8 minute read
Update
NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM AROUND OUR INDUSTRY.
Reality for women on tools
As the industry seeks to grow the low number of women getting on the tools, a recent survey run by the Women in Trades Collective looked to discover what would encourage more women into these jobs and what employers perceive as the barriers to hiring them. More than 1,600 responded to the women’s survey, most of them interested in working in trades.
The Trade Careers survey, which ran in April, was followed in May by a series of nationwide workshops to develop ways to engage women to try trades careers and encourage employers to take them on. Trade Careers is supported by Skills, BCITO, Connexis and Competenz. NZ Plumber will be keeping an eye on the survey results.
Visit the Trade Careers website at tradecareer.co.nz
KA INGA ORA NOW ISSUING BUILDING CONSENTS
Consentium has become the first accredited and registered non-TA Building Consent Authority in New Zealand. A standalone and independent division of Kāinga Ora, the BCA will process national building consents for Kāinga Ora for public housing of up to four levels as well as providing inspections and Code Compliance Certificates. The process covers new builds, retrofits, and any repairs and maintenance needing a building consent.
CONSTRUCTION SECTOR ACCORD CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY
The Construction Sector Accord is partnering with Diversity Works New Zealand, the national body for workplace diversity and inclusion.
“We want to encourage more diverse talent into the construction sector and shift away from our traditional way of attracting, recruiting, retaining and growing people—the status quo isn’t working,” says Accord Director Dean Kimpton.
The skills shortage is one of the construction industry’s biggest challenges, impacting the sector’s capacity to deliver construction projects. Women make up only 18% of the construction-related workforce in NZ and Māori and Pasifika are underrepresented in skilled professions and at leadership level.
“The industry has exciting initiatives underway to meet some of these challenges through the work of the Diversity Agenda, the National Association of Women in Construction and Women in Trades, as well as organisations like Keystone Trust,” says Kimpton.
Diversity Works New Zealand Chief Executive Maretha Smit says one of the first steps will be in-depth research to get a clear understanding of current diversity and inclusion practices—the first time this will have been conducted across the construction industry as a whole.
DIRECT SUPERVISION OF FIRST-YEAR APPRENTICES
Between 1 April and 14 May, the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) asked the industry for feedback on its proposal to remove the requirement for apprentices to be directly supervised by a Certifying practitioner or nominated person during the first 12 months of their apprenticeship. “Instead, it would be up to the Certifying Practitioner to decide what level of control and direction is required depending on what task the Trainee is being asked to do.”
In its submission to the PGDB, Master Plumbers noted that more than 75% of respondents in its member survey on the topic believed it was critical that supervision remain in place for the first year of an apprenticeship. “We believe that otherwise there is a high risk of safety failures by inexperienced first-year apprentices attempting to complete tasks outside their competency level,” says CEO Greg Wallace. “We are also dealing with young and vulnerable apprentices who need support around health and safety, wellbeing and confidence to ensure they develop personal and technical skills.”
The PGDB made its decision on whether to proceed with the proposal on 15 June, as NZ Plumber went to print. The final advice report from the Climate Change Commission, released in June, recognises the significant potential of alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biogas as part of New Zealand’s future energy mix.
The report acknowledges the value of having diverse energy options for New Zealand’s energy security and stresses that further work is needed to develop a comprehensive strategy for these green fuels as a viable alternative to fossil gas.
The Commission’s first draft advice to the Government recommended a ban on new gas connections in homes and businesses from 2025—but the final advice leaves it to the Government to decide how and when to phase out fossil gas.
Following the release of the original advice, Master Plumbers met with the Climate Change Commission to present the case for alternative fuels. “We are pleased to see the Commission have recognised the promise that bioenergy and hydrogen hold and we will be working with other gas sector leaders to fast-track their delivery,” says Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace.
Plans are already underway in New Zealand to blend hydrogen with fossil gas in the existing gas network within 10 years, and hydrogen can also be used to store electricity in fuel cells, which would provide additional security of supply as electricity demand increases due to the massive push towards electric vehicles.
“Our industry is 100 percent supportive of the move to carbon neutrality by 2050, but there needs to be a realistic plan to get there,” says Wallace. “What is needed now is investment in green gas development and urgent investment in the training and facilities for gasfitters to upskill in these alternative fuel technologies.”
Across the Tasman, Australia is investing millions of dollars in new hydrogen training facilities, as it gears up for the opportunities of hydrogen as both a major new domestic energy source and a lucrative export.
“A skilled workforce is the key to success in transitioning to zeroemission green hydrogen,” says Wallace. “By ensuring gasfitters have the skills to work with hydrogen and biofuels, New Zealand will be able to maximise the economic and environmental opportunities presented by these exciting new technologies.”
The Government now has until 31 December to decide whether to accept the Commission’s advice as it sets its first three emissions budgets out to 2035.
FEEDBACK ON BUILDING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE PROPOSALS
Towards the end of 2020, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) asked for construction industry views on its Building for Climate Change proposals:
To increase the operational efficiency of buildings
To reduce embodied carbon across the lifecycle of buildings.
Feedback by sector shows that barriers identified by builders include cost, homeowners not wanting to build past existing code, and entrenched beliefs within the building industry.
Building owners also thought costs of implementing the frameworks would be too high and there was concern that carbon intensive materials like concrete and steel would be banned or heavily limited.
Respondents in the broader supply chain noted that requiring councils to monitor embodied carbon during the consent process would result in increased costs and longer consent times. They also felt that including existing buildings in the initial roll-out would increase employment opportunities, as demand for energy efficiency retrofits would be significant.
MBIE is using the feedback received to develop a more detailed version of the frameworks, with plans to release a final version by the end of 2021.
You can view a full summary of submissions at
www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/building/building-forclimate-change/#summary-of-submissions-report
“DIVERSE ENERGY SOURCES WILL BE NEEDED”
Read the Climate Change Commission’s final advice report at www.climatecommission.govt.nz/our-work/advice-to-governmenttopic/inaia-tonu-nei-a-low-emissions-future-for-aotearoa/
GAS STANDARD UPDATE
AS/NZS 5601.2:2020 – Gas installation, Part 2: LP Gas installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes has been amended. The amendment applies to Clauses 1.2 and 7.5 and Figures C.6.6(A) and C.6.7(B). PLEASE NOTE: Until AS/NZS 5601.2:2020 is cited in legislation, AS/NZS 5601.2:2013 remains the Standard to use in NZ when carrying out gasfitting on a caravan or boat. If you choose to use AS/NZS 5601.2:2020 as the means of compliance, the Certifier responsible will need to prepare a certified design when certifying the installations.
TOILET CALCULATOR UPDATED
MBIE has updated its online calculator, which helps plumbers work out how many toilet pans, basins and urinals to include in a building. Check it out at www.building. govt.nz/building-code-compliance/gservices-and-facilities/g1-personal-hygiene/ calculator-for-toilet-pan/toilet-calculator
We
Plastic Free July is coming up. Spanning 177 countries, this worldwide campaign focuses on reducing our use of single-use plastics. What you can do in three easy steps: 1. Sign up at http://bit.ly/pfjj. Follow on
Facebook http://bit.ly/pfjaf and Instagram http://bit.ly/pfjia for inspiration, updates, competitions and education 2. Participate during July and beyond. It can be as simple as using your own coffee cup or buying grocery items that come in glass jars instead of plastic. 3. Spread the word amongst colleagues, whānau, friends and employees. Contact debbie@debbiespeaks.com for support material, such as logos and posters.
Colleen Upton of Hutt Gas and Plumbing attended an investiture ceremony at Government House in Wellington in May to receive her ONZM honour for services to the plumbing and gasfitting industry and women. Colleen is shown here with Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy. “It was a cracker morning,” says Colleen. “I have never been to Government House before and I felt like a kid at Christmas. What a beautiful building it is, so much history.” Tom Palmer, a senior plumber and gasfitter at Foleys Oamaru, has been labelled a hero by his manager after helping catch a wanted man on the run. According to Stuff, Tom used his tackling skills as a former Wellington premier rugby league player to hold the fugitive down until police arrived. He had been at a storage unit with a couple of customers to work on the gas in their caravan when he saw a man curled up under some cushions. Suddenly, the man sprang to life and sprinted out of the caravan, with Tom and the storage unit owner in hot pursuit. The fugitive has since been arrested and charged with burglary among other charges.
Photograph: Rachel Buer
Master Plumbers HR Manager Lisa Duston received a Special Merit award in the Professional Woman of the Year – Office category at the 2021 National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Excellence Awards, held in Auckland in May, which was attended by Building and Construction Minister Hon Poto Williams. Lisa was nominated for driving the development of the successful Master Plumbers Wellbeing on Tap health and wellbeing programme, which includes print resources, videos and an 0800 helpline for members.
