Scholarship Trust, which helps apprentices in times of personal hardship that would otherwise prevent them from completing their training.

Social events for conference delegates

included the PlaceMakers Mingler at Addington Raceway and a ‘Fabulous 50s’ themed Gala Dinner, which was held in the heart of the Air Force Museum in the Aircraft Hall.

Certified Builders Chief Executive, Grant Florence, said the conference was a great success, reflecting the fact that Certified Builders currently has a record number of members, the quality conference programme and the growing interest by trade exhibitors in being part of the conference.

“Certified Builders’ point of difference is that it is the only building trade association that requires trade-qualification for membership. The conference was a great opportunity for our members and the wider industry to get together and share best practice during a time of unprecedented demands on the building industry.”

Photo: Grant Florence (Certified Builders Chief Executive), Minister for Building and Housing Hon Dr Nick Smith, Dave Brown (Certified Builders Chairman)

been working on New Zealand’s southern-most construction project at Scott Base, Antarctica since January 2015.

Speaking during the live hook-up, Peter and Blake answered questions about the harsh conditions, how their building tools

cope, how they manage working in the dark, what they miss about New Zealand and seeing the Aurora Australis.

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BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS

Panelised prefabrication proves promising for Rotorua Perfectly poised to adopt a new building concept, Rotorua could rival the likes of Scandinavia and Germany in future years through panelised prefabrication construction.

Last week over 40 builders, architects and engineers came together for a Grow Rotorua wood first panelised prefabrication workshop, with Offsite Design managing director and consultant Johann Betz.

Mr Betz said that Rotorua could become nation leaders in this modern and innovative approach to construction, due to our forestry resources and nimbleness as a small city.

Often weather dependant, traditional building processes can be full

Johann Betz presents a workshop on panelised prefabrication in Rotorua of delays and unproductive building time. Much to the appeal of builders and clients, the concept of building via panelisation takes those inefficient processes and places the majority of construction into a large warehouse-conducive to productivity and incremental learning, ultimately ensuring top quality results.

Mr Betz says the challenge for Rotorua is to get into the fabrication of

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building components and make it here.

“You already have the trees here, this is now about figuring out ways you can add value to it locally and employ locals to undertake it, and I think, especially with a wood-first policy, it should be easy to achieve” Panelisation also lends itself well to interesting and innovative architectural designs and could potentially add another facet to Rotorua’s

already comprehensive list of tourism offerings.

Sigma Consultants principal architect, Damian Jensen, believes panelised prefabrication would take off best within the commercial industry in Rotorua.

“It was good to hear and see how successful it is overseas and there’s no reason it can’t be done here in Rotorua.

“We don’t have a housing shortage here in Rotorua like Auckland and Christchurch do, so I believe this method has great opportunities for the commercial industry in the future.”

R & B Consultants developer, Ray Cook, has been the first to lead the way with a wood first concept, motivated by geotechnical issues often found throughout Rotorua.

“We would never have been able to build a two storey building on this site as it would be too heavy,

but the great advantage of prefabricated cross-laminated timber panels (CLT) is that they are much lighter than concrete.

“Being a geothermal centre we come across a lot of geotechnical issues in Rotorua, and if this build goes as easily as we predict, developers and investors are sure to take advantage,” he says.

For existing construction companies, the shift towards prefabrication is not difficult as it is essentially “building with a different type of material” however the entire process may prove challenging as it requires collaboration with architects, prefabricators and engineers from day one.

Despite challenges, greater control over the final price of buildings is achieved through this holistic construction approach as any issues are immediately addressed and those involved are more prepared.

Mr Betz quashed the general misconception that prefabrication is a capital heavy, fully automated process and in fact encouraged start-up businesses to start out small.

“All you need is a large warehouse space, a table, and two carpenters working with a nail gun to produce prefabrication, and organic growth is very easy to achieve – if you can do something small such as a residential building, there’s nothing holding you back from going bigger.”

Aligning well with New Zealand’s clean-green image, the opportunity to become pioneers of environmentally friendly and sustainable buildings has also arisen.

“You can create buildings that are giving back, whether that’s by generating more energy than they consume or even having a negative carbon foot print - it would go really well with the image New Zealand has,” he said.

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Sustainability

A Baby Step for 'Sustainability' - Think Simply First

by Reo Tanaka (Tutor in Built Environment at Wellington Institute of Technology, MFA Interior Architecture, BA Human Relations (Sociology), DINZ

Is ‘sustainability’ that difficult?

If you ask ten people , “What is sustainability?”, you’re likely to get ten different answers. I teach a sustainability related subject in the Built Environment department at Wellington Institute of Technology.

In the course, I always tell students that the term ‘sustainability’ is often made unnecessarily confusing.

The concept of ‘sustainability’ in general has been with us for about fifty years. Simply put: the idea arose out of the awareness that the Earth’s finite and limited natural resources were no match for the world’s growing human population and man’s technological capabilities to build ever bigger and more efficient technologies to capitalize on these limited resources. Since that time, what was once the concern of a few environmentalists and activist citizens, has grown to enter into the consciousness of the general public. In the architecture and construction industry, we started focusing on the concept in the 1980s.

Since this time, an ongoing debate has ensued to define ‘sustainability’ and how to achieve it. The debate continues. For example, Simon Guy and Steven Moore, authors of Sustainable Architecture: Cultures and Natures in Europe and North America, an important book on the issue of Sustainable Design, spend more than 10 pages explaining how confusing the term Sustainable Design can be. So if sustainability is so difficult to define and understand, how can we possibly achieve it?

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no matter how expansive or limited the degree. But what we strive to achieve in the end is a construction that will have the least impact on the environment under the existing conditions.

more? What can we do as the architecture and construction industry?

So how do we achieve it?

Are we making ‘sustainability’ too complicated? Maybe.

As I mentioned earlier, ‘sustainability’ has so many variables to consider. But why don’t we put everything difficult aside for the moment. Let’s think about the most important thing regarding ‘sustainability’: limiting our footprint and ensuring our natural resources are still there for future generations to utilise and enjoy.

I was reading an old reference guide book on Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) the other day (LEED is a “green building program” developed by the US Green Building Council). It states that “there are many different conceptions of green building design due to the large scope of sustainability issues and the novelty of sustainable principles.” (The U.S. Green Building Council 2003). This broad aspect of ‘sustainability’ may cause an apparent contradiction, where one ‘solution’ may be ‘green’ in one context, but less so in another. For example, living in a rural area surrounded by trees, with no street lights, may be considered ‘sustainable’, yet one most likely will be using a petrol-guzzling car to commute to the office or to the shopping mall. On the contrary, living in a city with shorter commuting times and the option to use less energy–consuming modes of transport may be more ‘sustainable’; but, developing that urban area one is living in – cutting down trees, excavating soil, etc – may not be.

Is ‘sustainability’ expensive?

And not only do we have to consider the many aspects of ‘sustainability’, but we also have to consider the cost. Many people think that a sustainably designed building costs significantly more than an ‘ordinary’ building.

According to Amey, et al in “Sutainability: Who Cares A property industry survey” (Amey, et al. 2009), many

Can we start with a baby step?

What can we do?

Recycle? Reuse? people believe that “there is a 6–10% cost penalty for going green”. However, the authors argue that this is a misconception. They suggest instead that the capital cost of such buildings lies in the range of only 2-4%.

That 2-4% additional cost might still deter some, but we should also not forget that one of the main aspects of ‘sustainability’ is to reduce energy usage and running/ operating costs. Overtime, a sustainable building will recover fees that may have been incurred at the initial stage of the project. So overall, is ‘sustainability’ really more costly?

How are we doing in New Zealand?

Recently I came across a report issued by Lincoln University in Canterbury, Public Perceptions of New Zealand’s Environment: 2013. The report studied New Zealand residents´ perceptions about the New Zealand environment.

(Lincoln University 2013).

The report revealed that

only about 36% of New Zealanders believed New Zealand’s environment is “clean and green”. This is a significant drop from 2000, when nearly 65% answered positively to the same question.

Another report appears to confirm that perception. The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) Report, created

by Yale University’s Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy (YCELP) , and Columbia University ‘s Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN),focuses on “two broad policy areas: (1) protection of human health from environmental harm and (2) protection of eco systems”. In their 2006 pilot report, New Zealand was ranked at the top among 133 countries. However, while the EPI’s website mentions that we cannot compare the results over time due to the changes of various aspects, our ranking has dropped to #16 (out of 178 countries) according to the latest 2014 EPI report.

Can we become a sustainable leader once

What can we do as an industry? We all recycle our rubbish at home. Why can’t we do the same thing at a construction site? Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste may consist up to “50 per cent of all waste generated in New Zealand” (Ministry for the Environment 2013).

The Ministry also points out that 50 - 55% of C&D waste can be recovered in New Zealand. And wouldn’t there be significant cost savings? “Approximately 850,000 tons of C&D waste is sent to landfills each year, depending on the level of building activity.” (BRANZ 2014).

We can also use recycled products and reuse materials from construction sites, i.e. doors, windows, stairs, cabinetry, carpeting, etc. Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) – the authority on sustainable building in New Zealand – provides a broad list of “Reuse and Recycling” building materials on their level website.

Also, thinking about the specific properties of materials is also a

good starting point for ‘sustainability’. For example: many may think that concrete is not a sustainable material as it emits a great deal of carbon dioxide during production.

Yet, in the long run, how about energy usage in a building? Could concrete work as a good thermal mass? And could it be recycled for future use?

Our new building in the School of Construction at WelTec located in Petone uses tilt-up precast concrete wall panels. This could potentially work as a good thermal mass to retain heat, as the building receives a good amount of sunshine, especially in the morning.

A n d w h e n n e c e s s a r y, decades down the road, the panels could be recycled for other future buildings.

In addition, the building also has a thermal system that heats the roof to “provide an economic and efficient construction methodology” to keep the building reasonably warm.

Making small steps, then going further These are not grandiose and complex schemes. We can all make small steps to achieve this big goal: ‘sustainability’. It could be a matter of material selection, it could be reducing C&D waste, it could be focusing on reducing a building’s operational cost. And there are resources out there to help us achieve this goal.

For example, the BRANZ website provides invaluable information to “help you design and build homes which have less impact on the environment and are healthier, more comfortable, and have lower running costs.” (BRANZ 2014) The goal is very simple: Limit our footprint and build with awareness of future generations. What small step you can take? Then go further.

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