Homestar Industry Forum Invite

11 May 2011

You are invited to attend the Homestar™ Industry forum in Christchurch on the 1st of June or Wellington on the 7th of June. Homestar™ is a comprehensive, national, voluntary residential rating tool that evaluates the environmental attributes of New Zealand’s stand-alone homes.

DATE: Wednesday, 1st June 2011
TIME: 8.00am (for an 8.30am start) till 10.00am
VENUE: Kaikainui Room, Clearwater
COST: Free of charge
To register online for Christchurch, click on this link: Register now

The Homestar™ rating tool framework has been developed to assess new and existing homes and allows for both self-assessment by the homeowner using the online tool (www.homestar.org.nz) and also independent assessment of the home resulting in the issue of a formal Homestar™ Certified rating.

For our potential Christchurch attendees, we acknowledge the massive task ahead in the wake of the earthquake and the pressure on local industry professionals in such times. We hope the Forum will provide an opportunity for industry to come together to learn more about Homestar™ and how it could assist in rebuild and upgrade of Christchurch homes.

Also at the forum we will outline how Industry professionals can integrate Homestar into their service via three pathways developed to support the building industry to deliver and implement the Homestar™ initiative.

• Homecoaches™ for Homestar™ are industry professionals, who help homeowners accurately assess their home against the online rating tool, understand the recommendations in the Homestar™ report and assist them to invest in increasing the performance of their home.
• Homestar Practitioners™ are industry professionals such as designers, architects, builders and engineers who provide professional advice to homeowners when making decisions about home design, via a new build or major renovation project and guide them to incorporate good environmental design and increase the performance of their home.
• Homestar™ Certified Assessors are industry professionals with an audit focus who wish to produce Homestar™ Certified Assessments to validate the environmental performance of a home.

As a part of the briefing we will also provide you with some interesting statistics on the early response to the release of the tool.

Take this opportunity to learn more about how you can integrate Homestar™ into your service offering.

Places are strictly limited at these events so please register your attendance early to ensure your place.

To register online for Christchurch, click on this link: Register now

We hope to see you there.
Warm regards
The Homestar™ Team

NZS 3604:2011 – new Qs and As

14 April 2011

Standards New Zealand has prepared a number of questions and answers (Qs and As) about the recently published NZS 3604:2011 Timber-framed buildings. We recently added some new Qs and As, which are available here.
The Qs and As provide background information on the latest edition of NZS 3604 and the limited technical review process that formed the basis of the update.

Read all of the Qs and As about NZS 3604:2011.
→ Order NZS 3604:2011 Timber-framed buildings

Media enquiries
Shona Weller
Standards New Zealand
(04) 498 3986
shona.weller@standards.co.nz

About Standards New Zealand
Standards New Zealand is the operating arm of the Standards Council, and part of New Zealand’s standards and conformance infrastructure. Standards New Zealand is an autonomous Crown entity responsible for managing the development and distribution of Standards across a range of sectors nationally.
Standards New Zealand is a self-funded, not-for-profit organisation, relying on revenue primarily from contracts with sponsors to develop Standards, and from sales of Standards publications. Our independence helps us facilitate a cross section of stakeholders’ contributions to the development of Standards, and ensure that each Standard meets the needs of end users.
www.standards.co.nz

Stay in touch
Subscribe to Standards New Zealand’s monthly e-magazine Touchstone at www.standards.co.nz/touchstone for the very latest news on Standards.
The question is not what you gain from standardisation, it’s what you lose without it.

Christchurch City Council - Important Notice

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Structural design of your building; Foundation design changes - Earthquake loadings;
(effective from Tuesday the 29th of March 2011)

Background
The recent earthquake that occurred on February 22nd 2011 has changed the city and surrounding areas we knew previously in many ways. The impact on buildings, land and infrastructure is currently being analysed by experts from Christchurch City Council, Department of Building and Housing, Earthquake Commission, Insurance Council of New Zealand, and Tonkin & Taylor.

The Department of Building and Housing is currently in the process of reviewing the use of cited compliance standards NZS 3604:1999 and AS/NZS 1170.5:2004 for use in Canterbury, as well as NZS 3604:2011 which has yet to be cited.

Residential Foundations
For one and two storey residential buildings it is strongly recommended that their foundation designs are based (as a minimum) on the options provided in the Department of Building and
Housing's publication "Guidance on house repairs and reconstruction following the Canterbury earthquake"
http://www.dbh.govt.nz/UserFiles/File/Publications/Building/Guidance-information/pdf/guide-canterbury-earthquake.pdf.  This guidance document is sanctioned by both the Department of Building and Housing and the
Insurance Council of New Zealand for use whilst earthquake requirements of current cited compliance standards are reviewed. (Copies are available from the DBH website above or from the Reception counter of the Christchurch City's Building Departments offices at the Upper Ricarton library building, located at 71 main South Road Sockburn
Christchurch. (Please note: These new foundation requirements will apply to the entire Christchurch City Council area).

Seismic Bracing 
As a minimum it is strongly recommended that you use the next higher earthquake zone out of NZS 3604 (Zone A for 1999 version, or Zone 3 for the 2011 version).  If the design is to NZS 1170.5, then apply the same seismic factors as for Wellington.

The adoption of the above loads & designs is not yet compulsory, however is strongly recommended in order to protect your  proposed building.  Council is currently  preparing a document to ask for an order in Council to make these changes compulsory.

If you have any questions regarding the above notice please feel free to contact:
Patrick Schofield Building Policy & Consents Manager on 0274 972 571
or visit your Building control officer at the Upper Ricarton Library, Building. Department Council office, (listed above).

Christchurch City Council memo

16 March 2011

Attention: Residential Building Companies - The Council needs your help with inspections

Get Control over your Building Schedules - Reduce the # of Inspections - Reduce Compliance Costs

In the post earthquake environment, Christchurch City Council’s building control resources will be stretched to their limits, and beyond. Can you help?

Christchurch City Council has identified a way for you to get ahead of the game and help ensure your construction projects progress efficiently and reduce some of your company’s compliance costs. Are you interested?

Christchurch City Council, with support from the Department of Building and Housing believes we can have greater confidence in a number of practitioners operating in Christchurch where we have a proven track record of performance and you are licensed building practitioners. The Council is prepared to exercise some of its discretion by allowing you to ‘step up’ as industry leaders and take accountability for code compliance in a number of areas, instead of the Council. Will you lead the pack?

Rosemary Killip from Building Networks Ltd will present a 3-hour presentation on the proposed streamlined risk-based consenting and inspecting approach on 23rd March 2011.

There is no cost to attend this presentation.
Date/Time:    1 – 4 pm, Wednesday, 23 March
Venue:    Papanui League Club, 53 Sawyers Arms Road, Papanui, Christchurch
Contact/RSVP:    Esther Griffiths, Sisirc Consulting Ltd   esther.griffiths@sisirc.co.nz

Topics covered:
•    Overview of business as usual building consenting system
•    How risk based consenting & inspection process works
•    Underlying framework and policy intent
•    A project management office approach – end to end building design and construction 
•    Important issues for risk management
•    Requirements for installers / builders / and project managers to have to fulfil
•    Quality assurance / audit / contracting and Code Compliance Certificate checks, and by who

Inspections for work that is already under building consent
•    Taking over where things are at
•    Picking up additional checks the Council’s BCA would otherwise be doing
•    Using CCC’s BCA checklists
•    Written records requirements
•    Certification and producer statements
•    As-builts and photographic evidence
•    Recording of changes in design, product substitution, departures from original consent approval
•    CCC consent application process
•    Why recording is needed

Company’s who accept the challenge and pick-up risk-based consenting & inspection will gain greater control of building schedules, avoid as many as five of the current mandatory residential inspections and reduce some of their compliance costs.

Christchurch City Council
Department of Building & Housing

Christchurch City Council memo

9 March 2011

Please be advised that Christchurch City Council are resuming a limited service for Code Compliance Building Inspections. The following inspections will now be available:

201 - Pre-Pour Foundation
203 - Pre-Pour Floor/Slab
205 - Pre-Line
210 - Final Inspection
232 - Solid Fuel Heater

To book an inspection please call either 941 8888 or 027 505 8651

At this stage they advise that all other stages of build be comprehensively photographed with Producer Statements to support construction work and Engineering and/or Surveyors certificates as required. (Quote CBANZ: Please note that the photograph option is not for all builders, exclusively Certified Builders, RMBF and LBP.)

As they gauge the availability of staff and demand for additional inspections they will endeavour to return to normal service as soon as possible.

Regards
Jon King
Code Compliance Auditor
Inspections & Enforcement Unit
DDI: 03 941 8924
Christchurch City Council

Quotes for earthquake repair work under $10,000

22 Dec 2010

I have become aware that large numbers of you are being asked to provide quotes for earthquake repair work under $10,000. This is to support the homeowners claim on EQC.

Such low value claims are usually being processed electronically with photos and quotes as evidence. Is is rare for an EQC estimator or loss adjustor to visit.

Unfortunately when the money is paid out it is not turning into work - with many home owners seeming to have multiple pressures and uses for their payouts.

I am aware that some builders are incurring considerable expense undertaking all these quotes that are not turning into work.
I suggest that it is reasonable to charge a modest fee for quoting such work and then promise to credit it against the contract should the work eventuate. This is totally up to you but you are incuring costs and do have businesses to run.

Can I take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the festive season.

Cheers
Bax

Canterbury Earthquake - EQC Project Management

5 Nov 2010

Information for Contractors and Tradespersons – Update #1

The purpose of this update is to inform contractors and trades people of the basis upon which FCC, as agent for EQC, intends to engage contracting parties for the work EQC must complete in accordance with its statutory obligations.

Click here to download the full article.

Approved Builder Expression of Interest:

4 Nov 2010

An expression of interest for builders who are interested in being considered as an Approved Builder as part of the Government’s Chimney Replacement Programme, is now open.

As part of the Chimney Replacement Programme, EECA will be managing some EQC claims, most of which will require decommissioning/sealing off of damaged chimneys and the installation of approved efficient heating system.

The opportunity to express your interest in being an Approved Builder working on this programme is now available.

Next Steps
If you are interested in being considered for this programme as an Approved Builder:

• Complete an application (to be eligible as an Approved Builder you must be a member of Master Builders, Certified Builders or a Licensed Building Practitioner holding Site 1, 2 or 3)
• It may take up to 10 working days for you to be accepted as an Approved Builder. During this time, EECA may contact you seeking more information about your business if required.
• Approved Builders will then receive a contract for service and an information pack following acceptance of your application
• You’ll need to agree to this contract before you can begin any work under the programme. This work will be allocated to you by EECA.
• You’ll also be required to attend an on-site induction in Christchurch before you begin delivering the programme.
  

Further information is available on the website http://www.eeca.govt.nz/eeca-programmes-and-funding/programmes/chimney-replacement. For any questions please email chimney-info@eeca.govt.nz

Update from Bax regarding Fletcher Construction:

1 Nov 2010

Dear Canterbury members,

“Fletcher Construction have released the registration process for contractors wanting to work with them on Earthquake repair work.

CBANZ has sent the e-mail addresses of all Gold Cards to them, however to be sure it may be useful to register directly.

Either go to www.eqr.co.nz or send an e-mail to contractor@eqr.co.nz – this email can be quite simple as they then send you a form to complete.

Please do make sure you state clearly that you are a member of CBANZ when you fill out the form, they have indicated a preference for working with us.”

Cheers,
Bax

IMPORTANT HEALTH & SAFETY MESSAGE FROM HAZARDCO.

14 Sep 2010

In light of recent events in Canterbury, HazardCo and CBANZ have put together a hazard guide to help ensure builders and their contractors are fully aware of the hazards they may encounter whilst working in and around earthquake damaged buildings - click here to download the hazard guide

(you will need adobe pdf reader, click here to download it if you do not already have it installed on your computer.)

Many trades people will be under pressure to assist people to get back into their homes and buildings as quickly as possible. However, it is imperative that safety issues are not ignored as the risks have increased significantly in an unfamiliar and potentially changing work environment.

HazardCo is happy to answer any questions regarding health & safety for any members of CBANZ and can be contacted on
0800 555 339 | web: www.hazardco.com | email: office@hazardco.com

Regards,
The HazardCo Team.