On-site Insight
241 Northbourne Ave, Lyneham Canberra ACT 2602 Tel: (02) 6247 2099 Fax: (02) 6249 8374 www.mba.org.au
Simplified Business Reporting Under single Business Reporting (SBR) businesses will be able to use their existing software to submit government forms, such as BAS, electronically using a single secure login. Other forms that will be covered include Company Income Tax Returns, TFN Declarations and the quarterly business Indicators survey (for the ABS). The agencies covered include the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Prudential Regulation authority, the Australian Securities and investments Commission, the Australian Taxation Office, and potentially State Revenue Offices. Use of the initiative will be voluntary and the system will be fully operational in mid-2010, with take-up by businesses escalating over the subsequent three years. Master Builders Australia is a strong supporter of the initiative which is intended to reduce the volume of reporting from businesses to government, improve consistency in business to government reporting and reduce the number of channels for business to government reporting. Education and assistance to small business using the initiative is needed and other initiatives to reduce regulations must continue. For the full Press Release contact Karen on 6247 2099
Home Building Contracts A couple of publications ago a question was asked “How many of you have read a Home Building Contract”, from cover to cover. An offer was made for a free 2 hour workshop on your rights and obligations in a Master Builders Contract. The builders who came to the workshop found it informative. We have also run workshops for members of the public. These workshops were well attended with the participants now well versed in what they can expect from our members with regard to a Master Builders contract. This Contract was written by some of the finest minds at Master Builders (ACT) for the benefit of its Members. It is a Lump Sum Contract for Residential Building Work written in plain English. Many disputes between builders and clients in the residential construction area can be avoided by a well written and thought out contract.
October 2007
It is not only the contract that is important however. The quote, being an integral part of the pre-construction process, is as important. In residential building work including remodelling and new housing, the quote should be a detailed description of what the builder has priced. It should spell out in detail the Prime Cost (PC) items, the Provisional sums and any other assumptions made by the builder in producing a lump sum figure for the client. Recently we have had member’s clients approaching us with issues relating to builders not doing what the client had assumed the builder had included in his quote. In one instance, a client showed us a one page quote for an extension that stated the price was for everything “as per plan”. This means that anything that is written on the plan attached to the quote has been accounted for. If the plans states “Steel framed stairs with Hardwood treads “ that is what the client is entitled to, not Treated Pine stringers and Treated Pine treads. In a dispute situation this situation could cost the builder a substantial amount of money and could seriously affect his profit on the job. In its effort to ensure that it’s Residential and Remodeller members remain professional in their dealings with members of the public and clients, the Master Builders would like to give assistance to any members who believe that there may be room for improvement in their quote creation. Any members that would like to attend a workshop on “MY QUOTE –TOWARDS ANOTHER SATISFIED CLIENT” please contact Norma on 6247 2099.
Master Builders Fidelity Fund Providing: • • •
ACT Home Warranty Insurance Discounts for Master Builders Members Speedy Application Process
For more information about the Fidelity Fund contact Dave on 6247 2099
Daylight Saving for 2007 - 2008
In This Issue Insulation Requirements for Commercial Building Simplified Business Reporting
The 2007 / 2008 daylight saving period for the ACT will commence at 2:00 am Eastern Standard Time on Sunday 28 October 2007 and cease at 2:00 am Eastern standard time on Sunday 6 April 2008. This means that at 2:00 am Sunday, 28 October 2007 (EST) clocks are put forward one hour to 3:00 am (Summer Time), and at 3:00 am Sunday, 6 April 2008 (Summer Time) clocks are put back one hour to 2:00 am (EST).
Home Building Contracts
Harmonised Daylight Saving from 2008
Important Dates Monday 22 October Master Builders Golf Day 8-10 November International Conference Gold Coast Saturday 10 November Green Living & Building Open Day Friday 16 November Annual Dinner
Training Dates 18 & 19 October OH&S Risk Management for Managers & Supervisors Thursday 25 October Restricted Height Scaffolding Thursday 25 October Explosive Powered Tools
From 2008 the ACT, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria will all start daylight saving on the first Sunday in October and end on the first Sunday in April. This will result in an extra month of daylight saving for the ACT and introduces common start and finish dates for daylight saving in these states.
Master Builders International Conference Gold Coast 8-10 November 2008 Master Builders Australia is pleased to be hosting the Master Builders International Conference, Building Exhibition and National Awards in 2007 on the Gold Coast and we would like to extend an invitation to what promises to be an exciting and rewarding experience. For further information visit www.masterbuilders.com.au or phone 02 6202 8888.
Our partnership with Austbrokers continues to save members thousands of dollars every year “I joined the Master Builders in May and made an unexpected saving of $7000 a year on workers’ compensation”’ Ben Arranz Expert Tiling Pty Ltd
For further information and eligibility contact David Leitch at the Master Builders on 02 6247 2099
AN INDUSTRY UPDATE FROM THE MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF THE ACT
On-site Insight
On-site Insight
Insulation Requirements for Class 2 - 9 Buildings in accordance with Part J Building Code of Australia
Building Services - Ductwork
We receive a number of calls at Master Builders from Builders, Architects and Designers regarding the minimum insulation required for new commercial buildings or additions to existing buildings. With the assistance of Bradford the Master Builders has developed the following table.
Ductwork and fittings for heating or cooling must be thermally insulated to achieve the minimum Total R-Value and use insulation material that complies with AS/NZS 4859.1. Systems no more than 65kWr and 65kW (heating) Capacity Ductwork Element
The Building Code of Australia 2006 introduced Energy Efficiency provisions for Class 2-9 commercial building for the first time. These include minimum insulation requirements for the building envelope and services. Under these provisions different Total R-Values are required depending on the building class and the climate zone that the building is in. The relevant climate zone for the ACT is 7. For the minimum insulation requirements firstly check the building class, then under climate zone 7 read off the minimum insulation required for the building envelope and services. Please note that these minimum insulation requirements apply to new buildings and additions and alterations to existing buildings.
Evap Cooling
Heating only system or refrigerated cooling only systems
All climate zones 1,3,4,6 & 7 Ductwork
R0.6
R1.0
Combined Heating and refrigerated cooling system
2&5
8
1,3,4,6 & 7
2&5
8
R1.0
R1.5
R1.5 (see note)
R1.0
R1.5
Fittings
R0.4
Note: The minimum Total R-Value required may be reduced by R0.5 for combined heating and refrigerated cooling systems in climate zones 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 if the ducts are: (a) under a suspended floor with an enclosed perimeter; or (b) in a roof space that has insulation of not less than R0.5 directly beneath the roofing.
Building Envelope Systems greater than 65kWr and 65kW (heating) Capacity
Class 2 or 3 building, Class 4 part of a building or Class 9c aged care building Climate Zone
1
2 <300m
Direction of Heatflow
3
4
5
6
7
8
>300m
Downwards
Downwards & Upwards
Upwards
Roofs & Ceilings Minimum Total R-Value for a roof or ceiling generally
R2.2
R2.2
R2.5
R2.2
R3.0
R2.7
R3.2
R3.8
R4.3
Minimum Total R-Value for a ceiling below a nonconditioned space such as a plant room, store room or the like
R1.1
R1.1
R1.25
R1.1
R1.5
R1.35
R1.6
R1.9
R2.8
Walls
R1.4
R1.4
R1.4
R1.4
R1.7
R1.4
R1.7
R1.9
R2.8
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
R1.0
R1.0
R2.5
Floors Suspended floor with unenclosed perimeter
Location of ductwork and fittings
Evap Cooling
Heating system or refrigerated cooling systems
All climate zones
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Nil
R1.0
R1.0
R1.0
R1.0
R1.0
R1.3
R1.3
R1.5
R0.9
R1.8
R1.5
R1.8
R1.8
R1.5
R1.8
R1.8
R2.0
Within a conditioned space other than where the place is the only or last space served All other locations
(see note)
(see note)
(see note)
Note: The minimum Total R-Value required may be reduced by R0.5 for heating system or refrigerated cooling system ductwork in climate zones 1, 3 and 4 if the ducts are: (a) under a suspended floor with an enclosed perimeter; or (b) in a roof space that has insulation of not less than R0.5 directly beneath the roofing. Building Services - Pipework The BCA also covers pipe insulation energy efficiency Total R-Values required are listed below: Heating Water Piping Up to 65kW Capacity
Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9a or 9b building Climate Zone
1
2 <300m
3
4
5
6
7
8
>300m
Direction of Heatflow
Downwards
Upwards
Roofs & Ceilings Minimum Total R-Value for a roof or ceiling generally
R3.2
R3.2
R3.2
R3.2
R3.2
R3.2
R3.2
R3.2
R4.3
Minimum Total R-Value for a ceiling below a nonconditioned space such as a plant room, store room or the like
R1.6
R1.6
R1.6
R1.6
R1.6
R1.6
R1.6
R1.6
R2.15
Walls
R1.8
R1.8
R1.8
R1.8
R1.8
R1.8
R1.8
R1.8
R2.8
R1.5
Nil
Nil
R1.5
R1.5
Nil
R1.5
R1.5
R2.5
Floors Suspended floor with unenclosed perimeter
Climate Zones
1, 2, 3, 5
Located internally Located within a wall space, an enclosed sub-floor area or an enclosed roof space Located outside the building or in an unenclosed roof space
Cooling Water Piping
More than 65k capacity
65kW to 250kW Capacity
More than 250k capacity
4, 6, 7
8
1, 2, 3, 5
4, 6, 7
8
1, 2, 3, 5
4, 6, 7
8
1, 2, 3, 5
4, 6, 7
8
R0.2
R0.2
R0.2
R0.5
R0.6
R0.8
R1.0
R0.9
R0.8
R1.5
R1.2
R1.0
R0.3
R0.45
R0.6
R0.6
R0.7
R0.9
R1.1
R1.0
R0.9
R1.6
R1.3
R1.1
R0.3
R0.6
R0.6
R0.7
R0.8
R1.0
R1.2
R1.1
R1.0
R1.8
R1.4
R1.3
Note: Piping to be insulated includes all flow and return piping, cold water supply piping within 500mm of the connection to the heating and cooling system and pressure relief piping within 500m of the connection to the heating and cooling system.
AN INDUSTRY UPDATE FROM THE MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF THE ACT