New Zealand Certified Builders InHouse bi monthly magazine

The off icial magazine of the New Zealand Certif ied Builders Association

August/September 2016 — Powertool Safety Pg 8

Halo Benefits for the Homeowner Pg 17

Centrespread —

Warmth on the Kapiti Coast Pg 24

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I am now well into the new role and getting a good understanding of the work involved and enjoying the challenge of getting up to speed.

Message from the Chair

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From the Operations Desk

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Around the Regions

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Feature: Set Targets; Archive; Repeat

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Feature: Powertool Safety

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Certified Plans

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Feature: Health and Safety Toolkit

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Feature: Construction Contracts

15

Feature: Halo Benefits for the Homeowner

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Feature: Ban on Building Methods

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Feature: Health and Safety Management

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Feature: Powertool Safety

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ITAB

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AST Trust: Continued growth and engagement

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From the Media WARMTH ON THE Feature: Non-compliant building products KAPITI COAST

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AST Trust

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ITAB

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AST Trust

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Feature: NZCB Webinars

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Feature: Tech Tips - Websites

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Feature: Construction Tour Shows

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Feature: Customer Psychology

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Message from the Chief Executive

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I thought I would take this opportunity to give you an inside into the Canterbury rebuild. It appears we are going through another period of change, where we are returning to business as it was before the earthquakes. The builders are concluding their dealings with EQC and insurance companies and now dealing with homeowner’s again. Some builders have adjusted well to this shift and have plenty of work going forward. However, those who were reliant on insurance work are a bit light on work as most remaining homeowners have cash settled. This certainly highlights the need to keep up with the sales and marketing side of your business to work alongside the ‘good old’ referral system, still currently the mainstay of your work. Don’t be afraid to try new things, but ‘test and measure’ its success. The landscape has certainly changed a lot with technological developments, and I would encourage all NZCB members to embrace this and learn more.

Hopefully, the good workflows nationwide continue and our usual boom bust cycles flatten out. Keep up the good work and remain positive that NZCB is recognised as industry leaders – a great resource and comprehensive support, but also don’t forget it is a fantastic sales tool too.

Brent Chatterton Chairman

Contact: Farming House 102-104 Spring Street PO Box 13405, Tauranga Central, Tauranga 3141 Phone: 07 927 7720 Freephone: 0800 CERTIFIED Fax: 07 927 7721 ISSN 2463-3305 2

We have a lot of consolidating to do following a number of positive changes implemented by the previous Board and I think the new branding is being extremely well received by the industry and consumers. Some of the comments include ‘It looks fresh and modern’. If you think the current TV ads have been good, wait until you see the next lot!

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ASSOCIATION NEWS —

IN THIS ISSUE

The new Board has had their first two-day meeting. We have a very dynamic, enthusiastic and passionate bunch of guys that are working extremely hard for the Association in this transition period!

ASSOCIATION NEWS —

Engineered For Durability

FROM THE OPERATIONS DESK DIY Company Contracts The flip side to this is most members are now taking time to learn how to fill contracts in on line and doing a good job I might add. This has worked well on several occasions with several members asking if I would call their clients and explain aspects of the building contract which they had an agreement into. Through simple clarification and an empathetic approach, we pulled the relationship and the project back on track. These good news stories can only come about when the member takes time to work the detail in the first instance.

Recently the Association was dragged into a dispute which was made more complicated than it needed to be. A member had written their own building contract, the problem was much of it was a cut and paste from a very old Certified Builders version contract. It implied that if there was a dispute the Association would step in and appoint an adjudicator of which the Association cannot do because we are not what is called “a nominating authority”. The point I want to make is builders have to be very careful what their contract and associated documents say to their clients. In this instance [and it’s not the first time I’ve come across this] the contract attempted to pull in a third party who incidentally had no association to the contract [NZCB is not a party to members building contracts].

The subsequent back and forth with lawyers became very time consuming.

There’s inherent danger if conflict in messaging arises between quotes, terms of trade and building contracts. These should not be considered as DIY options. Consumer rights and remedies law introduced last year means if building contracts are not comprehensive then default clauses as written by government automatically kick in, these are not builder friendly compared to the Association’s building contracts. If you wish to work outside of what the Association provides then I suggest you contact Geoff Hardy to assess your options.

Jason McClintock Operations Manager

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• We were grateful with the support from our Associate members also for the supply of product and sub-trades.

2016 was another successful year for New Zealand Certified Builders at the National Fieldays, held at Mystery Creek, Hamilton over 15 – 18 June. The weather wasn’t too bad this year with only the odd shower of rain!

• Brent Spears from Jenkin (A-lign) attended the Fieldays and supplied the full support of weatherboard product and components. It was a great experience for the students and NZCB members to learn and use the A-lign system. Of the two cabins, one was built using conventional cavity batten and the other with the A-lign concealed fix, cavity batten system.

Thanks to all those that participated and made the four day event happen this year. The new branding looked great and we were able to use new signage and flags from Head Office.

Quinlan Quality Homes NZCB Auckland members with Patrick O Donoghue Auckland

Trent McIntosh

• Thanks also to: PlaceMakers (Kinsey-Kidd Building Supplies Ltd), Thompsons ITM, Franklin (plumbing supplies), Carpet Mill, Timmo’s ITM, Halo, Metalcraft, Mega Mitre 10 (Hamilton), Eco Insulation, Acorn ITM, PlaceMakers (Te Rapa) and AJ Lovell Painting services.

Waikato members built two cabins and sold them on to raise funds for the Waikato Region while promoting quality workmanship and the value of qualified builders – a message that was well received by the public.

• We also had attendance from one of our Board members David Whitehead (great to see our new Board in action already), along with annual support from Grant Boylan, Auckland committee and Patrick Donoghue, Vice President Auckland. Thanks to the Auckland members for their ongoing support.

Certified Plans was a drawcard for the public with members working on the stand promoting the value of working directly with the builder. This was beneficial from a regional and national level as we have sent potential clients to other regions.

Thanks to Warwick Leigh-James for his dedication and commitment to the project again – he project managed the construction of the two cabins while also engaging with students from WINTEC and tutors. There was a lot of planning that went in from Warwick and it was great to see qualified builders working alongside potential apprentices. WINTEC kindly provided the facilities to build the cabins.

• Another regular on the stand is Ian Chamberlain from the Taupo Region – thanks for your help Ian. • Waikato Committee members in attendance were Warwick Leigh-James, Colin Johnston, Mike Jeffrey and Mike Hayward.

We have the following people to thank – as without their contribution, the project would not have been possible:

AROUND THE REGIONS

• Thanks also to NZCB Head Office for lending us Shane Ririnui to promote NZCB and ITAB (which our region is well in need of) for the full four days and also support from Cheryl Miller and Julie Thomas.

• NZCB Waikato members for their time to help building the cabins as we know they have already busy workloads:

The Waikato Committee is now discussing their involvement in the 2017 Fieldays. While there is promotion for NZCB at a national level, the value gained from a regional level needs to be reviewed and we will communicate this with members over the coming months.

• Wayne Firth • Luke Matchett • Matt Seymour • Trent McIntosh; and

Mike Hayward Waikato President

• Phil Rogers

NEW ZEALAND CERTIFIED NEW ZEALAND CERTIFIED BUILDERS ASSOCIATION BUILDERS ASSOCIATION WAIKATO- COROMANDEL, WAIKATOCOROMANDEL,

Shane Ririnui (National Support Office), Warwick Leigh-James (Waikato), Ian Chamberlain (Taupo)

We companies Wewould wouldlike like to thank the following following companies fortheir their support support in in building our Fieldays for Fieldays project.

THOMPSONS

TIMMOS

Kinsey-Kidd Building Supplies Ltd

ROOFING - HAMILTON

ACORN

Home Improvement Warehouse

Te Rapa

HAMILTON

Ian Chamberlain (Taupo), Patrick Donoghue (Auckland), Colin Johnston (Waikato), Shane Ririnui (National Support Office) Mike Hayward (Waikato President), Warwick Leigh-James (Waikato)

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Painting proudly done by 5

ASSOCIATION NEWS —

ASSOCIATION NEWS —

NZCB ATTEND 2016 FIELDAYS

Unlock the true power of your business Budgeting: Images of belt tightening, scrimping and saving come to mind upon uttering the word. In a business sense, they are often looked upon as a costly, pointless exercise – when you miss your targets the budget will often be ignored or thrown out; if you exceed them then the budget is written off as ‘soft’ and forgotten about.

Budgets are not just there to highlight failure – they are also an important tool for understanding success. If you do well one month; understanding exactly why you did is a recipe for setting out plans that will allow you to do the same month on month.

Sitting down with your management team regularly to review the budgets for suitability is also important. If the market shifts and you cannot meet your targets any longer, there is no point trying to achieve what is now out of reach. It may feel like failure, but scaling down budgets for factors well out of your hands is perfectly reasonable. Note that if you are scaling down because your business has inefficiencies then this is not the answer! These inefficiencies should be addressed by the earlier questions…

These approaches are self fulfilling prophecies. Of course a budget will be a waste of money if you don’t use it! But if you do treat it with reverence it can be the secret to unlocking your business’ true potential.

A budget sets the tone for the business for the next year; it has a financial focus but has flow on effects to the rest of your business – be it through competition, review of processes or creation of a winning culture. If you aren’t a fan of the term – call it what it is. A target.

AROUND THE REGIONS

GLASS FACTORY TOUR

On the other hand; if you are exceeding budgets then be bold. Set the bar higher; aim for greatness and challenge your team. You never know what they’re all capable of until you do.

We all know the purpose of a budget – you set a target for the business to aspire to month on month. Best intentions usually ring true here! A budget is not a piece of paper that goes in the bottom drawer and is forgotten about. Reviewing the budget against your actual results on a monthly basis creates accountability – both for yourself and for your team leaders.

It can lead to awkward conversations; but at the end of the day everyone in your business is working to try and make it successful – so these are discussions that need to be had.

Conversely, it can be a cause for celebration when targets are reached, create friendly competition amongst teams and create a culture of success.

Some businesses can get by on a good idea. No targets are set because they have a niche, have hit the market at the right time or have an absolutely unique proposition. They rely on gut feel; succeed and in their growth period carry on without a budget. These businesses are in the minority, and unfortunately for them, the golden period for a growth business usually ends abruptly. Start ups fail when the going gets tough, they run out of cash and a good idea gets thrown on the scrapheap. A successful business is the culmination of years of hard work and grind – setting goals and monitoring your business against these is the leg up that your business may need to make that journey easier; or to take it to the next level.

If your business is missing a target; you need to ask yourself a few questions: Why did we miss?

If you are concerned about a lack of financial direction in your business and would like assistance in setting some targets, contact Peter van der Heijden at peter.vdh@crowehorwath.co.nz or your local Crowe Horwath advisor.

What can we do about it?

When can we claw this back?

These may seem like obvious questions – but they tend to be overlooked. In particular, the third question should always be front of mind. Think of it this way, if you have any debt with a bank they will usually require some form of budget to show how the funds will be used. If you miss a target, they will ask these three questions. They hold you accountable for your business; so why don’t you do the same?

Western Bay of Plenty Certified Builders were treated to a Metro Performance Glass factory tour, technical presentation on glass technology and changes to glass barrier design within B1/AS1. It was a great evening for builders and designers – thank you Jim Kingie and Metro Performance Glass.

For details of your local Crowe Horwath office, got to: www.crowehorwath.co.nz/locations or telephone 0800 494 569.

By the same token; if you reach or exceed your target, you should ask the opposite to the questions above: Peter Van der Heijden is a member of the Crowe Horwath Construction Team, who works with Certified Builders across New Zealand. Today’s builders need more than a good accountant and Crowe Horwath will help you get the right advice and support to succeed. Please go to www.crowehorwath.co.nz/ construction or call 0800 494 589 for further information.

Why did we achieve our target?

What can we do to exploit this?

Paul James WBOP President.

When can we expect to do this again?

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only, current at the time of production. Any advice in it has been prepared without taking into account any specific circumstances. Businesses or individuals should seek professional advice before acting on any material. Crowe Horwath (NZ) Limited is a member of Crowe Horwath international, a Swiss verein. Each member firm of Crowe Horwath is a separate and independent legal entity. Crowe Horwath (NZ) Limited and its affiliates are not responsible or liable for any acts or omissions of Crowe Horwath or any other member of Crowe Horwath and specifically disclaim any and all responsibility or liability for acts or omissions of Crowe Horwath or any other Crowe Horwath member. ©

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FEATURE —

ASSOCIATION NEWS —

SET TARGETS; ACHIEVE; REPEAT.

An alternative to test and tag

NZCB is excited to launch an alternative to test and tag. The PowerTool Safety online system is live!

Achieve all “reasonable steps” with electrical safety of your portable power tools in six simple steps using the Association’s PowerTool Safety online system.

10 YEARS’ SERVICE David Millington, Financial Controller recently achieved 10 years’ service at National Support Office.

Dave Brown, on behalf of the members, presented David with a voucher of appreciation to celebrate the occasion.

MOBILE SCAFFOLD TOWER

AJJA 5000 SERIES

New Zealands Most Affordable 5.0mtr Scaffold Tower.

Frames . Built from 2.0mm 6061 T6 aluminium . Fully welded for maximum strength & Lifetime guarantee on welding

1. Login to the ToolShed and watch the 4 minute video

. 400mm transom centres

2. Correctly answer the 8 questions to receive your competency certificate

. Integral ladders built into the end frame for safe access

3. Download and complete the PowerTool Safety Package from the ToolShed

Platforms all aluminium frames complete with anti slip plywood

. Complies to Australian & New Zealand Standard AS.NZS1576:1995

4. Use the Tool Register template provided 5. Use the ToolBox Meeting template provided

Braces are self locking Colour coded for easy I.D.

6. Ensure RCD’s are always used Developed in conjunction with WorkSafe New Zealand, the online test for PowerTool Safety is builder friendly and available for members and employees/sub-contractors within your build team.

$3695.00 inc

Once you have completed the PowerTool Safety online test you will have achieved a level of competency allowing you to visually inspect portable power tools as an alternative to testing and tagging electrical equipment. This system is designed to complement your current health and safety policy used on-site.

Tough, adjustable 200mm castors with brake

Ph 0800 360 009

MEMBER RECOGNITION CONFERENCE 2016 In recognising the efforts of the Association’s members in leadership and commitment the Chairman made the following recognitions and presented Certificates of Appreciation to their representatives as Darin, Ross and Gordon were unable to attend the Conference:

Appreciation Awards Darin Hammond, Christchurch NZCB will be hosting an educational webinar on the PowerTool Safety system. The webinar will take place on Wednesday 31st August at 5.30pm. See – buildersprofits.com/cbanz/ to register.

To begin your PowerTool Safety Induction login to the ToolShed and click ‘PowerTool Safety’ in the menu or scan the QR code on this page. If you have any enquiries regarding PowerTool Safety please contact Jason McClintock on 07 557 9212 or email jason@nzcb.nz

David Jaquiery, Wellington Ross Lunn, Dunedin Gordon Salt, Kerikeri David Jaquiery

www.certified.co.nz/members/new-powertool-safety/

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ASSOCIATION NEWS —

ASSOCIATION NEWS —

POWERTOOL SAFETY

CERTIFIED PLANS —

CERTIFIED PLANS —

LATEST UPDATES! New Plans All Certified Plans members will have now received a collection of POS material for the 8 “newly” released designs which have also been loaded onto the Certified Plans website. Supporting material for these plans will be available to our members via a drop box facility enabling easy access to the information from your desktop computer and mobile devices.

For further copies of the POS material this is available to purchase from the Toolshed www.nzcb.nz along with new and improved presentation folders. These folders have a wider spine enabling them to hold more material to present to the home owner.

Feedback from a ‘NEW’ Certified Plans Member

Sales Seminars

PHILLIP CLAFFEY, Character Building Limited, Gisborne “I thought Bill was excellent and I got a lot out of it. I don’t feel comfortable in a group situation where you roll play things like sales technique’s but I understand it’s a great way of training some people. I was pleased to see that a lot of what he talked about was very similar to the way I do things myself and I’d say that’s the same for a lot of us but it’s great in that situation to confirm you are on the right track”.

Last month another great sales seminar was held in the Waikato region with international speaker Bill James. As with all of our Certified Plans Sales Seminars a follow up survey was emailed to attendees and we thank everyone that took the time to complete the survey. Here is some of the feedback we received; “Really enjoyed it. Actually found it made us think about other areas of our business and not just the Certified Plans component. Was well worth putting the tool belt down for the day”.

“We thought the seminar was awesome, just about an hour too long for our brains to take it all in. We would attend again for sure Bill was very funny and most interesting”.

LATEST MEMBERS

“We recently signed up to Certified Plans and are now advertising the plans through our website and newly sign written vans.

We had decided it was time the company needed a web page so engaged a web page designer and during the process of designing the web page we felt we wanted to supply our clients a starting point with some house plans. As I am a Certified Builders member (I should add a 10 Year Member now) it was a no brainer that we were going to use Certified Builders “Certified Plans”.

Jamie Mear NuHomes & Renovations Rotorua

We are currently getting plans together to build the ‘Pukeko’ design on this section for ourselves as well as being open to view to our prospective clients.

“Thank you for putting together this seminar. I found it very interesting as a useful skills focused day. I was wondering if doing this as a shorter web based seminar could work?

Kind regards”.

Chris Pyle Chrispy Builders Whangarei

Foundation Members

“I think it would be worthwhile rolling this course out around the country because like myself I think most of us are just a little unsure sometimes about whether you’re going in the correct direction or not. Thanks CBANZ for putting this together. It wasn’t a great time of year to be doing it but well worth it”.

Thank you to all those Foundation Members who requested their annual plan allowance of standard working drawings.

We hope you are enjoying these plans and we look forward to seeing more Certified Plan builds around the country.

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Hazardous Substances and PPE

NAIL THE WHOLE JOB WITH US From the foundations to the fenceline you can get the whole job done with Mitre 10. We can supply and deliver your complete build, sort out any special orders, and help make the whole job go as smoothly as possible.

Not all risks on a construction site are obvious.

Some you can’t even see, such as toxic fumes and asbestos fibres in the air. But out of sight shouldn’t mean out of mind.

• Have you identified all harmful substances and materials?

Hazardous substances can do just as much damage as a regular workplace accident. In fact they can do more. WorkSafe New Zealand estimates that 20 times as many construction workers die from breathing in airborne contaminants as they do from a workplace accident.

• What about using a less hazardous material?

Think about that for a minute. Between 2008 and 2014 on average there were almost ten deaths a year from incidents in the construction sector, but work-related diseases claim around 200 lives a year from workers in the industry. We’re talking about cancers, respiratory disease and the like – diseases that cannot not only kill you but rob you of your quality of life along the way.

Dust might seem like just an annoyance, but it can cause real health problems – particular silica dust from cutting concrete.

Preventing dust by wetting or extracting it with a vacuum attachment is a far better option than just wearing a dust mask.

• Have you put in place precautions to prevent or control exposure to hazardous substances?

• Can you do the work differently to remove the risk entirely?

• Have you fitted dust extraction to your tools? Or water suppression to limit dust?

• Have you remembered to put up warning signs?

As always, proper training and information is also vital. If workers are expected to use or be around hazardous chemicals or other substances then they need to know what they’re dealing with and how to stay safe.

We need to get serious about workplace health risks. It’s time to treat health the same way we treat safety. We need to start identifying those harmful substances (such as asbestos, lead, solvents, paints and silica and concrete dust) and take action to ensure they don’t make us sick.

Part of that training will be making sure everyone knows what personal protective equipment to wear and how to use it. It could be anything from the right dust mask or hearing protection to safety googles or gloves. For asbestos work your specialists may use disposable overalls and full respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to ensure they don’t breath in any fibres.

That’s where WorkSafe New Zealand’s Absolutely Essential Health and Safety Toolkit for Small Construction Sites can help.

It’s a short, sharp starter course in the basics of health and safety.

And it will point you in the direction of more detailed guidance and information if you need it as well.

Make sure suitable equipment is provided and used – protective gear is no good if it is just lying in the back of the ute. In fact, leaving protective gear lying around in the ute is probably not the best idea full stop – make sure it is cared for and stored properly.

The most well-known occupational health risk is probably asbestos. Asbestos related diseases can take decades to develop and there are well established rules for working with asbestos. This article is not the place to go in to detail, but the WorkSafe website has all the guidance you could need. Just remember – if in doubt check and test for the presence of asbestos and get expert advice from a qualified specialist.

Last but not least, if anyone is exposed to hazardous substances such as lead, silica, cement or sensitisers such as two-pack adhesives or coatings) arrange ongoing health monitoring.

Remember, many work-related diseases can take a long time to develop and are often the result of repeated exposure over years. It might be slow to catch up with you, but occupational ill health can have a devastating effect. Don’t take any chances – look out for hazardous substances and learn how to work with them safely.

Preventing harm from hazardous substances is not just about having the right personal protective equipment for the job. That is important – and we’ll get to that. But before you start putting on your mask and gloves, or whatever, you’ll need to take the time to really think about the job and the best ways to eliminate or manage any health risks.

• There’s a lot more practical advice in the Absolutely Essential Health and Safety Toolkit for Small Construction Sites, which is available on WorkSafe New Zealand’s construction website. It does not cover legal requirements and is a guide only. There is also plenty more information at construction.worksafe.govt.nz.

The Toolkit asks the sort of questions you should be asking yourself when you’re planning a project:

mitre10.co.nz/trade 13

FEATURE —

THE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY TOOLKIT

– what’s changed?

Take the opportunity to become a foundation member of our Building Distribution Team.

There are also changes to the adjudication process designed to improve its fairness, including reducing the risk of respondents being “ambushed” by surprise adjudications, allowing a right of reply, and extending time limits for more complex disputes. Of course, you only need to know about these changes if you are involved in a dispute.

The CCA had a major overhaul last year, with changes being introduced in three phases. For all new contracts from 1 December 2015 there are new requirements for payment claims and improvements to the adjudication process. From 1 September 2016 all new professional services engagements of engineers, designers and quantity surveyors will be covered by the Act. A new retention regime also comes into force on 31 March 2017, under which all retentions will be held on trust.

Touchwood is a successful New Zealand company that offers a revolutionary prefabricated solid timber wall building system.

This is a unique opportunity to build and grow your own business with a exciting and respected New Zealand brand. We’ll be making presentations in your area shortly and we’d love to hear from you if you’d like to be part of our team.

Extending the Act to professionals from 1 September 2016 All new contracts with engineers, designers or quantity surveyors (referred to in the Act as “related services”) will now be covered by the Act. Related services providers will now be able to serve payment claims and refer fee disputes to adjudication. Of course their customers will also be able to hold their professional services providers to account by referring disputes about their services to adjudication, and they may need to enhance their accounts payable procedures to properly respond with payment schedules.

The possible impacts on terms of engagement and professional indemnity insurance are still being worked through by the industry.

The 1 December 2015 changes – what you need to know There are four important changes affecting payment claims on new contracts: 1. Most importantly, every payment claim must now include a new “Form 1” notice to the payer, similar to the form that was previously only required for residential occupiers. A payment claim without the notice will be invalid and unenforceable.

The new Form 1 notice can be downloaded in PDF form from www.calderglen.co.nz/cca-forms, or you can download the Construction Contracts Regulations 2003 (as at 1 December 2015) from www.legislation.govt.nz. The new form can be used on all contracts, including existing residential contracts.

To arrange a confidential presentation, call Ivan Scott on 0508 TOUCHWOOD (0508 868 249). www.twd.co.nz

A new retention regime from 31 March 2017 All retention money withheld on commercial construction contracts as at 31 March 2017 must be held “on trust”. This means retention money must be properly invested or protected and accounted for, and is protected when a payer goes into receivership. There are also new “prohibited provisions” and an automatic entitlement to interest, designed to ensure that retention money is promptly released when all relevant defects or contractual obligations have been fulfilled.

2. The due date for payment must now be “stated” rather than merely “indicated”. A payment claim which showed the due date as “5 working days”, “20th of following month” or a random date could be invalidated. You must check the payment terms in your contract whenever you prepare a payment claim, and ensure that you enter the correc tdue date.

Although the regime is well-intended, there are concerns about its impact on the industry. Regulations are currently being developed by the Ministry which should help payers to understand how to comply with their trustee obligations and set up their accounting systems.

Those regulations are urgent, as payers need time to prepare.

3. The Act has been clarified so that a payee who waives their right to monthly payment claims is unable to serve a payment claim until the work has been completed. This could create difficulties where a small job which was expected to be a single billing extends more than one month, as it can sometimes be difficult to know when “completion” has actually occurred. It is therefore important to ensure that you do not inadvertently or otherwise waive your right to be paid monthly.

WAV23183

TOUCHWOOD

®

What is the one thing you must do?

As valid payment claims are at the heart of the Act, you must ensure that the new Form 1 notice accompanies every payment claim.

For more information My new publication CCA Handbook – Making the Construction Contracts Act work has recently been released, providing a practical guide to the amended Act. You can purchase online at www.ccahandbook.co.nz using coupon code nzcb-member to receive a 10% discount plus free postage.

4. The Act now applies fully to all contracts. This means that provisions that previously applied only to commercial contracts, such as default payment terms and the right to suspend work and enforce overdue payments (but not charging orders), will now apply to contracts with residential occupiers. This will make the Act far more effective for the residential sector, provided of course that payment claims are valid.

A simple revolutionary solid wood building system 14

Peter Degerholm

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FEATURE —

THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AMENDMENT ACT 2015

HALO BENEFITS – FOR THE HOMEOWNER We all know Halo is a no brainer, but how do we get this across to the Homeowner…

FEATURE —

FEATURE —

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE HALO 10 YEAR RESIDENTIAL GUARANTEE…

Here are some key points:

The application process is easy...

A promise of quality and a satisfying experience Download and print off the Application Form from the ToolShed (the members section of the website nzcb.nz The builder completes the application

Comprehensive Halo 10 year residential guarantee insurance Underwritten by

LLOYD’S OF LONDO N

The homeowner signs the application The builder e-mails the application form to application@bwrs.co.nz

Independent Underwriter Halo is independently insured at Lloyd’s of London. This means that in the unlikely event that something happens to the builder, or even to the association itself, the homeowner can be sure their guarantee is still valid.

Certified Builders are renowned for their integrity and quality of workmanship… BUT things can go wrong!

No one can foresee the builder having an accident and not be able to complete the building contract.

No one expects materials or subcontractors work to fall short of industry standards. Halo provides reassurance that even if things do go astray, the builder’s promise of quality still stands.

Cover includes: - Loss of deposit - Extra costs to complete the dwelling - Defects for 10 years - Alternative accommodation expenses - Professional fees

BrokerWeb Risk Services will process the application and e-mail the builder an invoice along with payment instructions The builder and the homeowner complete the Certificate of Practical Completion

Transferable to new homeowners

Underwritten at Lloyds of London

HELPFUL TIPS

POLICY DOCUMENTS

• Complete all of the questions

Who gets what?

Once the premium has been received, BrokerWeb Risk Services will send out the policy documents:

• Make sure that the owners e-mail address is correct as this is where the policy documentation is sent.

The guarantee automatically transfers to any subsequent legal owners of the home, giving the homeowner a point of difference when they decide to sell.

Known and trusted worldwide, Lloyd’s has an excellent financial rating of “A+” (Strong) with Standards and Poors and “A” (Excellent) with A. M. Best. Lloyd’s of London is the oldest and one of the largest insurance underwriters globally underwriting insurance risks throughout the world.

The Homeowner will receive an e-mail with the policy wording and schedule.

• If you are using a Cost and Margin Contract, use the estimate for the Original Contract Price

The Builder will receive an e-mail with a copy of the policy schedule (showing details of the property insured) as well as a receipt for the premium paid and the “Sleep Easy” indemnity document.

• The same application form can be used for any type of contract (full, labour (full, labour only, alterations etc.)

The National Support Office would like to take this opportunity to remind members of the following:

Brittany Robertson Halo Guarantee Membership Support

• Halo is mandatory on all residential building work, whether a new build, an alteration project or a labour only job when a contract value is over $30,000 (incl GST).

• The application should be completed when the contract is signed (before work starts).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once the contracted work comes to an end, the builder will complete the Certificate of Practical Completion and have the homeowner sign it. This needs to be sent to BrokerWeb Risk Services so that the Date of Possession/Practical Completion and the Final Contract Price/Sum Insured can be noted on the policy and a new policy schedule sent to the builder and the homeowner.

www.nzcb.nz/members/10-year-guarantee/

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• There is currently no GST payable on Halo premiums as Lloyd’s of London is domiciled overseas, however, this is to change from the 1st of October with new offshore GST regulations.

If you have any questions regarding the Halo 10 Year Residential Guarantee, please contact Brittany Robertson at the National Support Office on 0800 237 843 or BrokerWeb Risk Services on 0800 644 444.

• An updated Halo Application Form is available on the ToolShed – please start using this new version as soon as possible.

• The Halo brochures, wording, application form, premium breakdown and FAQ’s are available on the ToolShed.

• Hardcopy brochures can be ordered through the online shop.

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There could be cases in existing buildings where previously installed foil insulation is electrically live (e.g. if foil insulation has been installed with the power off and not tested for safety once power was restored). The Ministry strongly suggests building owners engage the services of a licensed electrical worker2 if they have any concerns about previously installed foil insulation in their building.

The Ministry has consulted on this ban in accordance with section 29 of the Building Act. Implementation of ban:

WorkSafe NZ as part of its functions as the regulator of electrical safety under the Electricity Act 1992 has also made guidance, in the form of an Electrical Code of Practice3, publically available that sets out how to protect persons and property from harm due to improperly installed foil insulation.

The Code of Practice will enable building owners and the industry to better manage electrical safety risks associated with existing foil insulation.

The ban comes into force on 1 July 2016, and will remain in place until amended or revoked by the Ministry.

BAN ON BUILDING METHODS Ban on the installation and/or repair of foil insulation in residential buildings with an existing electrical installation.

Foil insulation is insulation that consists of a thin layer of heatreflecting metallic foil (usually aluminium). It is most commonly supplied in flexible sheet or blanket form and may be attached to other flexible insulating materials such as wool or fibreglass.

The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (the Ministry) has declared a ban on the following building methods under section 26 of the Building Act 2004:

Reasons for the ban The ban is due to safety concerns associated with the method of attaching the foil to the building and the compliance of this building method with the Building Code.

The installation of foil insulation into residential buildings with an existing electrical installation (retrofitting foil insulation); and

The risk with installing and/or repairing foil insulation in a building with an existing electrical installation is that the person(s) installing or repairing it could accidentally pierce a live electrical cable with the fasteners (e.g. staples or nails) that they are using to attach the foil to the building. The foil, being metallic, conducts electricity and can become live if it comes into contact with live electrical wiring – potentially enlivening the entire underfloor area or ceiling space of a building.

• The repair of foil insulation in residential buildings with an existing electrical installation (e.g. stapling ripped or damaged foil back on to the floor joists of a building).

Definitions: Residential building for the purposes of this ban is defined as a building that meets the definition of Housing or Communal Residential in paragraphs 2.0 and 3.0, respectively, of Building Code1 Clause A1. It also includes outbuildings, defined in paragraph 7.0 of Clause A1, associated with a residential building.

In retrofit situations foil is usually installed by stapling it to the floor or ceiling joists, often in dark and cramped conditions making it hard to see exactly where any electrical cables are located. Many buildings have exposed electrical cables running through these spaces, presenting a serious electrocution hazard.

Electrical installation means: (i) relation to a property with a point of supply, all fittings beyond the point of supply that form part of a system that is used to convey electricity to a point of consumption, or used to generate or store electricity; and

Even if a retrofit is completed without incident, the foil can be left electrically live, presenting a future electrocution hazard.

Nylon fasteners also have some risk as they can split the insulation of the electrical cables and cause the wiring to come into contact with the foil.

(ii) relation to a property without a point of supply, all fittings that form part of a system that is used to convey electricity to a point of consumption, or used to generate or store electricity.

The Ministry considers that the installation and/or repair of foil insulation in a residential building with an existing electrical

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The ban does not apply to any building work for which a building consent has been issued prior to the date on which the ban comes into force.

What the ban covers:

In the event of doubt concerning requirements of the Code of Practice the services of a licensed electrical worker should be sought.

The ban is limited to residential buildings with existing electrical installations only and applies to anyone installing new foil insulation and/or repairing existing foil insulation in these buildings. It includes the installation and/or repair of foil insulation in ceilings, walls and underfloor areas.

Contact us: If you are unsure whether the work you are intending to carry out is covered by the ban, or have any questions, please contact us by:

Foil insulation is occasionally used for purposes other than insulation (e.g. as a vapour barrier). The ban will still apply when foil insulation is used for other purposes as the method of installation usually remains the same and therefore the associated risks still apply.

Freephone on 0800 24 22 43 (between 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday) Email at products@mbie.govt.nz

Exclusions:

Post to Determinations and Assurance, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

The installation of foil insulation in new residential buildings (including new additions to existing residential buildings where the addition does not have an existing electrical installation) is not covered by this ban as it does not give rise to the same level of risk due to the different building method used and associated decrease in likelihood of injury or death.

Visit our website at www.building.govt.nz .

Signed for and on behalf of the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on 24 June 2016.

Foil insulation is sometimes supplied in panel form where it is bonded to rigid building materials such as plasterboard or polystyrene. The ban excludes the installation and/or repair of foil that is supplied pre-fixed to rigid building materials. These types of products are generally installed by friction fitting them between the floor joists or by fixing them flat to wall framing and it is unlikely that a live electrical cable would be accidentally pierced using this method of installation.

General Manager Building System Performance Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Penalties for breaches of ban: It is considered an offence under section 27 of the Building Act to breach this ban. Any person who breaches the ban is liable on conviction to a fine of up to $200,000.

Territorial Authorities are primarily responsible for enforcing the ban but in some instances the Ministry may take prosecutions under section 11 of the Building Act.

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1

he New Zealand Building Code is contained in regulations under the Building Act T (Schedule 1, Building Regulations 1992). It prescribes functional requirements for buildings and the performance criteria which buildings must comply with in their intended use. It is available online at www.legislation.govt.nz.

2

o check if an electrical worker is licensed, search online in the public register of T electrical workers on the Electrical Workers Registration Board website www.ewrb.govt .nz.

3

he Electrical Code of Practice is available to download from T www.energysafety .govt.nz .

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Guidance on working with, or removing, existing foil insulation:

installation is likely to breach Clause G9 (Electricity) of the Building Code as the key safeguards (this includes that the wires are coated and that there are fuses and circuit breakers which shut clown the system in fault conditions) incorporated into the electrical installation will no longer be effective, resulting in building elements becoming live and potentially fatally injuring installers or occupants of the building.

Peter Butler, Waimak Construction Limited, RANGIORA

Dean Stewart, Dean Stewart Builders, TAUMARUNUI

Carl Lange, True Form Building Limited, KAIAPOI

Phillip Claffey, Character Building Limited, GISBORNE

Steven Bennett, CHRISTCHURCH

Stephen Craill, Steve Craill Builder Limited, GISBORNE

Warrick Anderson, Buildezy Limited, CHRISTCHURCH

James Taylor, JWT Builders Limited, CLIVE

Geoffrey Bills, GJ Bills Limited, CHRISTCHURCH

Murray Laugesen, Alpha Builders Limited, NAPIER

Scott Payne, CHRISTCHURCH

Kelvin O’Dwyer, HASTINGS

Ronald Currie, CHRISTCHURCH

Stephen Cooper, Northants Builders Limited, AUCKLAND

Nicholas Harris, HASTINGS

Nigel Maria, CHRISTCHURCH

Robert Voigt, Voigt Contractors, AUCKLAND

Graham Scarfe, GA Scarfe Builder Limited, HASTINGS

Grant Todd, Todd Construction Limited, CHRISTCHURCH

Stephen Callander, Alfa Projects Limited, AUCKLAND

Tony Lepelaars, Tony Lepelaars Builder, WAIPUKURAU

Gene Larsen, AUCKLAND

Grant Clauson, G & G Building Services, WAIPUKURAU

Christopher Moore, Integrity Carpenters Limited, CHRISTCHURCH

Michael Thom, MR Thom Builders 2009 Limited, AUCKLAND

David Tate, David Tate Builders Limited, NEW PLYMOUTH

Robert Fyfe, Grayburn Property Services Limited, AUCKLAND

Paul Tofts, Aluminium Solutions Taranaki Limited, STRATFORD

Mark Stuhlmann, AUCKLAND

Jason Manning, JRM Construction Limited, FEILDING

Christopher Harris, Pt View Residential Limited, AUCKLAND

Lance Dentice, Dentson Construction Limited, LOWER HUTT

Mark Puddick, Qualmark Construction Limited, AUCKLAND Kuldip Singh, Dreamline Homes, AUCKLAND

Brendon Pirimona, Build and Scape Wellington Limited, UPPER HUTT

Ronald Mildwaters, Edgewater Building Services Limited, WAIUKU

Nigel Bingham, Total Reclad Solutions Limited, UPPER HUTT

Michael Loveridge, Loveridge Builders Limited, PAPAKURA

Michael Friday, A1 Homes Wellington & Lower North, LOWER HUTT

Congratulations to the following members on reaching this milestone and we hope you will wear your 10 year badge with pride. Your support over these years is most appreciated by the Board, all Members and staff.

NORTH ISLAND Mark Kokich, Mark Kokich Builder, WHANGAREI Richard Hilton-Jones, RHJ Builders Limited, WHANGAREI Robin Storey, R & S Enterprises, WHANGAREI Mark Pearson, Northtec – Future Trades, WHANGAREI Matthew Cooper, Cooper Construction Limited, KERIKERI Brett Switzer, Brett Switzer Builders (2010) Limited, KAITAIA Stephen Crene, Brett Switzer Builders (2010) Limited, KAITAIA David Grant, Dave Grant Builders, MANGAWHAI Randall Swenneker, Zedess Construction Limited, WAIMAUKU David Ashwell, WARKWORTH Gordon Evans, Genre Homes Limited, WARKWORTH Terrence Hicks, Hicks Construction Limited, WARKWORTH

Paul Johnson, JD Improvements & Stairs, PAPAKURA

Hamish McLellan, Artisan Building Contractors Limited, WHANGAPARAOA

John Mills, JL Mills Builders Limited, TAURANGA

Timothy Smith, Coastbuild New Zealand Limited, WHANGAPARAOA

Craig Ellis, SNS Construction Limited, TAURANGA

John Beanland, Home of Origin Limited, SILVERDALE Richard Shrubshall, Building and Beyond Limited, SILVERDALE Vishwa Nadan, AUCKLAND Andrew Massey-Borman, AUCKLAND Paschal Reid, AUCKLAND Peter Phillips, AUCKLAND

Aaron Hotter, Aarmic Homes, NEW PLYMOUTH

Ronald Butcher, Ron Butcher Builders Trust, TAURANGA

Dean Baoumgren, Baoumgren & Barrett Construction Limited, LEVIN

Gordon Thomson, Trevor Angus Builders Limited, TAURANGA

Derek Lee, Vogelmorn Maintenance & Construction Limited, WELLINGTON

Aaron Martin, PAPAMOA

Barry Arthurs, B.J. Arthurs Builders, WELLINGTON

David Longbottom, ROTORUA

Gary Muir, Muir Construction Limited, WELLINGTON

Simon Linton, SD Linton Building Limited, WHAKATANE

Mark Kayes, WELLINGTON

Trevor Hill, Hill Builders Limited, WHAKATANE

SOUTH ISLAND

James Hunter, AUCKLAND Yao Guan, Professional Stainless Steel Kitchen Equipment Ltd, AUCKLAND

Shayne Stephens, NZ Homes – Waikato Limited, HAMILTON

Paul Jervis, Devonport Construction Limited, AUCKLAND

Murray Semmens, Semmens Building & Consultants Limited, MORRINSVILLE

David Norton, Stoney Beach Developments Limited, BLENHEIM

Philip McCarthy, Phil McCarthy Builders Trust, TE AROHA

Damien Price, BLENHEIM

Hayden Begovich, Begovich Builders Limited, MATAMATA

Michael Bool, PICTON

Neil Fox, Bindon Construction Limited, AUCKLAND

Roger Tims, RM Tims Limited, MATAMATA

John Blay, John Blay Builder, HAWARDEN

George Hamilton, Azure Interiors and Construction Limited, AUCKLAND

Gerard Williams, GDW Builders Limited, WHITIANGA

Craig James, Craig James Construction Limited, RANGIORA

Peter Parris, Superior Carpentry & Building Services Limited, AUCKLAND

Garrick Simpson, Garrick Simpson Builders Limited, WHITIANGA

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Derek Huggins, Daniel Huggins Builders Limited, CHRISTCHURCH Patrick Coughlan, Coughlan Construction Limited, CHRISTCHURCH Steve Handley, CHRISTCHURCH Simon Haley, Haley Construction Limited, CHRISTCHURCH Hamish Byrne, Byrne Builders Limited, CHRISTCHURCH Nigel Hume, Hume Builders Limited, CHRISTCHURCH Carl Janssen, Triform Homes, CHRISTCHURCH Eric Janssen, Janssen Builders Limited, CHRISTCHURCH Jason Norris, Jason Norris Builder, CHRISTCHURCH

Nicholas Jones, Evolution Developments Limited, LOWER HUTT

Stewart Moore, SH & R Moore Carpenter & Joiner, HAMILTON

Jason Smith, AUCKLAND

Daniel Huggins, Daniel Huggins Builders Limited, CHRISTCHURCH

Grant West, Trade Masters Building Services, CHRISTCHURCH Kenneth Harvey, Scott Harvey Builder Limited, LYTTELTON Todd Grieve, Grieve Construction Limited, ASHBURTON Roderick Densem, Southern Steel Buildings Limited, DUNEDIN Nigel Lawson, NJL Builders Limited, DUNEDIN David Barkman, D & RB Services Limited, LAWRENCE Phillip Beaufoy, Beaufoy Builders Limited, WANAKA Luke Bensemann, WANAKA Gavin Hurring, Hurring Builders Limited, CROMWELL

Samuel Brewerton, Mark Brewerton Builders Limited, RICHMOND Brian Smith, BM Smith Builder, TAKAKA

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ASSOCIATION NEWS —

ASSOCIATION NEWS —

CONGRATULATIONS 10 YEAR MEMBERSHIP

Barry Blair, Barry J Blair Builders, PAEROA

FREE download

So how do you create a good health and safety plan? If you’re really proactive, you can create your own plan using free resources on WorkSafe NZ’s website, www.worksafe.govt.nz.

There, you’ll find industry best practice guides and information about what needs to be included for your business. If you put your own plan together, it’s a good idea to have an audit or gaps analysis carried out by a health and safety expert, to make sure you’ve covered everything.

Health and safety management plans are not all created equal. Making sure you are using a plan which is “fit for purpose” and customised to suit your business is crucial to managing your health and safety risk successfully. This is both in terms of practical risk management – i.e. the work your business does is safe and healthy and in terms of managing your legal risk – i.e. you can demonstrate to WorkSafe NZ that you have managed your health and safety risks appropriately.

If you’re less keen on a DIY approach and would rather leave it to the professionals, you should be cautious about who you engage. The health and safety consultancy industry is largely unregulated at the moment, and there is a huge spectrum in terms of quality and price of providers. Health and Safety Association New Zealand (HASANZ) has published five questions you should ask to make a good decision about which specialist to use here http://www.hasanz.org.nz/site_ files/11371/upload_files/FivequickquestionsA4.pdf?dl=1

WorkSafe NZ can and do proactively inspect workplaces, and if the necessary plans and processes are not in place, it has significant enforcement powers to ensure that this is rectified, but also to prosecute, issue fines and stop work from being carried out, where appropriate.

If your clients are expecting quality results with their interior fit-out, then choose a Certified Business member of AWCI. WE are the professionals when it comes to interior fit-out installation.

A best practice health and safety management plan should cover the following areas:

Where you’re paying for help to put a health and safety management plan in place, find out what the price includes – for example, is it simply a template you’re buying, which you need to fill in? If so – be sure that you’re comfortable you can do this adequately, that you consider the price is good value for money, and also consider getting an audit or gaps analysis done to make sure you’re covered.

• Procedures for identifying workplace risks and plans for eliminating, or minimising them (including the involvement of workers and their representatives).

• Procedures for monitoring your workers’ health and exposure to risks that can’t be eliminated.

Another question to consider is whether you want a software solution to manage worker engagement and compliance with the plan. Again, these are not all created equal and you need to make sure what you’re purchasing meets your needs.

• Training records that show that everyone knows what risks they might be exposed to, and how they can keep themselves safe.

• A process for engaging workers on health and safety matters that may affect them.

For help with ensuring your health and safety management plan adequately manages your risk, we recommend seeking advice. We can assist with this, and with auditing, gaps analysis and software recommendations – contact us for help.

• Opportunities for workers to participate in health and safety decision making.

• Information on what to do in an emergency, including workplace incidents and natural disasters.

Supported by

• Procedures for recording and investigating workplace injuries, near-misses and work-related ill health.

A full list of Business members can be found on www.awcinz.org.nz or phone 0800 292 469

Kate Ashcroft is a Principal with Copeland Ashcroft Law, an independent legal practice providing specialist advice, representation and support across the full ambit of employment and health and safety law, to businesses throughout New Zealand. Why us? Put simply, as specialists in employment and health and safety law, we know our stuff. That means we efficiently assist you with pragmatic and specific advice, to suit your needs. We know what works, and we partner with you to achieve the results you want, so you can get on with business. See www.copelandashcroft.co.nz for details.

• A process for reporting notifiable events to WorkSafe.

• Health and safety inductions for all new workers.

• A process to review the health and safety plan at least once a year or if a major safety–related event happens.

www.awcinz.org.nz 22

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IS MY HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT PLAN UP TO STANDARD?

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WARMTH ON THE KAPITI COAST

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Waikanae Show Home Temperatures for May June & July 2016

Waikanae Waikanae Show Show Home Home Temperatures Temperatures for for MayMay June & July 2016 June & July 2016

Indoor Indoor Temp Temp Outdoor Outdoor Temp Temp

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THE WAIKANAE SHOWHOME. THE FIRST CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE IN THE WELLINGTON REGION

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0 MayMay

When three builders and an engineer met at a Waikanae Beach Café, it seemed an inauspicious beginning to what may turn out to be a long and rewarding partnership.

JuneJune

May

July July

June

Indoor

Mike and Chris were pretty serious about the opportunity, and were so impressed with some of the homes that eHaus had worked on, that they decided the best way to start their business, and to highlight the capability and performance, was to build a PH Showhome.

July

They worked with the eHaus Design Hub, to create a design that would be appealing to a broad range of customers, hopefully not alienating too many, but with a view to showing off the PH technology, in a real life scenario.

Outdoor

Temp Temp TECHNOLOGY MEETS THE BUILDING INDUSTRY

As a board member of Passive House Institute of NZ, Jon was able to advise the new license holders about Passive House. QBuild partners decided to attend the Passive House training to acquire the relevant skills and knowledge, and in due course will sit the PH Builder Training. Furthermore they both attended the Southern Hemisphere PH Conference in Melbourne, for a real immersion in PH culture.

NZCB members join forces Mike Craig had been building architecturally designed homes around the Kapiti Coast for nearly thirty years, and Chris Beggs had been doing the same thing, with a passion for sustainability, and what he felt at the time was “all things eco”.

Both builders were conscious of the ever more complex regulatory environment, with stringent health and safety requirements, and aware that continuing to trade as smaller individual building companies was sure to become harder and more expensive. They were looking for the right next steps for their own companies.

You will know how the building will perform before a peg enters the ground.

The other builder was Baden Brown and the engineer Jon Iliffe. Three years previously they had founded a fledgling company called eHaus, with the dream of creating a specialist company, designing and building passive houses. Today they are already recognised as the leading player in the Passive Home (PH) market in NZ. Mike and Chris were sufficiently impressed that they decided to join forces and create a new company which became known as QBuild, and acquire the eHaus licence for Kapiti.

To dispel a few myths it’s worth noting that: yes you can open the windows any time you like: no it’s not all about Photo Voltaic, in fact you can build a PH without solar panels, and no it’s not Passive Solar. On this specific project 3kw Photo Voltaic were fitted, as this was a pre-requisite for the sub-division.

To quickly define what a passive house is can be tricky. The simpler way to comprehend is to understand what it’s like to live in one. A PH will always be the right temperature and humidity, every day of the year, in every room, with a reduction in heating costs of around 90%. Right temperature is typically defined as between 20-25C.

Breakfast TV warms to Passive House

It does this by creating a draft free environment, keeping cold out, warmth in, uses the warmth created in the house, and continually refreshes air every three hours. Furthermore performance is guaranteed before the project commences.

Yes that’s right. You will know how the building will perform before a peg enters the ground.

We naturally tend to think of our climate as unique, which it may well be, however it’s worth noting that Passive Buildings can be built anywhere. Contrast a passive ski lodge high up in the Swiss Alps, with a passive apartment in seriously hot and dry Dubai. The climate, design, materials, and construction methods may vary, but the result is always assured.

Jon Illiffe, eHaus director, being interviewed on breakfast TV at QBuild Showhome

As someone who had built a number of homes with environmental sustainability at the core, Chris was delighted to realise that there was a scientifically proven way of designing and building a sustainable house, which came with extremely high, guaranteed performance. Here was a way to build houses that never overheated, never had condensation or mould, created the healthiest environment that you could need in a home, and along the way protected the earth’s resources, by reducing heating consumption massively.

The design was finalised, to be a single story, 204square metre home, with a connected garage, three bedrooms, one especially large one, with a walk in robe and en-suite.

Before any PH is designed local climate data is fed into the PH consulting software. This is where Jon at eHaus really came to the fore, as he was able to advise on exactly what level of insulation was required, given the design, what level of double glazing, how to eliminate the thermal breaks around the property, and how best to site it on the section, given the climate data.

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IT’S DOUBLE GLAZING JIM…

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During the build process Baden and Jon attended as required, to offer guidance and advice, but also to fit the critically important mechanical heat recovery unit, and to conduct the early stage air-tightness testing, which would be required to gain PH certification.

At one stage during the build process, airtightness was showing around 0.88nMH. To achieve PH standard this would need to come down to <0.65nMH. As the build progressed and further testing was implemented, the air tightness came in at 0.44nMH. To put this into context a typical new home built to code would have an airtightness of around 5.0nMH. i.e. the QBuild showhome is about 8 x more airtight than a standard build.

The exterior cladding is specialized caviteclad plaster system on a 50 mm concrete integra, light weight concrete panel.

Timber weather boards are Siberian larch which has the same weight as a hardwood, very durable timber and if you have a client who prefers black this timber can be scorched, however we decided to blonde stain the timber.

We used a tough section roof, which was the first roof of this profile in the country and was manufactured by a local firm, Arfi Architectural Roof & Façade Innovations.

However this is only part of the story. Being airtight is great if you have the appropriate ventilation system. Under guidance from eHaus, QBuild have fitted a German designed and built, Zehnder Mechanical Heat Recovery Unit. This state of the art engineering delivers fresh filtered air and can support the entire re-cycling of air once every three hours, under normal operating use.

As the build came together Mike and Chris started to realise that their showhome was going to be different to anything they had worked on previously. Their team noted that once it was closed in, the house was already a great place to work. No waiting for it to reach the right temperature for painting, just rock up and get started.

Mike and Chris started to realise that their showhome was going to be different to anything they had worked on before.

SHOWHOME SPECIFICS the walls and ceilings. For sure this is not a low cost item, but it’s an area where no shortcuts are afforded.

First point of reference for any PH is directional aspect. Once the climate was utilised it was decided that north facing would be appropriate, as is likely of course for many projects in NZ. The concrete floor is a floating foundation, fully insulated with polystyrene, even under the footings. It sits 300mm high from cut ground with 200mm polystyrene to the centre, just as any rib raft floor but its ground is fully insulated from the slab.

This is one of many key aspects for achieving the required standard, and not something that can be ignored or guessed at.

Multiple air pressure testing occurs when building a PH, with the air pressure pumped up to 50 pascals and then the reverse air pumped out of the house. It was surprising and alarming to see how many places where air could escape or enter. However with all the crew on board to ensure taping of every join or small hole effectively with Intello, we made a real difference, and subsequently the house passed its build phase air pressure test.

Actual framing and building is the same as any typical house.

Additionally you have to always be mindful of services penetrations, so forward planning of pipes and wires have to be considered as you build; not so different from a standard build.

With walls at 200mm thick, substantial ceiling and wall insulation, to minimise thermal bridging, the goal of no thermal break, anywhere in the house, was achieved. This was also facilitated through double each way lapping of insulation to minimize thermal bridging around timber work of trusses.

For Passive Homes air tightness is critical and we used a product called Intello, which is effectively an envelope around

HOUSE PERFORMANCE This house performs on a number of levels. The lowest recorded temperature thus far is 18.6C on a frosty June morning. Yes we do have those occasionally in Waikanae.

The reason it dropped below 20C is that, as a show home, it is unoccupied, consequently it receives no benefit during winter from internal heat gains. That is the natural energy from cooking, appliance use and even our own body heat, which most houses leak out, but which an eHaus will keep in!

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Their team of sub-contractors are now keen that they lock in a few more eHaus projects to build for next winter!

Window and doors for these houses have to be either UPVC, timber aluminium –or just timber. As we still do not have a lot of production of these types of joinery in New Zealand, a lot of components are sourced from overseas, and are either brought in fully made up or assembled here. The main reason for this type of joinery is that air seals are far superior to New Zealand joinery with double seals, and air tightness is a critical factor.

THE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE QBuild are utilising the show home to build their business.

In June the first PH Information Evening was held at the showhome and over thirty interested parties attended, and the next event just a few week later attracted a high quality of attendees. A further event is already scheduled for October.

Given there is a cost to attend these events, it’s a positive statement of interest from people who attend.

Great coverage for QBuild has occurred in the local press, and for sure a high percentage of people around Kapiti are now aware that something special has been created on the sub-division at Waikanae North. Key local figures attended the official launch, including designers, clients past and present, plus a selection of real estate and other interested parties.

QBuild were the sixth licensee to come on board with eHaus.

Jon notes: “we are not a Group Home Builder; most of our clients want an architecturally designed house, and it’s inspiring to help bring to reality these clients’ dreams”

Additionally on a chilly winter morning in June, Jon from eHaus welcomed the cameras from Breakfast TV into the showhome for an interview about the home and Passive House technology.

Since QBuild came on board eHaus have also signed up other licensees. Baden adds “we see ourselves as a nationwide business, supporting a group of highly motivated, quality builders, who put performance and quality over quantity. For sure one day all buildings will be built this way as is the case in other countries, but for now we are pioneers looking to work with like-minded people.”

Whilst this is all very welcome, it needs to be remembered that this was fundamentally a business venture. Mike and Chris had taken a calculated investment that the time was right for this technology to come to the home building market, and also that eHaus, as the clear market leaders, were the right people to team up with.

eHaus now has 10 licensees around the country, and are looking for continued steady expansion, with the right licensees.

QBuild are completely delighted with the public response.

On the first weekend of opening there were 150 visitors to the Show Home, and in total so far, well over 450 people have been through. Many of these have already acquired some level of awareness and knowledge about Passive Building, and were enthusiastic to come in and view the house. Others were returning clients keen to engage with Chris and Mike on their next project.

Internationally the growth of passive building is expanding.

Some European cities only allow new builds to be passive.

The UK is really waking up to passive as the preferred building method. Jon observes that although NZ has been behind the curve, momentum and awareness is gathering, and clients are often well educated about passive, and some will only consider this type of building.

Three new eHaus builds have so far been signed up in Kapiti, plus a Wellington home is already underway. The eHaus design team are currently refining those designs, plus are working on a number of other early stage process designs. One client selected a Certified Builders existing plan design, which is being modified to create an eHaus build.

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From a café meeting a year ago, a new business has successfully formed, and a strong alliance created, to deliver high quality eHaus homes to the Kapiti market.

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Both eHaus and QBuild have been overwhelmed by what has happened since the official opening in late April.

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GOOD JOB GUYS! Completed

Shane Ririnui Business Development Manager – North Island

Apprentices

KIA ORA ALL.

ARA INSTITUTE OF CANTERBURY Lance Bell – Jet Building Ltd Kosal Chann – Z Built Ltd Russell Connor – Stalwart Construction Limited

Sitting in the hotel in Napier, as I’m halfway through the second TBS Series on Build Quality, I reflect on the year to date so far. I see our Association going through a lot of change with regional presidents standing down and new stepping in, new Board members and new Chairman elected and yes of course the new look and direction of the Association.

Also a new TV advertisement popping up from time to time with another one to air shortly. I quickly realise we as an Association need to commend ourselves and each other on embracing all this change whilst continuing to manage to keep on top of work in this very busy time our industry is facing.

Samuel Cumming – Hoogervorst Builders 2005 Nicholas Grice – Leighs Construction Darryl Horne – Bushnell Builders Ltd Andrew Lawrence – Steve Brown Builders Limited Kharn Mangos – Scott Bergh Builders Regan McCabe – Skilled Builders Limited Perrin Mikaere – Leighs Construction Jarod Neill – Bullock Construction Joel Neill – Bullock Construction John Rawlinson – Heyworth Construction Ltd

From this TBS Series on Build Quality we are privileged to see the nature and results of our industry when it is not able to manage increased workloads and stretched supply chains.

However, I feel this isn’t just the main contributing factor to this problem of build quality seen by Building Consenting Authorities, there are many more which we as an industry can indeed identify and manage ourselves.

Matt Sutherland – Dan Saunders Construction Riki Te Pania – Leighs Construction Tomas Walsh – Mike Greer Homes Alexander Watson – Shaun Bradley Builders Ltd NELSON MARLBOROUGH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (NMIT)

One last thing to say is if you work in the Waikato and Auckland regions don’t forget to look out for the two BRANZ sponsored pilot project schemes coming to your building sites.

Simon Hunt – Bruce Design & Build WELLINGTON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (WELTEC)

Take care everyone and will be seeing you soon.

Shane Ririnui

Joshua Cliff – Baseline

ANOTHER ROUND OF TOOLBOX SEMINARS BEGINS.

Finally, we welcome back Carters who are on board as the principle sponsor for the 3rd round of seminars beginning in October. This series content is underway and is being finalised as you read this, however we would love to hear from you regarding future seminar content. If you have a suggestion for a specific topic or perhaps you are battling with an issue that we can lend some assistance too, let us know as it may just be common enough that we could address in a Tool Box Seminar and would be worth sharing at a national level.

As the second round of ToolBox Seminars draw to a close, I find myself wondering where has the year gone? Two rounds of Seminars done and dusted with one to go, it will be Christmas before we know it…

The ToolBox Seminar Build Quality was attended by passionate building practitioners. It certainly generated plenty of discussion when it came to the content and the poor workmanship displayed by those members of our Industry who operate below expected minimums and who choose to work outside of the regulatory structure.

There is a venue change for the Wanaka ToolBox Seminar on 26 October. The new location is the Urban Grind Café & Bar located at 72 Ardmore St, no changes to the time, nibbles from 5.30 with a 6.00pm start time.

It makes me think back to building basics, what ever happened to building level, plumb, straight and getting it right from the start, so it flows into the rest of the project? I can’t help but think, if at least some of these building principles were adhered too, then many of those issues shared as part of the ToolBox Seminar content would or could have been resolved.

See you in the regions.

Nick Matthews

Membership in the South continues to grow and I am often asked when talking to potential new members, what networking opportunities does the Association provide?

Social Media - love it or hate it, has a role to play in our members being able to communicate with each other outside of meetings and get togethers. NZCB has its own closed group FaceBook page which is for members only and that the general public can’t access. It’s worth considering becoming a member even if you are not a regular user of FaceBook. Many of our more senior members who are successful business owners openly share their advice and industry experience via social media from learning the hard way…

Nick Matthews Business Development Manager – South Island

Conversations or “Posts” as they are known range from member’s experiences with different pricing software, staffing levels, upcoming projects as well as regular updates from the team at National Support Office that include membership exclusive deals, conference information, ITAB news and general notices. Search for New Zealand Certified Builders Association (Closed Group) within FaceBook, request to become a member and our page administrator will approve your request once NZCB membership is confirmed.

Jarrod Cuzens – Awesome Home Construction

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AST AUCTION RAISED $16,640

CONTINUED GROWTH AND ENGAGEMENT

Lastly, a very big thanks to all of the regional associations who continue to support the AST through fundraising and other activities. This often considerable amount of work is done by committee members and others, on top of running business and supporting apprentices, and goes a long way to enabling the activities of the trust.

A warm mid-winter greeting to you all, although it did take a while for the cold weather to arrive. I spent a week in a much warmer Queensland recently, at a vocational training conference. I came away feeling pretty positive about the state of apprentice training in New Zealand, in particular the quality of training that is provided through ITAB/ITP apprenticeship model. The level of support available to New Zealand apprentices is very good also, and the work of the AST is a large part of that in the Carpentry sector.

Regards, Brian Dillon Chairman, AST Trust

This time of the year is typically a quieter period with regard to signing up apprentices. Many ITPs around the country experienced a strong start to the year, and this has continued well into this middle period of the year. The number of ITAB apprentices continues to grow, and the benefits that ITAB and the AST offer are part of the appeal of training with an ITP. The dust has pretty much settled from a very successful 2016 Carpentry Apprentice Challenge, including the national finals at the NZCB conference. As a judge I was not only taken with the commitment all the contestants showed, but also the desire they expressed to see more ITAB apprentices enter the event in 2017 and beyond. These guys are perhaps the best advocates for the event, in promoting the value they got from the experiences at this year’s competition.

For all Members 1. Contracts

PETER DEGERHOLM Contract issues?

Call Peter for a free 20 minute session.

Ph: 03 443 6356 Mob: 021 307 232 Fax: 03 443 6356 Email: peter@calderglen.co.nz 2. Business Legal Issues

GEOFF HARDY For up to 20 minutes of free legal advice on business-related issues, phone Geoff on 09 379 0700, any time between 8.30am-5.30pm weekdays.

Donated by

• Anzor • Allegion (NZ) Ltd • APL • Bartercard • Builder Trend • BCITO • CBA Insurance • NZCB • Coloursteel • Digital Mobile • Fletcher Window + Door Systems • Hazard Co

• • • • • • • • • • •

Holdfast ITM MetroTest Milwaukee MYOB Novus glass Cupolex Paslode Proclima Red Stag Simpsons Strong-Tie • South Pacific Diamond Tools

• • • • • •

Tradie Pad Safety Mate Tradeworx Gazley ITAB Builders Profits

3. General Business Accounting or Tax STEVE BROCKLEBANK For general business,accounting or tax issues you can contact Steve Brocklebank of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

You must identify yourself as a NZCB member and any information you disclose will be treated with confidence.

Call Steve Ph: 03 470 3615 4. General Insurance

JIM RICKARD General Insurance issues?

Call Jim at CBA insurances.

Ph: 07 579 6259 Mob: 0274 505 528 Email: jim@cbainsurances.co.nz 5. Employment DANNY JACOBSON TRUDY MARSHALL For advice on employment related issues, call for a free 10 minute session.

Ph: 07 928 0529 Mob: 021 857 529

Brian Dillon Chairman AST Trust

As we enter the second half of the year, we look towards December and the numerous graduation ceremonies providers will run to recognise the excellent work many students have done throughout the year. This is also a time for the AST Excellence Awards to be presented. These awards are provided by the AST, and recognise those apprentices who have achieved beyond expectation in some area of their training over the last 12 months.

6. Health & Safety HAZARDCO For advice on any health and safety issues, call Hazard Co for a free 30 minute session.

Ph: 0800 555 339 Email: info@hazardco.com

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AST TRUST —

AST TRUST —

6 FREE HELP LINE SERVICES

FEATURE —

Is your next job going to pass pre line?

EMPLOYMENT LAW

Hours of work clauses – New Legislative provisions

Join the growing number of builders successfully using HIANDRI bottom plate packers

Q: We are a restaurant which is open 7 days per week for both lunches and dinners. We have a mixture of permanent full time and permanent part time staff. All work is scheduled via a weekly roster. For all staff, the days and hours of work fluctuate and are variable on a week to week basis – most staff work a mixture of day and evening shifts over weekdays and weekends as we require via the roster. While we guarantee our permanent staff at least 35 hours per week, in reality they can be rostered to work up to 45 to 50 hours if we need them.

We do not guarantee any minimum hours for part time staff and they can be rostered to work for anywhere from approximately 5 hours to 30 hours if we need them. In really quiet periods, we may not be able to offer part time staff any shifts at all. All staff are required to work as they have been rostered unless they have applied for and been granted leave in advance. We do not permit staff to swap shifts between themselves as that can affect the balance of skills and experience that we need at all times both in the kitchen and front of house. All of the above is set out in the hours of work clause in our standard employment agreement.

A: Your hours of work clause and rostering of work practices will not comply with the new legislative requirements. You are operating with what is now termed an “availability provision”. This is because your employees’ work is conditional on you making work available to them via the roster, and because your employees are required to be available to accept any work that you make available via the roster. Based on what you have outlined above, a permanent employee is only guaranteed 35 hours per week, but must be available to work up to a further 15 hours per week if you so require them to. A part time employee is not guaranteed any hours per week but must be available to work up to 30 hours if you so require them to. In either case, employees have no certainty as to their ordinary days or hours of work and essentially would have to be available to work either day or night shifts or weekdays or weekends, as you so require them via the roster.

We have heard about the changes to the Employment Relations Act that came into effect on 1 April 2016, particularly in relation the new requirements for hours of work clauses in employment agreements. Based on the above, do we need to make any changes to our hours of work clauses or our rostering of work practices?

b. You pay the employee reasonable compensation to the employee for making himself or herself available to perform work under the availability provision.

Availability provisions are now unlawful unless: a. You have genuine reasons based on reasonable grounds for including the availability provision; and

An availability provision can only be included in an employment agreement if you also specify guaranteed hours of work as part of the overall agreed hours of work.

You will need to have your standard hours of work clause redrafted to comply with the new requirements. We will need to discuss with you the options for achieving legal compliance but at the same time maintaining as much flexibility as is possible so that you can still manage your business operation efficiently. There are a number of options available that may or may not be practicable for your business.

Insist your Frame Manufacturer fits HIANDRI for you

www.hiandri.com 36

Danny Jacobson and Trudy Marshall are Partners at Employment Lawyers Tauranga and they specialise exclusively in employment law. They operate our Employment Helpline for NZCB members: Phone 07 928 0529. They have also previously produced a Guide for Employers in the Construction Industry which NZCB can send out to any members on request. (The above is by its nature general, and is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice).

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FEATURE —

FEATURE —

“Thank you, very informative and gives me better clarity on filling the contracts out.”

“Thanks NZCB, great to have the support!”

TECH TIPS

Websites – What you need to know

NZCB WEBINARS

NZCB are always looking for new ways to inform and educate our members. We hosted a number of educational webinars last year and early this year. These are kicking off again this month and we’ve got some really relevant topics on the cards.

Wednesday 31st August @ 5.30pm POWERTOOL SAFETY – an alternative to test and tag

Wednesday 21st September @ 5.30pm THE HALO 10 YEAR RESIDENTIAL GUARANTEE

Hosted by Jason McClintock / NZCB

Hosted by Ailsa Potter and Derek Larsen / BrokerWeb Risk Services

You first heard about it at the NZCB Health & Safety ToolBox Seminar Series....now NZCB is excited to launch an alternative to test and tag. The PowerTool Safety online system is live! Achieve all “reasonable steps” with electrical safety of your portable power tools in six simple steps using the Associations PowerTool Safety online system. Jason will talk you through the PowerTool Safety System covering;

As you will now be aware, the Board of NZCB introduced a new policy making it mandatory for all Business Members of the Association to take out the Halo 10 Year Residential Guarantee Insurance policy for all residential projects you are doing (new and alterations), that are over $30,000 inc GST. “Halo” is provided by BrokerWeb Risk Services Limited and is an insurance policy that is underwritten by the world’s leading insurer (Lloyd’s of London) carrying an A+ credit rating and has a range of other direct benefits to our members, including ‘sleep easy’ coverage for members.

• How the Association arrived in achieving an alternative to test and tag • A step by step look at the 8 question induction and obtaining your competency certificate

Ailsa and Derek will cover;

• Guidance on completing the templates including Company Policy, Tool Register and ToolBox Meeting documents

• Policy benefits for both the homeowner and builder • The application process and fees

Developed in conjunction with WorkSafe New Zealand, the online test for PowerTool Safety is builder friendly and available for members and employees/sub-contractors within your build team.

• FAQ’s • Q & A session Keep an eye on your September emails for registration details.

See buildersprofits.com/cbanz/ to register!

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2. A photo gallery of people building things:

As a certified builder, you spend a lot of time working with your hands. It can be hard to see the value of your website when so many of your customers come to you via word-of-mouth. But a website is the foundation of your online presence, whether you know it or not, so make sure your website is fit for purpose.

Showcase your best projects with a portfolio of beautiful, professional photos. Clients want to see photos of your work including finished jobs and work-in-progress. Finished buildings are great, but they also want to see the team that is going to transform their building from a slab into their dream home, office, warehouse or shopping centre.

Here’s our guide to making sure your website is working for you:

3. Security, so you don’t get scammed: Scammers are getting increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to get your money or details. Protect yourself from hackers and being added to spam lists with a website on a modern, secure platform. Always update your security software and back up your website content.

Where do I start?

There are many website options available, so get professional advice first. It’s easy to go with a cheap and cheerful option, but a professionally designed website is not only a great first step to getting online – it will last the distance and save you time in the long run. Work with someone you trust. They’ll make the process easier and offer great creative design solutions. Most importantly, they’ll know how to make your website mobile and search engine friendly, and help you include the right information to make sure you attract the right queries for your business.

Want to know more about websites?

The team at Yellow is always happy to help – we’ve set up successful websites for thousands of Kiwi businesses. We can give you start up advice or recommend what to do to enhance your existing website. Give us a call on 0800 031 075 to find out more.

What does your website actually need?

To find out more about our special offers for NZCB members go to www.nzcb.yellow.co.nz

1. Information that tells clients exactly what you do: When a potential client lands on your website, how do they know exactly what you do? Use your Homepage, About page or Services page to describe clearly what you do and the services you offer. For example, do you do new builds, renovations, decks, bathroom and kitchen remodels? What types of projects do you take on? What geographical areas do you work in? And don’t forget to include your disclosure statements in download format on your website.

Lastly, check out www.haywardbuilders.co.nz for an example of a great website we helped create for NZCB member Mike Hayward.

Give clients details – this will help them understand what you do before they call to ask questions or for a quote.

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We’ve partnered with Yellow, one of New Zealand’s largest digital marketing providers, to help you get online.

WHY CHOOSE YELLOW?

NOT SURE HOW DIGITAL MARKETING WORKS?

SPECIAL OFFERS FOR NZCB MEMBERS

Yellow is one of the largest providers of digital and print marketing solutions in New Zealand. In fact, over 70,000 businesses trust them with paid solutions through their comprehensive network of marketing solutions.

Yellow has local marketing experts throughout New Zealand who can explain digital marketing to you in plain English and work with you to meet your business goals. No matter where you are, they can help.

To help you get started we’ve worked with Yellow to create some special offers on websites, Yellow Online and Google AdWords campaigns.

Check them out below and visit NZCB.yellow.co.nz for more info.

BIG CONSTRUCTION TOUR SHOWS A TRADE IS THE WAY TO GO going to need trades, everyone needs something built or something fixed.”

On Thursday, 7 July, more than 1,000 secondary school students from 127 schools around the country were given a close-up look at the construction industry as they joined BCITO’s Big Construction Tour. The tours captured the breadth and diversity of the industry and introduced students to trades they had not yet considered as possible careers.

BCITO Chief Executive Warwick Quinn says, “The building and construction industry is still going through a period of rapid growth. Our country needs more young people to learn the practical skills that are in such high demand.

“The tours across the country showed career seekers just some of the opportunities available in the industry. School leavers who decide they want to start an apprenticeship can be confident they won’t struggle to get work, there are so many great opportunities available.”

Selected students, who had already shown some interest in the industry, were invited to join BCITO staff and employers on a whirlwind tour of the building and construction industry, which continues to be short of young people to work in a wide range of areas.

BCITO’s Big Construction Tour happened in Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, Hastings, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.

Teachers and Careers Advisors also attended and this helps us get our message back to schools that a career in a trade is a valuable opportunity that should be promoted.

YELLOW WEBSITES

GOOGLE ADWORDS

YELLOW ONLINE

Need a new website and want to work with someone you can trust? Yellow’s NZCB website package has been designed to meet your needs and business goals.

Already have a website, but it’s not delivering results? Yellow is a Google Premier Partner specialising in AdWords campaigns that deliver measurable results.

Not ready for a website, but want to help control what people find when they Google your business? Get listed on New Zealand’s No.1 digital business directory.

Now in its second year, and with over 30 buses touring around 14 cities and towns in New Zealand, all on the same day, this is the largest promotion we’ve ever staged on a national basis.

In order to gauge exactly how successful the day was for participants, we’ll be looking out for them as new apprentice sign-ups during the next twelve months. We’re sure there will be plenty.

What a huge success the day was. We’ve already heard of one participant who’s applied for a job at one of the sites visited.

Great comments are flooding in from other students who were there on the day.

BCITO would like to sincerely thank the 75 companies involved and those who let us visit their premises/work sites and the people who gave their valuable time to give tour participants an insight into our industries:

“I want to do something that’s a little out of the ordinary for a girl to do,“ Rosie Taylor, Inglewood High School.

Sasha Meehan from New Plymouth Girls High said there was a history of construction in her family and that she was keen to carry on the tradition. The tour had shown her a number of trades she didn’t know existed, “Apparently there’s a trade solely for plaster boarding!,” she said.

Jordan Crosbie, Southland Boys’ High School, said earning a wage while learning on the job was attractive and there always seemed to be a large availability of jobs. “You’re always

Nelson Big Construction Tour visits the $50 M Oliver Estate development

FIND OUT MORE Go to NZCB.yellow.co.nz for more info and to hear what NZCB member Mike Hayward has to say about digital marketing

Tauranga Big Construction Tour participants learn all about frame & truss manufacturing

Christchurch Big Construction Tour at the Justice Precinct

YPGCOM115

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FEATURE —

NEED HELP MANAGING YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE?

Reporting to your customers at the end of every day on the day’s progress has three benefits. It keeps them excited, it tells them you are working diligently and conscientiously, and it creates a strong incentive for you make some progress every day. The best way to report is to take some photos on your phone, and email them through. But once you start reporting, keep it up and don’t let it slip. If the reports die away, your clients will jump to obvious conclusions.

It is very tempting just to leave building materials and debris lying around at the end of the day. After all, why bother tidying it up when it will be reduced to a mess again, very quickly the following day? The answer is because your convenience is less important than the clients’ pride in their own surroundings.

They don’t want to live in a tip, and neither should they.

SOME TIPS ON CUSTOMER PSYCHOLOGY

By Geoff Hardy of Auckland law firm Martelli McKegg would do, so there is a seamless transition from one stage to the next. And there is nothing more frustrating to a customer than reaching practical completion – especially if they pay you in full at that point – and then waiting an age for the final finishing work to be done. Make it your top priority to drive that project through to completion, as soon as you can.

I spend most of my time looking after builders’ legal needs, but sometimes I get the opportunity to look at things from a different perspective, either because I am helping out a property owner or occasionally because I am having some work done on my own property. So I thought I would share some insights with you on what your clients want and how they think.

I have been very fortunate on my own property to have had dedicated Certified Builders doing top quality jobs. We notice when you go the extra mile, and we also notice when you cut corners. So above all, make sure you leave your customers with something you are justifiably proud of.

Renovation work very frequently results in unintended damage to the clients’ existing structures or household contents. There is nothing more galling to your clients than inadvertently discovering that their precious property has been damaged, and it has been left to them to fix up at their own expense. You should make a point of reporting the damage, rectifying it, and identifying that as a separate item on your invoice as a non-chargeable item.

Geoff Hardy heads up the construction law division in the Auckland law firm Martelli McKegg. Contact Geoff on (09) 379 0700 or geoff@martellimckegg.co.nz. This article is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice.

Sometimes it is not entirely clear whether your staff were responsible at all, but in cases of doubt, still don’t make it entirely the owners’ problem. The contract works or household contents insurance might cover the cost of the repair, but someone has to pay the excess. What you might do is to agree with the owners at the outset that where unexplained damage needs fixing, you will split the excess 50/50.

Geoff Hardy provides legal advice to NZCB and all of its member builders. Contact Geoff on (09) 379 0700 or geoff@martellimckegg.co.nz.

This article is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice.

Apart from delays, the other major irritation is unexpected variations that blow the budget. You are perfectly entitled to be paid extra for variations, but your clients expect you to demonstrate that they are genuine variations and that the additional cost is reasonable. It’s a simple process of comparing the original plans and specifications with the asbuilt situation. If what you built was the same as what you were told to build at the outset, then you cannot justify a variation.

Even if there were unexpected factors beyond your control that made it more complicated than you anticipated, in a fixed price contract you are generally deemed to have assumed that risk, unless the contract says otherwise. The Certified Builders contracts do say so, but only in certain situations.

Keeping up the pace on a project and meeting deadlines are very important, even on residential projects where the owners aren’t missing out on revenues and even where it’s only a renovation. That is because the project is very exciting to the owners and they are full of anticipation. They are eagerly counting down the days to the projected finish date. Missing that date when there have been no variations or unforeseen complications is a bit like telling your kids that Santa unfortunately can’t deliver on Christmas Day, and they are going to have to wait until he can get around to it. It takes most of the fun out of the occasion.

Where the plans are detailed, you should know when site conditions, the Council, or the owners require you to do something different. In that case, say so immediately, and record it on one of the Certified Builders variation forms.

Ideally you should get the variation costed and approved before you proceed. I acknowledge that isn’t always practical, but it will avoid a lot of heartache later if you do it as a general rule. Where the plans aren’t detailed that makes it more difficult, because you have to do some degree of design yourself, and the ultimate solution may be more costly than the one you envisaged at the outset. There is plenty of scope for argument about whether it was within your original scope of work or not, so all the more reason to insist on greater detail at the beginning, and to resolve uncertainties as they arise.

For the same reason, don’t be tempted to slip another project in ahead at the last minute. Those always take longer than you expect, and missing the promised start date has the same effect as missing the projected completion date. Similarly, if you know that you have some big event arranged during the course of the project such as an overseas holiday that is going to take you out of play, tell your clients right up front. They can reconcile themselves to it if they are told in advance, but they feel a bit let down if you spring it on them at the last minute.

While the project is underway, your customers will be puzzled if you reach the end of a certain stage, and then for the first time think about ordering the materials or engaging the specialist trades that are required for the next stage. They expect you to arrange those things in advance, just like they

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TOOLBOX —

TOOLBOX —

There are three other things you should do to keep your customers happy. They are to keep the site clean and tidy at the end of every day, fix any damage you cause at your own expense, and report to your customers at the end of every day on the day’s progress.

W

When you have staff who may be driving work vehicles you must ensure they have the appropriate current license.

250 core trade items always in stock Over 100,000 products available 60

30

1 hour order & pick up service To answer your call within 30 seconds or we’ll call you back within the hour Accurate invoicing – no surprises To deliver to site in full & on time or we refund the delivery fee To deliver your frame & truss order within the agreed time or we pay you $200 per day Conditions apply. Find out more in-store.

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TRAILERS MUST BE INDIVIDUALLY INSURED UNDER A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE POLICY

Assuming the apprentice (or any employee) has a license just because they’re old enough is not good enough. It’s important for insurance purposes as it’s a condition of insurance that any driver has your consent and is legally allowed to drive it, has a current license and is not breaching any condition of their license when driving.

Trailers have to be insured as separate vehicles or they won’t be covered under a commercial policy. We have had three cases this month where trailers have not been insured. They are road registered, so are considered vehicles, and will not be covered under a tools & equipment or mobile assets policy.

Some domestic policies may include trailers automatically, but this is not the case for commercial use/cover.

We had a claim recently where a 48 year old staff member crashed a work vehicle. He was also carrying a passenger and it turned out he was still on his restricted license. In these circumstances the insurer is entitled to decline the claim.

For a vehicle insurance quote contact the CBA Insurances team on 0800 237 843 (ext 2) or go to www.cbainsurances.co.nz.

We’re also aware of situations where employees have had their licenses suspended, commonly as a result of too many demerit points, but have not informed their employer. If they are driving work vehicles this may invalidate your insurance in the event of an accident.

Checking your employees’ drivers licenses is also sensible from a health & safety responsibility perspective. According to ACC “It is your responsibility as an employer to ensure that any employee who drives any kind of vehicle is legally able to do so. That means they must have the right category of licence and it must be valid, i.e. it must not be suspended, expired or revoked.”

CBA Insurances is the insurance broker for NZCB members, providing all types of commercial and domestic cover. The team has extensive experience and specialise in insurance for builders. We are a member of the Steadfast Insurance Group, whose members have more than 80 offices New Zealand-wide. Contact Gwenda on 0800 237 843 (ext 2) or gwenda@cbainsurances.co.nz.

Scaffold getting in the way?

Talk to us.

07 577 6469

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INFO@INTAKS.CO.NZ

WWW.INTAKS.CO.NZ

ASSOCIATION NEWS —

FEATURE —

E S I M O R P E

DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT BY STAFF WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSES

FILL IN YOUR BUILDING CONTRACTS ELECTRONICALLY! Fixed Price+ Cost & Margin Labour Only (Cost & Margin) Labour Only (Fixed Price+) Small Works & Alterations Preliminary Services Spec Build

• • • • • • •

Clothing Work Boots Wall Wrap Stationery Building Publications NZCB Stickers Free NZCB/Halo Promo Brochures • Phone accessories

GATHER PRODUCT AND SERVICES WARRANTY INFORMATION USING THE ONLINE PRODUCTSPEC LIBRARY!

SCRUFFS CHEVIOT WORK BOOTS – $185

Search and download product warranty sheets and technical information for your post-contract responsibilities.

The new Scruffs Cheviot Safety boot is a hard wearing work boot with an S3 safety rating. This fantastic boot features a aluminium toe cap and composite midsole for a truly lightweight feel.

POWERTOOL SAFETY – AN ALTERNATIVE TO TEST AND TAG!

The Cheviot boot also includes a heat resistant and anti slip sole. Constructed with nubuck leather upper the Cheviot work boot is the must have when lightweight and the highest level of protection is a must.

A FREE new service available to NZCB Members!

Visual inspections of PowerTool Safety has been developed by NZCB in conjunction with WorkSafe New Zealand as an alternative to test and tag.

See page 8 for all the info!

• • • • • • • • • •

GOT A NEW STAFF MEMBER? NZCB OFFER A FULL SUITE OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS WORDED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY!

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What do these building acronyms translate to?

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FREE! NZCB AND HALO GUARANTEE PROMOTIONAL BROCHURES! The Association are supplying free brochures so you’ve got something informative and glossy to hand over to your client.

www.nzcb.nz/members/

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Answers:

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THE GREY MATTER

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1 When associated with design mean special engineering design. 2 Visually stress graded [graded as having a strength rating of 8]. 3 Hot dipped galvanised. 4 Kilo Newtons per square meter. 1kN=100kgs.

15 kN/M2=150 kilograms of force this can be a down ward or upward force as in the case of wind. 5 kPa – Kilopascal is a unit of pressure.

In materials science and engineering, the pascal measures the stiffness, tensile strength and compressive strength of materials. In engineering use, because the pascal represents a very small quantity, the megapascal (MPa) is the preferred unit for these uses. 6 Finished ground level. 7 Cleared ground level i.e. site has been scraped of vegetation. When internal of the building would be top of base course.

8 M16 mean a bolt size of 16mm [M stands for mm].

9 DPC – Damp proof course is a strip designed to go between timber and concrete [or similar product]. DPM – Damp proof membrane is a sheet membrane designed to stop transmission of moisture and in some circumstance can also continue to act as a DPC. 10 (TM) Trench mesh, (F) square fabric, (Y) reinforcing steel [Ref Expansive soils 17-3 NZS3604:2011]

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ASSOCIATION NEWS —

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NZCB TOOLSHED – IT’S CHOCK-A-BLOCK!

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Build Quality

So what are we doing about it?

Over the past decades the building industry has been peppered with significant fluctuations in levels of demand. These fluctuations - particularly evident in the residential sector - are well known and referred to by most as ‘boom and bust’ cycles. Whilst there are many positives for all stakeholders in the building industry as we experience the boom times there are some negatives. History shows that the negatives often do not come to light until well after the end of the ‘boom’ cycle and are accompanied by a lack of confidence of homeowners in the building industry.

Building Insites Program In partnership with BRANZ, New Zealand Certified Builders Association are launching the Building Insites program. This is an initiative where we are identifying (with the support of the BCA’s) the common construction details that they are seeing in the field as being regularly build wrong and that have some significant impact on build quality and productivity. Utilizing the experience of our member mentors we are undertaking training on these details by way of practical demonstrations via especially built trailers held in subdivisions or areas where builders are operating or by request. These demonstrations will be open to all builders, will be short and sharp and will include training on the relevant regulation, best practice theory and best practice practical. The latter being by way of the actual detail section situated on the trailer.

The pressure that the industry finds itself in the ‘boom’ cycles is significant. Well documented issues such as lack of skilled trades people, lack of experienced people (both on and off site) in over sight or supervisory roles, reduced education levels, reduced productivity and the entry of participants in the industry who do not have the understanding, experience or desire to meet the accepted quality levels.

Simply choose from these introductory offers or select the templated items that you would like by logging on to the member’s ToolShed, then select Member Benefits on the left-hand side navigation bar and click Deals and Discounts, or you can type this address into your website URL bar: http:// innovationbrokers.co.nz/certified-buildersordering-portal.html#home

The Insite Sessions will be piloted in Auckland and the Waikato initially but NZCB sees a real need for this initiative to grow and be taken across the country.

One of the key indicators in the residential sector appearing in the current ‘boom’ cycle, that is giving us concern, is the deterioration in Build Quality.

Or contact Joe directly if you would like bespoke signage or have any questions;

ToolBox Seminar The last seminar in our ToolBox Series was entitled – “Build Quality - Have we got it right?”

These indicators include the high levels of inspection failures that the Building Consent Authorities are reporting, the outcomes of industry generated research on the subject and general feedback that is being received from experienced practitioners in the industry.

Joe Atkins joe@innovationbrokers.co.nz 021 275 9769

That seminar series was aimed at educating our members and lifting the bar. This included what poor build quality looks like, what is driving poor quality, how it is impacting on builders’ liability, productivity and most importantly builders profit.

The seminar visited the fact that the indicators that builders have historically used to measure quality, are different to what homeowner’s expectations are and also those of the Building Inspector. Three different ways of measuring build quality.

With this in mind the seminar included simple measures that builders can put in place, leading to getting it right first time (no rework), happy clients (more referrals), improved productivity and builders profitability (better margins and volume of work that can be handled).

As previously mentioned the pressures resulting from the ‘boom’ cycle is contributing to this. There are of course a number of other reasons. These include the fact that we have evolved (due to modern demands?) to an industry that has shaped itself in taking quality away from the front and middle end of the build process to placing the responsibility for identifying, managing and policing quality to the very end of the process – the BCA inspection. The phrase ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’ rings a bell.

Other industries including sophisticated manufacturing industries that I have visited – have a mantra and culture of “building in quality in the process’” but that is another subject.

We are also continuing to work with other industry stakeholders on early identification of possible areas of concern, so that we are able to respond quickly to these areas in our education thus continuing to support our members on this important issue.

The result of this lack of quality oversight at the front and middle part of the process is that we build stuff, we find errors, we fix stuff. This approach is wrong in that the defect(s) when identified has already occurred and the rework has to take place. It’s not hard to understand that rework costs builder’s money and is a significant blight on the poor productivity of the industry. Unfortunately, it is evident that rework occurs right across the building process from design to hand over – not just in the onsite building process.

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Grant Florence Chief Executive

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