NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE
Master Precasters such as Delta Corporation in WA can be relied upon to have the right expertise, equipment and experience to be able to deliver the most intricate detail and superb level of finish.
CONDUCTING DUE DILIGENCE WHEN SELECTING A PRECASTER: AN EASY SOLUTION In Medieval Europe, ‘master craftsmen’ or ‘master tradesmen’ were considered to be at the pinnacle of their craft, belonging to their craft guild. Masters would typically progress through a career chain from apprentice, to journeyman, before being elected to become masters. Today, the term is still commonplace throughout the world, and Master Builder, Master Plumber and other trade titles are commonplace. Precast concrete manufacturers are no exception. With precast manufacturing being a highly skilled and complex process, the importance of awarding a precast contract to a suitable manufacturer is critical to ensure the success of a project.
TYPICAL CHECKS INADEQUATE When checking a precaster’s credentials for a project, the following will often be all that is assessed: • Their experience with manufacturing the required elements; • Their location and facilities; and • Their price. These are inadequate if the goal is to mitigate any unwanted delays, cost blowouts, safety breaches, quality issues or unexpected finishes. 42
Construction Engineering Australia • Jul/Aug 2020
DUE DILIGENCE IS RESOURCE INTENSIVE Proper due diligence must be carried out before appointing a precaster to a project. The process of auditing precast manufacturers should be complex and detailed, calling for checks that the required processes and procedures are not only in place, but are actually being implemented on a daily basis. So much more is required. Just SOME of the checking that is required includes whether the precaster: • Has an engineer approved shop drawings; • Undertakes appropriate checks for every element, pre- and post-pour and pre-delivery; • Has the appropriate technical knowledge, for example, understand relevant Australian Standards and codes; • Delivers elements only after they have achieved the required strength; • Delivers with a certificate of compliance; • Protects elements to prevent damage during transport; • Understands Chain of Responsibility; • Uses material safety data sheets where needed; • Uses high quality steel moulds; • Actually engages daily practices that are compliant with environmental legislation;
• Has a sound financial record; and • Engages a corrective actions process. Unfortunately it is usually because of resource constraints that most of this detailed information is neglected and not checked before awarding a contract to a precast manufacturer. That increases risk to the head contractor and to the client.
“Not carrying out the right checks of a precaster before awarding a contract increases risk. Because of that, and because of an element of market dissatisfaction with ISO certification, is why we’ve introduced Master Precaster” Sarah Bachmann, National Precast CEO.
