NEW ZEALAND SEPTEMBER 2009 VOL 19 NO 8 Steel in Construction Red tape relief in sight at last! www.buildingtoday.co.nz Win this fantastic Palm Treo Pro worth $999! building today THE REGISTERED MASTER BUILDERS FEDERATION OF THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FA1062 Marlin Chase_Building Today Ad.indd 1 22/5/09 11:31:58 AM contents ° ° ° building today SEPTEMBER 2009 I VOL 19 NO. 8 Along with the heartening news that building consent figures are beginning to rise finally, comes the long-awaited news — from this Government at inside this issue least — regarding a review of the Building Act 2004 which is designed to cut red tape in the building consent process. RMBF News 4-10 Changes to the Licensed Building Practitioners scheme which aims to raise skill levels among Yes Minister!; Move over firemen — it’s RMB calendar time! tradespeople has also been announced. RMBF president Brent Mettrick is impressed. He Industry News 12-19 acknowledges Minister of Building and Construction Maurice Williamson’s handling of the portfolio so Minister announces plans to cut red tape and improve construction quality far, saying the Minister has taken the reform agenda far wider than most would have predicted. Steel 20-25 We cover the far-reaching implications of the Project case studies; Steel features heavily in award-winning buildings Government’s announcements, and also present a revamped Steel section, which will highlight steel construction techniques, news and project case BCITO News 26 studies. Cambridge High wins Build-Ability Challenge for third straight year Andrew Darlington Editor Future-Proof Building 27 Space Management Products 28 Drills Columnists 30 Leaky homes and territorial authority liability Win this Palm Treo Pro worth $999! See page 31 cover stories 20-25 Publisher: Taurean Publications Ltd, BUILDING TODAY is the official magazine of the Registered Master Builders’ Federation. P O Box 35 343, Browns Bay Advertising statements and editorial opinions expressed in Building Today do not necessarily reflect the views of Top Floor, 39 Anzac Road, Browns Bay, Auckland RMBF members, its executive or committees; or of the chief executive and staff unless expressly stated. Further, Editor: Andrew Darlington the RMBF and members are not liable for any statements made in Building Today unless otherwise stated. Ph: 09 478 4888 Mob: 021 90 11 56 Fax: 09 478 4588 The editor reserves the right to edit, amend or reject copy where necessary. The publisher does not assume E-mail: [email protected] any responsibility or liability for any loss or damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omission in this Advertising Manager: Mike Rynne publication, or from the use of the information contained herein. No warranties, express or implied, are made with Ph: 09 426 2436 Mob: 0274 949 064 Fax: 09 478 4588 respect to any of the material contained herein. E-mail: [email protected] 1-year subscription: $56.25 (GST incl). ISSN 1171-0225 www.buildingtoday.co.nz 4 rmbf news ° ° ° chief’s chat by ceo warwick quinn Big changes The BCA merely becomes a repository of the plan and undertakes no other role. This will reduce the exposure BCAs have to liability coming to issues but further exposes the builder, and others in the supply chain. New Zealand For this to work it will require a complete rethink of the present joint and several liability regime that exists, and builders will have to look carefully at the role of construction professional indemnity insurance. The Government sees home warranties as playing an industry important role in this space as it hopes this will provide consumers with somewhere to turn as a relief of first resort. These are things that are well worth exploring further, but they will have to be carefully worked through as The Government has made a number of the devil will be in the detail. announcements recently that have the potential to It is pleasing to see the Government has finally significantly change the landscape in the residential announced when builder practitioner licensing will construction sector. become compulsory. Unless you have an exemption as The terms of reference for a review of the Building Act We welcome any improvement in the efficiencies a DIYer you will need to have a license to undertake cover such things as: relating to obtaining a building consent, whether that restricted building work from 1 March 2012. • removing building regulation that adds cost but is of is by consolidation of Building Consent Authorities Restricted building work is essentially the primary little benefit, (BCAs) and/or technology. We are most interested in structure (foundations and framing), external moisture • streamlining building consent requirements to reflect streamlining building consents to reflect risk and systems (roofing and cladding) and active fire safety risk and complexity, including reducing the amount of complexity, improving the allocation of risk and liability systems in small-to-medium sized apartments. work requiring a consent, and “self-certification”. • improving the allocation of risk and liability across The Department of Building and Housing is also These have the potential to make a real difference to parties in the construction sector, looking to simplify the license application process, and us. It is common sense where buildings are of low risk, • providing consumers with more information about is currently consulting on that so we will advise you and designed and built by competent practitioners that their rights and responsibilities and improved dispute when and how you should apply for a license once that they do not need to have the same level of oversight as resolution mechanisms, is resolved. higher risk properties. • greater incentives for professional performance, The next 12 months will be very busy indeed as the including self-certification of Licensed Building Once this regime is established it is only a short step sector and Government works through the Building Act Practitioners’ work, for these buildings to not have any BCA oversight at all review and begins to comprehend the effects it may • streamlining administration of building regulation, (other than resource consents and building envelope have on the industry. including options for consenting processes to be conditions etc), and the licensed building practitioner carried out by groupings of councils, and certifies that the building complies with the building We look forward to it. For more detail on the • how the use of smart technology could improve code, just as registered plumbers and electricians do announcements, members should refer to the latest consenting processes. now against their requirements. edition of Nailing It Home. Watch out for RMBF’s new look Nailing it Home e-newsletter for members For an up-to-date look at what the team in Wellington are working on for our Master Builder members... ... check your email now and enjoy the read!! BUILDING TODAY SEPTEMBER 2009 BUILDING TODAY www.buildingtoday.co.nz Local AoY events finding national finalists • Wellington 18 September, 5pm Local Apprentice of the Year events are being held in 10 regions around New Zealand throughout Civic Suite, 2nd Floor, Town Hall, September and early October in the lead-up to the Wellington national Registered Master Builders 2009 Apprentice • Auckland of the Year, in association with Carters. 22 September, 7pm The 10 regional winners will be announced at these awards evenings and will then gather in Wellington to Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland compete for the national Apprentice of the Year title on • Waikato October 22. 24 September, 5.30pm Remaining events (smart casual dress required) are: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton • Upper South Island • Northern 16 September, 6.30pm 24 September, 7pm Trafalgar Park Pavilion, Nelson North Harbour Stadium, North Shore • Central South Island • Bay of Plenty 17 September, 6.30pm 2 October, 5.30pm The Chateau on the Park, Christchurch Hotel Armitage, Tauranga From left: Carters regional manager Don Reed, 2008 Wellington • Southern: For further information, go to Registered Master Builders Carters Apprentice of the Year Adam 18 September, 7pm www.masterbuilder.org.nz, Gaskin, and Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast at the Wellington Port Otago Lounge, Edgar Centre, Dunedin www.bcito.org.nz or www.carters.co.nz. 2008 event. RMBF Head Office: PO Box 1796, Wellington Ph: 04 385 8999 Fax: 04 385 8995 Helpline: 0800 269 119 www.masterbuilder.org.nz Registered Master Builders Association Managers: Ashburton: Nigel Smith 027 220 1377 Manawatu: Donna Dowse 06 353 1992 Southland: Jenny Pascoe 0274 328 065 Wanganui: Marcus Poor 0272 327 866 Auckland: Sally Mehrtens 09 302 2894 Marlborough: Richard Morriss 03 577 6638 Taranaki: Gary Lord 027 448 2332 Wellington: Gerald Rixon 04 381 2850 Canterbury: Katrina Prattley 03 357 9469 Nelson: Karen Lane 021 749 091 Taupo: Graeme Price 07 378 4463 Westland: Helene Kahl 03 755 7799 Gisborne: Katrina Duncan 06 863 3678 Otago: Rowan Howie 03 455 5165 Tauranga: Lani Christensen 07 577 0628 Whakatane: Shelley Morgan 07 312 6291 Gore: Jacque Lloyd 03 208 9240 Rotorua: Jacki Parr 07 332 3625 Waikato: Colleen Walker 07 853 7012 Hawke’s Bay: Hellene Overend 06 844 7339 South Canterbury: Trish Harris 03 684 5005 Wairarapa: Pip Dalgliesh 06 378 8008 RMBF Regional Service Team: Wally Walters: Auckland South, Coromandel, 0274 804 055 Peter Philipsen (New Zealand Regional Service Manager): Ian Gould (Southern Region Manager): South Canterbury, Grant Hayes: Auckland North, Whangarei, 027 285 9516 Wellington South/Central, Manawatu, Taranaki, 0274 846 207 Otago, Gore, Southland, 0274 357 397 Bob Bringans: Tauranga, Waikato, Rotorua, Whakatane, Taupo, Darryl Fawcet: Wellington North, Kapiti, Wairarapa, Hawke’s Peter Winchester: Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, Canterbury, 0274 961 050 Bay, Gisborne, 0274 574 146 Ashburton 0274 722 226 www.buildingtoday.co.nz 6 rmbf news ° ° ° Yes Minister! listening and, in most cases, then cutting the red tape By RMBF president that hampers every day life for all in the industry.