Mitre 10 Trade Quarterly - Winter 2016

W I N T E R 2016

Y L R E T R A U Q

1 COMPANY + 140 CUTTING EDGE CHRISTCHURCH HOMES

QUEENSTOWN: ADVENTURES IN BUILDING mitre10.co.nz/trade

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HSWA MITRE 10 CUP: A MASSIVE SEASON OF DOMESTIC RUGBY

facebook.com/Mitre10Trade

MITRE 10 CUP COMING SOON!

Mitre 10 has become the first sponsor of all major fifteens domestic rugby competitions in New Zealand, including the long-running National Provincial Championship (NPC), which has been renamed “The Mitre 10 Cup”, as well as the Heartland Championship, the Women’s Provincial Championship, and the Jock Hobbs Memorial National U19 Tournament.

So get set for the season ahead and be prepared to swap your steel caps for studded boots to help us back the game!

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY + MITRE 10 Mitre 10 General Manager Marketing Dave Elliott says the partnership with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) is a strong fit with the values that the company admires.

“Rugby, particularly at the provincial level, reflects so many of the traits that we value at Mitre 10: Commitment, passion, satisfaction in getting the job done, a sense of community, and a large dose of Kiwi-ness,” Dave explains.

“Provincial rugby competitions are the lifeblood of “MITRE 10 IS AN ICONIC rugby in New doubt they’ll NEW ZEALAND COMPANY WITH Zealand, and it’s be proudly A GREAT NUMBER OF STAFF OVER important that backing their ITS 81 STORES, AND CONNECTS these competitions team,” Dave continues. have a strong future WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KIWIS EVERY YEAR. THEY “Many of as they provide CLEARLY LOVE THEIR RUGBY AND our store owners a platform for our ARE A PERFECT FIT FOR OUR GAME.” have already finest players to emerge. Not to supported their mention that they remind us where we’re local rugby communities over the years from and stir up some good old provincial by providing materials for DIY projects on rivalry – all in good spirits, of course!” their clubhouses. And we know they’re looking forward to getting involved in this more formal partnership, and doing LOCAL STORES, LOCAL SUPPORT more to help the domestic game get “Seeing the game thrive within the even stronger.” provinces is a big part of why we’re so excited to be involved. As a 100% New BENEFITS TO PROVINCIAL RUGBY Zealand owned and operated business, the guys that run the store own the store, NZR Chief Executive Steve Tew says the and because of this are highly involved partnership with Mitre 10 would provide with their communities. So there’s no benefit across both men’s and women’s M I T R E 10

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GAME ON LAW TRIALS FOR NZ DOMESTIC COMPETITIONS IN 2016 New rugby laws aimed at making the game safer, simpler, and more fun to watch will be trialled in two of New Zealand’s national competitions this year: The Mitre 10 Cup and Mitre 10 Heartland Championship (allblacks.com).

provincial rugby, and reflects an exciting commitment to the domestic game.

“Mitre 10 is an iconic New Zealand company with a great number of staff over its 81 stores, and connects with hundreds of thousands of Kiwis every year. They clearly love their rugby and are a perfect fit for our game.

“By backing our major domestic competitions and the Jock Hobbs Memorial National U19 Tournament, Mitre 10 will establish themselves as a committed supporter of rugby in New Zealand.”

“We’re counting down; the new season is just around the corner,” Dave adds. “We’re looking forward to kickoff and hope our customers are too, as there will be plenty of opportunities for them to get closer to the game with us.”

To make sure you don’t miss a game, check out the fixtures calendars at: mitre10cup.co.nz/fixtures heartlandchampionship.co.nz/fixtures

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY (NZR), working with World Rugby (WR), is set to roll out law trials, seeking to have tighter controls around the tackle and breakdown, and introduce a new points system.

NZR General Manager Rugby Neil Sorensen says the chance to test new laws represented a unique opportunity for New Zealand to influence the global game.

He says that NZR had a strong desire to revise the laws around the breakdown to improve safety, and was leading the process, with significant changes to laws 15 and 16. These laws cover the tackle and ruck, respectively, and see the ruck renamed the “breakdown”. These amendments will apply to the Mitre 10 Cup, which starts on 18 August, and are already being trialled in some premier club games.

Another law trial will introduce a different scoring system, which will be trialled in the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship. The new points system will implement the following: 8 pts (penalty try – no conversion kick required) ■■ 6 pts (try) ■■ 2 pts (penalty, conversion and drop goal) ■■

“These particular trials may not be the answer, but it is important we look at new ways of improving the game, especially around ensuring the safety of our players on the field,” Neil explains.

BIGGER AND BETTER FOR FANS “2016 presents new opportunities for our competitions to really engage with fans, and we look forward to working with Mitre 10 to showcase our game and the provincial pride that exists throughout the country,” Steve explains.

See page 30 for further details, or go to mitre10cup.co.nz.

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THE QUARTER UPFRONT WELL, I’M NOT sure about you, but the last quarter seems to have flown by, with plenty of work on for everyone. The weather certainly has helped!

Industry changes continue to keep us on our toes. Our fortnightly blog, found on our Trade website, has attracted many tradies looking for up-to-date info, and the feedback has been really positive.

This issue of Trade Quarterly expands on some of the topics covered in our blog, including a more detailed update on the health and safety law changes that came into effect 1 April, including a practical understanding of what the changes mean for you – see PAGE 14.

On a more entertaining note, we’ve also covered off the 2016 Rugby Law changes affecting domestic competition, to save you the embarrassment of appealing to the referee from your couch while your mates sit there wondering what you’re on about. See PAGE 30 for the lowdown.

We appreciate your ongoing support, and look forward to introducing new ideas to make it easier for you to do business with us, starting with our communications. Watch this space over the coming months for some exciting new developments.

Mitre 10 has become the first sponsor of ALL major fifteens domestic rugby competitions in New Zealand. It’s going to be big! PAGE 2

Derek Heard General Manager Trade We’re excited to once again have supported the Great Apprentice Challenge at the Certified Builders Association conference in May. The best of the best battled it out for the title and great prizes.

Our industry’s future is underpinned by the development of our apprentices, and the value of the work of the BCITO, ITaB, and other industry training bodies can never be underestimated. PAGE 25

Also in this issue, the opening of the new Mitre 10 MEGA Papanui further strengthens our presence and service offer in the Christchurch market. PAGE 8 And the BCITO cover off the value of training an apprentice. PAGE 20

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We feature two customers tackling the construction space from different angles but, nevertheless, with similar levels of innovation and ingenuity. Check out the article on FAB Consortium in Christchurch PAGE 6 and Queenstown’s Tony Baker PAGE 10.

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CONTENTS

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Cover: Synonymous with bringing ambitious designs to life, Tony Baker of Tradesman Builders is pictured onsite at a Queenstown home which features almost exclusively curved walls. Read more on page 10.

Mitre 10 Trade Quarterly is published four times a year in association with Mitre 10.

Managing Editor Adele Thurlow Art Director Marc Backwell Contributors BCITO MBIE Meredith Connell NZ Certified Builders New Zealand Rugby Louise Richardson Site Safe NZ Print and distribution PMP Limited Editorial enquiries Chocolate Fish Media adele@chocolatefishmedia.co.nz 027 454 2131 Advertising enquiries Roz Harvey roz.harvey@mitre10.co.nz 09 442 2797 Private Bag 102-925, North Shore City, Auckland 0745

2 MITRE 10 CUP COMING SOON!

20 IT PAYS TO TRAIN

Get set for a massive season of domestic rugby sponsored by Mitre 10.

6 REBUILDING WITH IMAGINATION AND INNOVATION

Advanced methods and materials are making a big mark in Christchurch.

23 GUARANTEED TO RAISE THE BAR

Inside info on the Certified Builders’ new building guarantee programme.

10 CRAFTSMAN OF HIS TRADE

24 SUCCESS THROUGH CHANGE

Unusual and adventurous designs are the forte of talented Queenstown builder Tony Baker.

14 A NEW, SAFER ERA FOR THE WORKPLACE

What you need to know about the new Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA).

18 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS MADE EASY

Updated online tool makes managing employment agreements painless.

mitre10.co.nz/trade

Mitre 10 Trade Quarterly is subject to copyright in its entirety. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication unless initially specified otherwise. Opinions expressed in Mitre 10 Trade Quarterly are not necessarily those of Mitre 10 nor the publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the suggestions of the contributors or the conclusions that may be drawn from them. Although the publisher has made every effort to ensure accuracy, the reader remains responsible for the correct use and selection of any tools, materials and systems followed, as well as the following of any laws or codes that may apply.

Training an apprentice improves profit.

THIS PUBLICATION IS RECOGNISED

BY THE BUILDING AND HOUSING GROUP AS CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THE SKILLS MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LICENSED BUILDING PRACTITIONER SCHEME. If you are a licensed building practitioner, cut out and safely retain this panel with your skills maintenance literature for future reference and audit confirmation.

25 APPRENTICE CHALLENGE

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Finalists race to show off their skills.

26 SAVE TIME AND MONEY ON YOUR NEXT BUILD

The lowdown on James Hardie HomeRAB Pre-cladding.

28 ACHIEVING A QUALITY WALL INSTALLATION, ALWAYS

Insulation installation tips from Pink® Batts®.

29 THE LEAKY BUSINESS SYNDROME

Minimise profit leaks in your business.

30 2016 RUGBY LAW CHANGES IN NEW ZEALAND

Ref. Trade Quarterly Winter 2016

18th annual Certified Builders Association conference and expo.

The breakdown of rule changes.

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REBUILDING WITH IMAGINATION AND INNOVATION FAB Consortium saw an opportunity to depart from tradition in favour of using advanced methods and materials to deliver a new face for Christchurch. Supplied by Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby and the soon to open Mitre 10 MEGA Papanui, the new store strengthens Mitre 10’s presence and service offer in Christchurch.

BY LOUISE RICHARDSON

“IF IT WASN’T for the earthquakes here in Canterbury, I think that the region would be chugging away, just as it always had, and nobody would be looking to change the way things had traditionally been done – certainly in terms of housing construction and engineering,” says FAB Consortium development manager Stuart Chadwick.

Looking back over the past five years, he notes that a whole new ethos has emerged, based upon the fact that so very many dwellings were needed in the city and its environs. Not only that, but

they were needed urgently and to be built well, using quality materials and, naturally, an ability to withstand further shakes and shock waves was imperative.

FAB Consortium’s biggest showcase so far has been the 140 dwellings they’re in the process of constructing in Christchurch for Housing New Zealand, most recently in Aranui, where they’ve built 10 twobedroom, three three-bedroom, and two four-bedroom units.

“I believe we’ve been given the perfect chance to show how much materials and methods have advanced

in the last decade or so,” Stuart adds.

“The company’s directors and I were all state house kids ourselves, so we saw straightaway what a great opportunity this could be.

“We don’t use pre-nailed frames or huge concrete slabs and, inside, our houses don’t need fibrous plasterboard or stopping.

Instead, we use a hollow concrete pod

“I BELIEVE WE’VE BEEN GIVEN THE PERFECT CHANCE TO SHOW HOW MUCH MATERIALS AND METHODS HAVE ADVANCED IN THE LAST DECADE OR SO.” M I T R E 10

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KIWI INGENUITY

Despite needing to build in a hurry, the team at FAB Consortium have succeeded in doing an impeccable job.

system and prefabricated structural panels made from compressed timber.

“Ironically, many of these products were being manufactured in New Zealand and exported overseas for a number of years before housing providers here caught on to them and realised the potential for cutting costs significantly.”

Stuart explains that FAB Consortium doesn’t want to construct little boxes or, as he puts it, “rows of identical Toblerone chocolate pieces.”

“We work cleverly with our designers and landscapers to ensure that each house has its own character and ample space – even in a larger group.

“And we look hard at practicalities, too.

“WE DON’T USE PRE-NAILED FRAMES OR HUGE CONCRETE SLABS AND, INSIDE, OUR HOUSES DON’T NEED FIBROUS PLASTERBOARD OR STOPPING.” Why use good space by including garages in these houses? Sometimes we do build them, but most of the people who dwell in these places would much prefer a larger living area, and they’re happy to park their cars outside.”

From Mitre 10’s perspective, FAB Consortium’s success in landing this huge project has been hugely exciting and energising for everybody involved.

Both sides acknowledge that teamwork is absolutely key to keeping 7

things rolling along.

“These multiple-unit sites have been something new for most of us,” says Sam Bailey, currently account manager at Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby.

“The logistics are massive in scale, so we’ve practically set ourselves up onsite for FAB Consortium in the day-to-day running of the build, while providing trade support, administrative support and, of course, a seamless drive thru service back at our base.”

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NEW STORE MITRE 10 MEGA PAPANUI OPENING MID-JUNE 2016 THE SMITH FAMILY, owners of Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby, have had a new store in the planning for some time to complement their existing store, and the brand new Mitre 10 MEGA Papanui is on track and scheduled to open on 16 June 2016.

The new store offers 9000m2 of total floor space with around 3000m2 dedicated to the covered drive thru to service the trades. Trade customers will benefit from the ease of operating one account between the two stores, an extensive range of product, significant stock holdings, and superb teams of staff across both stores.

SEAMLESS SERVICE

Above: Mitre 10 MEGA Papanui’s 3000m2 drive thru.

Sam Bailey, currently the Account Manager at Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby, will be the Trade Manager at the new Mitre 10 MEGA Papanui, providing a seamless service to existing customers who operate between

Left: Mitre 10 MEGA Papanui trade team – Jeremy Curtis, Sam Bailey and Bernie Cummins.

“WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE FAB CONSORTIUM AND MANY OF OUR OTHER CUSTOMERS FROM THE TWO STORES.” the two stores, as well as serving as a solid, experienced guy at the helm to support new customers. Sam is really looking forward to his new challenge and responsibilities.

He’s proud to be a part of the Mitre 10 group, and with a fantastic team and support network, they are looking forward to servicing their trade customers and welcoming new customers to the store.

“With Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby and Mitre 10 MEGA Papanui having the same owners, we are going to be able to service FAB Consortium and many of our other customers from the two stores, depending on what is convenient at the time,” says Sam. Sam goes on to explain that as so much building work is taking place in the city and surrounding province, some suppliers find themselves running short of vital materials.

“There’s no way we’d want to let our customers down, so we coordinate every aspect of supply, down to a tee”.

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“The only thing we can’t help them with is the shocking state of the roads around where they’re working, but that’s something all Cantabrians are learning to live with!”

NEW COMMUNITY EMERGES Sam and his team have especially enjoyed being part of the rebirth of the Aranui area, which was previously low-decile and somewhat tired.

“We’re watching all these great new houses becoming available – plus the emergence of parks, shops, and community recreation centres.

“The locals have been through a lot in the past few years, and it’s great to see how happy they are with their new homes.

“These places don’t only look good, they’re also built to be tough and lowmaintenance. They can take a hammering.”

Stuart hopes that the use of innovative building materials and methods doesn’t 8

fade away as the end of the rebuild eventually arrives.

“There’s been a monopoly by big companies, and an old-boys’ network that didn’t want to upset the status quo in the past. Even the government is resistant to change.

“We’re putting this out there as a challenge to them – especially in Auckland, where they have a very high-profile housing crisis.

“You don’t need to spend truckloads of money constructing quality dwellings.

What you do need is some imagination and ingenuity.”

Regional Development Manager, Kevin Rae is looking forward to offering customers, such as FAB Consortium, support from the two Mitre 10 MEGA locations in Christchurch, as well as the network of stores throughout the region.

“No matter where they build next, we’ll have a Mitre 10 that is convenient for them.”

7 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN INSTALLING A QUALITY CEILING. These recommendations are not a substitute for the full information contained in relevant GIB ® technical literature.

GIB

®

MS E T SYS D OAR B R STE A L P

STEPS 1 Battens The use of GIB ® Rondo ® metal ceiling battens is recommended to achieve a stable substrate.

2 Batten installation It is important that all ceiling battens run the same way within a ceiling plane. Although this may require some additional nogging to be installed, it ensures that all sheets’ edge joints will be running in the same direction.

Tapered edge Additional to cut edge nogs may joint is highly be required susceptible to in this area cracking e.g. lounge, kitchen, WRONG CORRECT dining area Sheets change direction Sheets in one direction

TA S 3 .

N N oLING I CEI

TIO A L L

N

For best practice, and to avoid time-consuming and costly call-backs, Winstone Wallboards recommends the following best practice guidelines for quality ceiling installation.

Framing dimensions and structured performance must comply with the requirements of NZS 3604:2011.

For more information, refer to the current GIB ® Site Guide.

3 Plasterboard Thicker 13mm GIB ® Standard plasterboard is more rigid and less prone to sagging than 10mm plasterboard in a ® ceiling application. It is recommended that 13mm GIB Standard plasterboard is supported at no more than 600mm centres, resulting in less battens being used for the job and less fasteners, meaning you will achieve an overall smoother finish. When batten, labour and board costs are taken into account, this system is cost effective as well as being the least prone to finishing defects.

Note: 10mm plasterboard will sag significantly more than the equivalent 13mm plasterboard on the same batten spacing.

Given the wet humid conditions prevalent across many parts of New Zealand ceiling sag can be amplified. To meet the high expectations of the New Zealand market, Winstone Wallboards ceiling recommendation is 10mm plasterboard at 450mm batten spacing and 13mm plasterboard at 600mm batten spacing.

4 Point loading To limit sag in GIB ® plasterboard ceilings, long term uniformly distributed loads (e.g. fixtures and fittings and/or overlaid insulation) should not exceed 3kg/m 2 unless independently supported.

5 Back blocking Back blocking strengthens and stabilises joints between GIB ® plasterboard sheets. It is primarily used to reinforce the point where butt joints occur but is also recommended for sheet edge joints.

6 Fixing All ceiling sheets must be fixed at right angles to the ceiling framing.

To request your free copy contact the GIB ® Helpline on 0800 100 442 or download at gib.co.nz/library.

GIB ® is a registered trademark.

7 Control joints Install control joints in large open ceiling planes exceeding 12m or points where cracking is often predictable, such as at changes in direction.

CRAFTSMAN OF HIS TRADE

Completely unique projects are the norm for Queenstown builder, Tony Baker.

BY LOUISE RICHARDSON

BUILDER TONY BAKER can boast of nearly 37 years in the trade, and he’s been working in the Lakes District since 1998.

“I think it’s in the last eight or nine years that the place has really picked up speed,” he says, referring to spectacular growth, particularly around Queenstown. He points out that Wanaka, too, has witnessed a rush of new building.

“There are always people who want to invest in constructing quality homes, and M I T R E 10

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that keeps me constantly in work.”

His latest two projects have both been interesting for Tony. The first, a four-bedroom dwelling sitting high above Queenstown and designed by Strauss Design for a very discreet local client, took three years to build.

In addition to local timber supplied through Mitre 10 MEGA Queenstown, many different types of timber from overseas were used.

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Tony explains, “The shake roof was from British Columbia; the white oak floorboards were from North America; the cedar was from Canada; and the beams were from South America. It was a great experience working with them all, and every piece was clear – with no knots whatsoever!”

Of course, the exterior schist, so typical of a central Otago build, was sourced locally.

Queenstown businessman Yevrah Ornstein, a former New Yorker, is a man

TIME TO CREATE

Above: Tony Baker and client Yevrah Ornstein who has used Tony to build two Queenstown homes.

Left: The Tradesman Buiders team – Adam, Ian, Tony, Rob and Reuben.

who has proved that he’s not afraid “The internal walls are solid and to go out on a limb when it comes plastered; inside and out the exterior to commissioning a new home. is tiled in the areas that are landscaped; He’d worked with Tony and there’s a spectacular atrium with previously and was keen a glass roof. to do something quite “It’s quite an “IF MITRE 10 MEGA HAS adventurous in his next unusual build, WHAT I NEED, THEY home, which is currently I guess, but that’s SUPPLY IT AND, IF NOT, being constructed. fine. I take it all in THEY RESEARCH IT FOR He hired architect my stride!”

ME AND FIND A SOURCE. Roger Buck, who Once again, Tony is I THINK THEY’VE ALWAYS working with Mitre 10 worked closely with his client to produce a plan. COME THROUGH.” MEGA Queenstown, “This one is quite and he’s found the different in many ways,” explains Tony. local team very helpful. ‘“It has five straight walls, and practically “If Mitre 10 MEGA has what I need, everything else is curved – even the garage. they supply it and, if not, they research “There’s a lot of concrete used in the flat it for me and find a source. I think they’ve roof, the block walls, and the floor panels. always come through.”

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From their end, Mitre 10 MEGA Queenstown values the relationship too.

“He’s a loyal customer, a real character, and we keep in close contact,” says Garry McGovern, Trade Account Manager at Mitre 10 MEGA Queenstown.

“I’ll go out to see him at least once a week and see what he’s up to. His work is always really impressive, and I think he enjoys these sorts of projects.”

Mitre 10 MEGA Queenstown opened in November 2015, moving from the smaller Mitre 10 Remarkables Park store to the new 8000m² store located in Shotover Park. With a very capable team on board, an extensive range of products and services and large drive thru, the store is well placed to service the region.

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A NEW, SAFER ERA FOR THE WORKPLACE

We’ve spoken with two industry experts to find out all you need to know about the new Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA).

With the aim of achieving a 25% reduction in New Zealand’s workplace injury and death toll by 2020, the new Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) took effect in early April this year.

As a tradie, there are changes that you and your coworkers need to be aware of. To help you navigate the new landscape, we’ve sought insight and advice from industry experts.

Leading New Zealand law firm Meredith Connell discusses some of the legal components, while Site Safe looks at how the changes translate to the job site. Site Safe has also broken down some of the lingo, so be sure to refer to the glossary on page 13 to get up to speed with the relevant new phrases.

HSWA and its Regulations on an ongoing basis. WorkSafe has already updated many guidelines, including workplace bullying and asbestos. While guidance material is not law, it is a good place to start assessing your own organisation’s compliance.

To access this guidance, head over to business.govt.nz/worksafe/hswa/ hswa-guidance.

OVERVIEW OF THE HSW ACT: SOME KEY ASPECTS ■■

THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE: MEREDITH CONNELL ■■

Samuel Moore, an associate and specialist health and safety lawyer at leading law firm Meredith Connell, provides some context for the Act and lists some of the key aspects to consider now that the HSWA has become law.

A STRONGER REGULATOR: WORKSAFE NEW ZEALAND WorkSafe is New Zealand’s new principal health and safety regulator, stepping into M I T R E 10

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the historic shoes of OSH, DOL, and MBIE. In comparison to previous regulators, WorkSafe is more independent, has greater access to funding, and is more empowered.

It was established to remedy the failures of former regulators (as outlined in the Pike River Royal Commission report), so you can expect to see a firmer and more proactive regulator in the future.

WorkSafe will continue to publish guidance information to support the 14

PCBU primary duties: Almost all organisations are PCBUs under the HSWA. This acronym stands for “a person conducting a business or undertaking” but, despite the name, it is typically an organisation such as a limited liability company. PCBUs have a range of duties to ensure – so far as is “reasonably practicable” – the safety of workers and members of the public. Failure to achieve this may result in considerable fines.

Due diligence: Directors and executive leaders who exercise significant influence over the management of the business will be considered “officers” under the HSWA. Officers will need to understand their organisations’ health and safety risks and the new obligations imposed upon them. Officers should ensure that appropriate resources and processes are in place to eliminate or minimise risks, and regularly review and monitor

REFORMING SAFETY

■■

these processes. A simple way to start this process is to undertake a health and safety audit and legal compliance review. This will expose the risks and weaknesses in your organisation’s health and safety practices and assist you in eliminating those risks.

Most organisations should also provide guidelines to their officers on how to discharge their new duties. A breach of due diligence duties is an offence and may incur significant penalties.

Worker participation: Organisations must, so far as is reasonably possible, engage with their workers regarding health and safety. Workers should be given a reasonable opportunity to express their views, raise health and safety issues, and contribute to resolution of issues. Organisations should have practices in place to enable workers to participate in ongoing health and safety issues; health and safety representatives

■■

A PROACTIVE PERSPECTIVE may be drawn from the workforce to report unsafe practices and other health It would be prudent to revisit and revise and safety related matters to the board. your health and safety procedures and any Failure to introduce worker participation health and safety management systems you practices is an offence with a maximum have in place. This process should include fine of $100,000. a combination of safety reviews as well as Asbestos: Alongside the HSWA, the legal compliance reviews. Case studies have Government has also reviewed the show that organisations that fully implement regulations dealing health and safety management with asbestos. The enjoy improved productivity. On CASE STUDIES way that WorkSafe the other hand, failure to report HAVE SHOWN THAT deals with asbestos ORGANISATIONS THAT notifiable events to WorkSafe is has been overhauled an offence, with serious fines FULLY IMPLEMENT extensively, HEALTH AND SAFETY possible in the result of a breach. including: Greater Meredith Connell regularly MANAGEMENT focus on asbestos defends organisations as well as ENJOY IMPROVED as a major risk providing advice to directors and PRODUCTIVITY. in New Zealand, companies on their duties and replacement of the certificate of business structures. If you would like to competence system, and changes discuss any of the points raised in this article in terms of what work is considered or need advice specific to your company, restricted. WorkSafe has made new do not hesitate to contact them without guidance material available on its any commitment. You can call Samuel on website to address and explain 021 022 46925 or, for further information, these changes. email samuel.moore@mc.co.nz.

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“We’re advising builders to make a point of having toolbox talks with their staff,” Richard says. “Whether it’s at 7am on a Monday, or each morning before work begins, it’s important that time is set aside to remind workers of the importance of staying safe on the job.”

THE TOOLBOX PERSPECTIVE: SITE SAFE Chances are, if you’ve been complying with current health and safety regulations, you probably won’t have to make any major changes, but there are a few new components in the HSWA that are worth knowing about. With insight from Site Safe, we’ve summarised the key changes for sole traders and small business owners:

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”Person conducting a business or understanding” – aka PCBU. The Act introduces key terms to identify certain roles in workplace safety, the chief role being the PCBU or “person conducting a business or understanding”. In many cases, this term will actually refer to a company or organisation rather than a particular person, but for sole traders it will refer to an individual. The PCBU has the primary duty of care and is required to be on top of all health and safety matters related to their work site, and making sure everyone follows the right safety procedures.

Richard Giddings, Site Safe’s South Island Regional Manager, says one of the most common questions he is hearing is

in regards to what happens when more than one PCBU is operating onsite.

“It’s absolutely key that all teams are talking with each other and staying on the same page,” Richard says. “We’re advising builders to consult, coordinate, and cooperate, and there is a particular responsibility that falls on the main contractor to make sure that everyone is engaging with each other.

“I often use the example of scaffolding,” Richard says. “One team might get this onsite for a job, but they should also be asking around to see if any other teams need it later on for a separate job. It’s about working together and coordinating to make the site safer.”

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Worker participation. There is a stronger emphasis on worker participation and engagement, to ensure that workers are more involved in workplace health and safety. Workers need to actively protect themselves and others from unsafe practices, and have the right to refuse to do unsafe or dangerous work.

3

Proactively manage risks. Rather than just pointing out any hazards in the workplace and addressing them as they crop up, businesses have to take a more proactive approach in identifying and managing potential risks.

“One of the best tools to help you manage risk is a risk assessment matrix,” Richard says. “This causes you to stop and consider the likelihood of an incident occurring and the potential severity of it.”

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Safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Anyone on a site (whether employed or visiting) now has specific responsibilities towards maintaining health and safety.

“It all comes back to communication,”– Richard says. “We’re starting to see more workers having honest conversations with their bosses about what is expected of them. We certainly encourage this type of engagement.”

5

Stronger fines and penalties. The new Act has a range of offences

CONSIDER THE SEVERITY OF INJURY/ILLNESS

CONSIDER THE LIKELIHOOD OF A HAZARDOUS EVENT OCCURRING RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX

Very unlikely to happen

Unlikely to happen

Possibly could happen

Likely to happen

Very likely to happen

Catastrophic (e.g. fatal)

Moderate

Moderate

High

Critical

Critical

Major (e.g. permanent disability)

Low

Moderate

Moderate

High

Critical

Moderate (e.g. hospitalisation/ short- or long-term disability

Low

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

High

Minor (e.g. first aid)

Low

Low

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Superficial (e.g. no treatment required)

Very low

Very low

Low

Low

Moderate

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REFORMING SAFETY and penalties that can result in heavy fines and potential jail time. The most serious penalties are reserved for those who fail to comply with their health and safety duties under the Act and, as a result, expose others to a risk of serious injury, illness or death.

“Fines and penalties, which were also in place under the old Act, come into play when it all goes wrong and the party in question has not taken any reasonable

steps to address health and safety.

It’s a reminder to everyone to be providing the right gear, the right tools, and work with a common goal of getting a high-quality finish in the safest way possible.”

You can find out more about the Health and Safety at Work Act and how it will affect small businesses by downloading the free Site Safe booklet from sitesafe.org.nz.

LEARN THE LINGO

As attention around the new law continues to grow, you’ll probably hear a range of acronyms and new terms being used on job sites and by health and safety managers. Here’s Site Safe’s cheat sheet for understanding some of the new words and acronyms that you’re likely to hear.

HSWA: The name for the new act is the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Duty holder: There are four types of duty holders under the new act: PCBUs, officers, workers, and other persons, which are described below.

PCBU: “Person conducting a business or undertaking” – despite the name, a PCBU is not usually an actual person, it is a legalism referring to a business entity. In most cases, the PCBU will be the business itself, e.g. a company or an organisation.

Officer: These are people in senior positions who have a significant influence over the way the business is run. The includes CEOs, directors, sole charge owner-operators, and anyone else at that level.

Worker: This is the new term for employees. Workers are individuals who carry out work for the PCBU. A manager who only has influence over daily operational matters is also classed as a worker.

Other person: This is the term for visitors or customers entering the workplace.

Upstream PCBUs: This term means upstream in the supply chain; for example, architects and designers

can be upstream PCBU’s.

HSR: Health and Safety Representative – this is a worker who has been elected by the members of their work group to represent them in health and safety matters. Under the new law, if a worker requests an HSR, then the PCBU must have an election. PCBUs that are excluded from having this requirement are those with less than 20 workers who do not operate in a high-risk sector or industry.

HSC: Health and Safety Committee – a committee that includes PCBU and worker representatives and meets regularly to work to improve health and safety at the company. Under the new law, an HSC can be requested by five or more workers. PCBUs that are excluded from having this requirement are those with less than 20 workers who do not operate in a high-risk sector or industry.

SWMS: Safe Work Method Statement – this is a template often used in Australia and it’s likely to become more common here. It is similar to a task analysis, but is more detailed and specific. It’s a document that sets out the high-risk construction work activities, the hazards arising from these activities. and the measures that need to be put in place to control the risks.

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Notifiable event: There are three types of workplace occurrence that are considered to be notifiable events that WorkSafe NZ must be informed of: Death, notifiable injury or illness, and notifiable incidents.

These terms are explained below.

Notifiable Injury or illness: Relates to serious injuries and illnesses as listed in Section 23 HSWA. Notifiable incident: Relates to serious near-miss incidents where people could have been seriously harmed but, by luck, weren’t. Notifiable incidents are listed in Section 24 HSWA. Control measure: A way of eliminating or minimising the risks that you have identified.

Toolbox talk: This is a communication tool which often takes the form of a short group meeting or discussion about a work-related topic and includes a relevant health and safety issue or topic. They are a way for information to be provided to workers, and for workers to have their say.

Worker engagement and participation: This is a key focus under the Act. It means that PCBUs must engage with their workers on health and safety matters and provide opportunities for workers to participate in improving health and safety.

Reasonably practicable: This term is used throughout the Act to talk about the duties people have for health and safety. It means that you don’t have to do absolutely everything to get rid of risk, but you do need to do what’s reasonable and prudent in the circumstances.

What is reasonably practicable will be a judgement call that you make as a PCBU, it will involve weighing the risk against the resources and knowledge needed to manage it. This will also include risk assessment.

Risk assessment: Every risk identified must be assessed to determine the level of risk it poses. If the level of risk is high, the work may not be able to progress until controls are put in place that lower the risk to a more acceptable level.

Regulator: New Zealand’s work health and safety regulator is WorkSafe New Zealand. They exist to educate duty holders about their responsibilities and to enforce the law. WorkSafe can be contacted on 0800 030 040.

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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS MADE EASY

Thanks to a refresh of a free online tool for businesses, creating employment agreements has never been easier.

BUSINESS.GOVT.NZ, PART OF the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, has refreshed the Employment Agreement Builder (EAB).

EAB was first launched in 2010 and has proven popular with employers, but there was room for improvement to make it easier to understand and more relevant for small businesses.

Business.govt.nz worked with a number of groups to refresh EAB, including: Immigration NZ, Employment NZ, the Intellectual Property Office of NZ, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, WorkSafe, and Inland Revenue. Business.govt.nz talked to small businesses and tested concepts with them throughout the tool’s development. The result provides small businesses with an easy to use and legally up-to-date way to create and manage employment agreements.

HOW IT WORKS EAB allows employers to build an employment agreement relevant to their business and staff. The tool identifies clauses that are mandatory, voluntary, or recommended, and where they are appropriate to use. Help text and tips throughout makes this legally complex process easy.

Once an employment agreement is finished, the employer is sent the

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FROM:

BEVAN

SUBJECT: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BUILDER DATE RECEIVED:

TODAY

Hi Our Employment Agreement Builder (EAB) is now live!

Creating an employment agreement has never been easier.

From our data and research, we know that the construction sector is the biggest user of our employee cost calculator and that bringing a new employee on board is a big deal. We know small businesses look to us for support and advice on issues that they worry about, such as compliance and employment issues. We want to make the recruitment process as easy as possible with EAB. EAB makes it easy for small businesses to comply with the need for every employee to have an employment agreement, to get the most out of a good working relationship, and to update employment agreements as a result of the recent changes to the employment law.

Cheers Bevan business.govt.nz

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Everyone you employ needs an up-to-date employment agreement.

MAKE IT LEGAL

Business.govt.nz is the government’s website for small businesses. The site makes it quicker and easier for small businesses to understand and interact with Government. agreement, along with a summary of tips specific to the agreement, a checklist of practical things which could be done before a new employee starts, and a sample offer letter.

Having a suitable, up-to-date employment agreement in place means employers can get on with the job of running their business and feel confident they are doing the right thing by law, the right thing by their employees, and that they are covered if there are any problems.

Build an employment agreement with EAB at eab.business.govt.nz.

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IT PAYS TO TRAIN

Figures show that money spent on training construction apprentices brings benefits to the company bottom line.

IN A NEW ZEALAND first, BCITO research has proved that training apprentices generates profit. A recently conducted in-depth research project shows that, for every $1 spent on training a carpenter, a business will benefit by $4.70 in increased profit up to a 10-year period.

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that training an apprentice costs a business money with little or no return. This research proves that, in the long run, this is wrong.

Investing in industry training is not just a cost to be minimised – it’s an investment that can grow your business.

Obviously, the return on investment doesn’t kick in immediately. The breakeven point is three to four years – about the same time as completion of an 20

apprenticeship. At this point, the cost of training is offset by the extra profit generated by the training (see Table 1).

This extra profit keeps increasing the longer the trained person remains with the firm. Staff retention is a factor in this equation – the longer an employer keeps trained staff, the more profitable they become.

SKILLS SHORTAGE REMAINS “During the past two years, BCITO has experienced unprecedented growth in new apprenticeships, but the construction industry still remains woefully short of skilled tradespeople,” says Greg Durkin, Group Manager, Stakeholder Engagement, BCITO. “We need more businesses to come on board and train our young people.

With this research completed, we can clearly prove that training an apprentice is a positive investment for employers.”

As part of the project, carpentry business owners were asked about their

APPRENTICES firms’ structure – the number of people employed and what roles they were in.

From this information, a model of an average firm in the industry was developed (see Table 2).

While the payback periods for both trained and untrained workers appear to be similar, the positive return from training is sustained well into the future, increasing the cumulative benefit each year.

FURTHER UPSIDES Other findings of the project show that, when compared with a business that doesn’t invest in industry training, a carpentry firm that trains all staff will: ■■ grow 6% faster ■■ charge $0.44 more per hour per person ■■ estimate work 3% more accurately ■■ take 2% fewer hours to complete the same task or project.

TABLE 2: TYPICAL BUSINESS TEAM IN THE CARPENTRY SECTOR RESPONSIBILITY

ROLE

EXPERIENCE

PROPORTION OF TEAM

Business manager

10+ years

10%

70%

30%

Supervisor/job manager

10+ years

20%

30%

70%

Senior carpenter

6-10 years

30%

5%

95%

Junior carpenter

5-6 years

10%

100%

Senior apprentice

2-4 years

10%

100%

Junior apprentice

0-2 years

20%

100%

n MANAGEMENT n TRADE WORK

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE NUMBERS The methodology used in the project works back from a measure of economic return such as cumulative firm profits over time. The drivers of profitability were broken down to identify individual

attributes of a firm’s performance and evaluate the relative importance of these.

The impact of a team’s trade and management proficiencies on these attributes was then considered. Finally,

TABLE 1: CUMULATIVE RETURN PER YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT

the contribution of training to an individual’s proficiency was weighted relative to the contribution from experience.

UNTRAINED WORKERS WILL LAG Most business owners involved in the research project agreed that, on average, trained workers become fully proficient between six and 10 years after starting work in the industry (see Table 2). On average, untrained workers take much longer to be fully proficient and will only ever be 60–70% proficient. Trained workers become fully billable in a much shorter period of time.

In terms of the cost of training an apprentice, the research has taken into account BCITO fees, Government subsidy for industry training, apprentice salary, and the cost of supervising and training an apprentice.

Courtesy of BCITO

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W E N

Now there’s an MDF bracing system which is BRANZ Appraised to resist earthquake and wind loads on timber frame buildings.

Environmentally friendly GoldenEdge Panelbrace Wall Bracing Systems are easy and quick to instal with excellent strength quality, surface smoothness and stability.

Specify GoldenEdge Panelbrace Wall Bracing Systems with confidence.

For more information go to www.nelsonpine.co.nz Nelson Pine Industries Ltd, Nelson, New Zealand MS 20521 IT/2

ENSURING REASSURANCE

GUARANTEED TO RAISE THE BAR

Grant Florence, Chief Executive of New Zealand Certified Builders, answers all our questions about the organisation’s new mandatory building guarantee programme.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, the New Zealand Certified Builders Association (NZCB) introduced a mandatory building guarantee programme called the Halo 10-year Residential Guarantee Insurance Scheme.

We caught up with NZCB Chief Executive Grant Florence for an overview of how the scheme works, and how it can help both builders and home owners.

IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT IS THE SCHEME ALL ABOUT?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR HOME OWNERS? “It provides high levels of protection should the builder be unable to complete the project initially and then for up to 10 years in the event of structural or non-structural defects. Home owners can have peace of mind about the work their builders are doing, which is a good thing for the building industry.

“Building a home is no small matter, as it’s often our single biggest investment.

So, as a building industry, we need to be very comprehensive in how we are providing security and reassurance to home owners.”

WHO ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PARTIES INVOLVED? “We’ve searched around the globe for the best insurers to help us deliver this scheme, and we’re very pleased with the partners we’ve secured. The policy is underwritten by Lloyd’s of London and carries an A+ rating from Standard and Poor’s. Lloyd’s is the oldest and one of the largest insurance underwriters in the world, and we work with its New Zealand agent, Archer Group Limited.”

“We’re also working with the team at BrokerWeb Risk Services Limited, who will be servicing the scheme. BrokerWeb is one of New Zealand’s biggest independent insurance brokering companies and will arrange insurance cover and attend to claims on behalf of our members.”

WHERE CAN BUILDERS GO IF THEY WANT MORE INFO? “Their first port of call should be the New Zealand Certified Builders’ national support office. Call us on 0800 237 843 for some more information. They can also speak with BrokerWeb Risk Services directly on 0800 644 444.”

“It’s a warranty and guarantee that provides unique benefits for approved members of NZCB and reassurance for WHAT’S THE RATIONALE the home owner. The scheme will apply BEHIND IT? to every new home build or alteration performed by a member of NZCB that’s “Home owners’ expectations and valued at over $30,000. builders’ liability have changed, and we “It’s the widest home realised that we needed guarantee insurance “WE’VE SEARCHED AROUND to adapt to meet these cover available in expectations. In January THE GLOBE FOR THE BEST New Zealand and 2015, the reformed INSURERS TO HELP US gives the builder Building Act kicked in, DELIVER THIS SCHEME, AND WE’RE VERY PLEASED and homeowner 10 making it compulsory to WITH THE PARTNERS years of protection. have a written contract WE’VE SECURED.” We previously had a for all residential voluntary guarantee building work valued scheme in place, and Halo – which is at over $30,000. It also increased mandatory – is replacing this.” requirements around guarantees and warranties, but didn’t go as far WHAT DOES IT MEAN as to enforce mandatory FOR BUILDERS? schemes such as Halo. The “We like to call this ‘sleep-easy’ cover for government is continuing builders. It reduces their exposure to risk to consider legislating for and means if there’s a claim on the policy mandatory guarantees, (after the first year), the insurer will settle and in the meantime we with the home owner on the builder’s decided to raise the bar. behalf. Nothing will come back to We think it’s the right the builder.” thing to do.”

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CONFERENCE

SUCCESS THROUGH CHANGE The Certified Builders Association held its 18th annual conference and expo in late May at the TSB Bank Arena and Shed 6 on Queens Wharf in Wellington.

THE THEME FOR this year’s conference was “Success through change”, and was attended by more than 400 Certified Builder delegates plus trade exhibitors and regional apprentice challenge finalists. The conference included a free trade expo day open to all tradespeople.

Keynote speakers and 16 one-hour educational workshops formed a key part of the conference.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

DALE WILLIAMS on the “What, Why, and How” Dale is a very proud Trade Certified Motorcycle Engineer, and established his first motorcycle dealership in Otorohanga aged 23, owning several successful and award-winning businesses over 19 years, employing many young staff and training apprentices.

Dale now works with many communities and their leaders, industry and employers, and education and training providers to help develop and implement Youth to Work strategies. He is passionate about young people and their potential, and he understands industry and employer expectations. Matching supply and demand is the key, and Dale’s experience and knowledge offer a unique perspective on the “what, why, and how” of this challenge!

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MIKE COSMAN, Partner, CosmanParkes Ltd, on Health and Safety Reform Mike is one of the most experienced health and safety professionals in New Zealand, having worked throughout this complex and challenging field in different roles, sectors, and countries for 36 years, including recently as a member of the Independent Taskforce and Forestry Safety Review. With extensive qualifications and management experience, Mike combines proven capability and practical experience with a strategic perspective.

DR TOM MULHOLLAND, Keynote Speaker, on Tools for Change Can you turn your life around simply by changing your thinking? Dr Tom did and, from his experience, he has created a life-changing toolkit. Today, Dr Tom walks the walk, showing how to turn life’s lemons into lemonade and how to diagnose and treat attitude illness in yourself and others.

You can make crucial changes in your thinking that will change the outcome of most situations – not just in times of crisis, but in every part of your life.

If you were not able to attend the Certified Builders Annual Conference or are not yet a member of the Certified Builders Association of New Zealand and would like more information, go to certified.co.nz.

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APPRENTICE CHALLENGE

Competitors in the 2014 Great Apprentice Challenge.

APPRENTICE CHALLENGE FINALISTS RACE TO SHOW OFF THEIR SKILLS FINALISTS FROM THE NZ Carpentry Apprentice Challenge attended the conference to compete for the national title, and while there also took part in the fun and fast-paced Mitre 10 Great Apprentice Race.

As part of the race, these talented apprentices competed against each other in a surprise project, followed by a twist in the final challenge. There was plenty of action and adrenaline during the race to the finish!

25

Under pressure to complete the task, apprentices were awarded points for various aspects along the way. As event sponsor, Mitre 10 provided all of the tools and products each competitor needed during the race.

NZ’S FINEST APPRENTICES The contestants represent some of New Zealand’s finest apprentices, having already proven their skills and knowledge in the NZ Carpentry Apprentice Challenge regional competitions. They outshone their counterparts while their essential building knowledge, comprehension, planning, and math skills were tested.

The Carpentry Apprentice Challenge is run by Certified Builders and the Industry Training Association Building (ITAB), an organisation founded and supported

by Certified Builders, in conjunction with a number of polytechnics, large construction companies and other employers throughout New Zealand.

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SAVE TIME AND MONEY ON YOUR NEXT BUILD HomeRAB® Pre-Cladding is a rigid sheet underlay which provides superior weathertightness and durability over flexible underlays. HomeRAB Pre-Cladding is suitable for use as a bracing element within wind zones up to and including Very High Wind Zones.* EARLY CLOSE-IN TO AVOID DELAYS AND UNPLANNED COSTS Early close-in avoids delays caused by weather conditions; removing the need to reschedule sub-trades and reducing unplanned equipment hire costs.

START INTERNAL WORK SOONER By providing temporary weather protection to the building inside work can be completed sooner, allowing progress payments to be brought forward.

FAST AND EASY INSTALLATION The lightweight sheets can be “scored and snapped” and gun-nailed in place, speeding up installation time.

STUD TO TOP PLATE CONNECTION HomeRAB Pre-Cladding top plate fixings replace any specific M I T R E 10

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requirements for additional strap or wire dog fixings, saving time and reducing materials costs.

EARLY LOCK-UP AND A SECURE STRUCTURE HomeRAB Pre-Cladding provides early lock-up and rigidity to the whole structure, which improves 26

security onsite and increases your team’s productivity.

DIMENSIONALLY STABLE AND WEATHER RESISTANT HomeRAB Pre-Cladding will not warp or shrink when exposed to the weather and, after fixing, can be left exposed for up to 90 days.

HOMERAB PRE-CLADDING BENEFITS Offers resistance to gusting winds and helps reduce draught, improving the thermal resistance of your home.

■■ Designed to suit and meet New Zealand’s harsh climatic conditions.

■■ A factory-applied sealer repels moisture to protect your home.

■■ Manufactured using locally sourced sustainable materials.

■■ Suitable for use under all cladding types.

■■ Contains no formaldehyde, VOC, or dangerous chemicals.

■■ Resistant to fire and damage from moisture and rotting when installed and maintained correctly.

■■ Backed by a 15-year product warranty.

■■ BRANZ appraised – 611(2011).

■■

PRE-CLADDING Stud to Top Plate Connection - 4.7kN

HomeRAB® Pre-Cladding – sheet sizes Product code

Length

Width

Thickness

mm

mm

mm

404766

2450

1200

4.5mm

404768

2750

1200

4.5mm

To achieve a Type-B stud to top plate connection capacity of 4.7kN, fixing centres along the top plate must be reduced to 75mm and top edge distance increased to 20mm.

All dimensions provided are approximate only and subject to manufacturing tolerances.

Accessories 305798 HomeRAB 4.5 Horizontal Flashing 3000mm long

Minimum 75mm sealing tape over external and internal corners and all vertical joints.

Flashing Tape SUPER-STICK Building Tape® or 3M™ All Weather Flashing Tape 8067 Scoring Knife For easy score and snap cutting of fibre cement sheets.

Minimum 15mm overhang below bottom plate.

“HomeRAB Pre-Cladding provides a technically superior enclosure to meet our concerns for weathertightness and early enclosure.”

JOHN WILLIAMS, BUILDER

Window Flashings Window jamb must be covered with a minimum 150mm wide flashing tape. Tape must lap a minimum 50mm over face of pre-cladding.

Refer to James Hardie Rigid Air Barriers Installation Manual for complete installation details and alternative methods.

Discover more information on Rigid Air Barriers on our website jameshardie.co.nz/products/exterior/pre-cladding/ homerab-pre-cladding

Ask James Hardie™

PRE-CLADDING

I Call 0800 808 868 I jameshardie.co.nz

*HomeRAB Pre-Cladding is suitable for use in residential buildings within the scope of NZS 3604 and must be installed and maintained correctly and to the extent set out in the James Hardie literature current at the time of installation. © 2015 James Hardie New Zealand. TM and ® denote a trademark or registered mark owned by James Hardie Technology Limited.

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BETWEEN THESE WALLS

ACHIEVING A QUALITY WALL INSTALLATION, ALWAYS

Get the most from insulation with these installation tips from the experts at Pink® Batts® insulation.

Insulation is the single most effective thing that can be done to keep a house warm; however, the key to high-performing insulation is correct installation. Poor installation means that the thermal performance will be affected and the expected R-value will not be achieved.

FOR GOOD INSTALLATION, AVOID: ■■

■■

■■

Gaps. Gaps exist where there is a visible hole between the segments of insulation or insulation and framing.

These visible gaps create a space for air movement’ where warm air will leak and reduce the insulation’s effectiveness.

Folds/tucks. The stated R-value of the insulation is dependent on the insulation reaching its nominated thickness. When insulation is folded or tucked, the crease that is created reduces the thickness of the insulation and, therefore, the effectiveness of it.

Compressions. Compressions are any place where the thickness of the insulation is reduced (e.g. trying to install insulation that is too thick for a given frame thickness). This reduction of thickness will reduce the performance of the insulation.

FOR GOOD INSTALLATION, DO: ■■

■■

Use the correctly sized insulation.

Pink® Batts® insulation has a range of sizes for different applications. Using these products will reduce your installation time, decrease onsite waste, and reduce the risk of poorly fitting insulation creating gaps, folds, and compressions.

Use less pieces per frame.

Having joins between individual pieces

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TOP TIPS For wall applications, Pink® Batts® classic insulation is designed for use with 45x90mm framing at 600mm centres. If you are building using different construction types, then there are alternative products available from the Pink® Batts® range. n For 45 x 90mm timber framing @ 400mm centres, use Pink® Batts® Narrow Wall insulation, available in either R2.2 or R2.6. n For 45 x 140mm timber framing @ 600mm centres, use Pink® Batts® 140mm Wall Insulation, available in R3.2, R3.6 or R4.0. n For steel framing, use Pink® Batts® Steel Wall insulation, available in R2.2 or R2.6.

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✔ Good installation should be uniform, with no gaps, folds or compressions.

increases the risk of gaps. Using only one piece per cavity reduces this risk. n Trim product to ensure it is the appropriate size.

If pieces are oversized, then they need to be trimmed to eliminate the need for folding/ tucking product into ✘ place. We recommend Gaps in your installation reduce insulation be trimmed to the efficiency of the insulation. be slightly oversized by Larger gaps will lead to 5-10mm for the cavity lower performance. it is intended for. This allows the product to friction fit into place and reduces the risk of folds/tucks without introducing the risk of undersized pieces leaving gaps.

■■ Cut insulation to avoid compression. When installing insulation behind electrical cabling or pipework, partially cut the insulation and place around the cables and pipes.

SMART BUSINESS

THE LEAKY BUSINESS SYNDROME

Revenue

U YOUR B

Simple strategies to help minimise profit leaks in your business from trades coach Andy Burrows.

YOUR BUSINESS IS a bucket. In the top, you pour revenue, which comes from your sales process, then deduct the direct costs of producing that revenue.

Unfortunately, buckets often leak, and the remainder (net profit) is less than it could be – certainly less than is necessary to balance the effort and risk you assume as the owner of a construction-related business.

Too many overheads, insufficient margins, working with the wrong clients, and excess hours

Too many overheads

SINESS

Excess hours on fixed price contracts

Insufficient spent on fixed-price margins contracts are all Working with the among the many wrong clients ways profit leaks from your bucket.

Of these leaks, burning up extra loss until your annual accounts come hours on fixed-price contracts is possibly back from your accountant. That could the biggest silent killer. Often this is be months after the event and too late not measured by tradies, and so goes to be of any practical help. undetected until after the final wash-up Consider implementing these is done and you realise that there was five tips to minimise or even eliminate a lot less profit in the job than you these potentially disastrous leaks in thought, or maybe even a loss. your business. Put some or all of Sometimes this review is never these strategies in place and watch done and you don’t discover the that bottom-line profit grow!

For help analysing how profitable your operations are and to implement some improvement strategies, email andy@tradescoach.co.nz or visit tradescoach.co.nz.

FIVE TIPS FOR MINIMISING PROFIT LEAKS

1

HIRE BETTER

By choosing employees or subcontractors more carefully – checking on references, hiring on a trial basis to start, and paying well for quality and efficiency – you may avoid many of the headaches before they occur.

2

MEET REGULARLY

Hold daily site meetings and make them relevant to production goals.

Either run them yourself or have your site

supervisors take charge.

Clearly set out what is to be done and match the best person for particular jobs.

Don’t just assume people know what to do. If necessary, have written procedures to follow.

3

MEASURE REGULARLY

By tracking allocated hours to a particular task versus actual hours expended on that task, you can keep a running tally of whether you are falling behind on your

labour budget. This should be done weekly or at logical milestones in the build process.

It is a lot easier to make small adjustments to the labour equation, rather than waiting too long and not having enough time to get back on track. You may need to change the way you cost and record your labour on a project.

You may also need to invest in some project management software to help, but labour overruns are such a critical area in job profitability, 29

you should quickly see a solid return on investment here.

what you pay. If people you are paying make an unacceptable level of mistakes and you TRAINING have to spend extra to Don’t be afraid to fix it up, then consider invest in training your deducting the extra staff and even your hours (or some of them) subbies. I know they from what you pay may leave and take them. This needs to be those skills with them, set out clearly at the but which is worse start and you need to – train them and they be fair and allow for may leave, or not train some errors to occur. them and they stay?!

You may also balance PAY FOR RESULTS this with an incentive scheme for getting Link the quality through the work and quantity of work (or the lack of it) to faster than budgeted.

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2016 RUGBY LAW CHANGES IN NZ WHAT HAS CHANGED? ■■

■■

WHAT CHANGES ARE BEING TRIALLED?

Minor amendments to some laws took effect at all levels of rugby in NZ on 1 January 2016.

Investec Super Rugby was the first competition to run with these changes.

MAUL ■■

A player with the ball cannot move to the back of the maul, otherwise a penalty can be given.

A LAW 15: THE TACKLE

SCRUMS ■■

■■

■■

■■

■■

1. The tackler must release the ball carrier, then rejoin the tackle behind the midpoint (diagram A) to play the ball.

2. The first arriving defender may play the ball as long as they are on their feet, and prior to the breakdown being formed.

3. Players off their feet are out of the game.

The ball can be cleared, if available, when the scrum collapses.

If a player is lifted in the air, the scrum is ended immediately.

A team must be ready to crouch within 30 seconds of the referee setting the mark.

Sanction: free kick.

If a scrum wheels, it is reset and the ball is put in by the same team.

When a team has won the ball, the opposing halfback may not step in the space between the flanker and number 8.

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LAW 16: THE BREAKDOWN (PREVIOUSLY RUCK) 1. A breakdown is formed when an attacking player is over the ball on their feet (diagram B).

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KNOW THE RULES

WHEN ARE THE CHANGES BEING TRIALLED?

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE TRIALS?

As at March 2016, New Zealand Rugby and the Provincial Unions have decided to trial two of the changes proposed by World Rugby to the Laws of the Game.

The changes we are trialling in New Zealand aren’t all the changes that World Rugby has proposed. You can find out more about the full list of changes at worldrugby.org/news/129899.

1. A robust review process 2. Decision whether to run a global trial in 2017 3. Possible adoption in May 2018

LAW TRIAL

WILL BE TRIALLED IN

BREAKDOWN LAWS

Mitre 10 Cup

Law 15 – Tackle and Law 16 – Breakdown

Premier Club Competitions in: Bay of Plenty; North Harbour; Northland; Otago; Southland; Taranaki; Tasman; and Waikato

POINTS VALUE

Mitre 10 Heartland Championship

ON ATTACK

C

B 2. At this point an offside line is in place.

3. The breakdown offside line for defenders is the hindmost foot (diagram C).

4. Players joining the breakdown must do so from behind the offside line and join behind the midpoint of the breakdown (diagram D).

5. Players joining the breakdown must bind onto any player, using their whole arm.

6. Players must be on their feet for the duration of the breakdown.

7. A player may be in the halfback position and remain behind the hindmost foot offside line (diagram C).

8. A player in the halfback position may lift the ball from the breakdown.

9. Once the ball emerges from the breakdown, it has ended.

WHY ARE THERE RUGBY LAW CHANGES? Every four years, World Rugby undertakes a complete health check of the game, looking at playing trends across the men’s fifteens Rugby World Cup cycle to ensure that rugby continues to develop around the world.

The priorities for this round of changes are making rugby: ■■ Safer to play; ■■ Easier to understand; and ■■ More entertaining to watch.

Before permanent changes are made to the Laws of the Game, proposed changes are trialled to ensure that they deliver the outcomes we all want for our sport.

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE? D POINTS VALUE A different points scoring system will be used: ■■ Try = 6 points ■■ Penalty try = 8 points (no conversion attempt required) ■■ Conversion = 2 points ■■ Penalty goal = 2 points ■■ Dropped goal = 2 points

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NEW ZEALAND RUGBY Email: 2016lawtrials@nzrugby.co.nz Postal Address: PO Box 2172, Wellington 6140 Online: bit.ly/LawTrialsFAQ

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