www.buildaustralia.com.au
APRIL 16
Energy efficient buildings with the elegance of natural wood Positive moves for the Australian timber industry Robots to revolutionise how architects design
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CONTENTS Cover Story
12.
Energy efficient buildings with the elegance of natural wood
Features
20.
Healthier buildings on the horizon in Australia The healthy building movement in Australia has received a boost with the announcement of a new partnership.
24.
Welding growth centres to spark more interest Australian manufacturers have a bright future if they are exportoriented, globally connected and competitive, and focus on much more than just production.
28.
Positive moves for the Australian timber industry Recent changes to the NCC, the growth of urban infill and the continuing development of prefabricated building systems promise individual benefits for the timber industry.
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Incentive to use recycled construction waste In Western Australia there has been limited consistent guidance on, and consideration of, waste management issues in the construction industry.
46.
Fitting sustainably – from selecting the right products to handling the waste Improving building performance is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
56.
Industry standards to increase adoption of BIM The successful adoption of BIM requires a deliberate and structured approach to the creation and maintenance of digital information.
Projects
48.
PACT delivers an environmentally aware build and fit out project
Industry focus
Regular Features
72
Prefabricated walls an economic and sustainable choice
6 News
52
14 Events
54 Innovation
76
Industry grasps the many benefits of insulation
36 Perspective
55 Skilled
40 Sustainability
62 Safety
48
Projects
68
50
Grand designs
80 Opinion
Mega structures
Business Horizons
2
Pushing for responsible construction Developers, builders and architects across Australia are taking their role as curators of sustainable construction choices increasingly serious. Buildings and cities use a large amount of energy, a fact which has been accepted and acted upon by the government in its decision to expand the National Carbon Offset Standard to include buildings, precincts and cities. The committee meeting for the Standard will be held in April 2016 and members will include representatives from Barangaroo Delivery Authority, the Green Building Council of Australia, the National Australian Built Environment Rating System and the CRC for Low Carbon Living. The aim is for Australia to have its first officially certified and operating carbon neutral precinct or city by January 2017. The committee will also work towards a carbon neutral certification for Australia’s buildings. Sustainable buildings are designed to be energy efficient, to be healthy for the people who live or work in them, and to reduce pollution and waste. The handling of construction and demolition waste is receiving a growing amount of attention and many states in Australia are doing their bit to act responsibly. However, Western Australia has fallen behind in using the valuable resources from construction projects. Every year the state generates three million tonnes of construction and demolition waste, and almost all of this is being sent to landfill. WA recently introduced a program to improve these numbers, by encouraging local governments, state government entities, regional councils and the private sector to use recycled construction waste in their civil projects. In another sustainable move, the Better Buildings Partnership is working with the construction industry to measure, minimise and re-imagine the waste that occurs when tenants move in and out of commercial office buildings. This includes the active choice made in the products being used for installation and how it can be recycled at the end of the building’s life. In Sydney alone, around 25,000 tonnes of waste is generated, with 18% being recycled and 2% reused in normal practice despite the materials being inherently high in value. Acting responsibly and sustainably has to be a priority for any construction project participant; however industry innovation and government incentives will help this go even further. Developing policies and programs towards a sustainable property industry can help drive the adoption of green building practices.
Build Australia Volume 2, Issue 6, APRIL 2016 Director/CEO Noman Kabir Director/Publisher Cordelia D’Souza Group Editor Annelie Wressmark Contributors Kevin Ezard Tony Arnel Dan Dragovic Ante Golem Long Pham The Australian Steel Institute AMCA IQPC Research and Development Shah Talukder Business International Art Director Karolina Larsson Communications Manager Peter Harris Group Sales Manager Joel Prentice NATIONAL ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER Abdul Khan IT Manager Zayd Bhyat Accountant M.H.Morshed Subscription Manager and Administration Amber Arnold
Published by: Sage Media Group Pty Ltd ABN 56 155 835 555 8/4 Queen Street Bentley WA 6102 P: 08 6336 6430 F: 08 9458 1136 www.buildaustralia.com.au info@sagemedia.com.au editor@sagemedia.com.au
M E D I A
G R O U P
Annelie Wressmark Editor
Cert no. L2/0011.2010
Disclaimer: Build Australia is subject to copyright and cannot be reproduced in whole or part in any print or electronic form without the consent of the Editor. Although every effort has been made to ensure that the information is correct, no responsibility is accepted by the Publisher for any entry supplied by individuals, organisations or companies.
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Events 4-6 May 2016
10-11 May 2016
11-13 May 2016
DesignBUILD
Research Facilities Design and Development
Safety First Conference & Expo
Research Facilities Design and Development draws upon the fundamentals of designing new research facilities, retro fitting existing buildings and managing facilities to optimise research while maintaining operational costs. This event will focus on incorporating inter-disciplinary collaboration when designing, developing and maintaining flexible multipurpose facilities.
The Safety First Conference & Expo is Australia’s complete safety event featuring a dedicated exhibition showcasing the latest technologies, products and services to improve safety standards and compliance and reduce safety expenditure. Running alongside the expo is an industryleading conference that will deliver essential information for business owners and managers wanting to protect their business from risk, and their people from workplace safety
Over the past three decades, DesignBUILD has supported Australia’s architecture, building, construction and design communities and in 2016 it will bring a new look to Melbourne. DesignBUILD brings together architects, building professional, contractors and designer community together with manufacturers, suppliers and service providers who work across the residential and commercial industry sectors. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre designbuildexpo.com.au
Novotel Sydney Central researchfacilities.com.au
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build australia No 6 / 2016
Safety In Action Perth hazards. Safety First Conference & Expo will offer something for everyone with an interest in safety. Sydney Olympic Park safetyfirstexpo.com.au
23 May 2016 Frame Australia 2016 Conference and Exhibition Now in its 18th year, Frame Australia plays a pivotal role in bringing together delegates from the complete supply chain of building design and construction, engineered wood and timber products, and the manufacture of pre-fabricated building components for detached housing, multi-residential and commercial developments. Frame Australia brings together delegates from building design and construction, timber and engineered wood, timber prefabrication and building materials supply sectors. Park Hyatt Melbourne frameaustralia.com
1-2 June 2016 Safety In Action Perth With 100 exhibitors under one roof, Safety in Action Perth brings together the leading suppliers from across the country. Get everything you need to keep your workforce safe. Safety in Action Perth is the only place to hear the latest developments and trends happening in the industry. Be the first to learn about changes to regulations and legislations and how they will affect your business. By attending Safety in Action Perth you are taking a major
step towards keeping your business safe. Gather all the information you would ever need to know about safety in the workplace whether it is an office, on site, in a factory, warehouse or anywhere else. Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre safetyinaction.net.au/perth
15-16 June 2016 VIC Transport Infrastructure Conference In its eighth year running, this event continues to be the largest transport infrastructure conference in the State attracting over 200 delegates annually. The theme of this year’s edition of the Victorian Transport Infrastructure conference is ‘Moving Victoria Forward’. With big ticket transport projects such as the Melbourne Metro rail and the Level Crossing Removal progressing full steam, 2016 is already shaping to be a ground-breaking year for transport infrastructure across the State. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre vicinfrastructure.com.au
28-29 June 2016 Electric Power and Lighting Exhibition The Electric Power and Lighting 2016 will provide the latest up to date information on the Electric Power and Lighting Products. This event will create a greater platform to connect manufacturers, project engineers, suppliers and technical experts to
Image credit: Alessia Pierdomenico
connect and network with the industry. From the power generation, power utilisation to the energy saving and efficiency, the topics of E-Power and Lighting 2016 Conference will cover the complete chain of energy. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre electricpower-lighting.com
19-20 July 2016 Rail Infrastructure Asset Management 2016 With billions of dollars being pumped into transport infrastructure, the rail industry is significantly expanding. Many new projects are in the pipeline with others nearing their completion, generating a critical need for rail asset owners to incorporate proactive and preventative maintenance processes into their asset management plans. With this in mind, Rail Infrastructure Asset Management 2016 will specifically focus on asset management and maintenance processes, covering both new and existing infrastructure. Intercontinental Hotel Double Bay, Sydney rail-infrastructure.com.au
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NEWS The Discovery Point by Frasers Property Australia (NSW) won the award for Masterplanned Development.
The Circa Nundah Village by Arkhefield (QLD) won the Urban Renewal award.
Australia’s Top Developments
Announced A
ustralian urban development projects that excel in innovation, sustainability and affordability have received prestigious Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) awards. The 2016 UDIA Rivergum Homes Group National Awards For Excellence, held in the Adelaide Convention Centre attracted 39 finalists and over 500 industry representatives turned out to the gala dinner. “Every year the competition gets tougher for the nation’s most exclusive awards, and this year’s outstanding finalists were no exception,” said UDIA National President, Michael Corcoran. “All finalists showcased remarkable projects of the highest quality which demonstrated their commitment to meeting the social and environmental challenges currently facing the urban development industry,” he said. “I congratulate all the finalists and winners on their outstanding achievements.”
The National awards consist of nine categories, and the 2016 National Judges, Stephen Holmes and Alan Zammit, said judging this year was extremely difficult due to the high calibre of the projects.
The 2016 UDIA National Awards for Excellence Winners are: Masterplanned Development Winner: Discovery Point by Frasers Property Australia (NSW)
Urban Renewal Winner: Circa Nundah Village by Arkhefield (QLD) Environmental Excellence Winner: Grand Lakes Estate by L. Bisinella Developments Pty Ltd (VIC)
Residential Development Winner: Sunshine Cove by Chardan Development Group (QLD)
Affordable Development Winner: Town Life Living @ Playford Alive by Renewal SA & Rivergum Homes (SA)
Medium Density Housing Winner: Artique Residence by The Makrylos Group (NT)
Seniors Living Winner: Closebourne Village by Lendlease (NSW)
High Density Housing Winner: Eden, Haven and Sanctuary by Hamton & ISPT Joint Venture (VIC)
President’s Award Winner: Eden, Haven and Sanctuary by Hamton & ISPT Joint Venture (VIC)
build australia No 6 / 2016
Big urban challenges demand greater Federal involvement
T
he Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) welcomes the Federal Government’s fresh focus on improving the lives of city-dwellers, but believes leadership and funding is needed to tackle some of the bigger issues of the 21st century. Acting Cities Minister Greg Hunt, in his recent speech to the Sydney Business Chamber, showed promising early insights into the Government’s agenda to make our cities greener. Plans include increasing overall tree coverage in an attempt to decrease heat and improve the overall quality of life for those living in the cities. Victorian President of PIA James
Larmour-Reid said: “While State and local governments will always have the primary responsibility for planning, Federal leadership and funding is needed to tackle some of the big contemporary issues. “Green infrastructure, resilience to climate change, fresh thinking about infrastructure funding, the 20-minute city, and metropolitan governance are all issues raised in the Victorian Government’s Plan Melbourne, which warrant Federal engagement. “We look forward to the emergence of a new national agenda that reverses
the ‘head in the sand’ policies regarding issues such as public transport funding, renewable energy and climate change”. In the coming months, the Federal Government will be establishing its plan to work with cities to set goals for increasing tree coverage as a means to ensure Australia remains as one of the world’s most liveable places.
Victoria on the top rung of construction ladder T he recently released Australian Construction Insights (ACI) Monitor report highlights Victoria as currently being the number one state for non-residential construction activity. The Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania currently also look relatively strong. The report also assesses there to be a strengthening outlook for non-residential construction activity in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. On a sectoral basis, there is a strengthening outlook for: factories; Victoria is currently the number one state for non-residential construction activity.
agricultural and aquacultural buildings; entertainment and recreation buildings; short term accommodation buildings; and roads, highways and subdivisions. However, according to HIA Economist, Geordan Murray, evidence of mining-related construction activity coming back down to earth while other sectors struggle to fill the void continues to come through in ACI ’s latest analysis of Australia’s non-residential construction sectors. “The contraction in mining-
related work means that engineering construction activity continues to fall, and we expect there are at least two more years of this to run. It is now becoming evident that a recovery in non-resource related construction investment to fill the void is unlikely to occur within this time frame,” he said. “That doesn’t mean there is a universally negative outlook. The detailed analysis in the ACI Construction Monitor demonstrates a number of opportunities sitting below the surface.” “In time, the contraction in miningrelated construction will work through the system – and there are a number of infrastructure projects in play that will provide opportunities for the engineering sector. In addition, the non-residential building sector should gradually recover through growth in commercial building which will kick in a bit later in the cycle,” concluded Mr Murray.
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NEWS
PROFILE
By Paul Douglas - CEO, Get Safe Training www.getsafetraining.com.au
Government slashes funding for training
N
o matter which way you look at it, businesses nowadays are feeling the financial pressures of expanding Health and Safety requirements and dwindling government support. There are now caps on the number of Students a registered training organisation (RTO) can enrol for either: • Fully or partially funded training; or • Fee help funding of training This means an RTO must have a percentage of full fee paying students who pay when they enrol or the RTO must provide finance or payment options other than government funding; either way, costs will be absorbed by the market. Businesses will have to change the way they have traditionally engaged with RTO’s if they want to control these rising costs. The financial viability of many training providers will be weakened and the flow on effects will see businesses suffer. A paradigm change is coming!
Work Health & Safety Qld suggests a solution While worker training and experience will always play a crucial role in how safety is managed, there are risks associated with relying on it too heavily. Approximately a quarter of the activities assessed as part of the audit campaign failed to comply with the safe work method statement or traffic management plan that was in place. This risk is even greater for young or inexperienced workers who may lack the knowledge or judgment needed to work safely in high risk situations without specific guidance or supervision. Methods that can assist in meeting this challenge include using inductions or briefings that do not rely on text or classroombased delivery. For example, video or photo briefings, or site and activity walk-throughs.
Duties for training A Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must ensure all workers are trained and a Verification of Competency (VOC) is conducted.
What training do my workers need? Conduct a Training Needs Analysis, the name says it all. Look at the tasks to be performed, find an appropriate course and get the workers to complete that course. Remember not all training must be conducted by an RTO. In fact consider licence requirements for minimum mandatory training and then also review the list of ‘Prescribed Occupations’ and / or ‘High Risk Work Licences’ for Construction. Most other positions require only competency. What happened to on the job training? Oh we are time poor etc, There must be a way!
What are my options? You can: • Partner with an RTO • Deliver on the job training • Only pay for the training you need • Start duplicating training time through the business activities • Utilise powerful e-learning systems to reduce the financial burden of training
The Paradigm Shift What is training? How do I know if it is good or bad? Who do I need to engage to ensure that I am meeting my legislative responsibilities? How do I take control back? These are all valid questions. The traditional pathway of business to RTO gave the business owner very little control over the training of workers, but came at a great financial cost to the business. Business owners had to pay out the cash, or qualify for funding, before a single student undertook the training, and only after the student had finished the course did the business owner learn whether or not it was all for naught – well, “times, they are a changin”. Think for a moment. If you could harness the activities you currently use in your business to train new or existing workers, under the auspice of a partnership arrangement with a training provider, who understands your business; and do this all with you in charge of how the worker is being trained, and at a fraction of the time and cost. Would it be enough incentive for you to look outside the box?
Take a moment to ponder The government is withdrawing assistance to businesses but the requirements are still to be met (and continually increasing). Businesses don’t have the time or financial resources to start up their own RTO’s but they still need to ensure workers are trained and competent. Technology moves faster than the words we use to tell people about it – so what you thought you knew yesterday is quite possibly, superseded. It’d be nice that, as a business owner, you actually had a say in how the people who are going to work for you, were trained, and what they were trained in.
How will you meet your Training Duties? Find an RTO to provide training that can be individually tailored to each trainee. Remember, as well as a compliance issue, an investment in worker training and skills advancement is a positive investment in a stronger future for the PCBU business.
build australia No 6/ 2016
Government to deliver city deals Commercial Buildings Tap into Water Savings
C
ommercial property owners in Perth have stepped up for the environment having saved more than 60 million litres of water in the latest reporting of the Waterwise Office Program. The Waterwise office program is a joint initiative of the WaterCorp, City of Perth and the Property Council aimed at introducing water saving initiatives in CBD office towers. Two buildings achieved a platinum rating: 151 Royal St, East Perth and 197 St George’s Terrace, Perth. “The Waterwise office program has successfully changed water usage patterns in commercial office towers, resulting in significant water savings as well as financial savings for the building owners and tenants,” WA Deputy Executive Director Property Council of Australia Lino Iacomella said. “The water saving initiatives included fitting water saving devices in bathrooms and common areas, repairing hidden water leaks and investing in new technologies for air cooling and garden reticulation.” “The Waterwise office program is setting an excellent example for the entire commercial office sector and it is our shared objective with the other program partners to provide continuing leadership on sustainable building outcomes.”
T
he Turnbull Government recently committed to deliver ‘UK City Deals’ at the Green Cities Conference. “City Deals are a real innovation in policy. They break down the barriers between federal, state and local government – and make all of them partners in economic growth”, said Ken Morrison, Chief Executive of the Property Council. “A City Deal is a contract between a region and the Federal Government to deliver infrastructure and to tie incentive payments to economic benchmarks,” he said. “All too often, planning and infrastructure are not linked together and we don’t get growth – or we get the infrastructure, but it’s too late. We need an integrated approach to help our cities grow and prosper. UK City Deals are a successful model.” “City Deals represent a national competition approach to the
development of our cities.” Mr Morrison said the Turnbull Government was giving every indication it wanted to make cities a central plan of economic policy. “Australia’s cities contain over 75% of the population and they generate 80% of our GDP. The functioning and liveability of our cities is vital to our productivity as a nation. We need a national approach.” Mr Morrison said City Deals are not about ‘value capture’, they are about ‘value creation’ – and we need more policy that is focusing on unlocking our cities rather than taxing them. “It is very pleasing that we have a bi-partisan approach to the importance of cities. The announcement is a tangible policy to help our cities grow. This is an important development and we are looking forward to working with the government on this vital economic measure.”
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NEWS
Green offices top three million square metres A
ustralian offices are taking the lead in tackling climate change with green office floor space now covering three million square metres, or the equivalent footprint of Uluru – the world’s largest rock formation. The CitySwitch Green Office energyefficiency program represents over 12% of all Australia’s CBD office space and helps companies significantly cut carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and reduce energy and waste costs. The latest addition to the City of Sydney led national program is Melbourne’s Green Steps consultancy, contributing 1,000 square metres in floor space. Green Steps is a not-for-profit environmental consulting and training provider based at Monash Sustainable Institute offering climate-conscious training to companies.
Green Steps has committed to improving their energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and improving their recycling rates using the tools available through CitySwitch. Lord Mayor Clover Moore congratulated CitySwitch on reaching the impressive milestone representing a significant commitment from commercial offices to a smarter, greener future. “Around 80% of the emissions from cities come from commercial office buildings so if we’re serious about the war on climate change, that’s the front line,” the Lord Mayor said. “In the past 12 months, CitySwitch members have launched 1,463 sustainability projects, reported an average accredited NABERS rating of 4.1 stars and purchased 296,600 tonnes of carbon credits, detailed in the program’s annual progress report.”
“These fantastic results are a real credit to Australia’s forward-thinking businesses for recognising climate leadership as a means of producing office efficiencies while making savings to their own bottom line.” The program currently has 730 offices on board with signatories making a commitment to develop a structured pathway to energy efficiency, with a target of a 4-star or above performance rating. Green Steps business development associate, Kate Smith, said becoming a CitySwitch member shows a commitment to improving energy efficiency. “It’s encouraging to be on this journey with other organisations,” Ms Smith said. “As an organisation that provides sustainability training, it’s important that we walk the talk and lead by example.”
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COVER STORY
Energy efficient buildings with the elegance of
natural wood
A custom design etched in to the panels.
T
he Ocean Keys Shopping Centre redevelopment was completed in 2014 and is located in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. The design of the centre is fully integrated with the surrounding town centre and in 2015 it secured the Australian Institute of Architects ‘Architecture Award’ in Commercial Architecture, with the jury commending the centre’s significant contribution to the surrounding urban fabric through its textually rich use of materiality and permeable street frontage. This award was achieved due to a combination of the many unique features and materials used on this project such as wood, glass and steel. Since 1988, SGI Architectural has been a key provider of premium quality building façades and was asked to provide a solution that offered a unique, warm and innovative design which also required minimum maintenance. “The architect for this project, Taylor Robinson, and the client, AMP Capital, wanted to achieve a space that was beautiful yet functional too.” SGI Architectural supplied a solution for use internally and externally. Prodema is a composite panel faced with a natural wood veneer cladding to enhance the look of the building and create a welcoming feel. “The use of this product has resulted in a tactile building which sets it apart from its surroundings, yet blends in due to the use of natural wood.”
PRODEX offers quality design and was developed following years of research to become a versatile, sustainable and unique choice for architects wanting to push the design envelope, while ensuring no regular maintenance is required like other wood exteriors. For high traffic areas and public spaces like shopping centres, PRODEX is the ideal choice. A highly resistant PVDF film protects PRODEX from nature’s elements, creating a product which is virtually maintenance free. This PVDF film is also anti-graffiti and anti-adherent, preventing organic matter from developing on the panel’s surface and reducing the build-up of dust and dirt from airborne pollution. With an emphasis on environmental accountability, Prodema have been awarded many sustainable credentials such as the ISO 14006 certification in ECOdesign as well as PEFC certification, the guarantee that their products are manufactured with wood originating from managed forests that abide by the strictest socially and environmentally responsible standards. The use of Prodema provides the advantages offered by a ventilated façade. Environmental efficiency is enhanced through the product’s response to thermal changes with ventilated facades able to adapt to climactic conditions, reducing energy costs. Furthermore, ventilated façades offer enhanced noise absorption, which is extremely important in urban areas. SGI Architectural offers quality building façade cladding to the Australian construction industry with a strong focus on providing market leading brands for external façade applications, which allows architects and designers to achieve levels of design previously thought impossible. Their expertise and success in this area has resulted in many award winning projects for architects across Australia, such as the 8 Chifley Square project in Sydney which has won 14 national awards to date. With SGI Architectural’s access to a range of unique and ecofriendly aluminium facades, timber composite panels, clay tiles, non-combustible rockwool cored sandwich panels and architectural glass, there is an option available to meet every project and architect requirement. SGI Architectural’s ALPOLIC®/fr is an Aluminium Composite Panel that is specifically designed for the construction industry. These light yet rigid, fire retardant panels have broadened architectural horizons and inspired new aesthetic and functional achievement in building design around Australia. Their Moeding product offers a wide range of terracotta solutions from tiles, baguettes, louvres and special shapes suitable for
build australia No 6 / 2016
wall cladding and screen applications. All tiles are produced from domestic clay with a range of surface finishes and all fully imbued with colour. To simplify the installation process Moeding offers a complete fixing system with fit-for-purpose accessories. Design flexibility is enhanced due to the structural integrity of the twin wall Moeding tile which allows for 3m lengths and 800mm widths to be achieved. SGI Architectural can also supply Eurobond, a noncombustible cored internal and external wall and ceiling solution manufactured using a fire rated stone wool insulant with a low environmental impact. Eurobond products are suitable to large scale projects and have been used across Australia in shopping centres and data centres where fire resistance is fundamental to product specification decisions. Eurobond products have been specified in major international projects including food processing facilities, hospitals, hotels, stadiums and multi-million dollar infrastructure projects. SGI Architectural can provide virtually any glass configuration used in today’s construction of commercial buildings. As the Australian distributor for a number of the world’s leading glass manufacturers they can provide the right products and comprehensive product solutions to meet their customer requirements.
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EVENTS - RESEARCH FACILITIES DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
By IQPC
The design of a cutting edge research facility
F
unding reforms, increased competition and the rapidly changing rate of technology is forcing universities to rethink their strategic vision. As a result, many universities are focusing on how they can attract more sponsorship and revenue through designing, constructing and operating state-of-the-art research facilities to ensure they remain competitive in a changing market. Following the initial design stages of creating the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, a change to the procurement method from a traditional to a design and construct methodology, meant the facility had to be designed and documented as it was being built via a fast-track process. This not only brought about a unique set of challenges for architecture practice FJMT (in association with Building Studio) and the contractor Brookfield Multiplex, but it also meant the client and project team had to work very closely together to ensure the vision of a leading research facility was delivered.
Project objectives Instead of setting up a research facility with The University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre. multiple silos, the University of Sydney decided to set up one common laboratory to answer real world problems by incorporating lots of different faculties into the building. The building is home to seven open-plan 80-person laboratories which host 8-10 research groups, sharing equipment and support rooms. “The main objective of the research component of the project was to facilitate cross-disciplinary interaction between various groups within the university. That was the over-arching goal of
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Research Facilities Design and Development (RFDD) draws upon the fundamentals of designing new research facilities, retro fitting existing buildings and maintaining facilities to optimize research while reducing operational costs. This event will address the importance of inter-disciplinary collaboration and flexibility when designing, developing and maintaining state of the art multi purpose facilities. *Discount subject to availability and not available to vendors or solution providers.
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build australia No 6 / 2016
the brief. We had to meet and deliver that vision to the University of Sydney,” says Matthew Todd, Principal at HASSELL (formerly Principal at FJMT).
Key elements of the design In relation to the research components of the building, the key design elements were driven by a desire for clarity and legibility of the building for occupants. Despite the scale, this was achieved by a deliberately straight-forward layout of the research labs, workplaces and informal meeting and interaction spaces all surrounding a distinctive atrium. “As the symbolic heart of the building, the top-lit atrium gathers all the primary circulation elements (stairs, lifts) and interaction spaces to capture the energy of the occupants and facilitate informal meetings between different groups. The design of the varying curved atrium edge and locations of vertical circulation enables clear views between, and across, the floors right into the research laboratories,” says Mr Todd. On another level, the flexible and modular approach to the research laboratory design was fundamental to the design. Loose, 2016-03_Aus Half Page - Estimating Software with Testimonial.pdf 1 3/21/2016 1:58:57 PM yet modular, lab benches and mobile under bench cabinets are
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inherently reconfigurable by occupants – essential if the spaces are to react to the specific research requirements of each group. Likewise, services spines suspended from the ceiling are able to accommodate increased power, data and gas supply densities as needs arise. Dr Ian Garthwaite, Laboratory Services Manager, Research Sydney University’s Charles Perkins Centre, says the most important elements of design from the university’s perspective was to make sure the labs are flexible and are able to be reconfigured according to what’s available and necessary. “We had to ensure we had infrastructure to allow us to support new technologies. For example, making sure we’ve got the power requirements for the labs, making sure that we were able to be flexible with the air conditioning and to add additional ducting work to get fumes out of the spaces. One of the things we incorporated in the design, was the use of water cooled -80 freezers, which in itself brings along its own challenges. There were also a number of lighting requirements for the building. Also, the air that comes into the building is actually chilled through a labyrinth before it’s brought into the air conditioning duct and used to work for the building. So tempering the air using ground tunnels is quite a good use of the design,” he concludes.
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EVENTS - SAFETY IN ACTION
Changing behaviour to
create a safer workplace T
he safety industry is exploring ways for the construction industry to adapt a behaviour-based safety process in order to address serious injuries and fatalities. Ellen Downs, VP Business Development Asia Pacific of DEKRA Insight is an intervention design and negotiation expert, with a career delivering end-to-end safety improvement strategies across wide-ranging industries.
Can you define the different levels of incidents in the workplace? How and why should they be treated differently? Our extensive research and analysis of incident data shows it is useful to think about three categories of workplace incidents – non-SIF (Serious Injuries and Fatalities) potential events, SIF events (including potential and actual) and catastrophic events. The reason for this differentiation is that each requires the leaders of organisations to take a different approach to each category – it’s not a one-size-fits-all. As we learn more about those events with a life altering potential, we realise the potential increases with certain combinations of precursors and these are often very different to the causes and correlates to non-SIF events. Particularly important is how we manage behavioural reliability and alignment through the whole organisation to reduce the potential of each type.
a culture to one of behavioural reliability. The most effective training has a clear outcome, sustainable mechanisms to reinforce learning and a structure for feedback.
Is it the leader’s role to close the gap between incident rates and fatality rates? Originally our SIF research and study groups came together due to the concern of the C-suite of many high performing organisations who were seeing a trending downwards of total recordable rates but a random spiking of SIF and catastrophic events. Now we know from this research that SIF and non-SIF events have different causes and correlates. We also know that it is the culture, the behaviours from the top down to the workforce, which has the greatest influence over the potential for these events to occur. The greatest influence over culture and the driver of cultural change is leadership. It is critically important that leaders are engaged in driving behavioural alignment that is cascaded through the organisation starting with their own teams. Leaders need to understand the data gathered and how to interpret this in the frame of knowing where the next incident is likely to occur.
Can you explain the ‘behaviour-based safety’ tool? Behaviour-based safety as a theory and tools used to operationalise the theory are highly varied. One does not always connect with the other. Behaviour based safety can be as simple as an observation and reporting card through to a holistic process that takes account of determination of critical behaviours and specific definitions, data gathering through observation and interaction, feedback to reinforce desired behaviours and constructive feedback to understand and realign behaviours and then ensuring we are removing obstacles to safe behaviour. Most tools I see in the workplace are not based on research and science. As a result they are a diluted version of a process that should be capable of measuring and improving behavioural reliability in an enduring way.
Why is training employees important? Training is a critical step towards employees gaining knowledge and understanding of what is expected, why and where there are opportunities to develop and demonstrate their skills. Those organisations that manage training as an event are missing the bigger opportunities to reinforce the company values messaging of caring for its people and to reinforce the desired behaviours to align
Free Safety Seminars at the Safety in Action Perth Show Ellen Downs,VP Business Development Asia Pacific of DEKRA Insight will be presenting at Safety in Action held on 1-2 June 2016, at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. DEKRA Insight has initiated and facilitated one of the largest global research studies into fatality prevention at work. The study groups have worked together since 2010 and the learnings and shared experiences have led to a significant reduction in potential for client companies involved in this work. This seminar will share some of the key highlights from the study groups and where the largest gaps are and what to consider in reducing your organisation’s potential for SIF incidents.
KEEP YOUR WORKMATES SAFE Learn. Network. Source. Stay Safe.
build australia No 6 / 2016
1–2 JUNE 2016
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Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre
Start improving your workplace’s health and safety performance now, by visiting the Safety in Action Perth Show. It’s the only workplace safety event in Western Australia with a focus on the entire safety industry. View the latest safety products and services in construction, network with leading safety suppliers and gain knowledge of the latest building legislations, performance standards and trends and developments in OHS & WHS.
FREE TO ATTEND SEMINARS Visit the website to get an overview of the full seminar agenda and speakers.
Organised by:
Major Sponsor:
FREE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE NOW www.safetyinaction.net.au/perth
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EVENTS - SAFETY FIRST
Rethinking safety and errors on site D
espite countless projects and programs over many years, manufacturing is still starring - for the wrong reasons - on work health and safety lists. The construction, mining and transport sectors record half of all Australia’s workplace related fatalities each year. The latest incident at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site in February this year is a stark reminder of the many dangers on construction sites. At the time SafeWork SA confirmed that the fatality brings this year’s work -related death toll to five. There were a total of 14 fatalities recorded in 2015. Addressing safety procedures remains a concern for construction industry players and recent research into neuroscience suggests a new aspect to safety; that unconscious and human errors arise from inattention - and that safety can be improved by keeping people’s minds alert and changing people’s habits to look more and to think more about what they are doing. Cristian Sylvestre, MD of Safe Start says the reality is that
when we feel safe, we’re far more likely to start operating on autopilot and pay less attention. “Anyone who has ever driven a car home without being able to remember the last five minutes of driving knows all too well about being on autopilot.” “The answer, of course, is not to dismantle current safety systems, but rather to teach personal safety skills that help people pay attention more often,” he says. The majority of safety professionals struggle to understand how best to reduce human errors, however neuroscience research is revealing some significant new insights about the brain, offering new ways to approach the reduction of human errors in our workplaces. For example, we are learning that we do not see with our eyes, but with our brains. This means that our eyes are not serving as active video cameras, capturing every detail of the world around us. Rather, our pre-conscious brain is constantly engaging our eyes to verify what our brains predict is going on. The brain’s primary mission, unless intentionally directed otherwise, is to
build australia No 6 / 2016
determine if there are any unanticipated risks to our surviving and thriving. According to neuroscientists, that means our eyes and our brains are more likely to see what they expect to see, rather than the reality of what is going on in the external world. According to DEKRA Insight, knowing this one simple fact about the brain gives us powerful insights about how to prevent many of the human errors currently occurring in our work-places. This has implications for how we design our visual environments, and how we generate accurate situational awareness among our workforce. It means that we cannot take a passive approach to essential observational tasks, assuming people will, of course, see what they should see. Instead, to prevent serious injuries and catastrophic accidents, we need to train people to be ‘active noticers’ of all the weak signals in their visual environments. And, we have to build in human as well as technological redundancy on any visual search or watch-keeping tasks that are critical to process and people safety. Fortunately, we can use neuroscience findings to develop a deeper understanding of the error mechanisms in the human brain and the impact of fatigue on brain functioning. We can also use this growing body of science to better design our
About Safety First Cristian Sylvestre, MD of Safe Start is sharing his insights, as well as tools for improving your chances of not having a workplace incident, in a Premium Forum session at the Safety First Conference & Expo, taking place on 11-13 May 2016 at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park. The Safety First Conference & Expo is a one-stop safety event, bringing together a showcase of safety solutions alongside a packed conference program, with industry leaders sharing the latest research and strategies for improving workplace safety. Safety First runs alongside National Manufacturing Week (NMW), Australia’s largest, longest-running industry event. NMW is the event that brings industry together to see and touch new technologies, and hear ideas for the future.
organisational systems and shape our leadership messaging to mitigate brain-centric errors. By applying the lessons of neuroscience, we can finally drill down and answer the ‘why’ questions about human errors, and make our people, processes and environments safer.
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EVENTS - DESIGNBUILD
Healthier buildings on the horizon in Australia
T
he healthy building movement in Australia has received a boost with the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) announcing a new partnership. The GBCA and IWBI have agreed to work collaboratively to promote health and well-being in the design, construction and operations of buildings, fit outs and communities in Australia. The GBCA launched the Green Star rating system in 2003, and since then has certified more than 1,050 buildings, communities and fit outs throughout Australia. IWBI administers the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL), a performance-based system for measuring, certifying and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. The two organisations announced the new partnership at the Green Cities 2016 conference in Sydney, after signing a memorandum of understanding which outlines their commitment to work towards common goals. “A truly sustainable building not only addresses environmental impact, but social and economic impact too. Green Star’s focus on indoor environmental quality provides a critical foundation for human health and wellbeing – one which WELL enhances through its dedicated focus on evidence-based medical and scientific research and measurable performance,” says the GBCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Romilly Madew. “We are excited to be joining forces with IWBI to elevate the focus on buildings that are efficient, productive and healthy for the people who live and work in them,” Ms Madew adds. “Joining forces with the Green Building Council of Australia will help grow the healthy building movement by bringing health and wellness into Australia’s indoor environments through the WELL Building Standard,” said IWBI Founder Paul Scialla. “With this agreement, we see tremendous opportunity for the wellness, sustainability and real estate communities
in Australia to come together to support human health through the buildings where we spend more than 90% of our time.” The organisations will now work together to identify opportunities to align the two rating systems, develop events and education offerings, and promote building practices that improve the health and well-being of occupants. Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), which provides third-party certification for the WELL Building Standard, will also support efforts to promote and deliver WELL across Australia. “Increasingly, Australians recognise that our buildings have a dramatic impact on our health and well-being. This new partnership is an important step towards designing and building places that are sustainable, productive and healthy,” Ms Madew concludes.
Are you keen on sustainability? DesignBUILD expo’s Sustainability Stream will run for a full day on the 4 May 2016 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Some of the topics that will be presented include ‘Understanding the material changes to Green Star 2016’, ‘Building with wood: ‘Passvhaus’ as the ultimate sustainable building’ and ‘Seeing Green: An eco-conscious approach to kitchen and bathroom design and construction’. DesignBUILD will take your industry knowledge to a new level and learn from the industry’s best between 4-6 May 2016.
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EVENTS - DESIGNBUILD
Drainage Considerations for Building Projects
T
he selection of quality drainage is crucial not only to the wellbeing and amenity of building occupants, but to the integrity and value of the building as a whole. Faced with the competing challenges of today’s ultra-modern building designs, aging infrastructure and a litany of Building Code of Australia (BCA) requirements, today’s architects and specifiers must navigate a myriad of planning and regulatory hurdles. Whilst the importance of meeting mandated compliance measures (such as BCA waterproofing standards AS-3740 & AS-4654) must not be discounted, it is crucial for any implemented solution to accord strictly with the unique built and natural landscaping features of the property. This includes provisions for adequate grading and a thorough understanding of drainage flow rates, particularly in areas prone to excessive downpours. Moreover, all outdoor drainage projects should aim to incorporate best practice in sustainable design (encapsulated in Australia’s Waster Sensitive Urban Design, or WSUD, principles), to ensure water is discharged cleanly into sensitive catchment areas. Few could doubt that the selection and implementation of quality drainage solutions is key to the successful functioning and
durability of the built area. With a bit of research and the right advice, you can ensure a reliable and consistent drainage solution that offers not only seamless installation options, but long-term cost benefits and maximal amenity for occupants. As one of Australia’s most respected drainage manufacturers and suppliers, Stormtech is committed to delivering the highest quality drainage solutions for today’s unique building projects. Stormtech’s skilled specialists work closely with specifiers, architects and builders to offer tailored drainage solutions, including bespoke drawings and plans for customised drainage designs for all Australian environments. Stormtech works proactively with plumbing advisory services to ensure drainage is not only fit for purpose, but meets stringent Building Code of Australia (BCA) compliance measures. Stormtech is also the only drainage company to have achieved GreenTag certification and to have collaborated with designers such as Marc Newson to provide genuine ‘designer’ products, won the Good Design Selection multiple times, and have also won the prestigious ICFF Editors Choice Award for product of the year in New York.
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EVENTS - IIW ANNUAL ASSEMBLY AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Welding growth centres
to spark more interest C
ontrary to popular belief, Australian manufacturers have a bright future – if they are export-oriented, globally connected and competitive, and focus on much more than just production. Without doubt, the sector is facing some big challenges. High-profile factory closures over the past decade illustrate the difficulties of competing in the low-value markets increasingly dominated by low-cost manufacturers in developing countries. Even more significant is the global industry’s transformation, fuelled by disruptive new technologies and business models. Digital technologies and other advances have opened the way for a new breed of high-tech manufacturer – one that designs and makes high-value products and offers new services, while optimising their operations with smart production systems. Advanced manufacturers don’t just make things. They also innovate, design, distribute and market products. They create more value for their customers through research and development (R&D) and by providing new services. Advanced manufacturers embrace new technologies, such as the Internet of Things and 3D printing, but how they apply technology is even more important. They have digitised and integrated their design, development and production systems, enabling them to rapidly adapt to market changes or respond to customer requests. They are globally connected and export-oriented. Australian manufacturers like ANCA, Marand Precision Engineering and Sutton Tools may not be household names, but they have forged valuable places in their global supply chains by designing and making high-value tools and parts for large manufacturers around the world. The welding industry is essential to the Australian economy and to the key sectors of mining and construction, and reaches into other manufacturing areas including defence, transport, medical equipment and electronics. Due to Australia’s dedicated research into the industry, welding has grown in technical and scientific capability, which is expected to result in an increase in the sector’s contribution to the economy. To help the growth of this sector, the Australian Government’s Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda has introduced
some direct initiatives and opportunities for the welding industry, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) and the Entrepreneurs’ Fund. The AMGC model has five key elements: 1. Industry-led – emphasis on engaged enterprises (not observers) 2. Focus on engaging Australian manufacturers with global supply chains and (therefore) markets 3. Engagement and collaboration on programmes and projects 4. Work exclusively in the commercialisation “valley of death” 5. Public – Private funding gives way to Private – Public funding over four years to enable sustainability The AMGC says advanced manufacturing isn’t an industry classification – it’s a way of operating. Advanced manufacturers often offer high-end products and services, in sectors such as precision manufacturing and medical technology. But businesses in many other sectors, including agriculture and mining, also increasingly depend on technology, parts and equipment made by advanced manufacturers. In the process of establishing the AMGC, the centre spoke to more than 80 manufacturers, including some of Australia’s most globally competitive businesses, to gain a deeper understanding of their comparative advantages and their needs, including what government regulatory changes may enable them to become even more competitive. “This consultation process also enabled us to identify exactly what sets an advanced manufacturer apart. We found that advanced manufacturers have leading-edge skills, capabilities, technologies and practices that cannot be replicated in low-cost operators,” says AMGC.
Australasia’s Largest Welding Event Comes to Melbourne The 69th IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference will be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre from 10 to 15 July 2016. A unique global forum, the Annual Assembly and International Conference will provide myriad opportunities for professionals from around the world to share and develop their scientific and technical knowledge of welding and related activities. The theme of the 2016 International Conference is From Concept to Decommission: The Total Life Cycle of Welded Components. From go to woe, the full life cycle of a welded component will be explored and explained.
BOOK NOW:
69th IIW Annual Assembly & International Conference 10 to 15 July 2016 Melbourne, Australia The 69th IIW Annual Assembly & International Conference will be the largest welding event in Australasia in 2016. The event program will delve into the most important issues facing the industrial, welding, and fabricating industries today. Keynote speakers will entertain and enthrall, while a range of off-site technical visits will give delegates a ‘behind-thescenes’ look at Australia’s welding, fabricating technology, industrial and metals industries.
For more details, visit: www.iiw2016.com
Welding Technology Institute of Australia
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EVENTS - FRAME AUSTRALIA
Positive moves for the Australian timber industry By Frame Australia’s Kevin Ezard
Recent changes to the National Construction Code (NCC), the growth of urban infill and the continuing development of prefabricated building systems promise individual benefits for the timber industry – together they could combine to realise even more.
A
ustralia’s steadily growing urban population is exerting ever greater influence on residential planning and property developments, with most State Government 20 year master plans increasing the proportion of urban infill, and increasing the density of living in inner and middle suburbs. Over the past decade the growth in construction of detached housing has levelled, and apart from the recent spike in demand, dwelling starts are predicted to be in long term decline for single family dwellings, mainly due to changing consumer lifestyles and the preference for higher density living within inner urban zones, following trends set in other developed parts of the world. During this period, construction of mid-rise and high-rise multiresidential apartments has grown rapidly, and is basically keeping up with the increase in population within our cities which is predicted to continue for the next decade or more. Concurrent with this increased rate of construction is heightened interest in prefabricated off-site construction systems, which is resulting in a sharp rise in manufacturing facilities to produce panelised wall and floor systems using lightweight timber and mass wood systems. These circumstances are creating a new long term opportunity for timber and wood construction systems to meet the changing needs of commercial building markets, and create a growth trend for increased use of currently available timber and engineered wood products. Until now, a major barrier to specification and use of timber in mid-rise and higher residential buildings has been the Building Code of Australia (BCA) which only allowed up to three storeys for timber frame construction under the deemed-to-satisfy (DtS) provisions, requiring the more expensive ‘alternative solutions’. By comparison, codes in similar socio-economic countries have allowed much greater heights for timber buildings either with or without sprinklers. The Proposal for Change by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) to the 2016 National Construction Code through the ABCB in 2015 has been positively endorsed resulting in the 2016
NCC including prescriptive performance (formerly DtS) provisions for allowing the use of both lightweight and massive timber construction up to an effective building height of 25m for Class 2, 3 & 5 buildings (up to eight storeys approximately) which will apply from May 1, 2016. Another change occurring in construction is greater acceptance of ‘off-site’ construction using prefabricated and/or modular building components and units manufactured off-site for assembly on-site. This is the continuation of a long-term trend away from trade-based work on-site to the production of components elsewhere. Off-site construction is producing complete buildings, or parts of buildings, such as pods for kitchens, toilets and/or bathrooms, and brings manufacturing techniques and disciplines to the construction sector including production line efficiencies, automation and advanced manufacturing techniques, mass customisation and complex systems thinking. This form of construction can offer reduced construction times, lower costs, improved project payback times, and less waste while also improving workplace safety. It can contribute to productivity improvements by reducing time lost due to adverse weather, reducing traffic congestion, and general disruption around work sites. The concept of off-site timber prefabrication is not new in Australia with prefab ‘open’ wall frames and truss roofs for dwelling construction used for over 30 years, but it is now becoming a more comprehensive process with higher levels of off-site completion for delivery to building sites utilising fully ‘closed’ panel walls and cassette floors. This is increasingly being explored as a solution to quicker construction in more challenging site environments, with panelised and modular (volumetric) systems now being pursued for a wide range of building types, particularly for multi-residential projects. The prefabrication process also transfers trade labour from the building site into a controlled manufacturing environment for improved scheduling and higher accuracy in components, for speed of assembly, for limiting interruptions on site, and providing higher overall build quality to reduce building energy usage. It also provides greater diversity in labour selection to include female, low-skilled, and disabled workers. Prefab and modular systems of construction are well developed in Europe, with most countries increasingly using production-line manufactured housing, with the pre-fab concept expanding to a very
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EVENTS - FRAME AUSTRALIA
wide range of building components and sub-assemblies. Some countries in Europe produce from 25% to over 50% of all housing with fully closed wall and roof systems, which due to the superior quality of factory built houses in some markets are sold at a premium price due to the acknowledged quality levels and savings from lower energy usage. With the large volume of off-site and prefabricated construction in Europe, the main global equipment suppliers based there are currently providing the majority of production line equipment for Australian manufacturing plants. In the past few years there has been a significant increase in the levels of automated prefabrication equipment installed in Australia, both for open and closed panel walls and floors. Currently there are some six highly automated prefabrication plants either operating or under construction for manufacture of closed panel walls to be delivered to site as completed elements with windows and external cladding, fully lined plasterboard internal walls, complete with plumbing and electrical connections. With established high technology automated manufacturing systems readily available, Australia has the opportunity to produce greater levels of prefabrication and component assembly to meet future market growth in housing and multi-residential building.
The FWPA Market Access project, Increasing deemed to satisfy height limits for timber construction - Cost benefit analysis, estimated in 2013-14 the market value of multi-residential construction between four and eight storeys was $6.6 billion, and office building within the same height $2.8 billion, a total of $9.4 billion. Over the next decade, the project estimate for market share penetration of timber framed construction is 5%. Estimates for annual growth in multi-residential is 5%, and office construction is 3%. Using these annual growth rates the value of multi-residential timber framed construction was modelled to rise to $510 million per year. This indicates the very large size of the market potential, and the substantial opportunity for future growth in supply of timber and wood systems, accompanied by continuing expansion in the future. In response to this market opportunity the FWPA is preparing plans to develop market acceptance and use of timber frame and engineered wood construction systems in multi-residential and commercial buildings. This will primarily be through increased market understanding of the construction benefits to the design and construction sector; and the system supply requirements within the industry supply chain sector.
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Building construction with prefabricated timber and engineered wood
In a one day event Frame Australia offers delegates insight into the future for timber buildings in residential and commercial construction. The future for sustainable building is timber and wood construction – built faster, cheaper, and now higher than ever before. Global and local experts will review timber buildings up to 8 storeys with new building code provisions from May this year. Automated plants in Australia are now producing completed floors, walls and roofs for dwelling completion in days, not months. Visit displays of the latest timber and wood systems and products, new digital technologies, innovative manufacturing, and more.
SPEAKER SESSIONS PROGRAM • Timber and wood in building construction • New developments in taller timber buildings • Manufacturing technologies and plant automation • Engineering & management of timber building construction • Prefabricated panel systems production and supply • The future for timber building systems All sessions conclude with a discussion forum of speakers and panel members For more information and Speakers Program details visit the website www.frameaustralia.com
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EVENTS - FRAME AUSTRALIA
The good wood A
s the building industry grapples with unprecedented global challenges – hyper urbanisation, dwindling resources and climate change among them – timber and engineered wood products are emerging as sustainable solutions. Project teams are embracing timber as an environmentally‐ sustainable and renewable material, and using it to build faster, cheaper and more sustainably than ever before. So how can new systems approaches to timber create new opportunities, accelerate construction times, reduce costs and create stronger value chains? Cross-laminated timber (CLT), hailed as the ‘new concrete’ by some, has become popular overseas as it is lightweight, durable and easy to assemble. Large panels of timber, sometimes called ‘jumbo ply’, are glued and pressed together. They are then cut to size off-site, reducing build time and costs with it. Aside from being around 30% lighter than traditional structures, buildings made with CLT also requires less energy to heat and cool. Lendlease has used the material on two projects in Melbourne’s Docklands: the 10-storey residential tower, Forté, currently the world’s tallest timber apartment building; and the Library at the Dock, the first public building in Australia to achieve a 6 Star Green Star rating. At the Library, the
The Metropol Parasol in Seville, Spain used laminated veneer lumber (LVL).
Timber – our most ancient building material – is undergoing a modern makeover, and is now helping us meet the challenges of sustainable, contemporary construction. lightweight nature of CLT reduced the requirements for new foundations, enabling the building to be constructed just eight metres from the water’s edge. The result is a building that is both spectacular and sustainable. Forté’s 759 CLT panels of European spruce turned up on site like flat packed furniture, weighing around 485 tonnes. By using timber, instead of concrete or steel, the building has eliminated around 1,450 tonnes of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of removing 345 cars from the road for a year. The building’s energy efficient design is also saving residents around $300 a year each on their power bills. Manufactured from smaller, fast-growing trees, sustainably harvested engineered wood products aren’t reliant on large pieces of solid timber – which means it is a quickly-renewed material. What’s more, waste chip is able to be recycled for further use. The manufacturing processes for engineered wood products in general require a moisture content of less than 15%, resulting in a finished product that is more stable and less prone to shrinkage. The end product is also free from the flaws generally found in timber, so the consistency in quality is preferable, and generates even less waste. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is another high-strength engineered timber product manufactured by assembling wood veneers with a waterproof bond. The process maximises the strength of the wood, with the veneering process eliminating any imperfections in the grain. As a result, LVL is uniform and comparable in strength to solid timber, concrete or steel. It can also be more durable and less prone to shrinking or warping. It is relatively low cost and can be manufactured to any length or shape. One good example of LVL in action is found in Spain, at the Metropol Parasol in Seville. Completed in 2011,
build australia No 6 / 2016
By Tony Arnel, Global Director Sustainability, Norman Disney & Young
the building spans more than 11,000 square metres and reaches 28 metres tall – making it one of the world’s largest timber buildings. The complex includes an archaeological museum, a farmers’ market, bars and restaurants and a raised plaza, as well as eye-catching wooden parasols – all made from waffle-like wood panels with a polyurethane coating. Another benefit of timber is that it can be harvested locally, with sources renewed and unwanted material recycled. And of course, timber’s carbon storage potential is impressive. Australia’s native forests, timber plantations and wood products are net absorbers of greenhouse gases, sequestering an estimated 56.6 million tonnes of carbon
dioxide a year, and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions profile by almost 10%. But do we grow enough timber to meet demand? A Yale University-led study published in March 2014 estimated that the world’s forests contain about 385 billion cubic metres of wood, with an additional 17 billion cubic metres growing each year. “A mere 3.4 billion cubic metres is harvested [annually], mostly for subsistence fuel burning; the rest rots, burns in fires, or adds to forests’ density,” says Professor Chad Oliver, director of the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry at Yale University in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry. “Swapping steel, concrete, or brick for wood and specially engineered wood equivalents would drastically cut global carbon dioxide emissions, fossil fuel consumption and represent a renewable resource. Managed properly, this can be done without loss of biodiversity or carbon storage capacity,” Professor Oliver adds. While the beauty of wood is timeless, engineered wood products are emerging as an industry game changer – one that may enhance the productivity of our industry and secure the future of the planet.
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EVENTS - RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE ASSET MANAGEMENT By IQPC
Technology trends in rail asset management
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trategic asset management is often the core of any effective framework, especially in the context of rail infrastructure. But in light of new technology, commercial aspirations and economic pressures, ‘strategic’ is taking on an entirely new definition – one that is far more integrated. Freight and heavy haulage in particular is seeing increased investment in virtual applications for asset management. AECOM is involved in extensive modelling of various asset portfolios for clients, using a range of analysis tools to enhance both operational and maintenance activities. Geographic information systems (GIS) and building information systems (BIM) are allowing teams to interrogate asset structures from the design phase, particularly materials handling systems where pipes and conveyors are complex in the set up. Developing 3D representations have helped facilitate smoother transitions from the design-build phase to operations and maintenance. Rob McAlpine, Global Freight Rail Director at AECOM, notes: “More clients are providing project briefs that correspond to very
19 - 20 July 2016
Leveraging maintenance processes to improve operational efficiency, increase the life-span of existing assets and reduce costs
specific requirements that both GIS and BIM can offer: be it freight or passenger services”. Additionally, simulation modelling of the supply chain has introduced the opportunity to examine performance at different levels of investment. For example, in pit to port scenarios, models have been created to incorporate componentry such as train loaders, rail tracks, passing loops, material handing stockyards, unloaders and the shipping interface. AECOM has set up interactive dynamic models that represent the movement of product throughout the supply chain. The models enable teams to examine how the various moving parts of the system interact with other system elements and realistically assess the supply chain performance. Engineering and ROI have never been closer together from a commercial perspective – technicians and engineers are fast becoming able to articulate the need for specialised operations and maintenance regimes.
Sydney Australia
Procurement and Maintenance of Rolling Stock to Improve Availability and Capacity of Fleet
Events are Co-located, register for one event, and attend sessions from both events interchangeably! BUILD AUSTRALIA READERS SAVE 10%!
Simply call: 02 9229 1000 or email: registration@iqpc.com.au. Be sure to quote the VIP code ‘buildaus10’ to receive 10% off the prevailing early bird rate. FEATURING OVER 30 SPEAKERS BETWEEN THE TWO EVENTS, INCLUDING KEY EXPERTS FROM:
The conference has been designed to address the following key issues:
n Improving rail infrastructure through strategic asset management and scheduling for each stage of the asset life-cycle in order to optimise existing assets and extend their life n Implementing best practice methodology and technology to facilitate effective investigation, review and audit of rail infrastructure for reporting and maintenance productivity To find out more, visit: www.rail-infrastructure.com.au
The conference has been designed to address the following key issues: n Devising a maintenance and asset management strategy that maximises availability of existing rolling stock and controlling wear and tear
n Integrating remote condition monitoring systems to plan more effective maintenance n Harnessing data and improving information management to plan better maintenance To find out more, visit: www.rolling-stock.com.au *Discount subject to availability and not available to vendors or solution providers.
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By the Australian Steel Institute
South Australian moves T
he dual challenge of stemming an increasing flood of noncompliant building products sourced for local taxpayer funded development projects along with an array of adverse market conditions impacting the South Australian economy more than most state jurisdictions has led to major commitments recently from that State’s Government to firm up steel compliance. With South Australia currently in the midst of a perfect storm dragging down its economy from the winding down of local automotive manufacturing, a gap in shipbuilding activity and the end of the mining boom, the State’s policymakers’ eyes were more than focussed on the need to support the steel industry which has a major footprint there. Not only has the current international glut in steel threatened the quality of steelwork supplied to local projects, it has placed more pressure on Australian steelmakers competing with overseas steel mills not subject to the same compliance rules. As Australia’s main long products steel mill is located in Whyalla in that State, the Government was keen to find ways to help rebalance the books for the local industry for the sake of fairer procurement for public works. As the peak body representing the national steel supply chain, the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) has worked closely with the State Government over the past year to identify ways to optimise value from the steel industry there and support skilled ‘steel’ jobs across the local channel. As the main driving force behind the creation of Australia’s first dedicated third party certification scheme for structural steelwork, the National Structural Steelwork Compliance Scheme (NSSCS), the Institute was already liaising with the Government on recognition of the scheme linked as it is to a new national standard currently undergoing public review. The NSSCS is based on the principles of the European Standard EN 1090 to ensure risk-based safe compliant steel construction and covers buildings, structures and components designed to Australian Standards AS 4100 (structural steelwork), AS/NZS 5100 (bridges) and supporting Australian Standards including those for welding, bolting and corrosion protection. For the Government, there is a solid case for applying the same standards to all contestable project inputs that not only means everybody playing by the same rules, but also helping to eliminate wasteful administrative duplication between jurisdictions. A single set of standards is also a good starting point to rationalise major project sourcing to trim costs and better enables pre-qualification of contractors to help streamline project lead times. In late 2015, the Government announced its commitment that
all steelwork procured for public works be independently tested and certified to Australian standards, also committing resources to facilitate that. The State’s procurement policies are being revised to specify that steelwork come from steel fabricators independently certified to the NSSCS and steel be sourced from mills with Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steel (ACRS)
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firm up steel surety Recognising that standards and schemes only work effectively with proper policing, the Government further undertook to establish a third-party audit process to ensure contractors adhere to the new steelwork compliance scheme as well as providing information on the State Government assistance now available for local steel fabricators. Those most recent reforms were announced by South Australian Treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis at the special Steel Summit
“Not only has the current international glut in steel threatened the quality of steelwork supplied to local projects, it has placed more pressure on Australian steelmakers competing with overseas steel mills not subject to the same compliance rules.”
third party certification which has been successful over many years in providing compliance surety for reinforcing bar, mesh and strand steels and more recently expanded to cover structural steel. The State Government is also providing additional funding for managing compliance to the new requirements through its Industry Advocate’s office and providing grants to steel fabricators in that State to undertake certification under the NSSCS.
held at Adelaide Convention Centre on 16 February which was convened to bring together participants from all facets of the Australian steel supply chain to explain the aims of the State’s Steel Certification Policy. The meeting replaced a more general Industry Participation Forum planned for earlier in the month with the more targeted event driven by the State’s recognition of the steel industry’s substantial contribution to the local economy and the growing threat of non-compliant steelwork as global supply chains exert greater risk to development projects in the State. The Summit also provided a forum for the Government and steel industry stakeholders to compare notes on how to maximise value creation and lower risk for the State from more sustainable procurement practices for major public works and was attended by representatives from construction and building companies, industry groups, contractors, architects, steelmakers and fabricators. Clearly, as steelwork is commonly depended on for structural support, it is a safety-critical item and for that reason alone needs to comply with established standards as the growing spate of building failures due to non-conforming building products attests. At the end of the day, it’s about de-risking major public projects whilst providing strategically targeted economic stimulus within the bounds of Australia’s international trade obligations.
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PERSPECTIVE
By Herbert Smith Freehills partners Dan Dragovic and Ante Golem and Herbert Smith Freehills solicitor Long Pham
Calling on Performance Bonds:
Pi t fa l l s a n d L e s s o n s I
n recent times, falling commodity prices have had a dramatic impact on the economics of large-scale construction projects
in the energy and resources sector. As companies rush to acclimatise to the new price-constrained environment, and as projects begin moving from the construction into the production phase, principals are facing increasing pressure to cut costs and minimise value leakage. That pressure is apparent in the developing appetite of principals to call on performance bonds.
To call or not to call? Quite apart from availing a useful hit of cash, calling on a performance bond can provide the principal an enduring advantage in its broader dispute with the contractor. On the flipside, it can cause the contractor long-term reputational and business harm. It is therefore unsurprising that, in almost all cases, a call on a performance bond (threatened or actual) will be met with the contractor seeking an injunction to restrain: • the principal from making the call; and/or
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• the bank or other institution from paying out funds in response to the call. The different purposes of performance bonds and the grounds on which a court might order an injunction to restrain a bond call are two key factors to consider when deciding whether to call on a performance bond. The overarching lesson is that principals should take a robust and conservative approach to ensure pitfalls are carefully navigated and they comply with the contractual requirements for making the call.
Different bonds, different purposes Performance bonds serve one of two purposes: • to secure the underlying obligations owed by the contractor to the principal; and • to allocate to the contractor the risk of being out-of-pocket pending final resolution of the dispute between the contractor and the principal. If the bond is a risk allocation device, the court will be far less likely to restrain the call.
When will a court stop a bond call? The courts will restrain a call on a performance bond when the principal has not satisfied the substantive or formal requirements under the bond for making a call. Substantive requirements are rare; most bonds are required to be unconditional and payable on demand. More common are formal requirements (e.g. a requirement to use a particular form of notice). Although sometimes burdensome, formal requirements should be strictly complied with. Outside of cases where the principal has not satisfied the requirements specified under the bond, the courts are reluctant to restrain bond calls. The courts will only do so if: • the principal is acting fraudulently; • the principal is acting in breach of applicable statutory prohibitions on unconscionable conduct; or • the call is in breach of a contract between the principal and the contractor which imposes restrictions on when the principal can call on the bond. The third ground is the most important in practice. To prevent the contractor from making use of this ground to support an injunction, the principal should turn its mind to the following questions before calling on the bond. • What is the nature or extent of the restrictions? • What does the principal need to do in order to comply with the restrictions?
Both questions require the principal to give careful attention to the words used in its contract with the contractor. The most common restriction is one which requires the principal to hold a reasonable (or bona fide) belief that it has a proper claim against, or is entitled to payment from, the contractor before it can have recourse to the bond. Even where the contract appears to condition the principal’s right to call on the bond on the actual existence of a claim or entitlement against the contractor, the courts will typically read the contract as requiring nothing more than a reasonable belief to this effect. When confronted with this type of restriction, the principal should: • select an appropriate employee who will be responsible for forming the required belief (if it can be formed). The selected employee should be senior and familiar with the running of the project, bearing in mind they may face cross-examination from the contractor; • ensure the employee understands the subject matter of the belief, which he or she is being asked to form; and • ensure the employee maintains a detailed record of the reasoning and supporting documents relied on to form the required belief. These steps will help mitigate the risk of the contractor obtaining an injunction on the ground that the principal does not hold the required belief and therefore has not met the contractual requirement.
Preparation is key Calling on a performance bond is a big decision. Before doing so, principals should be alive to the consequent transaction costs. Those costs are likely to include reputational damage and damage to the principal’s relationship with the contractor. However, if a principal resolves to call on a bond, it should strive, as far as possible, to immunise itself from the inevitable injunction application. This requires a clear understanding of, and faithful compliance with, the relevant contractual requirements.
What is a performance bond? A performance bond is commonly used in the construction industry as a means of insuring a client against the risk of a contractor failing to fulfil contractual obligations to the client. Performance bonds can also be required from other parties to a construction contract.
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SUSTAINABILITY
Australian buildings, precincts and cities to r e duc e e m i s s i o n s The National Carbon Offset Standard sets out requirements for achieving carbon neutrality, based on a rigorous and transparent framework that is based on relevant international standards and tailored to the Australian context.
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he Standard was introduced on 1 July 2010 and provides a benchmark for businesses and other organisations voluntarily seeking to be carbon neutral for their operations, products, services or events. On 8 March this year the government announced its decision to expand the National Carbon Offset Standard to include buildings, precincts and cities. Australia’s cities consistently rank amongst the most liveable in the world and actions by individuals, businesses and other groups to reduce Australia’s carbon emissions are underway. However, according to the International Energy Agency, Australia’s cities still account for 80% of the total national energy consumption. To help combat this, the government will establish an Expert Committee for carbon neutral precincts and cities, and the aim is for Australia to have its first officially certified and operating carbon neutral precinct or city by January 2017. The committee will also work towards a carbon neutral certification for Australia’s buildings. The first meeting of the Expert Committee is planned for April 2016 and members will include representatives from big cities, Barangaroo Delivery Authority, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), the National Australian Built Environment Rating System and the CRC for Low Carbon Living. The Government is also increasing the use of renewable energy through the Renewable Energy Target and energy efficiency through the National Energy Productivity Plan. As part of the National Carbon Offset Standard, certified organisations reduce their emissions through using renewable energy and lowering energy use through energy efficiency measures or reducing waste and increasing recycling. They offset the remaining emissions through the purchase of
abatement units, such as for native vegetation restoration. GBCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Romilly Madew said Australia now has more than 1,050 Green Star projects under its belt. “We’ve claimed the title of the world’s greenest property sector for five years running, according to the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark,” she said. “Australia’s property and construction industry is responsible for delivering the building blocks of our cities, from individual buildings to entire communities. If we are to meet Australia’s emissions reduction targets and international commitments to limit global warming to less than two degrees Celsius, we must find ways to encourage and empower industry to deliver more sustainable development.” “We know how to deliver low-carbon buildings and we are seeing great leadership at the community scale emerging with projects such as the Green Star-rated Tonsley in South Australia, Aura and Ecco Ripley in Queensland and Alkimos Beach in Western Australia. Now, it’s time for us to up the ante and focus on delivering zero-carbon buildings and precincts.” “To do this, we need a credible, rigorous and broadly-accepted method that provides a clear definition of carbon neutral buildings, and provides certainty to investors, tenants and building owners. Expanding the National Carbon Offset Standard will allow Australia’s property industry to be recognised for creating and operating carbon neutral buildings, precincts and entire cities,” Ms Madew said. “Last year, the Green Building Council of Australia announced our intention to recognise and certify zero carbon buildings. We are looking forward to collaborating with the Australian Government and other key stakeholder groups to ensure the carbon neutral standard gives our industry the tools and recognition it needs to work towards a low-carbon future,” Ms Madew concludes.
6 Star Green Star precinct The latest project to set a new benchmark in the creation of sustainable, inner city precincts is Sydney’s Barangaroo South by Lendlease which was recently awarded a 6 Star Green Star
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- Communities rating, scoring an unprecedented 104.98 out of a possible 110 points. GBCA awarded the rating to the Barangaroo South precinct by assessing the sustainability performance across five impact categories - Governance, Innovation, Liveability, Economic Prosperity and the Environment. Lendlease Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Steve McCann said resilient urban communities are one of the most sustainable responses a society can make to economic growth. “As the world’s population urbanises, there is a greater emphasis placed on the role of the built environment, including place, sustainability and community outcomes. People want to live and work in cities that are liveable, connected, accessible and beautiful,” he said. “This fits into our company’s ethos - at Lendlease our culture is all about innovating to deliver authentic places that ultimately enrich the lives of people.” Mr McCann said the only way for a city to successfully evolve is through partnership and collaboration between government and the private sector; between individuals and groups; between industries and organisations. “We are extremely proud of our relationship with GBCA which spans more than a decade and are honoured to be delivering Barangaroo South for the State Government.” Ms Madew, said; “Lendlease understands that each development it undertakes represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build better places for people. Never has this been more evident than at Barangaroo South”. “This 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating represents ‘world leadership’ in the design and delivery of sustainable communities. When one in 20 CBD workers will be coming to Barangaroo South each day, the impact this development will have on people is obvious. This is what a sustainable city looks like,” she said.
Environmental features at the Barangaroo South project Barangaroo South is Sydney’s largest urban renewal project since the 2000 Olympics and is targeted to become Australia’s first large scale carbon neutral community. Barangaroo is one of only 17 projects globally to be part of the C40 Cities-Clinton Climate Initiative’s Climate Positive Development Program. The precinct is capable of being water positive, with an onsite blackwater treatment plant capable of supplying one million litres of recycled water a day to the precinct and surrounding suburbs. Barangaroo is also targeting zero net waste to landfill by 2020. Upon completion Barangaroo South will become home to around 1,500 residents, there will be next generation office space for 23,000 workers, more than 80 new retail outlets and over 50% of the precinct will be open public spaces for everyone to enjoy.
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SUSTAINABILITY
Incentive to use recycled construction waste I
n Western Australia there has been limited consistent guidance on, and consideration of, waste management issues in the construction industry. In the absence of any direction, a range of different approaches are being taken by the WA State Government and the private sector in this area. In 2012 the government developed a State Waste Strategy ‘Creating the Right environment’ which aimed to achieve ambitious targets for diversion of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste from landfill; with a goal of 75% diversion from landfill by 30 June 2020. Given the 2009/10 diversion rate for C&D was 29% a concerted and coordinated effort has been required to approach these targets. The program is funded from the landfill levy. Peter Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the Waste Authority said at the launch of the Waste Strategy that Western Australians have a record of living unsustainably compared with the rest of Australia and globally. National waste data show that Western Australia has the highest rate of waste generation and lowest rate of recycling of all mainland States. “I have also been studying Waste initiatives in countries like Sweden, Canada and Israel and the gap in our performance is even wider,” he said. The government outlined five objectives for the Waste Strategy: • Initiate and maintain long-term planning for waste and recycling. • Enhance regulatory services. • Develop best practice guidelines, measures and reporting. • Use existing economic instruments to divert waste from landfill and recover it as a resource. • Promote behaviour change messages and acknowledge successful endeavours.
In January 2013 WALGA surveyed Local Government and Regional Councils to determine which Local Governments were currently using recycled C&D materials. The survey found the majority of Local Governments weren’t using C&D material. Of the 42 survey respondents, 42% of metropolitan and 80% of non-metropolitan Local Governments did not use recycled C&D materials.
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The amount of waste being recovered in Western Australia has been increasing steadily since 2012, and there is evidence that increases in the landfill levy, which came into effect on 1 January 2015, has accelerated this trend. However, the State’s performance when benchmarked against other states is still poor and requires a major overhaul.
New program to drive the use of C&D waste The use of recycled C&D waste in a range of applications is critical to the achievement of the targets for landfill diversion. As with other states, the use of recycled products for road base in WA should be an entirely unremarkable activity and be the norm rather than the exception. Source separation and mixed C&D sorting facilities provide feedstock for crushing facilities and offer excellent opportunities for high-quality recycled products to be manufactured. As a big driver to spur more of this activity, in the beginning of March this year the WA State Government introduced the $10 million Recycled Construction Products Program, which is being delivered by the Waste Authority. The program provides an incentive for local governments, state government entities, regional councils and the private sector to use recycled C&D products (recycled road base, recycled drainage rock, recycled fill sand) in their civil engineering projects construction such as building roads, car parks and drains. Environment Minister Albert Jacob said it was important that better use was made of recycled construction and demolition materials to reduce the amount going to landfill. “Western Australia has a poor record in the use of recycled construction and demolition materials,” Mr Jacob said. “Each year we generate three million tonnes of construction and demolition waste and WA sends two million tonnes to landfill. This is a valuable resource that we could be using in everyday construction projects.” “This waste makes up about half of all materials sent to landfill in Western Australia, while the products it could replace, such as limestone, are getting harder to source close to the metropolitan area.” Over three years, the program will invest $10 million of Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account funds in two streams.
Under the program, the first $8 million stream provides a pre-allocated, non-competitive financial incentive payment for each metropolitan local council which uses recycled construction and demolition products in its own operations. The second $2 million stream is for open, competitive funding to purchase and use recycled construction and demolition products by the private sector, metropolitan local councils and State Government entities. “Increased use of these products is likely to see the prices of recycled construction and demolition waste fall further, and a range of information and awareness measures will ensure the community better understands the benefits of using these materials,” Mr Jacobs said. The Minister said significant financial savings and environmental benefits could be achieved by using recycled construction and demolition waste. “This is an important initiative and I encourage the private and local government sectors to apply for this funding,” he said. For projects in the first stream that are completed before 30 June, 2017, applications close 28 July, 2017. For projects in the second stream, applications close on 30 June 2016.
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PERSPECTIVE
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We pride ourselves in tailoring innovative solutions for our customers, ensuring safe, reliable and sustainable outcomes. Our focus is simple; solve our customers’ problems, and do it safely. Toxfree’s Waste Services Division manages the collection, recycling and management of solid, liquid and hazardous waste. Waste Services include: • Solid waste management • Bulk liquid waste • Resource recovery & recycling • Waste tracking and reporting • General waste • Cardboard and paper • Plastic and glass • Event management • Hazardous & chemical waste • Household hazardous waste • Fluorescent tube & lamp recycling • Emergency response
With over 57 sites nationally and servicing over 20,000 customers, Toxfree provides solutions for some of Australia’s leading businesses and government organisations throughout Australia.
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SUSTAINABILITY
Fitting sustainably – from selecting the right products to handling the waste
An office fit out can be an expensive part of a building, sometimes costing thousands of dollars per square metre. For a tenant, a space that is already equipped with a suitable fit out can save a business both time and money. But what happens with the existing materials at the end of a lease or when a refurbishment is required, and what should be kept in mind for new buildings?
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he construction industry is increasingly working towards creating buildings and spaces that significantly reduce the environmental impact during and after the construction process. This mindset goes even further to include what materials are used to fit the interiors of a building, either in new or existing buildings. With sustainability in mind, fit outs should be designed using, wherever possible, materials, fixtures, appliances and furniture that contribute to energy and water conservation and efficiency, are designed for disassembly, resource recovery and diversion of materials from landfill at the end of the product’s useful life and stimulate market demand for products with recycled content. Furthermore, as the lifecycle of the fit out is expected to be 10 years, potential fit out elements must demonstrate characteristic longevity. The Better Buildings Partnership (BPP) is working with the construction industry to measure, minimise and re-imagine the waste that occurs when tenants move in and out of commercial office buildings. Leading experts note the issues are universal, like complex contracts and lack of ‘ownership’ of waste, make good arrangements, large volumes of small amounts of waste, and market failures for refurbished and reused fit out materials like workstations. Building materials account for half of the solid waste and materials used in the world, according to a recent report commissioned by the Australian Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population, and Community. In the City of Sydney, the average office tenancy has a shelf-life of 7 to 10 years and commercial and industrial building sectors generate approximately
260,000 tonnes of waste as a result of construction, demolition and operational activity. With 10% of CBD leases being renewed each year, this means around 25,000 tonnes of waste is generated every year in Sydney’s CBD alone, with 18% being recycled and 2% reused in normal practice despite the materials being predictable in composition and supply, and inherently high in value. Given the low number of new office buildings being constructed in Sydney, office fit outs represent an immediate opportunity to reduce commercial waste in the city and increase recycling and reuse of fit out materials. During fit out, a significant amount of waste is generated that could be diverted from landfill but often is not due to a variety of barriers. These include: make good clause confusion and restrictions, time constraints, contractual responsibilities between sub-contractors, and the design and specification process of the fit out by the tenant. A BPP foundation report on fit out waste indicated that waste is most commonly composed of plasterboard, carpet, ceiling tiles, glass, metals and furniture. It indicated that many of these materials have existing or emerging diversion pathways which are currently unknown or underutilised by industry because of time, cost or logistics. This is a missed opportunity. With careful separation and aggregation, materials can have a viable second life in another tenancy or be reprocessed into something new, creating business opportunities and jobs in the local economy, whilst significantly improving environmental outcomes and avoiding landfill and its expense. The composition of refurbishment waste is similar to construction and demolition waste, as it includes plaster, masonry, timber, metals and glass. However, refurbishment waste may also include more engineered timbers from furniture and a greater diversity of compound materials such as partitions, appliances and e-waste which have less established recovery pathways than traditional Construction and Demolition (C&D) materials. Office refurbishment projects are often smaller in scale than construction and demolition jobs which can result in waste being treated as mixed loads rather than stream separated recovery. To maximise potential for office fit out resource recovery, there needs to be clear appreciation of which party to refer to at each stage in the transition process and to whom any benefit should be ascribed.
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Fit out Green Star rating The Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) Green Star also considers the waste from fit out operations and the importance of reuse and recovery. Green Star – Interiors was released in October 2012 as an independent, national, voluntary rating tool to drive the development of healthy, productive and sustainable interior fit outs. New Generation Green Star rating tools have been developed with a focus on continual improvement. A Green Star rating is considered when a project shows a commitment to performance, the use of sustainable products and a responsible way to handle construction and demolition waste.
Fit out recovery Streams
Source: The Better Buildings Partnership
Recovery Stream
Typical Materials
Destination
Product Stewardship (returned to manufacturer)
Loose office furniture, Ceiling tiles, Carpet tiles, Lighting, Ewaste
Returned to respective manufacturers
Auction / Sell
Feature pieces, loose office furniture, appliances
Auctioneer or second hand furniture retailer
Furniture Refurbishment
Loose Office Furniture
Refurbished by Specialist contractors or Social Enterprise for resale, as noted in the Principal requirements
Gifting
Feature pieces, loose office furniture, appliances, packaging,
Various charities, generally collected from the site of the strip out
Recycling
Plasterboard, Glass, Metals, Ceiling Tiles, Carpet Tiles, Hard Fill, Untreated Timber, Insulation, some office furniture
Deliver to recycling facility or collected by intermediary for secondary sorting and reprocessing into new materials Waste to energy facilities creating bio-char and syngas
Waste To Energy
Wood product of all forms
Waste To Energy
Plastics
Waste to energy facilities creating process engineered fuels (PEF)
Landfill
Residual items
Storage indefinitely directly in the environment
Material retained by Building Feature pieces, loose office furniture, Owner or incoming tenant branded material or items
Here is a guideline: ✓✓ At the end of the lease the tenant must, typically, make good the space, i.e. return it to the condition in which it was first leased. Before any make good arrangements are entered into, the responsibility for rehoming or disposing of goods within a commercial office tenancy is with the tenant. In many instances the tenant will make a first decision about what to keep and may undertake some disposal of unwanted items. The tenant will receive the benefit and value of this material diversion. Rehoming and reuse is most achievable at this stage in the process. ✓✓ When make good occurs, the title of all the remaining goods onsite is exchanged for an agreed value per square metre on an agreed date. For the purposes of resource recovery, the responsibility for goods should be assigned to the party with the best ability to recover material. With the exception of large organisations managing multiple tenancies, building owners that undertake regular refurbishment works are likely to have more contemporary knowledge of recovery potential than a tenant who only moves once every 10 years.
Storage by client, refurbishment of new office or property
✓✓ A detailed inventory of materials should be made by the tenant and shared as early as possible, noting proposed dates of transition of title. Once make good is agreed, tenants should make their inventory available to owners in good faith to enable maximum time for goods to be recovered. However, once the make good settlement is agreed, both the risk and reward for recovery is assumed by the final titleholding entity. ✓✓ After the date noted in the make good settlement, title of the goods passes to the building owner, who may, in theory, continue to recover value from those items. ✓✓ In reality, the owner usually passes control of the site quickly and all remaining items therein to the builder to refurbish the space and return it to a showroom for reletting. ✓✓ The builder invariably passes ownership of remaining items on to the demolition contractor to dispose appropriately of the remainder whilst avoiding as much landfill as possible. The demolition contractor will quote based on the labour required plus disposal costs. It may also seek to further maximise recovery and minimise landfill costs at their own risk and reward.
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PROJECTS
PACT delivers an environmentally aware build and fit out project P ACT delivers an environmentally aware build and fit out project PACT Construction has completed QUBE’s largest office project to date at 999 Hay Street in Perth, a major 11-storey, 12,156m2 A-grade office building. PACT Construction was quickly identified as the right partner due to their strong relationship with QUBE. “Being engaged from an early stage enabled us to add value from the outset. For this development, we looked at a number of cost effective structural design solutions to get the most cost effective build for the client,” said Jason Kunkler, General Manager of PACT Construction. 999 Hay St comprises of 10 open-plan office floors, a rooftop boardroom, office, entertainment deck and EOT facilities with a café integrated at ground level within the main lobby and the surrounding streetscape. The project has achieved both a 5 Star Green Star rating and 4.5 Star NABERS Environmental Efficiency rating, enhanced by a cutting-edge architectural façade. “The façade is certainly striking and was quite a challenge to complete, incorporating full height curtain wall glazing with an elliptical-shaped Alpolic clad feature and pocketed elements for balconies,” said Mr Kunkler. “The site’s location was also quite logistically challenging due to the one-way Elder Street and the need to demolish one side of an adjacent building. Along with this we negotiated a myriad of in-ground services, including high pressure gas, water, electricity, fibre optics, old copper telecommunication cabling, storm water drains and more.” Levels 6 to 11 are now fully occupied by Engineering Firm GHD; one of the world’s leading engineering, architecture and environmental consulting practices where PACT Construction were also responsible for their office fit out. Levels 6 to 10 feature large 1250 square metre floor plates, while Level 11 includes a boardroom, training room and a large outdoor terrace. Extensive natural light floods the floor plate spaces, creating the ideal working environment for a highly productive office. Other unique features are the large north-facing balconies on each floor that allow the café-style staff kitchens to open up directly outdoors. The GHD office fit out is completed with high-quality air conditioning, lighting systems and access systems, while large end of trip facilities cater for GHD’s high volume of staff (25%) that commute to work by foot or bike. As with the construction process and materials used for the building envelope, the fit out also had to meet stringent
design sustainability objectives. The goal with the fit out was to minimise the environmental effects of manufacture, construction and operation of the building by selecting the right materials (such as light fittings) as well as improving indoor environment quality through controlled air conditioning. With lower energy consumption and a more enjoyable and healthy work environment the space will help improve the productivity of the occupants.
THE NEXT LEVEL IN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
While stunning structures are the visual hallmarks of our work, it is our ‘whole of project’ service and exceptional client satisfaction which truly sets us apart. For unrivalled service and performance in construction tomorrow, partner with the West Australian commercial construction industry builder of choice today, PACT Construction. Contact us today on (08) 9340 5900 or admin@pactconstruction.com.au | pactconstruction.com.au
DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION + PROJECT MANAGEMENT + PROJECT / DEVELOPMENT FEASIBILITIES
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GRAND DESIGNS
One of the greatest architects leaves an inspiring legacy O
n the last day of March this year Zaha Hadid Architects confirmed that Zaha Hadid, DBE had suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away while being treated in a Miami hospital. Zaha Hadid was widely regarded to be the greatest female architect in the world today. Born in Baghdad in 1950, she studied mathematics at the American University of Beirut before starting her architectural journey in 1972 at the Architectural Association in London. By 1979 she had established her own practice in London – Zaha Hadid Architects – garnering a reputation across the world for her ground-breaking theoretical works including The Peak in Hong Kong (1983), the Kurfürstendamm in Berlin (1986) and the Cardiff Bay Opera House in Wales (1994). Working with office partner Patrik Schumacher, her interest was in the interface between architecture, landscape, and geology; which her practice integrates with the use of innovative technologies often resulting in unexpected and dynamic architectural forms. Zaha Hadid’s first major built commission, one that affirmed her international recognition, was the Vitra Fire Station in Weil Am Rhein, Germany (1993); subsequent notable projects including the MAXXI: Italian National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome (2009), the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games (2011) and the Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku (2013) illustrate her quest for complex, fluid space. Buildings such as the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati (2003) and the Guangzhou Opera House in China (2010) have also been hailed as architecture that transforms our ideas of the future with visionary spatial concepts defined by advanced design, material and construction processes. In 2004, Zaha Hadid became the first woman to be awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize. She twice won the UK’s most prestigious architecture award, the RIBA Stirling Prize: in 2010 for the MAXXI Museum in Rome, a building for the staging of 21st century art, the distillation of years of experimentation, a
Sky SOHO Shanghai, China. © Zaha Hadid Architects.
The London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games. © Hufton + Crow.
mature piece of architecture conveying a calmness that belies the complexities of its form and organisation; and the Evelyn Grace Academy, a unique design, expertly inserted into an extremely tight site, that shows the students, staff and local residents they are valued and celebrates the school’s specialism throughout its fabric, with views of student participation at every turn. Zaha Hadid’s other awards included the Republic of France’s Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Japan’s Praemium Imperiale and in 2012, Zaha Hadid was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She was made Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and Fellow of the American Institute of Architecture.
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Astana EXPO – 2017 Future Energy in Kazakhstan. Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.
She held various academic roles including the Kenzo Tange Chair at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University; the Sullivan Chair at the University of Illinois, School of Architecture. Hadid also taught studios at Columbia University, Yale University and the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. Zaha Hadid was recently awarded the RIBA’s 2016 Royal Gold Medal, the first woman to be awarded the prestigious honour in her own right. Sir Peter Cook wrote the following citation: “In our current culture of ticking every box, surely Zaha Hadid succeeds, since (to quote the Royal Gold Medal criteria) she is someone who has made a significant contribution to the theory or practice of architecture…. for a substantial body of work rather than for work which is currently fashionable.” Indeed her work, though full of form, style and unstoppable mannerism, possesses a quality that some of us might refer to as an impeccable ‘eye’: which we would claim is a fundamental in the consideration of special architecture and is rarely satisfied by mere ‘fashion’. And surely her work is special. For three decades now, she has ventured where few would dare: if Paul Klee took a line for a walk, then Zaha took the surfaces that were driven by that line out for a virtual dance and then deftly folded them over and then took them out for a journey into space. In her earlier, ‘spiky’ period there was already a sense of vigour that she shared with her admired Russian Suprematists and Constructivists – attempting with them to capture that elusive dynamic of movement at the end of the machine age.
City of Dreams Hotel Tower, Cotai, Macau China. Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.
Al Wakrah Stadium, Qatar. Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.
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MEGA STRUCTURES
Images courtesy of Atkins.
Derelict quarry gets a new luxury life A
quarry is a rather unlikely destination for a luxury hotel. Perhaps that’s what makes the concept of Songjiang Quarry Hotel so awe-inspiring. Indeed, design and engineering consultancy Atkins won an international design competition for the five-star hotel back in August 2006 and their vision is in the process of being transformed into reality by Chinese developer Shimao Property. The satellite town of Songjiang is approximately 35 km from Shanghai city centre and well connected to existing transport infrastructure. Sprawling landscapes and natural beauty have made it a popular tourist destination and the district has been designated as an important local and national leisure resource. The design of the Songjiang Quarry Hotel is meant to reflect the natural landscape of the quarry. The design is inspired by the stunning location and the natural environment of the rocky
cliffs, waterfalls and surrounding hills. The project will see the construction of a five-star, 383-bedroom hotel built into the side of a disused, 90 m deep, water filled quarry. The hotel will be operated by Intercontinental as a sport and leisure-oriented spa resort. The design has attracted tremendous interest across the world. Apart from the green roof, it is intended that many features, ranging from geothermal energy to solar energy utilisation, are included in this project. The reasons for the green roof are two-fold: it is both for the building to fit seamlessly into the surrounding environment and become a ‘natural’ part of the local topography, and also for its eco-friendly and energy saving qualities. Apart from an awe-inspiring location, a cascading waterfall from the top of the quarry into the pool below it, and striking waveform architecture, the Songjiang Quarry Hotel will have plenty
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Songjiang Quarry Hotel facts Location: Shanghai, China to offer. The futuristic hotel features underwater public areas, guest rooms and conference facilities for up to 1,000 people, and also includes sport and leisure centres. Two underwater levels will house a restaurant and guestrooms facing a 10 m deep aquarium. The lowest level of the hotel will contain a leisure complex with a swimming pool and water-based sports. An extreme sports centre for activities such as rock climbing and bungee jumping will be cantilevered over the quarry and accessed by special lifts from the water level of the hotel. Also, a transparent glass ‘waterfall’ located in the centre of the building is a major architectural feature. By building the hotel where it is, designers and developers hope to prevent further damage to the ecological environment around it. The Songjiang Quarry Hotel may become just about the greenest hotel ever made.
Client: Shanghai Shimao New Experience Development Type: Futuristic 5-star hotel built on the side of an abandoned waterfilled quarry Size: 49,409 square metres Status: Under Construction Awards: MIPIM Asia Award 2011 - Best Chinese Future Projects - International Hotel Awards Global Competition 2013-2014 - Best Hotel Architecture China - International Hotel Awards Global Competition 2013-2014 - Best Hotel Architecture Asia Pacific - International Hotel Awards Global Competition 2013-2014 - The World’s Best Hotel Architecture Award
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INNOVATION
Robots to revolutionise how architects design R
obots are gaining popularity in architecture, and architects and universities worldwide are investing in their own industrial robots to further adopt the technology. As more and more architects are exposed to robotic fabrication, the need for easy interoperability, integration into architectural design tools and general accessibility will increase. Architects are discovering that industrial robots are much more than kinematic machines for stacking bricks, welding or milling - they are highly multifunctional and can be used for a huge variety of tasks. In early March this year Sydney played host to the largest gathering of robotics researchers in architecture and design from around the world at the Rob|Arch 2016 conference, arranged by the University of Sydney in collaboration with five other Australian universities. Architects had the opportunity to meet world-leading industry researchers in robotic fabrication from 10 countries including Australia, USA, China, Korea, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Spain and experience the forefront of new robotic technologies and applications ranging from the construction industry to interactive design and creative practice. Dr Dagmar Reinhardt, a researcher and senior lecturer in Architectural Design and Digital Architecture at the University of Sydney, said it was a significant global event for researchers and industry working on the next generation of robotics in architecture. “The robotics research currently happening has the potential to completely revolutionise the way we design and manufacture materials and construct buildings,” he said. According to the international Association for Robots in Architecture, Australian universities have been incredibly quick to acquire robots for teaching and research. In 2013 only two Australian universities – the University of Sydney and RMIT – were using robots in the academic curriculum and research. In 2016, five architectural schools in Australia have industrial robots as part of their curriculum. The RMIT Architectural Robotics Lab is an applied research group that explores the application and implications of robotics to architectural design, building fabrication, assembly and construction. The lab operates to develop both speculative
The Caulfield Sound Shell in Melbourne used a robot to carve the timber. Image by CASF.
research and the application of that research to industry projects. The University of Sydney has also been building its capabilities and research in its Design Modelling and Fabrication lab (DMaF) in recent years. Dr Reinhardt said globally Australia is seen as a hotspot right now for growing the use of robotics in architecture.
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“The collaborative work in our DMaF lab, with the support of teams of industry partners, researchers, robotic technicians and PhD students, is currently exploring novel pathways for architectural practice.” “With more architecture students now graduating with a deeper knowledge of robotics in fabrication, we can expect to see great change and innovation in the industry in the very near future,” she added.
Professional use of robots in architecture
Australian universities using robots RMIT, Melbourne University of Sydney Bond University, Abedian School of Architecture, Gold Coast Monash University, Melbourne University of Tasmania, Hobart
According to the Association for Robots in Architecture, no Australian architect firms have recorded their use of robots in their firm. In 2009 Norwegian design practice Snøhetta purchased their own industrial robot, becoming one of the first architectural offices to adopt robot technology and making 3-D prototypes associated with the firm’s diverse projects around the world. “We are the only architects who have this,” said Snohetta’s founding partner and principal, Norwegian architect Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, of the robot, manufactured by the German firm KUKA for use in the auto industry. Snøhetta uses the prototypes, explained Mr Thorsen, the way an artist might use preliminary studies for a final painting.
“The robotics research currently happening has the potential to completely revolutionise the way we design and manufacture materials and construct buildings.”
Furthermore, Norwegian newspapers reported in December 2015 that the architect had acquired enough warehouse space to build houses using a robot purchased from the Netherlands. In Australia, Monash Art Design & Architecture (MADA) recently built a Sound Shell comprising more than 12,000 unique pieces and made using robotic fabrication. The Sound Shell, a bespoke and multi-purpose performance space, is the latest Design - Make project from MADA, and was made by students from the Department of Architecture in collaboration with Kassel University in Germany. Dr Tim Schork, who led the project, said the unique structure comprised thousands of individual pieces of timber and Corian. “Robotic fabrication is growing in Australia, and it’s important that students in architecture learn new technologies
– the students have worked hard to design and construct a realworld architectural project,” Dr Schork said. “Working with Kassel University has also brought freshness to the way we teach and practise architecture here, and vice versa, it is a project that has been made by students, for students.” Dr Schork said the project called for true collaboration across cultures, disciplines and skillsets.
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SKILLED
Industry standards to increase adoption of BIM By the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors’ Association (AMCA)
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he successful adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) requires a deliberate and structured approach to the creation and maintenance of digital information. Standardisation of pre-defined parametric data fields ensures that information about a building structure, plant, equipment and fittings is precise enough to accurately represent the physical, spatial and functional characteristics of a building. The standardisation of data also enables practices and workflows to be developed to ensure that information is shared and applied routinely and consistently throughout the entire construction process, whilst maintaining the integrity of the design. Agreed industry standards will lower the costs of transitioning to BIM-enabled project delivery and promote more efficient and competitive markets. Barriers to entry for all firms, particularly for SMEs, will be reduced due to the decreased costs and risk for firms considering investment in BIM capabilities.
In addition to the efficiency gains and competition effects, the creation of baseline industry standards would facilitate further innovation by industry. Currently, vital resources are being employed by competing firms to create similar digital content. Industry standards would allow skilled personnel to undertake alternative high value innovation projects that leverages off the ‘standard’ information contained within the BIM model to deliver improved building performance and management solutions. While several approaches to information standardisation are available, the UK Government has prescribed the use of Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBIE) 2012 on all government projects. Whilst BIM-MEPAUS supports the principles of COBie, a more targeted set of data templates and exchange protocols would allow more participants in the supply chain to derive benefits from BIM adoption, while distributing responsibility for data collection and maintenance to parties most capable of delivering it.
What is COBie? Collecting information about a building or facility prior to handover has often involved trawling through boxes of paper or electronic paper PDFs. Not only is this an expensive exercise, but it inevitably leads to information gaps leading to cost inefficiencies and suboptimal and building performance. COBie aims to address this issue by encouraging designers and contractors to capture and document information as it is created throughout the design, construction and commissioning process. In essence, COBie captures information about two types of assets: equipment and spaces. This includes equipment lists, product data, warranty information and maintenance in a database schema, usually presented in a spreadsheet format. Members of the supply chain that are typically responsible for information creation are typically charged with responsibility for information capture. For example, designers provide floor, space and equipment layouts, while contractors provide make, model and serial numbers of installed equipment. However, several weaknesses raise questions about its
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appropriateness as the data collection standard specified on building and construction projects.
Why not COBie? A modest BIM project that is fully COBie compliant may produce a spreadsheet of 600,000 rows, while more complex projects could potentially exceed a million lines of data, technically beyond the capacity of a single Excel file. Not only is this a time consuming and costly exercise, but it can be of limited value unless owners and managers have critically analysed how it can be used to deliver improved building performance. Unless owners and building managers undertake an evaluation process that prioritises and specifies the information to be captured, many of the supply chain benefits of BIMenabled project delivery can be eroded. This is because COBie is effectively an additional deliverable. While logical and easy to understand, the spreadsheet format is non-geometric. This means that it does not directly contribute to the creation of a data rich, three dimensional building model, and is isolated from more integrated BIM workflows that have the ability to deliver efficiencies throughout the design and construction process. The specification of COBie can therefore be counterproductive, while increasing the cost of the project.
Principles to guide data creation While COBie provides a logical and easy to understand format for data creation, the abovementioned weaknesses present an opportunity for a more targeted approach that addresses the needs of owners and facility managers, while also presenting scope for benefits to the supply chain throughout the construction process. The AMCA’s approach to data creation standards and protocols is guided by the following principles: 1. The successful adoption of building information modelling construction practices depends on a deliberate and structured approach to the creation and maintenance of digital information. 2. Standards, templates and protocols for data collection should be targeted and fit for purpose. 3. Standards should promote the immediate and broad adoption of BIM across the building and construction industry. 4. Responsibility for data should be assigned to the party most capable of producing, creating, storing and maintaining information. 5. Standards should promote increased competition for projects by lowering the cost of BIM adoption for firms of all sizes. 6. Data collection standards and protocols should be complemented by supporting documentation that integrates the data with other
elements of the building and construction process. 7. Standards should be vendor neutral, but should initially be targeted in areas where there is demonstrable market concentration to promote rapid adoption
Encouraging industry standards Industry-led standards development Standard development that is industry-led and agreed will be adopted more rapidly, delivering immediate operational and economic benefits. Therefore, standards should focus on technologies where there is market concentration and that are likely to deliver the greatest benefit to industry. BIM-enabled project delivery for all government projects As a major procurer of building and construction services, government is able to influence the behaviour of industry via procurement processes. As part of their procurement process, government could specify the use of an industry-agreed standard, which would ensure that consistency is applied across government projects, and that genuinely engages with industry as a key stakeholder. The specified use of BIM on government projects will promote more efficient project delivery, deliver improved built outcomes, and reduce the cost of government projects. These benefits are expected to translate to the private sector due to an increase in the stock of knowledge pertaining to BIM project delivery, and the subsequent transfer of skills across the building network.
Government endorsement of industry standards and codes of practice Government is uniquely placed to facilitate the creation of industry standards by providing coordination services and industry leadership. This would see government work more closely with industry (for example, participating on working committees) to strengthen and provide official endorsement for industry-driven standards and codes of practice. A code of practice and implementation guideline is required to ensure that there are clear expectations for government projects. Furthermore, the code will help to promote BIM adoption by the private sector by providing leadership and guidance about how to address key risks associated with more integrated projects. For example, the code will help to address market concerns about changes in the contractual arrangements governing BIMenabled project delivery. This includes a clearer definition of roles and responsibilities across the building network, as well as arrangements for decision making authority, issue escalation, liability, disputation and model ownership.
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Profile
Images courtesy of SMEC
All aboard with BIM BIM helps leading firm win and deliver AU$8.3 billion public rail project
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xpected to open in 2019, the North West Rail Link will be the first fully automated transit rail system in Australia. It’s poised to change the way people in one of Sydney’s fastest-growing regions think about transportation. Residents—who have the highest car ownership rate in Australia—will have a quick, convenient, and comfortable public transit option. SMEC, a professional services firm focused on major infrastructure, is leading the design effort on two key portions of the AU$8.3 billion project: operations, trains, and systems and surface and viaduct civil work. The lead client in the public-private partnership (PPP), the New South Wales Government, mandated the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) on the project. BIM is an intelligent model-based process that adds insight to every phase of infrastructure projects. “The client wanted to realise the time, cost, and quality benefits you see with a model-based process,” explains Neil Evans, SMEC’s director of strategy and new business. “SMEC was already on the path to BIM. We see BIM helping us to streamline our workflows and improve efficiency. The North West Rail Link project inspired us to accelerate the pace of our BIM adoption— and BIM is proving to be an invaluable asset on the project.”
The challenge The North West Rail Link will feature eight new stations, 4,000 commuter car parking spaces, and twin 15 km tunnels, which
will be Australia’s longest rail tunnels. Projects of this size and complexity require farsighted management—and proactive attention to the smallest details. Large teams from multiple disciplines, including architects, civil engineers, and structural engineers, are contributing to a fast-paced design process. Everything from conduits to pipes to ducts need to fit together during construction. Even relatively minor coordination issues could lead to delays and higher costs. “Every infrastructure project is a good fit for BIM, but that’s especially true when you have extensive underground work,” says Chris Steer, SMEC’s BIM manager for Australia. “When a duct and a penetration don’t line up, it can be hard to identify in a 2D process, and rework becomes almost inevitable. Using BIM, we’re working with intelligent objects in 3D models. BIM helps reveal issues that would be virtually impossible to spot otherwise.”
The solution The rail link requires a more total use of BIM than prior SMEC projects. The team quickly began to view BIM as a process that connects all aspects of a project—not a technology or software tool. Software, including Autodesk® AutoCAD® Civil 3D®, Autodesk® Revit®, and Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage, helps enable the process. The team turned to Civil 3D software for the roadwork, earthworks, rail line, and water and sewer components. Revit software supports the architectural and structural design process.
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element in a 3D design behaves more like a simple image. LOCATION: Sydney, Australia “In Civil 3D, you can assign attributes to an SOFTWARE: Autodesk® InfraWorks® 360 object, calculate tender quantities more automatically, Autodesk® Navisworks Manage and make changes dynamically,” says Steer. AutoCAD® Civil 3D® Continuing he said, “The object intelligence provides Autodesk® Revit® greater speed and accuracy”. Autodesk® Vault Professional “The beauty of BIM is in the object-based A360® intelligence as much as it is in the visualisation,” adds AutoCAD® Evans. “The intelligence gives you more control over Autodesk® 3ds Max® every aspect of the design, and objects retain their intelligence throughout the life of the asset. You end up with a model that can facilitate operations and maintenance. BIM is really a cradle-to-grave process. It doesn’t need The various design models come together as a federated model in to stop with planning and design.” Navisworks Manage software. Autodesk® Vault helps enforce design COMPANY: SMEC
management processes and version control. “BIM connects the team in ways that are impossible with 2D design,” says Steve Macbeth, SMEC’s CAD manager. “You have an immediate view into what the other disciplines are doing. The process is much more connected than exchanging and figuring out sets of drawings at regular intervals. Even the client can give more and better input earlier because the direction of the design is clearer.” According to Steer, Autodesk® Consulting is assisting as SMEC accelerates its BIM adoption. He says, “Autodesk Consulting has helped us make sure that the systems and processes we’re relying on are encompassing. They’ve also helped us develop country-specific packages of standards. Working with them has been a collaborative and productive process”.
Beyond 3D One of SMEC’s partners on the project initially designed portions of the rail lines in a 3D application that did not include intelligent objects. SMEC decided to shift to Civil 3D instead. That’s because Civil 3D enables a process that uses intelligent objects—not just 3D visualisation. An intelligent object ‘understands’ its specifications and the standards governing its use. In contrast, an unintelligent
“BIM connects the team in ways that are impossible with 2D design. You have an immediate view into what the other disciplines are doing. The process is much more connected than exchanging and figuring out sets of drawings at regular intervals.” Steve Macbeth, CAD Manager, SMEC
Managing and enhancing the model Every one to two weeks, the extended project team brings together their models at a coordination workshop. The federated model that results helps to highlight clashes and also helps the team identify opportunities to improve the design. Navisworks Manage software facilitates the process by aggregating the models, enabling construction sequencing, and helping to detect interferences. Internally, the SMEC team uses Vault data management software to connect its people with the latest versions of different portions of the model. “Clashes are far more obvious in a BIM process. We’re resolving issues in minutes that would have been easy to miss in a 2D process,” explains Steer. “The design improvements we’re finding are just as meaningful. For instance, we recently reviewed two trenches serving a substation and saw that we could combine the trenches into one. It’s going to deliver both cost and timesaving during construction along with maintenance advantages over the life of the asset.” “We’re experiencing team coordination benefits from Vault,” notes Macbeth. “Vault helps give our global team access to the latest design files without having to manage who did what and when manually. We have more control over and insight into the process. It helps to enforce consistency while also saving our people time.”
The result As SMEC continues its transition to a model based workflow, the firm predicts that BIM represents a transformative shift. “Going from manual drafting to 2D design tools was a huge step, and moving from 2D to BIM is just as important,” says Evans. “People sometimes equate BIM with 3D visualisation, and it’s more than that. You generate a body of knowledge in BIM that can be used from conception to decommissioning. As the building changes, you add to the intelligence within the model. There’s an opportunity to add quality and save time and money at every stage.”
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BIM Increases Collaboration And Newforma helps you make the most of it. Think of all the communication and coordination you do over the course of a traditional design and construction project. Now squeeze half (or more!) into a short period of preconstruction. That’s what you must manage successfully for BIM to work. When a project flows from BIM, the client, contractor, consultants, and design team all contribute up front, when it’s cheapest and easiest to change things. It’s an intense period of collaboration. Newforma® software makes it easy and practical to manage email, large file transfers, email, markups, information searches, email, and more. Did we mention email? Manage all that successfully, and you’re on your way to a more successful project.
For insights into HASSELL’s use of Newforma software, take two minutes to view this video.
www.newforma.com.au/hassell
To speak to a Newforma representative, phone 1300-NFORMA P.S. Newforma has a product to manage the deluge of PDFs generated from Revit, too! © 2016 Newforma, Inc. Newforma is a registered trademark of Newforma, Inc., in the United States and in other countries. All other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
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On more than two million projects worldwide, design and construction professionals are using NewformaŽ software to deliver more successful projects. Newforma provides apps to empower individuals, web-based collaboration software to strengthen construction teams, and an information management platform to optimize company performance. Newforma products build a more connected project environment. They optimize the processes by which critical information is captured, shared and managed. And they deliver a more intelligent, more profoundly productive experience for everyone, from the chief executive officer to the subcontractor. Whether you’re working in the office, from the cloud, or on the go, Newforma products liberate you from administrative tedium to do the work you entered your career to do.
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SAFETY
Avoiding and preventing hazards at work A Construction workers are exposed to a wide variety of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards on the job.
ccording to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Work-related Injury Survey (WRIS), 57000 construction workers had an injury at work in 2009–10. This equates to 156 construction workers being injured each day. Almost all of the injuries (98%) were recorded by male workers. In comparison, the 2013-2014 WRIS showed that a total of 51792 males experienced a work related injury or illness. This shows a slight drop in injuries in the sector, but the numbers are still staggering. The most common injuries on a construction site are cut/open wounds, sprain and strains, chronic joint or muscle condition and fractures. Around one-third (31%) of the injuries incurred in the construction industry were the result of hitting or being hit by an object and a further one-third (30%) from lifting, pushing or pulling an object. Falls accounted for 22% of injuries. The construction industry has been identified as a priority industry in the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022. National targets under the Strategy are to reduce the incidence of serious injury by at least 30% by 2022 and to reduce the number of work-related fatalities due to injury by at least 20%. The construction industry will play an important role in meeting these targets.
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SAFETY
Action Areas and Strategic Outcomes to be achieved by 2022 Action Areas
Strategic Outcomes
Health and safe by design
Hazards are eliminated or minimised by design
• Structures, plant and substances are designed to eliminate or minimise hazards and risks before they are introduced into the workplace. • Work, work processes and systems of work are designed and managed to eliminate or minimise hazards and risks.
Supply chains and networks
Improved work health and safety through supply chains and networks
• Supply chain and network participants understand their cumulative impact and actively improve the health and safety of the supply chain. • Commercial relationships within supply chains and networks are used to improve work health and safety. • Industry leaders champion work health and safety in supply chains and networks.
Health and safety capabilities
Improved work health and safety capabilities
• Everyone in a workplace has the work health and safety capabilities they require. • Those providing work health and safety education, training and advice have the appropriate capabilities. • Inspectors and other staff of work health and safety regulators have the work health and safety capabilities to effectively perform their role. • Work health and safety skills development is integrated effectively into relevant education and training programs.
Leadership and culture
Leaders in communities and organisations promote a positive culture for health and safety
• Communities and their leaders drive improved work health and safety. • Organisational leaders foster a culture of consultation and collaboration which actively improves work health and safety. • Health and safety is given priority in all work processes and decisions.
Research and evaluation
Evidence–informed policy, programs and practice
• Research and evaluation are targeted to provide the evidence to prioritise and progress areas of national interest. • Australia has an effective research and evaluation infrastructure and capacity. • Evidence is translated to assist practical application. • The results of research and evaluation are disseminated and implemented.
Government
Governments improve work health and safety
• Work health and safety is actively considered in the development, implementation and evaluation of government policy. • Governments use their investment and purchasing power to improve work health and safety. • Governments exemplify good work health and safety.
Responsive and effective regulatory framework
The regulatory framework improves effectiveness by responding and adapting to changing circumstances
• Legislation, policies and regulatory practice are reviewed and monitored to ensure they are responsive and effective. • Relationships between regulators and all who have a stake in work health and safety are effective, constructive, transparent and accountable.
Health and SAFETY by design In the construction industry, one of the best ways to prevent and control occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities is to ‘design out’ or minimise hazards and risks. The most effective and durable means of creating a healthy and safe working environment is to eliminate hazards and risks during the design of new plant, structures, substances and technology and of jobs, processes and systems. This design process needs to take into account hazards and risks that may be present at all stages of the lifecycle of structures, plant, products and substances. Good design can eliminate or minimise the major physical, biomechanical and psychosocial hazards and risks associated
with work. Effective design of the overall system of work will take into account, for example, management practices, work processes, schedules, tasks and workstation design. Sustainable return to work or remaining at work while recovering from injury or illness is facilitated by good job design and management. Managers have an obligation to make reasonable adjustments to the design of the work and work processes to accommodate individuals’ differing capabilities. Workers’ general health and wellbeing are strongly influenced by their health and safety at work. Well-designed work can improve worker health. Activities under the Australian Strategy build appropriate linkages with healthy worker programs to support improved general worker wellbeing as well as health and safety.
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SAFETY
Educate Your Workers to help Meet Code Compliance I
n the previous issue of Build Australia, we discussed changes to the Building Code (2013). From February this year the Commonwealth Government has begun auditing compliance with the Code. This might mean inspections on site, or the Government requiring documentation from management. As a provider of drug and alcohol services including testing, Medvet has seen this begin to cause some friction – workers refusing tests, sites not making compliance. As with any modern business, it takes time to put together a policy, especially over something as complex as addressing drugs and alcohol on a worksite. But once the policy is together, you need to let the teams on site know what they are – not every bricklayer will know about changes in the Code. Medvet strongly recommends educating all your workers. There are two main types of education you should look at conducting, no matter how big your site is:
Employee awareness Let your team know how drugs and alcohol can impact them. Not just the accidents or near-misses that might happen with tools and trucks on site, but the short- and long-term impacts of substances. Illegal drugs are illegal because of the harmful health impacts; alcohol and prescription drugs might be legal but can easily cause similar problems when misused. If you’re going to be testing, then you should also walk your team through how that process works. If they know what to expect it will go much more smoothly for everyone and might save you billed hours in delays when your testing company is on site – or just the extra time your workers aren’t being productive. Medvet also recommends using education session times to let everyone know the specifics of your policy. If everyone knows what your policy says, everyone has the opportunity to meet your expectations.
Supervisor training Supervisors need to know about how drugs and alcohol might affect them too, but they’re also responsible for a lot more. ‘Reasonable Cause’ training can help them spot the effects of drugs and alcohol in their teams, from the physical to the behavioural. Not everyone shows the same signs and symptoms, so a keen eye might be needed to tell if a worker is or has been under the influence, and may be making your site unsafe. This kind of training session can also help supervisors know how to properly record their suspicions, how to approach and handle a worker they suspect might be acting unsafely, and how to get that worker the right help. It’s not about punishing the worker for using drugs; it’s about getting them back to work safely for themselves and the workers next to them. When your workforce is adequately trained and educated on how drugs and alcohol can impact themselves, their colleagues or those they are responsible for, the testing process becomes much easier. Making it easier to test will help you get up to Code and make it a safe site.
Drugs & Alcohol: Is your construction site at risk? Medvet can help you implement a complete drug and alcohol program incorporating: • Policy Development: A clear, comprehensive, and enforceable policy to meet your obligations and the challenges of site safety • Training & Education: Educating your workforce on the impacts and implications of unsafe drug & alcohol use on construction sites • On-site & Laboratory Testing: NATA-accredited, reliable, and quality drug & alcohol testing services, on-site where and when you need
Medvet can help you meet your Drug & Alcohol testing requirements under the Building Code. Medvet is a Registered Training Organisation (40379) and NATA accredited (Section 2 AS 4760 & AS/NZS 4308 including Appendix A) drug and alcohol testing company using Australian Standard compliant urine and oral fluid drug test devices and assessed and certified Collectors nationally.
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BUSINESS HORIZONS
Emerging investment trends in real estate W
ith global institutional investors allocating more capital to the real estate sector, more money is chasing fewer assets, pushing prices up across most markets and sectors even as the current cycle appears increasingly long in the tooth. 2015 saw a cash migration from Asia to other parts of the world that surpasses even the previous year’s record levels. According to a new report by PWC, Emerging Trends in Real Estate, this exodus is not set to slow. Most investors see only continuing increases in capital movements to real estate markets in the West, with one calling it “one of the biggest stories in our industry”. The main contributor to this trend is China, where institutional, corporate, and private capital is buying (within Asia) mainly in Australia and Japan, and (outside Asia) mainly in the United States. Singapore also is a major exporter of capital. There is still plenty of liquidity to fund property investments. Japan remains the easiest market in which to raise debt, with borrowing easily available at rates of less than 1%. International banks are now increasingly active in Asia, offering longer tenor than the traditional three to five year terms. Bond financing remains widely available and has become arguably the number-one option for Chinese developers to raise capital, usually by way of domestic issues, which are now significantly cheaper than foreign-currency debt issued on regional stock markets (usually in Hong Kong). PWC’s Investment Prospects survey reflects an overwhelming preference among investors to buy in the most developed markets—Japan and Australia. Tokyo’s top ranking in 2016 completes a hat trick of wins for the city over the last three years. Osaka, Sydney, and Melbourne occupy the remaining top four places, underscoring investors’ quest for asset quality and yield. In Australia, sales activity continues to be some of the strongest on record. Driven by a few large transactions, volumes were up 9% in the first half of 2015, according to Real Capital Analytics (RCA), although the overall number of deals is down on the previous year, reflecting a shortage of assets.
Will Yields Continue to Tighten? Cap rates in Asia have continued to compress over the last 12 months in most major markets such as Australia, Japan and South Korea. The big question now is: Will compression continue? There are two opposing trains of thought.
The first says that we will see more of the same—too much capital chasing too little stock. In particular, new institutional investors will bring more new capital to the market. Existing institutions, which may already be short of interim targets, will increase allocations further. Capital will therefore continue to pile up, with obvious implications for asset prices and yields. Why is so much new capital targeting Asian real estate? In the words of an investor: “It depends on the market, but if you take Japan and Australia, there’s probably room for more [compression]. If you look at the risk-free cost of money [i.e., sovereign bonds] in both those markets and then at the yields on real estate, they’re still quite attractive. So if you buy an office building in Sydney at 5%, you can finance it probably at 2.5-3%, so you are getting a positive carry straightaway. And then you can go a little bit offpiste and buy suburban assets, office buildings, or logistics at 7%. I think there’s still some way to go because the weight of capital is still massive”. The other train of thought sees markets approaching a cyclical peak.
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According to one fund manager, “We’ve certainly been a net seller in Australia for the last couple of years. Two things—first, cap rates have come down so much. Second, the Australian economy is undergoing a transformation of its own. They’ve been a big beneficiary of China growth, which has now come off a bit, so we made a decision to lighten up our investment. We’re definitely not abandoning Australia, but from a portfolio point of view we decided to reduce our exposure”. According to a fund manager in Australia, “There are a lot of very strong balance sheets out there and I know we’re waiting for a bit of a crash. We can’t wait for a market correction because we have plenty of firepower to take advantage of that. The only problem is we’re not the only ones”. And in the words of a manager at a large Hong Kong–based fund: “I think patience will be rewarded. People might make mistakes quite easily in the next six months. You tend to think that if we sit down in a year’s time, there may be more opportunities than there are today”.
Education drives investments Of the various alternatives, student housing has proved a popular play in Australia that still offers good yields. The recent decline in
According to one investor, “With very low interest rates and significant access to capital, we’re seeing very tight cap rates that are not supported by fundamentals. You have economies struggling with unemployment, falling FX [foreign exchange] rates, falling trade, commodity prices, consumption, yet continued low cost of capital and tight cap rates. We see that as a warning sign that the pricing of real estate is out of line with fundamentals and there needs to be some sort of correction. There will be a lot of opportunities coming out of that, but we don’t think the markets are in balance at the moment, and that’s a bit of a concern”.
Divestment movements Although most investors now in the market are looking more to buy than to sell, an increasing number of funds are looking to divest. To a great extent, this selling is coming from funds disposing of assets bought after the downturn. Fund divestments will therefore probably accelerate over the short term. Another factor behind this phenomenon is that some funds may be looking to sell in order to get ahead of the curve.
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BUSINESS HORIZONS
the Australian dollar has made the local education system more appealing on an international basis. One Australian-based developer commented that this was now “driving a huge demand in [student] accommodation, especially in metropolitan CBD Brisbane and, to a lesser extent, Sydney and Melbourne”. For investors, this is usually a build-and-hold strategy. Although this trend has yet to spread to other markets in the region, the recent entry of several global investors into what is a fairly finite space has left it somewhat saturated. As a result, “I suspect that game is no longer as attractive,” according to one institutional investor.
Australia’s biggest markets Commercial real estate in Australia has been subject to similar pressures as markets elsewhere in Asia, with intense competition for prime assets pushing cap rates even lower. Australia’s high yields and developed economy, combined with a roughly 21% year-onyear decline in the Australian dollar at the end of the third quarter, continue to draw foreign money into both the commercial and residential sectors. On a transactional basis, Sydney and Melbourne are now the biggest real estate markets in Asia after Tokyo, with some US$10.2 billion in new capital invested in the first half of 2015 according to RCA, a large proportion of it from foreign buyers, mainly China, Singapore, and Malaysia. With about 30% of central business district (CBD) office assets in Sydney now owned by offshore entities, according to broker Knight Frank, the tide of foreign money seems set to continue, if not accelerate. In the last year, competition for deals has intensified both because more foreign sovereign and institutional players are now looking to buy, and because so few assets are available. As one fund manager commented, “We have domestic, offshore, and pension fund buyers. Everyone is very active for the right opportunity, but there are very few opportunities”. As a result, the market is seeing fewer transactions but bigger ticket sizes, often featuring buyer consortiums. A couple of big deals in 2015—one office, one logistics— transacted at prices that have re-rated the core market. Although rumors that some of the buildings involved sold at a yield as low as 4.5% are probably incorrect, one locally based fund manager estimated a more likely figure of around 5.25%, or about 100 basis points lower than the year-ago level. Buyers in both transactions, as well as the major bidders, were foreign. That is at least partly because, as the same fund manager noted, “generally, offshore capital tends to have a lower total return requirement than a lot of the domestic unlisted players like ourselves”. With foreign funds also able to employ more leverage than domestic competitors, they are often able to outbid local funds. Can yields continue to compress? The big question is the larger macroeconomic story in Australia, which has weakened with the
turn in the global commodities sector on which the economy has traditionally relied. A certain amount of reinvention toward a more service sector– oriented market is now apparent, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. But while local analysts remain cautious about short-term economic prospects, buying by foreign funds implies a more positive outlook. As a result, most interviewees believed that yields still had room to tighten. As one investor said, “Our house view is that Sydney and Melbourne prime offices certainly have a way to run—it’s very different in Perth and Brisbane, although Brisbane has held up surprisingly well”. This is especially so given the volume of new capital that continues to arrive and the fact that most of it is longer-term money less fixated on fast returns. According to one interviewee, “People don’t come here to get that opportunistic exposure. It’s not highly leveraged. Returns in the core space are driven by the underlying real estate and not debt. Besides, where else are you going to get the level of income return and total return, even if we’re closer to the top than the bottom of the market?” With yields for core having compressed much more than those for other asset types, more attention is now directed to value-add plays, metro areas, or cities other than Sydney and Melbourne. According to one investor, “There’s definitely been some significant cap-rate compression in the noncore space, but it’s nowhere near the level it was at the peak of the last cycle”. Tokyo is the biggest real estate market in Asia followed by Sydney and Melbourne.
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72
Industry Focus
Prefabricated walls - an economic and sustainable choice
I
n recent years, the decision to implement prefabricated versus site-built building components has gained a tremendous amount of attention in the construction industry. This shift in construction strategy can be attributed to Building Information Modeling (BIM), new project delivery methods such as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and project management philosophies like Lean Construction. These new tools and strategies allow the industry to use proven methods that have effectively been used by other industries, particularly the manufacturing industry. Prefabrication has emerged as one of these driving methods that benefits construction projects, and the industry as a whole, by increasing efficiency and lowering cost. Prefabricated innovations have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of construction through improving efficiency and quality. However, despite long-standing knowledge regarding the potential environmental and productivity benefits, there has been a low rate of adoption of prefabrication in Australia. More than 40Â years ago, lightweight composite panels fabricated from polystyrene, steel, and shotcrete concrete were used to construct non-load-bearing walls such as partition walls, however today there are many more high performing and innovative products available to the construction industry. Prefabricated wall panels are extensively used in residential, commercial and industrial buildings for functional, acoustic, structural and decorative purposes. Recently, many private companies all over the world have started manufacturing these
Texture Panels is an affordable, light weight panel solution choice for a realistic look of brick, stone, timber, bamboo, concrete and metal finishes. Texture Panels are only limited to the designers/architects imagination to where they can be applied. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use and are installed widely throughout retail store fit outs, commercial and hospitality industries, trade shows, theme parks, portable buildings, modular homes, residential and sign industries, just to mention a few. All our panels are individually moulded from natural products, to obtain their unique realistic appearance and offer a UV stability, insulation and sound proof properties, impervious to water, works well in all climates and are environmentally sound.
With Texture Panels being so light weight and easy to install, with our seamless interlocking design. This saves time and money, as there is no specialty tools or trades required for the installation. We can cater for special design requirements of your clients needs, by offering custom colours and even being able to produce prototype panels to suit all design aspects. (conditions apply)
Visit our website www.texturepanels.com.au or call 03 5278 2588 for further assistance with your next project.
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Industry Focus
panels commercially. The light weight of these panels, along with the fact that they are easy to handle, enhance the speed of construction, offer good insulation properties, and they cost less by avoiding the need for either formwork or skilled workers, make it a suitable construction practice.
Decorative wall coverings Wall coverings represent a vital component of a building’s integrated wall system with market demand highly dependent on construction activity in residential, hospitality, retail and healthcare sectors. Improving economic growth as mirrored by the steady rise in global GDP, growing consumer confidence, and rising construction activity and building renovation/ retrofit activity across the world is driving current growth in the market. Ongoing trends in the market include revival of interest in feature walls being installed more efficiently. Future growth in the market is expected to be driven by increasing global population, rapid urbanisation, burgeoning middle class population, and rising standards of living and the resulting need to build more residential and commercial spaces across the world. With urban population increasing at the rate of more than a person every second, by 2050 urban population worldwide is set to increase by over 2.5 billion totaling over 6.0 billion individuals. The scenario broadens the total available market opportunity for wall coverings. Driven by growing emphasis on environment protection, the market is witnessing the launch of a wide range of eco-friendly interior paints and sustainable wall panels. Technological innovations such as ink-jet printing technology that allows tile surfaces to replicate any look, texture and design, is expected to kindle consumer interest and re-energise demand patterns in the market. Innovations that are poised to benefit the market in the near term include digital wall coverings; application of 3D technology in combination with laser cut relief, hand sculpting and engravings; indoor air quality enhancing wall coverings; sound-proof wall coverings; smart multi-purpose wall tiles; and feature-rich interior paints. 3D wall panels is a new style of decoration boards, mainly used in interior fit outs. One of the many advantages that these products present is that it’s easy to install, it’s flame retardant, moisture proof, it is anti-aging, and most of all it is easy to clean and it has a long service life. As stated by the new market research report on Wall Coverings by Global Industry Analysts Inc, Europe represents the largest market worldwide. Asia-Pacific ranks as the fastest growing market with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% over the analysis period. Burgeoning economies with huge population such as China and India, growing need for improved accommodation,
growing urbanisation, increasing employment opportunities, improving disposable income levels, and the increasing number of residential apartments to accommodate the rising middle class and their changing attitude towards interior decors represent primary growth drivers in the region.
Structural walls Among the many breakthroughs in building materials and home construction, structural insulated panels (SIPs) rate high. Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are a high performance building system for residential and light commercial construction. The panels consist of an insulating foam core sandwiched between two structural facings, typically oriented strand board (OSB). SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be fabricated to fit nearly any building design. The result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy efficient and cost effective. They’re simpler to erect than stud- or timber-frame walls, which means they go up faster, too. But the real benefits of SIPs are their strength — twice as strong as a stud wall — and energy efficiency; insulation values typically range from R-15 to R-45 (stick-frame insulation is about R-12 to R-20), depending on panel thickness and the type of foam core. SIPs increase the total building cost by only 1-3%, and labor and energy savings quickly offset the added expense. According to Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) Executive Director Jack Armstrong SIPs are a powerful enabling technology that can play a pivotal role in achieving air leakage rates well below three air changes per hour. “At the same time, SIPs take less time to install, require less skilled labor, and cost less to own and operate. For these reasons and more, the time is right to accelerate SIP adoption,” he said.
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Industry Focus
Industry grasps the many benefits of
insulation
Recommendations from the Royal Commission into the HIP, which was established in 2013, aimed to ensure that the dangers that became apparent during the HIP are addressed properly, through appropriate and effective regulation and better ince 2010 the insulation services industry has endured awareness of roof space safety for building industry workers, the volatile conditions due mainly to government invention do-it-yourself market and householders. The goal is making sure policies, particularly the Commonwealth’s Home Insulation that the tragedies that occurred during the HIP do not happen Program (HIP). again. The HIP ran from 2009 to 2010 and resulted in the tragic As a result, through the Council of Australian Governments loss of four young men, damage to many existing businesses and (COAG), the Commonwealth is seeking to achieve a harmonised houses destroyed by fire. For Sisalation Information For Sisalation For Sisalation Informatio approach toInformation roof space safety across all States and Territories. Since then, the government has worked on compensating families and businesses affected by the HIP. In 2013, the Insulation Council of Australia and New
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Industry Focus
Zealand (ICANZ) commissioned a survey of nearly 1,300 people into the HIP, which showed almost one in five Australians still remained unconvinced on the safety of insulation. 17% of those surveyed believed that insulation was unsafe. ICANZ Chief Executive Officer, Dennis D’Arcy Insulation will: said the findings made the • reduce peak power loading in industry insecure and the extreme weather conditions questioning of the safety of • in all seasons, reduce costs and save their products was a result money by reducing energy bills of poor practices undertaken • provide healthier living conditions as part of the HIP. and wellbeing for occupants However, according • increase passive comfort levels • reducing sound transmission to recent research by through buildings. IBISWorld demand conditions have stabilised over the past five years with trends in the downstream building markets mainly driving demand; industry revenue is expected to total $810 million in 2015-16. Other factors supporting demand for insulation services have been surging investment in heavy industrial structures, particularly in mineral and energy developments, and tightening regulations governing the energy efficiency of new buildings.
Environmental benefits In 2005, the Building Code of Australia incorporated minimum energy efficiency requirements for all new habitable buildings and major renovations to pre-existing buildings. Since then climate change and the challenge of reducing carbon emissions have been on the agenda of Governments, Councils, Industry and consumers. In recent years, brand new, highly efficient office buildings have tended to grab the headlines when discussing improved energy performance in commercial properties. The use of buildings in Australia contributes approximately 23% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and this percentage continues to increase. Improving energy efficiency is one of the cheapest, most accessible and effective ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. Of all the energy efficiency measures available for new and existing buildings, insulation is amongst the most immediate and cost effective. Research has shown that energy savings up to 47% could be achieved during a 50 year life span of a building, with a very negligible increase in embodied energy due to the insulation materials. A well-insulated building is fundamental to achieving effective and long-term energy efficiency levels. Insulation alone can cut Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 5%.
Social benefits However, insulation is not just about reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Buildings are usually designed to shelter occupants and achieve thermal comfort in the occupied space backed up by cooling and heating systems as necessary. This heating and airconditioning load can be reduced through many means; notable among them is the proper design and selection of building envelope components. People spend a great proportion of their lives in buildings, either at work or at home. Thermal and acoustic insulation play important roles in improving the quality of life by providing environments that are more comfortable – this leads to greater productivity at work. Studies show that well insulated buildings provide a healthier environment by controlling temperature and noise levels.
Economic benefits Furthermore, by reducing household and business running costs, energy savings from insulation can provide a buffer to other cost of living increases. According to ICANZ , the cost of installing insulation pays for itself in around three to five years through reduced energy bills, and payback time will improve as energy costs rise. Insulation Also, insulation reduces industry data average heating and cooling Revenue: $810m costs by around 30%. Annual Growth Insulation improves 11-16: 1.2% property values and has Employment: 8,675 been shown to increase the Businesses: 3,850 return on rented and leased Source: IBISWorld properties.
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80
OPINION
Government puts construction and ABCC in the spotlight By James Cameron, Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) Executive Director
A
s you would all now be aware, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has pledged a double-dissolution election on 2 July if the Senate does not pass legislation to restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), as well as establish a Registered Organisations Commission. It is a policy of Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) that the ABCC should be re-established and all of the industryspecific laws previously administered by the ABCC, so the Prime Minister’s move is a welcome one. When the ABCC began in 2005, the number of working days lost to industrial disputes in the construction industry annually per 1000 employees fell from 224 in 2004 to just 24 in 2006. Since the ABCC was abolished by the Gillard Government in 2012, industrial disputes have again risen and productivity affected. Further, a Registered Organisations Commission would monitor the transactions of union finances and make it virtually impossible for union officials to hold senior roles if they have a criminal record. While ACIF will be urging the cross-bench Senators to restore the ABCC, given the statements of some Senators since the Prime Minister’s announcement, it seems unlikely that the Government will have the support of six of the eight cross-bench Senators necessary to pass the legislation. Thus it seems very likely that a
double dissolution election will be held on 2 July, with the focus on union activity, and especially in the construction industry. Given the nature of union activity in the construction industry, a statutory body with special powers is needed to maintain the rule of law. The re-establishment of the ABCC with its former powers would greatly increase productivity in the industry, meaning that everybody in the industry would benefit. Since the loss of the ABCC, union officials have received more than $3 million in fines, with a significant number currently before the courts. ACIF urges all players in the construction industry to observe the rule of law, and it is unfortunate that a culture exists in the industry that makes it necessary for a body like the ABCC to exist. All workers in the industry deserve an environment where they can go to work, and be assured of their physical and mental health. Bullying of apprentices cannot be tolerated, and nor can bullying of construction managers by union officials. Surveying of construction managers in the ACT in 2015 showed that a third had been physically bullied and two-thirds verbally bullied. Enough is enough, and this culture must end. The ABCC should be restored as soon as possible, and ACIF will be working hard to ensure this policy goal is achieved.
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