Stringent standards ensure mesh safe

New Christchurch buildings reinforced with Steel & Tube welded mesh should not worry users, an independent industry insider says.

Questions about mesh supplied by Steel & Tube arose after revelations the mesh was delivered to building sites with a tag implying the steel was certified by Christchurch laboratory Holmes Solutions.

In fact, the two certifiers listed were Steel & Tube staff and although Holmes Solutions helped the company set up testing procedures it was not involved in ongoing testing.

A new strength standard for steel mesh was set by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) after the Christchurch earthquakes.

The industry insider, who asked not to be named, said the new standard was so stringent that even if steel mesh fell under the threshhold by 2 or 3 per cent it was still far stronger than mesh used before the earthquake.

The issue with the Steel & Tube mesh was more to do with compliance and fair trading, he said.

Christchurch developer Antony Gough said just about every new building in Christchurch used the mesh to reinforce concrete floors.

Steel & Tube has reaffirmed the safety of its product.

Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment building system performance general manager Derek Baxter said the Commerce Commission was conducting tests on whether steel mesh produced by several firms complied and he thought Steel & Tube’s product would be among those tested.

MBIE had not received a complaint about Steel & Tube.

‘‘Given the Commission’s investigation, MBIE will await completion of those tests before considering what further steps, if any, need to be taken.’’

Baxter said self-certification was a legitimate method of establishing evidence of a manufacturer’s claim – to misrepresent that was a Fair Trading Act matter.

The Commerce Commission on Friday confirmed it was doing testing but said it was inappropriate to say which products were being looked at.

Steel & Tube chief executive Dave Taylor said this week its testing regime ensured the mesh complied with the seismic code.

Taylor accepted that the retention of the Holmes Solutions logo on the bottom of the test certificates was an oversight and he had apologised to Holmes Solutions.

Holmes Solutions chief executive Chris Allington said the matter was with the firm’s lawyers and he would not comment.