WATERPROOFING: Upskill to avoid defects

Although waterproofing is an integral part of maintaining the health, amenity and structural integrity of a building, it is also one of the most common defects in the ACT. Waterproofing claims and litigation have been identified as the most frequent building defects reported in the building and construction industry. For builders, who are the only building practitioner currently responsible for these issues, this means large holes in profit margins, building defects and irreversible damage to reputations.

According to the National Construction Code (NCC), building elements in wet areas within a building must be protected with a waterproofing system. The waterproofing system must be either waterproof or water resistant in accordance with the NCC. In short, what is waterproofed today, must be fit for purpose for a minimum of 6 years.

The main reasons for waterproof membrane failure are:

1. Poor surface preparation

2. Substrates have high moisture levels

3. Substrates are not primed

4. No bond breakers or fillets at floor to wall junctions

5. Bond breakers and fillets are incompatible with the selected membrane system

6. No set down internal to external

7. Cross cavity flashing at the incorrect height

8. No overflashing or capping to protect the membrane termination

9. Damage by following trades

10. Overflashing or capping is incorrectly sized

11. Membrane applied too thin or too thick

12. Membrane emulsification due to insufficient curing prior to tiling

13. Applicator fails to follow membrane manufacturer’s instructions

Evidence from recent audits by the Construction Occupations Registrar has indicated three common areas for improvement that will help avoid these issues. The first is poor attention to products and materials, including lack of compliance testing and lack of authenticity checks for materials. The second is lack of responsibility for ‘whole of structure’ design, including multiple vendors designing different parts of buildings and poor coordination between design professionals. The third is disregard for design to enable shortcuts, including conditional certificates to carve out designer responsibility and retrofitted design solutions to accommodate noncompliant work.

There are currently no licence requirements for waterproofers in the ACT – Master Builders ACT has long advocated for trade contractor licensing which would include structural trades, such as waterproofers. In NSW, however, you already need a licence or certificate to do any residential building work valued at more than $5000 in labour and materials (including GST).

Master Builders provides training on waterproofing best practice to assist ACT industry with maintaining a suitable level of knowledge. The training involves looking at practical design applications that are compliant with Australian Standards and the National Construction Code, as well as identifying minor and functional defects. It is designed for builders and anyone responsible for ensuring quality workmanship in relation to waterproofing. Master Builders ACT strongly recommends that the industry embraces this training and upskill themselves and their team.

For more information, please scan the QR code.

There are also a series of guides on waterproofing produced by MBA NSW available for purchase from Master Builders ACT. The complete set of four (4) guides is available at the bundled price of $330 for members ($440 for non-members). The four guides include:

> Guide to Internal Wet Area Waterproofing (Book 1) ($88 for members / $121 for non-members)

> Guide to External Wet Area Waterproofing (Book 2) ($104.50 for members / $137 for non-members)

> Guide to Planter Box Waterproofing (Book 3) ($99 for members / $132 for non-members)

> Waterproofing Guide to Flashings and Damp-Proof Courses (Book 4) ($104.50 for members / $137 for non-members)

To purchase the guides, visit Master Builders ACT reception at 1 Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609.

MEET MASTER BUILDERS ACT’S New Executive Committee

Master Builders ACT entered 2024 with a few new faces among the well-practiced members of our Executive Committee.

FRANK PORRECA

Master Builders Association President

Frank is the Owner and Director of Benchmark Projects Pty Ltd. Prior to being elected as President in 2021, Frank held various positions including Treasurer and the Residential Sector Chair.

PETER HENDEN

Master Builders Association

Commercial Sector Representative

Peter is the Director and Senior Project Manager of Cercol Construction Services. He joined the MBA Executive Committee in November 2023. Read more about Peter on page 17.

BRYAN LEEMING

Master Builders Association

Extraordinary Committee Member

Bryan is a Director of Connected Projects Pty Ltd. Bryan previously held the Residential Sector Representative position and is also the Chair of MBA Group Training Limited.

NICK ZARDO

Master Builders Association

Civil Sector Representative

Nick is the Director of Guideline ACT. Nick is the Civil Sector Representative, the President of CCF ACT and the Treasurer for CCF Australia.

SARAH FLANAGAN

Master Builders Association

Subcontractors and Suppliers

Sector Representative

Sarah is the Head of New Homes and Volume Builds at e&s. Sarah was instrumental in the foundation of our Women in Construction program.

JASON TANCHEVSKI

Master Builders Association

Residential Sector Representative

Jason is a Director of Classic Constructions and has been the Residential Sector Representative since 2021.

ALISA TAYLOR

Master Builders Association

Professional Sector Representative

Alisa is a Partner at MV Law and joined as the Professional Sector Representative in 2023. Alisa has previously won Master Builders Professional of the Year.

GRACIETE FERREIRA

Master Builders Association

Australia Director

Grace is a Director of Pacific Formwork. Grace is a former MBA ACT President and Subcontractors & Suppliers Representative. Grace is the MBA ACT appointed Director to the Master Builders Australia Board.

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Winner of the John Haskins AM Memorial Award

Peter Henden

Master Builders ACT launched the John Haskins AM Award to be bestowed annually to a deserving member of the ACT building and construction industry. The winner has shown exceptional leadership qualities and made significant contributions to the ACT building and construction industry, and the community at large.

Peter Henden, Director and Senior Project Manager at Cercol Construction Services, was presented the inaugural award at the MBA ACT Annual Dinner by Fae Haskins, wife of the late John Haskins AM. Fae captured the occasion perfectly when she said, ‘the prestige and importance of this award cannot be overemphasised’.

Peter was bestowed the award because he is a dynamic leader who is both charismatic and supportive. He leads by example and listens to those around him. The breadth of his communication skills are shown in the ease with which he explains everything from tender estimates for cadets to major structural defects for clients.

Peter is adept at unifying various skillsets, facilitating compromise and supporting progression. He has mentored five Building Cadets who were enrolled in the University of

Canberra’s Building and Construction Management course. As they thrive in successful careers, Peter is now mentoring another cadet.

Peter assisted the development of the UC course accreditation and represents A Class Builders as a member of the Building Regulation Advisory Committee for the ACT Government.

Peter played a major role in developing the written exam for the C Class Building License and assesses applications for aspiring building license holders as a National Builder Professional Register Council member. He was also the Australian Institute of Building’s ACT Chapter President from 2013–2015, 2017–2019 and 2021–2022.

Since 2014, Peter has served as a volunteer and member of the Rural Fire Service where he participates in regular training and has fought fires in the Canberra region.

Peter was recently elected as the Master Builders ACT Commercial Building Sector Representative. His ability to lead by example, commitment to the community and dedication to the quality of the ACT building and construction industry has made him a very deserving winner of the first ever John Haskins AM Memorial Award.

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