Too many rules added for builders
FOR an industry that has endured constant work stoppages due to Covid-19, material supply delays and shortages of skilled tradespeople and rising costs, there seem to be more changes and costs adding to the list.
The Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister announced this week the commencement of the Independent Third-Party Review (ITPR).
This comes under the commitment by all states and territories around the country to implement the recommendations in the Building Confidence Report (BCR), after experts assessed building and construction systems that were causing public safety issues and not in line with Australian standards.
The ITPR will take effect from January 31, 2022 and will apply to all structural designs for significant and complex buildings.
The impact will not be felt on detached housing or 2-storey apartments, but it will on 3 -storey or more as well as most other government, retirement, aged care or commercial buildings.
There seem to be some vague areas around what determines building complexity and triggers the ITPR as it is complicated and needs more clarity on who determines the complexity of a structure/building. We assume it would be the building certifier in most instances.
The Top End is in a cyclonic wind area and therefore all buildings in the NT would meet one of the complexity criteria by default. A building that meets two of the criteria is considered significant and complex and is subject to the ITPR.
There are also concerns around the structural engineer who will review the design. It is assumed this will be a senior engineer with at least 10 years’ experience, registered and recognised by Engineers Australia.
They do not grow on trees here in the NT and the costs involved to employ such an individual would also have an impact on the overall cost of the project and before it even gets to the construction phase.
This is the first of the reforms taking place after consultation on this matter around the country. Others include Commercial Builder Registration and mandatory Continuous Professional Development for building practitioners (CPD) and these will make their appearance in the next few months.
HIA made a substantive submission to each of these reforms and continues to provide feedback to government on the design and suitability of these proposals to ensure that they are implemented in a practical and meaningful manner and that there is an appropriate transitional period in place prior to implementation.
Other proposed changes that will also impact the industry include:
INTERNAL and external waterproofing
FIRE safety and cladding
LEAD in plumbing products will affect a number of fittings and fixtures
REVISED masonry, slabs, glazing, steel framing and windows fixing and flashing provisions
PERFORMANCE solution changes
HIA will continue to track and resolve issues that these changes may bring to our members including builders, suppliers, plumbers and electricians and building contractors.
It’s not about knocking back any of the proposals, but finding common ground and coming up with practical solutions to suit our region.
We are in a different climatic zone, we have a number of different factors influencing house construction in comparison with our southern neighbours and we cannot follow their lead in everything they proposed.
We need to be able to apply for dispensations on certain things and for common sense to prevail. There needs to be something urgently done to the cost of building an affordable, comfortable and safe home for our generations to come. Instead, we have prices soaring due to Covid-19, demand, shortage of supplies and lack of land release for development. We don’t need to be putting on more strain with higher costs.
There are changes to all volumes of the NCC that will impact housing and a copy of the draft codes can be downloaded by visiting the Australian Building Codes Board Consultation Hub.
If you need further verification of the changes, contact the HIA office in Berrimah Business Park for an appointment. We need to hear your concerns and the impact this will have on your business and clients.