steel Australia (Vol 34 No 4) Summer 2021-2022

RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

PLUS

Summer 2021-2022 Vol. 34 | No. 4 ISSN 2208-7486 (online) ISSN 1447-5359 (print)

FIRST INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET CAPACITY REPORT REVEALS DEMAND FOR SKILLS, LABOUR & MATERIALS WORLD'S LARGEST UNDERWATER SCULPTURE WINS 2021 SOREL AWARD

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Delivering great returns for members for more than 35 years AustralianSuper members in the Balanced option have received a 20.43% return for the 2021 financial year. This is the biggest financial year return members have seen since the option was started more than 35 years ago*.

Using our size, scale and investment expertise, we continue to navigate changing market conditions to deliver leading long-term performance for members†.

*Investment returns are not guaranteed. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. AustralianSuper data: 1987 – 2021 returns. Returns from equivalent investment options of the ARF and STA super funds are used in calculating returns for periods that begin before 1 July 2006. †AustralianSuper Balanced investment option compared to the SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey - SR50 Balanced (60–76) Index to 30 June 2021.

This information may be general financial advice which doesn’t take into account your personal objectives, situation or needs. Before making a decision about AustralianSuper, you should think about your financial requirements and refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, available at australiansuper.com/pds or by calling 1300 300 273.

A Target Market Determination (TMD) is a document that outlines the target market a product has been designed for. Find the TMDs at australiansuper.com/tmd.

AustralianSuper Pty Ltd ABN 94 006 457 987, AFSL 233788, Trustee of AustralianSuper ABN 65 714 394 898.

A146 07/21

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Vol. 34 No. 4 | Summer 21-22 ASI HEAD OFFICE

20 CONTENTS

Suite G1, Ground Floor 25 Ryde Road Pymble, NSW 2073 T: (02) 8748 0180 E: enquiries@steel.org.au W: https://www.steel.org.au

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

ASI STATE OFFICES

New South Wales & ACT David Varcoe on 0419 136 720 Victoria, Tasmania & South Australia Michael Dawson on (03) 9694 4499 Western Australia James England on (08) 9355 1544

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Queensland & Northern Territory John Gardner on (07) 3853 5320 ShedSafe Neil Creek on (07) 3853 5204

STEEL AUSTRALIA CONTACTS

Editor Sally Wood on sally@wordly.com.au Advertising and Distribution Julie Fidler on (02) 8748 0104

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DISCLAIMER

While every effort has been made and all reasonable care taken to ensure the accuracy of the material contained herein, the Publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for any loss or damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omission in this publication, or from the use of the information contained herein, and the Publisher makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to any of the material contained herein.

32 38

COPYRIGHT

Reproduction of the material is permitted only with the express permission of the Publisher and due acknowledgment of steel Australia.

Message from the Chair

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Message from the Chief Executive

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How Banjo Supports Australian Steel Manufacturers Finance their Growth & Innovation

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Executives Must Make Cyber Security a Top Priority

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Offcut Management in an ERP System

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The 'Unknown' Financial Position of Customers & the Impact of Lockdowns

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On the Beam

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New Accredited Training Course for Shed Builders

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First Infrastructure Market Capacity Report Reveals Demand for Skills, Labour & Materials

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National Construction Code 2022 Update

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Ageing Workforce Ready: Supporting Workers Nearing Retirement

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World's Largest Underwater Sculpture Wins 2021 Sorel Award

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SafeDirection RAMSHIELD Road Safety Barrier Innovation

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FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

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The SBRC: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Buildings

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One House to Save Many: A World Changing Idea

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Bondor's InsulLiving System: Quicker, Leaner, Smarter & Greener

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Legacy 'Living Lab' Showcases Circular Economy Principles

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Driving Responsible Products in the Built Environment

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CONTENTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

steel Australia

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ABOUT THE ASI

steel Australia is published by the Australian Steel Institute (ASI)—the peak national body of the steel industry.

The ASI works to increase the awareness of the benefits of steel and promote Australian made steel as the material of choice. Increasing the competitiveness of the Australian steel industry and its member companies is central to that vision. The organisation conducts engineering seminars and disseminates relevant, timely and detailed information. Expert technical advice, a library and a resource centre are available to all members, along with a range of other member benefits. For further information, please visit: https://www.steel.org.au

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

MESSAGE FROM THE ASI CHAIR At the risk of adopting a cliché that many of us use at this time of year, I can't believe a new year is upon us already.

The beginning of 2021 was imbued with optimism, which remained in place for much of the first half of the year. However, by mid-year, we were again confronted with lockdowns, border closures and slow vaccine uptakes, as well as new COVID-19 variants to deal with.

Although the second half of 2021 was tumultuous, our industry can once again look forward with some optimism. As we embark on a new year, we are experiencing some tailwinds from strong demand in key market sectors.

I do not want to speculate too much in this edition of Steel Australia on what the future holds. Instead, I want to look back and focus on what our industry, and the Australian Steel Institute (ASI), has achieved over the past year.

Our manufacturing members reported strong demand throughout the last 12 months. Some of this demand can be attributed to a very positive trend towards onshoring; local users of our members’ products have been keen to reduce their exposure to unstable international supply chains.

In addition, in some regional and rural markets, there has been an increasing trend of local communities supporting local businesses by buying their products. The strong agricultural sector has also created high demand in some parts of the country.

One of the main difficulties many industries face – including the steel industry – is a continuing shortage of construction materials. Strong demand throughout the world, coupled with constrained global shipping capacity, continues to put pressure on the availability of materials.

I want to focus now on acknowledging the significant achievements of Mark Cain, our Chief Executive, and the ASI team in 2021. The ASI’s approaches

Bernie Landy Chair, Australian Steel Institute

to government and other influential stakeholder groups continue to be very effective in giving our industry a voice that is listened to. Our consistent communications about important industry matters have been welcomed by our stakeholders.

Encouragingly, our membership continued to grow throughout the last year, despite the uncertain and volatile conditions the steel industry has faced. As a result, the ASI remains in a sound financial position, and is ready to continue to deliver value to all our members into the future.

The increased uptake by steel fabricators of the National Structural Steelwork Compliance Scheme and certification by Steelwork Compliance Australia (SCA) has been a significant achievement. The ASI’s Environmental Sustainability Charter (ESC) has also seen considerable growth over the year. More and more new building proponents, developers and state governments are specifying environmental certification as a key requirement in project tenders.

This will be my final 'Message from the Chair' before I retire as a Director of ASI at the Institute’s next Board meeting

in February. It has been an honour and a privilege to Chair the ASI, and I wish the organisation and its members the very best for the future. I would like to close by wishing all ASI members, management, staff and Directors a safe and happy 2022.

“

Our membership continued to grow throughout the last year, despite the uncertain and volatile conditions the steel industry has faced. The ASI remains in a sound financial position, and is ready to continue to deliver value to all our members into the future."

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MESSAGE FROM THE ASI CHIEF EXECUTIVE MARKET UPDATE

Demand for steel continues to remain high, particularly from markets such as building and construction and infrastructure. This increased demand continues to challenge Australia's supply chains, particularly in relation to the availability and lead times of many construction materials—steel included.

This very strong demand for steel— both locally and globally—continues to result in historically high prices. While prices have stabilised recently, they remain relatively high, placing additional stress on some members.

In addition, there are skills shortages across virtually all sectors, which are causing challenges for many of our members. These skills shortages are being exacerbated by rising COVID-19 case numbers and, therefore, absenteeism rates across the country.

The ASI has been addressing all these challenges with various state and federal government departments, and will continued to do so.

AUSTRALIAN STEEL CONVENTION

Unfortunately, due to the continually evolving COVID-19 situation, we have postponed the Australian Steel Convention for a third time. The Convention was to be held from 13 to 15 February 2022. Our first priority is the health and safety of our members, attendees, presenters, sponsors and stakeholders.

We have decided to resume our usual timeframe and, pending COVID-19 disruptions, will hold the Convention later in the year. Once dates, venues and programs are confirmed, further details will be made available.

2022 STEEL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The ASI Steel Excellence Awards will be held this year. The 2022 Awards will adopt the very successful format that was introduced in 2000. This saw statebased award presentations take place online. With a huge digital reach, finalists and winners will also be celebrated via video presentations, as well as the ASI website and social media channels.

Mark Cain Chief Executive Australian Steel Institute

All state-based finalists and winners will then be invited to attend the 2022 Australian Steel Excellence National Awards Gala, which will be held in Sydney later in the year (conditions permitting).

This year’s award categories include: • Buildings (Large Projects) • Buildings (Small Projects) • Steel-Clad Structures • Engineering Projects • Young Designer, Detailer or Tradesperson I encourage all ASI members to start shortlisting projects for entry. Further details around the submission process and deadlines will be made available as soon as possible.

RETIREMENT OF ASI CHAIR, BERNIE LANDY

I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outgoing ASI Chair, Bernie Landy. Bernie will officially step down as our Chair and an ASI Director at the Board meeting in February. Bernie has been a Director of the ASI since 2017, and Chair since 2018.

Bernie recently retired from his role as General Manager Australian Steel Markets at BlueScope Steel. In this role, Bernie led revenue and growth across the full product range and breadth of BlueScope’s Australian market.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bernie for his dedication, sage advice, and service over the last five years. With a career in the steel industry that spanned over 30 years, Bernie's contribution to the ASI, and broader Australian steel industry, has been invaluable.

I wish Bernie all the very best in the next phase of his non executive career.

TRAINING INITIATIVES

In response to feedback from members, the ASI is developing and facilitating a number of industry-led training and certification programs. These training initiatives are designed to develop much-needed skills and expertise in steel manufacturing, assembly and installation.

The initial areas identified for focus included roll-forming operation, steel shed assembly and a general introduction to the steel supply chain.

Roll-Forming The newly developed Certificate II in Engineering - Roll-Forming (MEM 20105) sits within the Engineering Training package. It has been developed to help ensure participants can effectively perform operational tasks to a nationally recognised standard.

The Certificate II has 14 modules, which each require approximately two hours of

classroom style learning with a teacher and one hour on a factory floor to observe and confirm competence.

The first pilot class of the Certificate II—delivered by Kangan Institute in Victoria—has concluded. It proved to be very successful, with learning materials and student engagement all receiving positive feedback. Pleasingly, the student completion rate was very high at nearly 90 per cent. A pilot with TAFE NSW is currently underway, and pilots with Carey Training in South Australia and the Northern Territory are planned for early 2022.

Steel-Australia_valiant+K+N_197x124+5.indd 1

The 18 unit, online, self-paced course complements practical onsite experience. The course provides for new entrants who wish to gain a qualification over a two year period.

It covers all aspects of building safe and compliant prefabricated metal-framed homes and structures, including sheds, garages, decks, patios and carports. On completion of the course, shed builders gain accredited skills and a recognised qualification.

The course is open to shed builders in New South Wales with plans for rollout to shed builders in Queensland and other Australian states and territories over time. For further information, see the article on page 19.

Steel Industry Induction Course The ASI is currently working on a general steel industry induction course. The course is designed to provide an introduction to the steel supply chain, and should be

particularly relevant for new hires to the industry.

The course includes eight modules, each of which runs for approximately one hour: • Introduction • Steel and steelmaking • Steel metallurgy • Engineering properties of steel • Steel product types • The steel supply chain • Steel quality and compliance • Steel structures Each module is divided into a number of lessons, with a ‘knowledge check’ comprising one or more quiz questions at the end of each lesson (and sometimes within lessons).

Successful completion of the quizzes and the course will give the student a completion certificate, which documents the course scope and time of the course. This may be used by the student as evidence for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points or training requirements their employer may have.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

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Demand for steel continues to remain high, particularly from markets such as building and construction and infrastructure.

This increased demand continues to challenge Australia's supply chains."

Steel Shed Assembly Developed by ShedSafe® in conjunction with the ASI and Masters in Building Training (MIBT), a new shed builder training course was released in December 2021.

The course is in the final stages of development and is expected to be released to the market within the next few months.

24/11/21 14:49

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Statements regarding timing in relation to applications, approvals and funding are only indicative. Any advice given does not take into account your personal circumstances and you should carefully consider what products are appropriate for you and obtain professional advice where relevant.

SINCE 2015 BANJO HAS BEEN DELIVERING WORKING CAPITAL SOLUTIONS TO AUSTRALIAN STEEL MANUFACTURERS. WE SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH WHEN THEY NEED TO PURCHASE NEW EQUIPMENT OR STOCK, HIRE NEW EMPLOYEES, EXPAND PRODUCT RANGES OR PREMISES, ACQUISITIONS, OR WHEN THEY NEED GENERAL WORKING CAPITAL.

Banjo's lending decisions are quick, and funds are generally accessible in as little as 24 hours following loan offer acceptance. This ensures that businesses are able to maintain their innovative competitiveness more efficiently and effectively.

Banjo values the passion of our local manufacturers and acknowledges the challenges they face when providing for the Australian community. We back our manufacturing sector and ensure we maintain close relationships to support our clients directly with our highly experienced and friendly credit assessment team.

Our team is always ready to help throughout the loan application process and continue supporting you until the deal is settled, and beyond. Banjo is with you every step of the way to help to move your business forward.

Banjo's working capital loans enable manufacturing businesses to borrow $20,000 to $1 million across loan terms of up to 36 months. Our smart funding solutions help businesses that experience peaks and troughs in their cash flow cycle. For example, our Flexi Working Capital loan allows businesses to structure payments with a four month interest-expense-only period that aligns with the times of reduced cash flow. This helps to smooth out lumpy cash flow, enabling business owners to focus on writing the next chapter of growth.

THE BACKGROUND

The business designs, manufactures and delivers sheet metal components to clients in a wide variety of industries. They offer the latest technology in 3D CAD design, laser cutting, turret punching, folding, welding, assembly and finishing.

WHY DID THIS METAL ROOK AND GUTTERING BUSINESS REQUIRE FUNDING?

Working capital was required to fund its unexpected growth due to the increased demand from existing clients. Funds were also used to invest in the development of new products demanded by existing clients, leading to further growth.

HOW DID BANJO HELP?

The business provided a three month cash flow forecast showing a surplus cash position. This enabled Banjo to

provide a working capital loan due to the sizeable growth of the business.

The additional working capital funding of $500,000 on a 12 month term provided the company with a cash buffer during its growth phase.

If your business requires working capital to help your growth and innovation or be more competitive by securing better opportunities globally, talk to us today on 1300 22 65 65.

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

HOW BANJO SUPPORTS AUSTRALIAN STEEL MANUFACTURERS FINANCE THEIR GROWTH AND INNOVATION

*While Banjo does not generally take security over assets, director guarantees may be required, and a general security deed or other security may be required for larger loans or in respect of some loan types. Statements regarding timing in relation to applications, approvals and funding are only indicative.

This article was supplied as part of a paid advertising package.

Another solution offered is Banjo's bridging finance solution, Single Pay. It allows you to borrow up to $500,000 to release the working capital required when you are between large transactions such as refinancing between banks - or waiting on a pending equity injection or the sale of an asset or piece of equipment.

Here is a recent example of how we funded the unexpected growth of one of our steel fabrication businesses.

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EXECUTIVES MUST MAKE CYBER SECURITY A TOP PRIORITY A CYBER-ATTACK IS NOT SIMPLY A CASE OF BAD LUCK. THERE IS A GROWING EXPECTATION THAT CORPORATE EXECUTIVES WILL IMPLEMENT RISK MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A SUCCESSFUL CYBER-ATTACK AGAINST THEIR ORGANISATION. FAILURE TO DO SO COULD SEE BOARDS, DIRECTORS AND OFFICEHOLDERS HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY INCREASINGLY STRINGENT GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. Now is the time to ensure your organisation is taking concrete steps to strengthen your cyber resilience.

Demonstrating that your organisation has implemented appropriate risk mitigation strategies can limit the fallout from any future cyber-attack.

A NEW REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT In July 2021, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, released a discussion paper. In it, she called for public submissions on ways that Australia could strengthen its cyber resilience, particularly when it comes to securing large enterprises. The discussion paper made clear that the government is considering extending executive responsibilities for mitigating cyber risk to all large Australian enterprises.

The Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018, as well as the recent introduction of the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020, already imposes enhanced cyber security obligations on companies in 11 key national industries.

Whilst the steel industry isn’t directly listed as one of the 11 industries, as an essential component in the supply chains of many critical infrastructure organisations, there is no room for complacency. Boards, directors and officeholders of Australian steel companies need to start preparing for what will likely be a new era of demanding cyber regulations.

Whether the latest discussion paper ultimately leads to the government

adopting voluntary or mandatory new cyber security requirements, the trend is clear. Boards, directors and officeholders of all large enterprises, including many steel companies, may find themselves in legal hot water if they fail to adopt appropriate cyber risk mitigation strategies and, as a result, suffer a significant cyber security incident.

EXECUTIVE RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE CORPORATIONS ACT Of course, all Australian company directors and officeholders have an obligation to act in good faith and in the best interests of their company in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, even though there is no explicit requirement that they mitigate cyber security risks within the Act.

It is now widely accepted that cyber security risks are an increasingly important set of risks that all organisations need to oversee and manage. Until now, directors and officeholders have not been found in breach of the Corporations Act following a major cyber breach. However, that may be about to change.

ASIC, as the primary corporate regulator, recently launched legal proceedings against one financial services firm on the basis that it had deficient cyber security practices. If found guilty, the consequences could include pecuniary penalties and compensation orders.

Such legal actions are designed to incentivise boards, directors and officeholders to become proactive in enhancing their cyber preparedness.

Being able to demonstrate that you have adopted appropriate cyber risk mitigation strategies can limit any legal ramifications in the event of a future cyber incident.

THE THREAT OF BUSINESS EMAIL COMPROMISE

Whilst the risks of a cyber-attack have never been higher, one particular type of threat is rising faster than any other.

According to the Annual Cyber Threat Report 2020-2021 by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), over 4,600 Business Email Compromise (BEC)

incidents were reported in the past financial year. Losses from successful BEC attacks exceeded $81.5 million, an increase of 15% over the previous year.

Average losses in a successful BEC attack jumped 54% to $50,600.

The ACSC is warning that the criminal syndicates behind BEC attacks are more sophisticated than ever, having developed enhanced, streamlined methods for manipulating supplier invoices, so payments are directed to bank accounts controlled by the attackers.

Given the rapid rise in incidents, it is critical to embrace tools that protect your organisation from BEC attacks as part of a broader cyber risk mitigation strategy. eftsure has pioneered a unique fraudtech solution that sits on top of your existing accounts payable systems. For any organisation processing supplier invoices, eftsure’s unique platform provides realtime visibility into the legitimacy of EFT payments via ‘green-thumb’ or ‘redthumb’ signals. These signals indicate whether the banking details you are using to process an EFT payment match the details used by other companies when paying the same supplier.

Visit eftsure.com.au today to learn how BEC protection forms a key element in any comprehensive cyber risk mitigation strategy.

This article was supplied as part of a paid advertising package.

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

Land Bridge for WestConnex 3B Rozelle Interchange Project.

Chess Engineering's Perth facilities.

TRACKING OFFCUTS IN AN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING (ERP) SYSTEM IS NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD. HOWEVER, WITH THE POWERFUL NEW FUNCTIONALITY IN EPICOR KINETIC, TRACKING OFFCUTS IS BECOMING SIMPLER. EPICOR'S SYSTEM ENABLES THE TRACKING OF BOTH ADVANCED UNITS OF MEASURE (LIKE WEIGHT FOR A COIL OF STEEL) AND DYNAMIC ATTRIBUTES (LIKE LENGTHS AND SHEETS).

How do we handle offcuts in an ERP system? The answer given by an ERP expert would usually consist of three standard answers: 1. Don’t bother. Keep the offcuts where they can be seen, and hope that they will be used by someone in the future. This gives no visibility of available items in the system. It incorrectly expenses the entire item against the initial demand order or job and, when the offcut item is used later, it incorrectly shows no cost on that order or job.

2. Use separate item numbers for each unique size. This results in a huge number of unique items being setup in the system. This clutters the database with items that will never be used again and makes using of the offcut items difficult as the inital requirement was for a different item code. Users would need to look at several possible size items when searching for available stock, and MRP can’t make use of the other variants even though they may actually suffice, as the specified demand is for a different item.

3. Use Lot Numbers, with the size being the lot number. This is possibly the best option of a 'bad lot'; it allows tracking of items of unique sizes against existing item codes and provides stock visibility.

However, there is no handling of multiple attributes, and as with option one, there is no ability to properly cost the offcut items when returning or re-using them.

DUAL UOMS

Dual UOM allows you to buy an item in one UOM class (such as weight for a coil of steel) and then use it in a totally different UOM class (such as area or counted units). For example, it can be converted into square metres, sheets, units, boxes, and so on. This is a very common requirement for many manufacturers, especially in metals and fabric industries.

DYNAMIC ATTRIBUTES

The most powerful part of AUOM is called Dynamic Attributes. This allows the assignment of an Attribute Class to an item. Attribute Classes are dynamically configured to contain several Attributes that track certain properties of the item. Some Attributes are entered manually whilst some are calculated using custom formulas based on any other Attributes or system fields.

The simplest example would be something that is traditionally stocked in lengths, where the profile remains unchanged. In this case we have a piece of aluminium round bar, with diameter 40mm. It can be purchased in various standard lengths, and is used in

production jobs or sold to customers in an infinite number of possible lengths.

In this example we have defined an Attribute Class for “bar-stock” with just one Attribute: Length. When the initial 1200mm bar is cut into two lengths, we end up with two items, still with the same item number, but each piece now has a different Length Attribute.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

OFFCUT MANAGEMENT IN AN ERP SYSTEM

DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN ERP

With AUOM, Epicor has delivered a deeply baked-in way of handling multiple units of measure. Attributes no longer exist purely in inventory, but have been incorporated into all key areas of the system.

In the Quote to Cash Workflow AUOMs are included in quoting, MRP, purchasing, receiving, order fulfillment, material queue and customer shipment entry. In Stock Management, AUOMs are included in part tracker, inventory transfer, quantity adjustments, material issue, job receipt to inventory, salvage receipt to inventory, PCID, cycle counting and Epicor Manufacturing Wireless Warehouse.

This article was supplied as part of a paid advertising package.

WHAT’S NEW?

Epicor has listened to the needs of the industry, and in October 2020 released a brand-new functionality into Epicor Kinetic called Advanced Unit of Measure (AUOM). This brings two new features into the ERP system. The first one is simple – Dual UOM, and the second one deceptively simple but very powerful – Dynamic Attributes.

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NCI supports $2Bn+ of trade credit sales in the steel industry.

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Australia wide coverage

Want to talk? Contact us at 1800 882 820, info@nci.com.au or visit nci.com.au.

ADELAIDE

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SYDNEY

Do you know the financial impacts lockdowns have had on your customers?

Positive or negative? Now is the time to ask yourself that question. The past 18 months have been some of the most unusual times in the credit industry that we have experienced. There have been some bizarre circumstances. On one hand, some businesses are thriving and on the other, we have a multitude that are struggling or relying on government handouts or protection.

START BEING PROACTIVE

On the surface, businesses appear to be performing well, but underneath, what is the real position? Take the steel and timber industries for example, the demand they have seen recently is extraordinary. This is leading to a number of other issues, such as keeping up with demand, supply issues and the increased costs of materials. How do we dig deeper to find out which companies are struggling and what is the likely outlook? Well, NCI has been in discussion with Deloitte over the past year to best ‘map’ future insolvencies. See EXAD Forecast Update – July 2021 (below).

Alerts that are delivered quickly can highlight when a business may be facing difficulties. It might just be the difference between losing or saving thousands of dollars. Given the deficit in insolvencies and extended lockdowns, we expect to

The chart below measures a 10 year monthly average against past, current and potential future company administrations. Noting a large deficit over the past 18 months, and how insolvencies could play out over the next few years.

Businesses that have minimal credit management processes in place are starting to acknowledge the importance of customer monitoring, as a starting point. The key elements this achieves for them are: • Accurate and unique information delivered in a timely manner • Early warnings to take action where required • Avoiding a major loss

see businesses in a weak financial position seek to extend credit terms or enter repayment plans. Accessing early alerts prior to this is the first step businesses should take in protecting themselves from a bad debt.

NCI holds information on over 1.1 million businesses, it is this wide range of information that enables us to alert our clients to any issues as early as possible. To understand how this information can help your business, we would be happy to do a free assessment for ASI members on your top 10 customers to find out what information we hold.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

THE ‘UNKNOWN’ FINANCIAL POSITION OF CUSTOMERS AND THE IMPACT OF LOCKDOWNS

This article is part of a paid advertising package.

CASE STUDY

NCI monitor a client’s customers for adverse information. As it would happen, one of the customers we were monitoring failed and ended up owing creditors more than $5.5 million.

During a six month period, prior to their insolvency, we delivered 25 alerts to our clients on that customer. In a number of cases this information enabled our clients (suppliers to this business) to cease delivering goods and to negotiate payment of outstanding debts. Not all clients acted on these alerts, but they had the accurate information available to make informed decisions about the creditworthiness of their customer.

This is a typical case that we see once a business has entered administration.

There are warning signs out there, but, in the end, it’s up to suppliers to act.

EXAD FORECAST UPDATE - JULY 2021 Source: Deloitte Australia

15

ON THE BEAM EACH QUARTER, THE AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE BRINGS YOU NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE STEEL INDUSTRY IN OUR REGULAR COLUMN: ON THE BEAM. FROM PROJECTS WON AND COMPLETED, THROUGH TO NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS, YOU CAN FIND IT ALL HERE.

ARC RESEARCH HUB FOR AUSTRALIAN STEEL INNOVATION APPOINTS CHAIR

David Varcoe (New South Wales and ACT State Manager, ASI) was recently appointed as the Chair of the Advisory Committee, ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Innovation (Steel Research Hub).

According to Professor Jennifer Martin AC (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation, University of Wollongong), “His professional background, expertise and standing in the steel industry, together with the technical and executive roles he has undertaken across both steel process and product innovation area, provide the University and the Steel Research Hub with an outstanding level of oversight and guidance for the committee.

Furthermore, his role in the Australian Steel Institute would provide a significant independent voice and alternate perspective of the industry.”

David is an experienced technology and commercialisation executive with proven capability to initiate, develop, and implement new products and manufacturing processes. During a career spanning almost 30 years with BlueScope Steel and BHP Steel, he worked at senior management level

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across several countries in the areas of manufacturing, plant commissioning, major capital projects, strategy development, technical marketing, technology assessment and evaluation, process technology commercialisation, new product development, and project management.

STRAMIT LAUNCHES EAVES GUTTER SOLUTION

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The Commercial Eaves gutter works with an extensive range of Stramit® products across commercial roofing, walling, rainwater and structural elements to offer a complete building design solution.

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Port Kembla Steelworks.

BlueScope recently announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shell Energy Operations to work together to explore and develop renewable hydrogen projects at BlueScope’s Port Kembla Steelworks in the Illawarra region of New South Wales.

The collaboration encompasses two projects. The first project is a pilot renewable hydrogen electrolyser plant at the Port Kembla Steelworks.

This initial project will investigate designing, building and operating a pilot-scale 10MW renewable hydrogen electrolyser to explore and test the use of green hydrogen in the blast furnace at BlueScope’s Port Kembla Steelworks.

The ambition is to demonstrate hydrogen as a pathway towards low emissions steelmaking. The hydrogen could also potentially be used for other purposes, such as to feed a pilot direct reduced iron (DRI) plant.

The second project is the Illawarra hydrogen hub concept. This project will explore options for hydrogen supply and offtake, renewable energy supply and hydrogen and electricity infrastructure.

The project will also examine the logistics infrastructure required for a commercially viable hydrogen supply chain in the Illawarra. The Illawarra's diversity of sectors across industry,

energy, transport infrastructure, minerals and mining, combined with research and academic partnerships, makes it well-placed for further collaborations to develop hydrogen technology and support the region's decarbonisation efforts.

teach us about the production, storage and handling of hydrogen and, importantly, how hydrogen will behave in a blast furnace. The projects...demonstrate BlueScope’s commitment to taking real action on climate change,” Vassella said.

BlueScope Chief Executive, Mark Vassella, said, “We are excited about the potential for these projects and are pleased to be working with Shell, which brings global expertise in developing new energy technologies, including green hydrogen.”

Shell Australia Chairman, Tony Nunan, said, "Hydrogen has the potential to play a key role in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, many of which are central to Australia’s economic and social development. Shell looks forward to working with BlueScope and leveraging each other’s strengths and capabilities to explore the development of integrated hydrogen supply chains. Collaborations such as these are fundamental to accelerating progress towards a netzero emissions future.”

“Any future potential hydrogen hub in the Illawarra will need broad support from governments, regulators, customers and suppliers. We are looking to the future; short, medium and long term, and we are looking forward to seeing what a pilot hydrogen electrolyser can

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

BLUESCOPE AND SHELL TO DEVELOP RENEWABLE HYDROGEN PROJECTS IN THE ILLAWARRA

INFRABUILD COLLABORATION WITH DEAKIN UNIVERSITY An exciting new collaboration between InfraBuild and Deakin University is advancing new technologies in Australian steel manufacturing. The collaboration is part of the Australian Research Council’s Research Hub for Australian Steel Innovation.

InfraBuild CEO and Managing Director, Vik Bansal, said the projects will not only futureproof Australian steel manufacturing but also support the next generation of researchers. “Part of our commitment and journey to decarbonised steelmaking is working with like-minded stakeholders in developing and adopting new and emerging technologies that support our commitment to delivering lower carbon emission solutions to the marketplace,” he said. “It supports our efforts to contribute to sustainability rural and construction markets which play key strategic roles in Australia’s economic growth and employment.”

Two new projects bring together InfraBuild and Deakin University to deliver advancements in both wire and reinforcing products. The first project aims to improve the life of hot dip coated wire by delivering process and material innovations to InfraBuild’s hot dipped coated steel wire products. The project will initially focus on improving corrosion resistance while maintaining sufficient ductility. Next-generation, environmentally friendly protective coating formulations will also be designed and developed, with a long-term view towards commercial adoption. The second project on steel reinforcement products will investigate process improvements to optimise strength-ductility balance in reinforcing construction steel products. The project will design alloys to maximise the product performance and conduct industrial trials.

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SHEDSAFE RECENTLY RELEASED A NEW SHED BUILDER TRAINING COURSE, WHICH AIMS TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND BUILD CAPACITY WITHIN THE BOOMING SHED INDUSTRY. IT HERALDS AN EXCITING AND RECOGNISED CAREER PATHWAY FOR NEW ENTRANTS AND EXISTING SHED BUILDERS.

Developed by in conjunction with the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) ShedSafe® and Masters in Building Training (MIBT), the 18 unit, online, self-paced course complements the practical onsite experience. The course provides for new entrants who wish to gain a qualification over a two year period.

The NSW qualification covers all aspects of building safe and compliant prefabricated metal-framed homes and structures, including sheds, garages, decks, patios and carports. On completion of the course, shed builders gain accredited skills and a recognised qualification.

The course is open to shed builders in New South Wales with plans for rollout

a similar course to shed builders in Queensland and other Australian states and territories over time.

The Statement of Attainment (SoA) achieved via the course is required for licensing by New South Wales Fair Trading for anyone involved in the erection of pre-fabricated metalframed home additions and structures comprising decks, patios, gazebos, awnings, porches, verandahs, pergolas, screened or glass enclosures, modular rooms, carports, garages, workshops, sheds and other similar additions and structures, including any residential building work incidental to the erection of such additions or structures.

The course is designed to suit

those considering a career in shed building; securing a recognised qualification; and a new service offering. It is also aimed at the development of new and existing employees. Experienced shed builders can apply for recognition of prior learning to accelerate their qualification.

INDUSTRY SUPPORT The course has already received industry support from a wide range of stakeholders with course development funded by Stramit and BlueScope.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

NEW ACCREDITED TRAINING COURSE FOR SHED BUILDERS

FURTHER INFORMATION For further information, visit http://shedsafe.com.au, or contact shedsafe@steel.org.au.

ABOUT SHEDSAFE® Founded in 2010, ShedSafe® is the national industry benchmark for Australian manufactured steel sheds. It is a third party accreditation program intended to ensure buyers have confidence in the engineering, steel products and site specification of the steel shed they are purchasing.

ShedSafe® is managed by the Australian Steel Institute.Wind loads on a shed are the main force sheds need resist, and the wind will always find the weakest point in a shed. Whilst some sheds appear to be robust, all the structural parts of the shed need to be designed correctly to withstand the wind loads. The ASI ShedSafe® program requires members to have their engineering designs routinely audited by an independent panel of consulting engineers to ensure designs are compliant with current Australian Standards. As such, ShedSafe® accreditation offers assurance that your shed is compliant with the Building Code of Australia.

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FIRST INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET CAPACITY REPORT REVEALS DEMAND FOR SKILLS, LABOUR AND MATERIALS INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA RECENTLY PUBLISHED ITS FIRST INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET CAPACITY REPORT, FORECASTING A SURGE IN DEMAND FOR SKILLS, LABOUR AND MATERIALS DUE TO THE RAPID INCREASE IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive, Romilly Madew, said, “The Infrastructure Market Capacity report is an Australian first and a new data capability for Infrastructure Australia. It provides a level of visibility of the major project pipeline and resulting demand for skills, labour and materials that governments have not had until now.”

THE INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET CAPACITY REPORT RESPONDS TO A REQUEST FROM THE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS IN MARCH 2020 FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA TO REGULARLY REPORT ON THE CAPACITY OF THE MARKET TO DELIVER ON THE RECORD INVESTMENT PIPELINE.

“Major public infrastructure activity will approximately double over the next three years, peaking at $52 billion in 2023. This record investment creates new opportunities for local business and employment, however also risks constraints in the capacity of the market to meet this growth in investment.”

THE REPORT UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR AUSTRALIA’S GOVERNMENTS AND INDUSTRY TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY, TO ADVANCE SECTOR-WIDE REFORM AND REDUCE THE RISK OF COST ESCALATION AND DELAYS IN THE DELIVERY OF MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

“In mid-2023 the employment in the infrastructure sector will need to grow from 183,000 people today to more than 288,000 potential shortfall in jobs being filled is forecast to exceed 105,000, with one in three jobs advertised going unfilled. This presents an opportunity for further employment, but there is also a risk these roles will be unfilled,” Madew said.

A NEW WAVE OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

Australia is currently experiencing a record level of investment in infrastructure. Investment in major public infrastructure over the next five years across Australia will exceed $218 billion.

This scale of investment, and the rate of growth to achieve it, has never before been seen.

The level of activity represented by the Major Public Infrastructure Pipeline reflects a 100 per cent growth rate as compared to current activity. The peak of annual investment, estimated at over $52 billion in 2023, has not previously been delivered, and reflects many multiples beyond spending rates experienced in response to the Global Financial Crisis. Such a trend is likely to create hyper localised shortages of skills and materials, and risks that are difficult to predict or plan for.

Parallel activity forecast in residential and non-residential building and private engineering construction presents a multiplier for the risks and constraints created by this scale of investment. The

Monash Freeway and Wellington Road interchange in Melbourne.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

Major Public Infrastructure Pipeline reflects just part of the picture when considering the supply and demand for associated skills and resource inputs alongside those created by mining, defence, infrastructure maintenance, non-public infrastructure construction and building.

Average annual growth rate to 33 per cent outstrips industry’s confidence of their capacity to deliver on-time and on-budget. Industry has a high confidence of delivering 10 to 15 per cent annual growth, but low confidence in delivering growth over 18 per cent.

UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND AND CONSTRAINTS IN SUPPLY

The scale of demand for skills and resources is highly likely to exceed the normal capacity increases expected in the market. Demand for plant, labour, equipment and materials to deliver the Major Public Infrastructure Pipeline over the next five years will be two-thirds higher than the previous five years (to 2019-2020). The most intense resource pressures are labour and materials, accounting for 60 per cent and 30 per cent of resource demands over the next five years, respectively.

Over the next three years it is expected there will be: • 120 per cent average growth in demand for materials • 125 per cent growth in demand for equipment • 140 per cent growth in demand for plant The peak of demand for skills is 48 per cent higher than supply. Meeting this demand would require annual growth of 25 per cent over the next two years, which is more than eight times higher than the projected annual growth rate of 3.3 per cent.

34 of the 50 public infrastructure occupations identified are potentially in shortage. Some shortages appear to be ongoing and systemic, such as building surveyors. Engineering occupations are currently most at risk of shortage. Over 41,000 further individuals are estimated to be required to fill engineering occupations, including positions in civil, geotechnical, structural and materials engineering.

Migration will have a role in addressing workforce demand, and may be the difference between capacity or shortage for some occupations like electrical engineers or specific highly skilled individuals at senior levels.

Materials demand accounts for the second largest proportion of

expenditure in the pipeline over the next five years. Demand for quarried material and cement is likely to produce the most significant challenges due to their reliance on local supply chains. Steel, bitumen and electrical control equipment are likely to be exposed to international demand and supply chain pressures.

DRIVING INDUSTRY INNOVATION AND PRODUCTIVITY

The 2021 Australian Infrastructure Plan provides a practical and actionable reform agenda to address the challenges highlighted in the Infrastructure Market Capacity report.

Key reforms include: • Active portfolio and pipeline management to smooth investment and manage resource constraints • Improved front-end engineering and design to avoid waste • Increased collaboration with industry to support capacity and

• •

capability development Embedding digital practices, including supporting definitions, systems and processes Increased public sector capacity and capability to act as a model, mature client

“This research further underscores the need for a coordinated project pipeline to manage capacity constraints and provide confidence and certainty for both industry and government. While infrastructure investment is rightfully a key component of our national COVID-19 recovery, we need to ensure we are equipped to deliver this once in a generation infrastructure spend,” said Madew.

“The challenge of driving a step-change in infrastructure productivity and innovation is a shared one – it cannot be solved by governments or industry alone.”

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET CAPACITY REPORT >>>

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NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE 2022 UPDATE

BY DAVID VARCOE (ASI STATE MANAGER NSW AND ACT) THE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE (NCC) IS UPDATED EVERY THREE YEARS, BASED ON INDUSTRY RESEARCH, PUBLIC FEEDBACK AND POLICY DIRECTIONS PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENTS TO THE AUSTRALIAN BUILDING CODES BOARD (ABCB) BETWEEN PUBLISHING CYCLES. THE REVISED 2022 VERSION OF THE NCC IS NEARING COMPLETION. IT IS EXPECTED THAT IT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN MID 2022 AND COME INTO EFFECT FROM 1 SEPTEMBER 2022.

Updated content is included in the public comment draft (PCD). The ABCB is undertaking consultation, and seeking feedback, on the suggested amendments and inclusions.

Some of the more significant amendments proposed in the final stage of the PDC include: • A stringency increase in the thermal performance of homes from the current level, equivalent to 6-stars NatHERS, to the equivalent of 7 stars • Introducing whole-of-home annual energy use requirements (noting differences between Class 1 and 2 buildings) • A new set of Deemed-to-Satisfy elemental provisions for Class 2 buildings • New provisions designed to allow easy retrofit of on-site renewables

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The process of revising and updating is also becoming more complex during each three year cycle due to the steadily increasing regulatory requirements for attributes such as resilience, environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and ‘liveability’ of our built environment.

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The National Construction Code (NCC) is a performancebased code, containing all Performance Requirements for the construction of buildings.

It is built around a hierarchy of guidance and code compliance levels, with the Performance Requirements being the minimum level that buildings, building elements, and plumbing and drainage systems must meet. A building, plumbing or drainage solution will comply with the NCC if it satisfies the Performance Requirements, which are the mandatory requirements of the NCC. The Performance Requirements are also supported by General Requirements. These cover other aspects of applying the NCC including: • Its interpretation • Reference documents • The acceptance of design and construction including related evidence of suitability and documentation, and • The classification of buildings within the NCC

In some situations, the increased performance requirements for these various attributes leads to conflicts in drafting of regulation due to the difficulty in reconciling the associated design and detailing.

An example of this is increased building energy efficiency, which is typically achieved by making a building ‘tighter’, through reduced air circulation. This acts to keep heat in or out, depending on the season, thereby reducing the energy demand associated with heating or cooling. An unintended consequence of reduced airflow is the loss of natural ventilation, which would otherwise help to avoid issues such as condensation. With less airflow, there is a tendency for moisture generated from occupant activity to be retained in the building, which is clearly undesirable.

There is a similar optimisation—or trade-off—required when considering how to design to eliminate ember penetration into buildings in a bush fire situation, whilst still achieving adequate ventilation to avoid moisture

build-up at all other times. Complex mathematical models are increasingly being employed as part of the review process to attempt to simulate the behaviour of buildings, in order to better understand the efficacy of proposed regulatory changes.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE?

ASI SUBMISSIONS TO THE NCC

Over the last 18 months, the ASI has made many submissions to the various NCC working groups in order to provide feedback and recommendations on draft regulation on behalf of our members that service building products markets.

In addition to commenting on the topics mentioned above, the ASI has also engaged with the Australian Building Codes Board in regard to matters such as water proofing regulation, and also design guidance for roof plumbing and drainage.

We are very appreciative of the considerable time and resources that members have committed to constructively engaging with the NCC review process.

The NCC is divided into three volumes, each focused on a specific area: • Volume One for commercial construction • Volume Two, for residential housing • Volume Three for plumbing and drainage For further information, visit: https://abcb.gov.au

Figure: Indicative timeframe for the publication of the 2022 NCC

23

AGEING WORKFORCE READY: SUPPORTING WORKERS NEARING RETIREMENT THERE ARE MANY MYTHS ABOUT OLDER WORKERS. MOST OF THEM ARE OUTDATED AND DO NO FAVOURS TO THE OLDER MEMBERS OF YOUR WORKFORCE, OR RECOGNISE THE EXPERIENCE THEY BRING TO THE TABLE. A PROJECT LED BY WORKPLACE EXPERTS TRANSITIONING WELL FOR AUSTRALIANSUPER HAS FOUND THE MATURITY THESE WORKERS OFFER BUSINESSES CAN POSITIVELY INFLUENCE CULTURE – AS WELL AS THE BOTTOM LINE. Australia’s population is getting older.

This is likely to create both challenges and opportunities for organisations.

So significant are these changes, the CSIRO named the ageing workforce as one of six ‘megatrends’ in occupational health and safety over the next 20 years. Despite this, many Australian companies have been slow to engage with the realities of an ageing workforce.

The Ageing Workforce Ready project (AWR) explores how to support workers’ well-being as they move from late

career stage into retirement. If you manage an ageing workforce, consider the extra value older workers bring to your business and how you can support them.

The AWR project explored some common myths about older employees in the workforce: 1. Myth: Mature age workers cost business more due to their experience 2. Myth: Older workers have lower productivity 3. Myth: Older workers don’t understand technology 4. Myth: Older workers are counting the days until they retire HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT OLDER EMPLOYEES IN YOUR BUSINESS

Make sure you’re aware of the common myths and the facts so you can support your workers. To get started, the AWR project has identified 4 key pillars your workplace can use to review support for older workers: • Recruitment: Policy, practice and hiring outcomes in relation to older people.

• •

•

Retention: The extent to which people feel supported to stay productive and mentally healthy.

Retirement: Mechanisms to support a smooth transition from work, from the perspective of both the individual and the organisation.

Roadmap: The tools the organisation uses to guide and adapt its approach to supporting older workers.

To read more, please visit australiansuper.com/superannuation/ superannuation-articles Sponsored by AustralianSuper. This may include general financial advice which doesn’t take into account your personal objectives, situation or needs. Before making a decision consider if the information is right for you and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, available at australiansuper.com/pds or by calling 1300 300 273. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd ABN 94 006 457 987, AFSL 233788, Trustee of AustralianSuper ABN 65 714 394 898.

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The Ageing Workforce Ready project (AWR) explores how to support workers’ wellbeing as they move from late career stage into retirement. If you manage an ageing workforce, consider the extra value older workers bring to your business and how you can support them.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

WORLD'S LARGEST UNDERWATER SCULPTURE WINS 2021 SOREL AWARD ENTERED BY APG GROUP, ANTHOZOA—THE LARGEST UNDERWATER SCULPTURE IN THE WORLD—RECENTLY WON THE 2021 SOREL AWARD. AWARDED BY THE GALVANIZERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA, THE SOREL AWARD IS DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT THE HIGH STANDARDS OF DESIGN, FABRICATION, CONSTRUCTION AND CORROSION PROTECTION ACHIEVED WHEN HOT DIP GALVANIZING FEATURES AS A KEY COMPONENT OF A PROJECT. THE FINALISTS INCLUDED INDOOROOPILLY RIVERWALK BY DSI UNDERGROUND, JULIA RESERVE YOUTH PARK BY GALSERV® (PART OF NEPEAN BUILDING & INFRASTRUCTURE, A DIVISION OF NEPEAN) AND PETUNA ROWELLA BY VALMONT COATINGS.

ANTHOZOA: GALVANIZING PROTECTS THE WORLD'S LARGEST UNDERWATER SCULPTURE

Following the devastation caused by Cyclone Debbie in 2017 across the Whitsunday region, the Queensland and Federal Governments announced a jointly funded $7 million Tourism Recovery Fund. Part of this funding was granted to Reef Ecologic for the Whitsundays Reef Recovery and Public Art Project.

Commenced in 2018, the Project encompassed coral reef restoration activities, as well as the design, creation and installation of six underwater, inter-tidal interpretive art pieces. Installed at Langford Reef, Anthozoa is one of these six sculptures.

Anthozoa is the single largest underwater sculpture in the world.

It is a reimagining of the tiny coral polyp, the life source of the reef. It is a symbol of resilience, regeneration and hope at a time when the future of the reef is greatly threatened—and it is protected by hot dip galvanizing

delivered by APG Group.

Anthozoa was designed by sculptor Jessa Lloyd, and Ngaro artist Nicky Bidju Pryor’s artwork is featured in the mouth, where the ripples tell a story of change ahead and cultures working together to save the reef.

The name Anthozoa comes from the Greek words ánthos (flower) and zóa (animals) or ‘Flower Animals’, as they were earliest known by biologists, a reference to the floral appearance of the perennial polyp stage of all coral species.

Innovation in Design Anthozoa was designed using a 3D scan of a real coral polyp that was upscaled approximately 5,000 times.

Sculptor Jessa Lloyd said it made sense to create a piece that would have great strength not only in its aesthetic form, but also in its capacity to deliver as a regenerative structure.

“I think nature is the greatest artist ever; Anthozoa was created by using a 3D scan of an actual coral polyp to determine the dimensions and structure then measured up

to its current giant scale,” explained Lloyd. “Anthozoa was created using a specially formulated ph neutral concrete mix, which ensures Anthozoa's 100m2 surface area will provide the perfect surface for new coral to seed on and within the piece exists a chamber filled with crevices and surfaces designed for a range of marine life to shelter.”

Hot Dip Galvanizing Anthozoa’s internal structure (or skeleton) is comprised of more than 1,000 linear metres of steel that was hand-shaped to create the form into which the marine-grade concrete layer was bedded. All the steel was galvanized by APG Group before the exterior of the sculpture was coated with concrete.

According to Steve Pollard (Managing Director, APG Group), “Anthozoa is a combination of different materials.

Given that it is submerged underwater in the ocean, and covered in concrete, the substrates used in the metal fabricated structure needed a coating that is proven to hold up in that kind of environment. The go-to coating was galvanizing.”

25

Seawater is severely corrosive to most protective systems, but galvanizing performs well in submerged seawater due to the dissolved salts present in the water. The dissolved salts react with the zinc to form a protective layer that minimises corrosive action.

Not only does the galvanizing protect the steel from corrosion but it also provides structural integrity for the pH neutral, marine grade concrete. Unlike uncoated steel reinforcement which relies on the high alkalinity of concrete to maintain passivity, HDG steel remains passive in concrete under both neutral and alkaline conditions.

This combination of stability at neutral pH and high chloride resistance has made galvanized reinforcement in concrete a very common technique used in many applications, including coastal and marine structures.

Galvanized steel also delivers higher levels of adhesion to concrete, when compared to uncoated steel. The higher level of chemical adhesion increases the bond between the galvanized steel and the concrete. This bond is then once again increased due to mechanical interlock between the concrete and the surface of the bars used.

Early Involvement of APG Group The unique nature of the sculpture design required considerable skill and collaboration before the fabrication and galavanizing of the structural base and internal skeleton could commence.

APG Group was engaged early in the design process, which helped ensure that the design concept was clear from the outset. Sculptor Jessa Lloyd, steel fabricators Strathdickie Engineering, and galvanizers APG Group were in close collaboration throughout the design phase to deliver the best possible outcome.

“There was a lot of backward and forwards in the design stage. Like everything, the more effort you put in up front to get the design and critical logistical elements correct, the better the end result,” said Pollard.

In the end, due to its sheer scale, the sculpture was engineered into six separate parts, that came together to create a form that rises over 6m from its polyp base to tentacle tip.

The Galvanizing Process The key challenge overcome by APG Group during the galvanizing process was the sheer size of Anthozoa.

“The enormous size and scale of the sculpture caused some difficulties. We had to create individual components that were able to be transported, able to be galvanized, and able to be reassembled,” said Pollard.

Even when the sculpture was dismembered, the largest piece a 3.8m diameter cylinder. As Pollard explained, this piece was rolled through the zinc to deliver a seamlessly even coating. “There was one large article in particular—a big cylinder. We had to make up a dipping jig. The jig was fitted in the centre of cylinder, one edge of the cylinder was dipped into the zinc, and then it was spun around on the central axis. The cylinder went around and around until it was it covered evenly with the zinc.”

“This rollover dip was further complicated due to the support base that stuck out. Minor modifications had to be made once the sculpture arrived in Townsville to ensure it would fit in the galvanizing bath. Two of the support base legs had to be cut off the sculpture, galvanized separately, and then welded back onto the base later,” said Pollard.

An Underwater Wonderland

With facilities in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay, APG Group has been in the business of galvanizing for over 55 years. Their projects have ranged from road signs, footbridges, and safety barriers, through to railway footings and overhead equipment. And all their projects have one thing in common: superior quality, long-term corrosion protection delivered with unrivalled customer service.

“APG is a long established, large capacity business. We have the machinery, people, skills and knowledge to make whatever projects come our way a success for our clients. Often, it’s the little things—gained over years of experience—that make the biggest difference,” said Pollard.

“It’s certainly not every day you get to work on the tallest underwater sculpture in the world. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and don’t expect to again.

With all its unique elements, technical challenges and its high profile nature, Anthozoa was a career highlight. It was fantastic to be involved.”

In an Australian and Great Barrier Reef first, avid snorkellers and divers can now experience an underwater wonderland, protected by galvanizing. The unique artworks, particularly Anthozoa, not only provide amazing scenery for guests to enjoy, they act as a new base for coral growth and animal shelter.

PROJECT TEAM • • • • •

Client: Reef Ecologic Artist: Jessa Lloyd and Nicky Bidju Pryor Engineer: Paragon Consulting Engineers Steel Fabricator and Detailer: Strathdickie Engineering Hot Dip Galvanizer: APG Group

Brisbane City Council is committed to providing safer, accessible, active transport routes. As part of this commitment, the $40 million Indooroopilly Riverwalk project was constructed. A separated two-way cyclist and pedestrian path, the new Riverwalk is 5m wide and 790m long (including adjoining pathways).

It links Twigg Street to the Jack Pesch Bridge and the Indooroopilly Rail Station, with additional connections to Radnor Street and Riverview Terrace.

From the viewing platforms along the new Riverwalk, residents and visitors alike can enjoy gorgeous views of the Brisbane River and the iconic Walter Taylor Bridge. The path is a critical part of the active transport corridor between the Western Freeway Bikeway and the University of Queensland.

DSI Underground delivered 1,580m of galvanized pedestrian balustrading for Indooroopilly Riverwalk, as well as lamp post brackets and cover plates. In total, DSI Underground galvanized over 100 tonnes of steel, including 690 posts, 690 panels and 350 lengths of handrail.

According to Drew Stainton (Senior Sales Representative, DSI Underground), the project was a career highlight. “The Riverwalk will be used by joggers, cyclists, pedestrians, tourists and locals—it’s a short-cut between the city, which will attract a lot of foot traffic. That means a lot of people throughout Brisbane will see our work. It really was an iconic project to work on.”

Why Galvanizing?

With the Riverwalk located in a C3 Corrosivity Category, the use of galvanized steelwork was the optimum means by which to ensure lower ongoing maintenance costs.

“Galvanizing was specified because of the durability it offers. Railings can be painted or coated, but for longevity of service life, galvanizing is the best option. It is also more affordable when

compared to a material like stainless steel,” said Stainton.

DSI Underground was involved early on in the planning process, prior to construction commencement. This helped to ensure a seamless transition for the steelwork, from the fabricator to the galvanizer and onto the site.

It was during the planning process that DSI Underground confirmed the best possible design for the venting, draining and fabrication to achieve the best possible galvanized finish.

“We altered some of the venting holes on the original design. There were some different angles in the handrailing that required holes in the exact right positions for venting and draining, as well as handling points so that there weren’t any wire marks left on the surface of the handrails. Given the high visibility of the galvanized product and large volume of public traffic, it was important that a high quality galvanized finish was achieved on the handrail and balustrade system,” said Stainton.

To further increase service life in an area classified as a C3 Corrosivity Category, DSI recommended that all components were sandblasted prior to galvanizing. The sandblasting process lightly roughens the surface to create more surface area to react with.

“Sandblasting increased the coating thickness. This was particularly important when it came to the low silicon steel in the base plates—in order to achieve the requisite levels of coating thickness set out in Australian Standards, sandblasting was essential. Sandblasting the steelwork also afforded us rapid galvanizing turnaround times, which contributed to our early completion of the project,” said Stainton.

“In fact, DSI Underground completed the Riverwalk five months ahead of schedule. As a local Brisbane supplier,

working on a local Brisbane project, our turnaround times were fast. Plus, regular onsite consultations with the other project stakeholders around any issues reduced delays and budget blow out.”

Transportation and Delivery The design of the Riverwalk featured changing elevations and directions. This meant that each post and panel was unique. To ensure efficient, effective installation, DSI Underground devised a custom process for the galvanizing and delivery of all these unique components.

“The marked steelwork was delivered to our workshop for galvanizing according to its installation sequence. After galvanizing, it then had to be delivered to site, in exactly the same order,” said Stainton.

“This meant that tracking of every item throughout the galvanizing process was crucial. Each post and panel had to be individually marked to ensure that it was installed into the correct position along the bridge. Every part was labelled with an ID number to ensure it could be correctly fitted onsite, and then our barcode scanning system provided the traceability required for the project.”

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

INDOOROOPILLY RIVERWALK

“Handling was also a challenge on this project. DSI galvanized a lot of small, loose components, like lamp post brackets and cover plates. All these components had to be packed carefully, so that during transportation and delivery they were not damaged,” said Stainton.

PROJECT TEAM • • • • • •

Builder: Georgiou and Brady Marine Architect: Brisbane City Council Engineer: Brisbane City Council Steel Supplier: Vulcan Steel and Steelforce Fabricator: Kenro Metal Galvanizer: DSI Underground (Queensland)

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JULIA RESERVE YOUTH PARK

One of Sydney’s fastest growing areas, Oran Park Town is a master planned community designed to encourage sustainable living, and deliver a diverse mixture of housing. The $1.5 billion development is a pivotal element of the New South Wales Government’s South West Growth Area. Once complete, over 25,000 residents will have easy access to employment, education, health amenities, public transport, and recreational facilities.

At the heart of Oran Park Town is Julia Reserve Youth Park. This two hectare public open space blends typical recreation facilities and rest areas with more contemporary features like skateable elements, parkour facilities, ping pong tables, multi-purpose courts and kickabout spaces.

Two modern ‘ribbon’ art structures weave their way throughout the park, covering some 100m, to create a dynamic focal point. Bright, colourful artwork panels adorn the upper ‘banner’ areas of these 10m high structures. Abstract designs for these panels were developed by local schools and youth with Marla Guppy and Associates and Graham Chalcroft (Vertebrae).

Based on the idea of colour and graphics as identity signifiers, the abstract designs were inspired by the graphics and markings of motorsport vehicles that once raced at Oran Park Racetrack, which was located on the site prior to its development.

Galserv® (part of NEPEAN Building & Infrastructure, a division of NEPEAN) hot dip galvanized approximately 20 tonnes of steelwork for the Julia Reserve Youth Park. An artistic focal point itself, this steelwork was integrated into support structures, including the bridges that connect Julia Reserve to nearby homes and community facilities, five very large shade shelters, and the 'ribbon' art structures.

Long Design Life According to Kim Henretty (Marketing Communications Manager, NEPEAN Building & Infrastructure), galvanizing was the ideal solution for Julia Reserve.

Galvanizing delivered superior weathering capabilities, robust resistance, and the lowest overall maintenance cost for the asset’s lifespan—a key consideration for asset owners.

“Ultimately, galvanizing was the best, fit-for-purpose solution, given its long design life. It’s a much more natural looking coating than paint and far more durable,” said Henretty.

“Galvanizing provides Julia Reserve with weathering capabilities and protection from long-term wear in a space that is expected to take some rough handling.

This reduces the need for expensive onsite touch-ups and will yield aesthetic appeal for years to come.”

The project increases the value of the community, creating a drawcard for families and long-term attractiveness for buyers considering their future in the Camden Council area.

Iconic Industrial Design Aesthetics played a crucial role in the decision to specify galvanizing for the Julia Reserve Youth Precinct. The artwork 'ribbon' creates a unique rhythm, highlighting the dynamic relationship between the various zones in the Precinct. Its galvanized finish is eyecatching. The iconic industrial design and silvery finish of the galvanized steelwork contrasts with the bright, bold artwork panels to create a cohesive urban landscape, and express a youth culture that is embraced by the local community.

“Galvanizing was chosen to add a contrast to the bright colour design, giving it a modern, industrial feel. The high impact aesthetic properties of galvanizing enhance the bold, bright artwork,” said Henretty.

Speedy Assembly One of the major challenges in the completion of this project was the widespread bushfires that impacted New South Wales from late 2019 into early 2020. Galserv® processed all steelwork in mid-November 2019, coinciding with the declaration of catastrophic fire danger across Greater Sydney. The bushfires caused thick smoke, poor air quality for people working outside, and widespread concern for personal safety.

The flow-on effects of these impacts extended to reduced timeframes and personnel, and a real need for Galserv® to remain agile in their processing and delivery procedures.

The use of hot-dip galvanizing also provided advantages in processing and handling speed. It allowed for rapid on-site assembly—even in adverse weather conditions—to achieve critical milestones. The project was completed just weeks before the outbreak of the COVID pandemic changed the way we live and work.

PROJECT TEAM • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Asset Owner: Camden Council Galvanizers: Galserv® Shade, Public Art Structures and Bridges: Fleetwood Urban Builder and Developer: Greenfields Development Company; Landcom Architect: JMD Design Skate and Parkour Design: Convic Skate Construction: Trinity Skate Construction: Perfection Landscape Services Civil Engineering: Calibre Civil Construction: TRN Structural Engineering: Northrop Lighting Design: Lighting Art and Science Public Art: Marla Guppy and Associates; Graham Chalcroft

Originally established in 1949 as a fishing company, Petuna diversified into aquaculture in 1990 and is now Australia’s largest domestic retail supplier of salmon. Their marine farm at Rowella on the Tamar River grows around 2,800 tonnes of salmon each year and employs 25 people. Salmon are nurtured in pens for approximately 18 months before being harvested for the consumer.

With strong river flows and tidal movements, the Rowella marine farm has a continual supply of well oxygenated water. It also boasts beneficial biosecurity and environmental outcomes, given its isolation from other marine farms. The walkways that link the farm to the shore make it unique to any other aquaculture sites in the southern hemisphere, allowing feeding and harvesting without the need for boats.

Over the last 20 years or so, the Rowella marine farm grew organically, from two polar circles, to comprise 24m pens. While these expansions were operationally and technically sound, they were ‘pieced together’ add-ons. With improvements in fish health, operational ability and mechanical advances, it was clear that the farm would greatly benefit from a complete re-design. As such, the entire Rowella marine farm was upgraded to 36m pens.

Valmont Coatings hot dip galvanized the new pens, which were comprised of large Parallel Flange Channel (PFC) base frames, with walkway mesh welded onto the surface. Each frame was approximately 12m long x 3.5m wide, requiring double dipping. Valmont also galvanized a range of smaller components like lugs and fittings.

According to Marco Bazzano (Sales Manager Victoria and Tasmania, Valmont Coatings), “Galvanizing was used for the Rowella marine farm for its durability. The years to

first maintenance and longevity of galvanizing are second to none.

Galvanizing can look fantastic if designed and prepared correctly— painted, tarred and plastic finishes just don’t look as good.”

Innovation in Design Bazzano described how Valmont’s involvement during the design phase delivered several benefits to the project.

“The design for the Petuna marine farm was quite complex. There are partition waters where the pontoons are located that are owned by council, so the council was involved in the approval process. The placement of the pontoons was also vital—they had to be located in areas where the tide won’t affect the fish being farmed. A couple of years ago, Petuna lost approximately 85% of their stock because there was too much tidal flow—if the salmon have too much water in their gills, they suffocate.”

“When it came to the galvanizing itself, the initial design for the marine farm featured lengths that were much larger. However, given the limitations of galvanizing bath sizes and double dipping, the span width was reduced to 3.5m.”

“We were heavily involved in the design of cleats, as well as additional pipework on the side of each pontoon.

This pipework was not included in the original design. It will be used to house electrical cables. Previously, Petuna used cable ties to fasten the electrics to the sides of the pontoons.

The pipework not only improves the aesthetics of the pontoons, but is safer, and more durable, providing the electrics protection from sharks,” said Bazzano.

Logistics and Installation The project timeframe was critical. The day-to-day operations of the Rowella marine farm continued as usual while the existing 24m pens were removed, and the new 36m pens were installed.

This meant that construction and

installation had to adhere to strict timelines to ensure that production at the marine farm was not adversely affected.

The strict timeframe was compounded by various site constraints. The site itself was very tight, with minimal flat hard standing ground. Truck access was difficult, with the construction area also doubling as the only route in and out of the marine farm.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

PETUNA ROWELLA

The tides only allowed a six hour window for removal of the existing pens and installation of the new pens. If a new pen was not moored off prior to the tide turning, the structural integrity of the farm was placed in significant danger.

“The installation of the pens was no mean feat. Someone had to wear a full body suit, and jump into freezing water—it’s only about 7°C. The frames and walkways were placed onto pontoons and floated out into place for installation. When carrying out this type of installation in the middle of winter, parts of your body can go numb,” said Bazzano.

Finally, the walkways were manufactured in Launceston, shipped across to Melbourne for galvanizing, and then shipped back to Launceston.

This presented a series of logistical challenges, given the considerable number of moving parts.

PROJECT TEAM • • • •

Developer and Owner: Petuna Group Head Contractor and Fabricator: Crisp Bros.

Hot Dip Galvanizer: Valmont Coatings (Melbourne and Launceston) Pontoon Manufacturer: Mitchell Plastics

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SAFEDIRECTION RAMSHIELD® ROAD SAFETY BARRIER INNOVATION FOUNDED IN SYDNEY IN 2012, SAFEDIRECTION DESIGNS, MANUFACTURES, SUPPLIES AND INSTALLS INNOVATIVE GUARDRAILS AND SAFETY BARRIER PRODUCTS FOR ROADS, CARPARKS, AND WAREHOUSE APPLICATIONS. OVER THE YEARS, THE COMPANY HAS TRANSFORMED FROM A PRODUCT IMPORTER, TO A LOCAL MANUFACTURING POWERHOUSE. SAFEDIRECTION'S FOCUS ON INNOVATION, RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN— AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE—ESSENTIAL TO THEIR LONG-TERM SUCCESS.

A

ccording to Hayden Wallace (Managing Director, SafeDirection), "The business started off as an importer of products that were manufactured to the Standards required by the state road authorities. We consistently grew over a number of years. While growing, we reinvested our profits back into developing propriety systems like our Rhino car park barrier range, and our RAMSHIELD® road safety barriers."

"The development of a new product for a road application is a significant investment. It was also a process that took several years, from design and validation, through todeveloping manufacturing capability and commercialisation," said Wallace.

Australian-owned, with a strong focus on research and new product

development, it wasn't long before SafeDirection expanded.

"We eventually put a rollforming line into our Sydney facility in 2016, and opened a distribution facility near Melbourne in 2019. Since then, we have expanded our distribution and sales, opening a third facility in Brisbane," said Wallace.

Today, SafeDirection operates over 10,000m2 of manufacturing and distribution facilities across the east coast of Australia and are experiencing strong growth. The company recently commissioned a further roll former to expand its manufacturing capacity. This has replaced imported steel products in the local road safety barrier market.

"As an Australian manufacturer of steel products, innovation is key for our business. If we stay innovative and develop high performance systems that

comply with International Standards in efficient ways using patentable technology, low cost imported products cannot compete. Developing innovative products creates a significant barrier to import competition. We're at the forefront of the market and have a much larger range of products than our competitors now," said Wallace.

"BlueScope has always made resources available for the development of our products—generally their in-house experts. They always do what they can to assist us with any development initiatives, such as the availability of materials for prototyping."

"We have a really productive relationship with BlueScope. They also provide a consistent quality of product that is very effective for the maintenance of our machinery."

“

We must stay innovative and develop high performance systems that comply with International Standards in efficient ways, using patentable technology. This way, low cost imported products cannot compete. ”

RAMSHIELD® MASH TL3 GUARDRAIL Launched in 2016, SafeDirection’s RAMSHIELD® MASH TL3 Guardrail represents an innovation and advancement in design and safety in road safety barriers. RAMSHIELD® Guardrail provides a higher level of protection against runoff and crossover accidents. The finished installed cost of RAMSHIELD® Guardrail is less than any state road agency steel beam roadside guardrail system meaning more barrier can be deployed per public dollar to protect Australian motorists.

"Developed by SafeDirection, RAMSHIELD® MASH TL3 Guardrail is a proprietary system that was fully tested for compliance to the MASH Standard—before the Standard was even introduced into the Australian market. When the product was launched in 2016, the state specified systems and Standards were still in place in Australia," said Wallace.

It was not until December 2020 that all of Australia’s state road authorities (under guidance of Austroads) moved to full adoption of MASH—a stepchange in delivering a safer road environment through a high level performance standard for new road barrier systems. The rollout of the USA developed MASH for roadside crash barriers helped ensure greater containment capacity to safely redirect or arrest errant vehicles to a safe stop, enhancing road safety and reducing fatalities and trauma. MASH sets the performance criteria in the updated

Australian Standard for road safety barriers AS/NZS 3845. It prescribes a stringent set of crash tests to validate barrier systems before they can be approved for use on Australian road networks.

"RAMSHIELD® MASH TL3 Guardrail was developed to reach the higher performance requirements of MASH and, at the same time, reduced the steel content by about 30 per cent, which makes it a much more affordable and safer barrier system.

Asset owners could deploy more barriers for the same expenditure," said Wallace.

"RAMSHIELD w-beam guardrail safety barrier achieves a controlled redirection of errant vehicles by releasing the w-beam guardrail from the post at an optimal load to retain rail height, limit dynamic deflection and to allow the post to collapse without tripping the vehicle. If the post is released too early, there are large deflections and it is impossible to protect the motorist. If released too late, the post folds, drags the rail down to the ground and the vehicle vaults over the system."

"The separation of the w-beam guardrail from the post is achieved by a release tab incorporated into the post. The tab is designed to pull forward and tear from the post and

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

SafeDirection's facilities in Smeaton Grange, New South Wales.

remains connected to the rail to ensure there is no debris from the system."

RAMSHIELD® HIGH CONTAINMENT RAMSHIELD® High Containment (HC) is the latest addition to SafeDirection’s guardrail system. It is designed to safely contain and redirect heavy mass vehicles where low deflection is critical.

"Instead of utilising the w-beam rail in the TL3 guardrail, RAMSHIELD® HC has a thrie-beam—a triple corrugated rail that delivers a larger lateral catchment area. The height to the top of the rail is higher and it uses a stiffer post. It still has a release mechanism between the post and the rail. It works in a similar manner but has higher restraint capacity. RAMSHIELD® HC is designed to control and redirect trucks up to 10 tonnes; the TL3 guardrail is designed for vehicles up to about 2.5 tonnes," said Wallace.

"RAMSHIELD® HC is capable of handling a high impact event – a 100km impact at a 25 degree angle.

A vehicle would essentially have to be four lanes away from the barrier and turn right on the skid limit, just maintain traction and hold that right across four lanes of traffic and then hit the barrier. In practicality this provides a high level of protection to an overwhelming majority of run-off incidents."

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SAFEDIRECTION'S ROAD SAFETY BARRIER INNOVATION >>>

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FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION BUILDINGS ACCOUNT FOR AROUND 40 PER CENT OF ENERGY RELATED GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS. WITH OVER 42.2 BILLION TONNES OF MATERIALS CONSUMED ANNUALLY, IT IS LITTLE SURPRISE THAT BUILDINGS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AROUND 50 PER CENT OF GLOBAL MATERIAL USE. And the demand for building materials is only growing. For instance, average world steel use per capita has steadily increased from 150kg in 2001 to 224.5kg in 2018. By 2050, worldsteel predicts that steel production will grow by 30 per cent to help meet the needs of the world’s growing populations.

Producing steel is energy intensive.

However, once produced, steel is 100 per cent recyclable, and can be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality. With a global recovery rate of more than 70 per cent, steel is the most recycled material on the planet. Being magnetic, steel is easy and affordable to recover from almost any waste stream.

Steel has a number of green virtues for construction too. The decision to use steel has benefits right from the initial stages of a project. Its great strength to weight ratio produces a lighter structure that minimises foundation work and the excavation and earthworks involved.

With a rising need to address climate change and raw material depletion, there is growing demand for both sustainable and resilient building design and construction. Industry and consumers alike are placing a greater emphasis on building materials that are easily recyclable and re-usable, and that perform not only for the lifecycle of a building, but beyond.

As building proceeds, steel can be fabricated offsite in a factory and delivered to site as required. This means that the components can be fabricated with great accuracy and be assembled onsite with minimum labour and truck movements. Moreover there is virtually no waste to be disposed of, solving a major logistic and environmental problem on most construction sites.

This type of approach encompasses the use of lighter and high-performance materials that are easier to install and maximise internal spaces—materials like steel.

Using steel in the design of a building allows larger column-free areas to be created, making better use of natural light to save energy. As buildings age they often have to undergo radical

modification to meet changing circumstances and in this event a steel structure is much easier and quicker to modify and get back in use, using much less energy and creating much less waste as any redundant steel has immediate scrap value for recycling.

Ongoing research is producing new steels that are even stronger and lighter than those available today. These new steels offer myriad benefits. With their higher strength-to-weight ratio, the newer steels can be used to manufacture tower sections of up to 30m. This reduces emissions during transport and assembly.

Higher grade steels are also being developed for construction. They enable the construction of larger and taller buildings in a more efficient way and produce the lowest possible amount of waste. The use of higher grade steels is expected to reduce the quantity of steel used in construction.

Transportation costs are reduced thanks to the thinner, and therefore lighter, steel components. They shorten the time needed for processing at plants and on-site construction, largely due to a reduction in the number of welds required.

In Fremantle, a new way of thinking about where we live and work is on display: The Legacy Living Lab, also known as L3 (page 44). Curtin University's L3 is a modular building designed using principles of the circular economy – an environmentally friendly economic concept that aims to design out waste by including as much recycling and re-use of materials as possible.

The private sector is also responsible for the development of leading edge construction systems, designed to bolster both sustainability and resilience. Bondor's InsulLiving® building system is Australia’s next step towards zero energy housing (page 41).

RESILIENT DESIGN PRINCIPLES While definitions vary, resilient building design principles generally encompass: • Strategies to address resilience apply at scales of individual buildings, communities, and larger regional and ecosystem scales; they also apply at different time scales—from immediate to long-term.

•

Resilient systems provide for basic human needs, including potable water, sanitation, energy, livable conditions, lighting, safe air, occupant health, and food.

•

Diverse and redundant systems are inherently more resilient. More diverse communities, ecosystems, economies, and social systems are better able to respond to interruptions or change, making them inherently more resilient.

While sometimes in conflict with efficiency and green building priorities, redundant systems for such needs as electricity, water, and transportation, improve resilience.

•

Quicker, leaner, smarter and greener, InsulLiving® delivers a new Codemarked building system for ecofriendly and energy efficient homes that can keep Australian families comfortable all year round.

It works through the combination of insulated walling and roofing panels, which act as a complete thermal barrier and structural shell. This barrier reduces air-leakage found in traditional built homes, which contributes to rising heating and cooling energy bills.

•

Simple, passive, and flexible systems are more resilient. Passive or manual-override systems are more resilient than complex solutions that can break down and require ongoing maintenance.

Flexible solutions are able to adapt to changing conditions both in the short and long-term.

Strategies that increase durability enhance resilience. Durability involves not only building practices, but also building design (beautiful buildings will be maintained and last longer), infrastructure, and ecosystems.

•

Reliance on abundant local resources, such as solar energy, annually replenished groundwater, and local food provides greater resilience than dependence on nonrenewable resources or resources from far away.

•

Resilience anticipates interruptions and a dynamic future. Adaptation to a changing climate with higher temperatures, more intense storms, sea level rise, flooding, drought, and wildfire is a growing necessity, while non-climate-related natural disasters, such as earthquakes and solar flares, and anthropogenic actions like terrorism and cyberterrorism, also call for resilient design. Responding to change is an opportunity for a wide range of system improvements.

•

Natural systems have evolved to achieve resilience; resilience can be enhanced by relying on and applying lessons from nature.

Strategies that protect the natural environment enhance resilience for all living systems.

•

Strong, culturally diverse communities in which people know, respect, and care for each other fare better during times of stress or disturbance. Social aspects of resilience can be as important as physical responses.

•

Resilience is not absolute.

Incremental steps can be taken and that total resilience in the face of all situations is not possible.

Implement what is feasible in the short term and work to achieve greater resilience in stages.

FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

Australia is home to some of the world's leading research in the area of resilient building design and construction. There is the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre at the University of Wollongong (page 34): a multi-disciplinary facility designed to address the challenge of transforming our buildings and built environment into sustainable, resilient and effective places for people to live and work.

Source: The Resilient Design Institute (resilientdesign.org)

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THE SBRC: A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS THE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS RESEARCH CENTRE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY FACILITY DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE OF TRANSFORMING OUR BUILDINGS AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT INTO SUSTAINABLE, RESILIENT AND EFFECTIVE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND WORK. BUILDINGS HAVE MAJOR ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY AND THE PLANET.

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etween a quarter and a half of all greenhouse emissions result from the use of buildings. As such, the aim of the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC) is to research, collaborate, and link with industry to meet the challenge of improving the performance of new and existing building stock. The SBRC is focused on making buildings more livable, more sustainable, more cost-effective, and kinder to the environment. With research themes that range from sustainable and efficient energy usage, utilisation, generation and storage, through to human factors like health, comfort and wellbeing, the SBRC takes a holistic approach to buildings.

According to Professor Tim McCarthy (Director, SBRC), "The SBRC is interested in everything to do with sustainable building. The range of projects we work on is quite eclectic.

We do everything from building bushfire resilience, re-engineering of more sustainable supply chains, and affordable heating and cooling.

We've worked with the Illawarra Local

Aboriginal Lands Council on the retrofit of a building to achieve net zero energy usage. We have a raft of projects on the power quality side of things. As the amount of renewable energy increases in the grid, it places stress on the old grid, and creates opportunities for new micro-grids on the energy provision side," said Professor McCarthy.

It comes as no surprise then, that the SBRC has access to a working micro-grid with standard and hybrid residential and commercial solar photovoltaics systems, spread across several buildings on the University of Wollongong (UOW) Innovation Campus.

The micro-grid also includes small scale electrical and thermal energy storage, a plug-and-play distributed generation connection panel, 30kVA rated fully regenerative arbitrary waveform generator and passive adjustable load bank, a DC fast charger for electric vehicles, and extensive building submeter and portable instrumentation.

LIVING LABORATORIES As Senior Professor Paul Cooper

explains, "Right from the very beginning the SBRC has had a focus on Living Laboratories that are able to test new systems and products. Our Living Laboratories include two Solar Decathlon Houses."

The Solar Decathlon is the world’s largest sustainable architecture contest that challenges student teams to design and build highly efficient and innovative buildings powered by renewable energy.

The SBRC's first Solar Decathlon House is known as the Illawarra Flame House, and won the 2013 Solar Decathlon China Competition with a world record score. Following the competition in Datong (300km west of Beijing), the House was shipped back to Wollongong and has since been a unique test facility and Living Laboratory for the SBRC. The House is used a research tool in many areas, from advanced HVAC and electrical energy systems control, through to moisture research in building envelopes.

The Desert Rose House—the UOW's

IMAGE: The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre. Image credit: Paul Jones.

second Solar Decathlon House—won second place in the Solar Decathlon Middle East Competition in November 2018. More than 200 students volunteered from the University of Wollongong and TAFE NSW, to take part in the Desert Rose House project—a net zero energy eco-friendly home that was architecturally inspiring, innovative and adaptive to a person’s needs as they age.

The home’s design takes into account the challenges people may encounter when living with dementia and other age-related disabilities. The unique features means the home will adapt to the occupant through the years, making it ‘A House for Life’.

With hundreds of industry sponsors supporting both projects, including household names like Daikin and BlueScope, the teams were able to push the boundaries in design and purpose with industry mentors supporting and championing the various innovation initiatives.

BUILDING INSIGHTS FACILITY "One of our most exciting projects is the Building Insights Facility. The new Facility features a very large pair of climate chambers, which are unique in the Southern Hemisphere. There are only a couple of places in the world that have similar capabilities. The new Facility allows us to work with clients

that would previously have had to conduct tests overseas because this scale of facility just didn't exist in Australia before," said Professor McCarthy.

The Building Insights Facility is capable of measuring the thermodynamic, hygroscopic and environmental performance of large scale building elements. While the primary function of the Facility is the testing of façades, wall systems, and building envelope elements on the outside of environmental chambers, its flexibility also enables efficiency testing of HVAC systems, and performance testing of indoor environmental quality, thermal comfort and air distribution systems.

"The Building Insights Facility links in with some of the work we will be doing in one of our major projects with the Steel Innovation Research Hub. We're working on a key project with BlueScope investigating the complex way that walls and roofs and the envelope of the building work in terms of heat transfer and condensation. The Facility will be key as we start to test innovative

building systems. We are also involved in the Prefab Innovation Hub that is being funded through the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC). Our role is to test the sustainability of modular and prefab buildings," said Professor Cooper.

"As part of the first Steel Innovation Research Hub, we worked on a project that looked at how steel can impact sustainability. We all know steel has a heavy carbon footprint.

But, with its high strength to weight ratio and little waste, steel can be sustainable."

"The main issue with utilising steel is embodied carbon within a building.

So, we looked at the use of light gauge steel for mid rise buildings. We found that using light gauge steel in a seven storey apartment block has about 40 per cent less mass than the concrete equivalent—this has a huge impact on embodied carbon and foundation design. In addition, because light gauge steel structural elements are effectively made by robots, there is little waste."

FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

“

Steel has a very high recycling rate, which is essential because 'end of life' is a really big part of sustainability. We can even extract steel from reinforced concrete at the end of life. That circulatory is one of the important features of sustainability."

"Steel also has a very high recycling rate, which is essential because 'end of life' is a really big part of sustainability. We can even extract steel from reinforced concrete at the end of life. That circulatory is one of the important features of sustainability. With steel, you're not downcycling—crushing it into a lower grade material—you can actually make it into fresh steel," said Professor Cooper.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS RESEARCH CENTRE >>>

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IMAGE: The SBRC's Building Insights Facility.

Image credit: Paul Jones.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS RESEARCH CENTRE BUILDING PROJECT The SBRC building project began when the UOW won a $25.1 million capital works grant from the Australian Government to build a new facility.

Once the funding for the project was established, the UOW leadership team developed a vision for the SBRC building, which was to be a 2,600m2 flagship facility for sustainability at the UOW. It was decided that, as the home of a centre of excellence for sustainable buildings, the design of the SBRC building needed to go well beyond the existing Australian sustainability benchmarks.

The choice of the Living Building Challenge (LBC) as the main sustainability framework for the design of the building was then a logical step to take. The LBC framework provided both the SBRC leadership team and the design team with a holistic way of approaching the challenge of delivering an outstandingly sustainable building, without being overly prescriptive and restricting the creativity of all involved.

Administered by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), the LBC certifies projects that meet ambitious green building performance standards through a framework of seven 'Petals'—stringent performance standards and metrics covering energy use, site utilisation, health and happiness, equity, beauty, water and materials used. Living Certified buildings have met the criteria

for all seven petals. There are only 24 buildings in the world that have met all seven Petals and are considered Living Certified; an exclusive list that now includes the SBRC. Living Certification under the LBC means the SBRC building is the: • 1st Living Certified Building in Australia • 24th Living Certified project in the world • 3rd Living Certified project outside the United States • 1st project in Australia to achieve any level of LBC certification Senior Professor Paul Cooper said the research centre’s design was based on the LBC regenerative design framework aimed at creating “restorative living, breathing” buildings that make a positive impact on our society and our environment overall.

“The building has been carefully designed to generate positive health and wellbeing through a restorative and healthy coexistence with nature, including the use of green walls and native plants, creating a strong connection between the building occupants and the landscape,” said Professor Cooper.

“From day one, I said to the design team that we wanted to create a building that went way beyond the current benchmark for sustainable buildings. We believe society as a whole needs to do much better than that.”

"The Living Building Challenge is widely recognised as the toughest sustainability framework for buildings. While the LBC is tough, it is extremely useful for building designers because it's not as prescriptive as some other sustainability frameworks. It has broad goals, but gives the designer a lot of leeway in terms of how to achieve those goals."

"The vision was that occupants, visitors and the general community could look back in years or decades to come, and know that the design of the SBRC stretched the boundaries of what was possible at the time of its design, and that this project represented a major step forward in delivery of highly sustainable buildings. Here we are, a decade on from when the building was constructed, and it is still way out in front in terms of sustainability,” said Professor Cooper.

The team used the LBC framework as a way to design and construct a building that is not just sustainable, but aims to be restorative.

“Sustainable means effectively you’re not doing any net harm overall – but restorative means you’re doing something that’s addressing some of the environmental damage that has been done in the past,” Professor Cooper said.

Water Petal The approach to the Net-Zero Water Imperative has been to minimise water use and to meet this demand with captured rainwater, except where local health and safety regulations prescribe

The majority of the SBRC’s water use is supplied by captured rainwater collected from the rooftops of the northern and southern buildings. This water is collected in a 65kL sub-surface tank located on the western perimeter of the site. Prior to use, the rainwater from the tank is treated without the use of chemicals by filtration and ultraviolet sterilization. This treated water is used for showers, amenity hand basins, laboratory hand basins, cleaning purposes, PV wash-down, urinals and toilet-flushing. In anticipation of a precinct-scale grey water system, the SBRC water distribution is configured to allow toilets and urinals to switch from treated rainwater to grey water should the precinct system eventuate.

Materials Petal The design team’s architectural approach was always to do more with less. Every material and finish should work hard and do more than one job.

“The most significant factor was that we had to track every single item and material that came into the building as part of construction to make sure it complied with the requirements of the Living Building Challenge,” Professor Cooper said.

“No ‘red list’ materials – formaldehyde, chromium, mercury, PVC, for example – are allowed during the building process.

None of the materials or pieces of equipment or building elements were allowed to have red list materials unless an exemption has been given."

“There were also sourcing restrictions on the building materials, for example steel and concrete could be sourced from no more than 500km away, to limit ‘embodied’ carbon emissions and environmental impact due to transport of the construction materials to site,” Professor Cooper said.

Energy Petal One of the main drivers to the design of the SBRC was energy. Almost all decisions came back to the energy budget and an enormous effort was spent on minimising the energy used on site. This included a strong focus on passive design and low energy heating and air conditioning, but also extended through to other items like sophisticated lighting control and ‘green IT’. Energy targets were set very low and all building systems and user interaction needed to address those targets. Once this was achieved within the energy model of the building, we were able to look to offsetting that consumption through

WHAT IS THE LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE?

The Living Building Challenge is the world’s most rigorous standard for green buildings. Going above and beyond LEED certification, Living Buildings strive for net-zero or net-positive energy, are free of toxic chemicals, and lower their energy footprint many times below the generic commercial structure.

To be certified under the Challenge, projects must meet a series of ambitious performance requirements over a minimum of 12 months of continuous occupancy. There are several types of certification under the Challenge: Living Building Certification, Core Green Building Certification, Petal Certification, Zero Energy Certification, or Zero Carbon Certification.

The Living Building Challenge is facilitated by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI): a not-for-profit organisation working to build an ecologically-minded, restorative world for all people. Using principles of social and environmental justice, ILFI seeks to counter climate change by pushing for an urban environment free of fossil fuels. In addition to the Living Building Challenge, ILFI runs several other programs: the Living Product Challenge, the Living Community Challenge, and the Reveal, Declare and Just labels. These programs develop a green framework for living in a 21st century world.

For more information, visit: https://living-future.org

on-site renewables. The SBRC facility has been constructed with a rooftop solar array to achieve net-zero energy on an annual basis. The facility has been designed to accommodate on-site battery storage. The installed solar array consists of three separate clusters and nearly 600 panels installed at different locations on the building.

A unique Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) system was designed by industry partners BlueScope and the SBRC team and installed on the SBRC office roof.

This 4 kWp electrical system was a pilot demonstration of how this technology could be retrofitted to existing buildings.

Air flowing under the thin-film PV panels is heated when the panels are exposed to the sun and this pre-heated fresh air is brought into the SBRC air handling system in colder months to provide

renewable energy heating. In addition, the flow of air also cools the PV panels thereby increasing their electrical conversion efficiency.

The SBRC was one of the first buildings in this region to have a renewable energy system of a size which lay between small residential (≤15 kWp) and large-scale commercial systems (>30 MWp). The SBRC team collaborated with the electrical utility, particularly in the development of approval processes, to enable PV arrays of this intermediate scale to be accommodated.

FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

that potable water from the public water supply must be used.

The design of the SBRC roofs was driven in large part by the desire to make the 160 kW PV array particularly visible and attractive to the general community.

IMAGE: Professor Tim McCarthy (Director, Sustainable Buildings Research Centre).

Image credit: Paul Jones.

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ONE HOUSE TO SAVE MANY: A WORLD CHANGING IDEA ONE HOUSE TO SAVE MANY IS THE FIRST EVER HOME DESIGNED TO BE MORE RESILIENT TO THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN AUSTRALIA. THE INTENT OF THE PROJECT IS TO CHALLENGE THE CONVENTIONAL THINKING AROUND HOW WE BUILD HOMES, AND TO PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON PREPARATION, RATHER THAN RECOVERY. AS WE'LL ILLUSTRATE BELOW, THE IMPACT OF NATURAL DISASTERS, AND THE TOLL THEY TAKE ON AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES, IS GETTING WORSE. FOR THE AUSTRALIAN WAY OF LIFE TO BE PRESERVED, IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF HOMES SHOULD CHANGE, BUT HOW QUICKLY THOSE CHANGES CAN HAPPEN.

THE PROBLEM: 'ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME' DISASTERS ARE BECOMING MORE COMMONPLACE Each year in Australia, we see homes destroyed and billions spent on rebuilding due to severe weather events.1 While the devastation these cause to communities is significant, perhaps even more unsettling is that we are seeing them happen with more ferocity and frequency.

There have been more Category Five cyclones in the last 20 years than in the preceding 100.2 Severe floods are occurring 30% more often in the Pacific region than they used to.3 And calamitous bushfire seasons are starting earlier, and burning for longer.4 This puts an issue into sharp relief: Australian homes simply aren’t built to withstand Australian weather.

As you read this, there are over 100,000 homes in the North Queensland region that are below minimum standard for cyclone safety5, and 90% of homes in bushfire-prone areas across Australia which aren’t built to standard because their construction pre-dated modern regulations.6 A SEISMIC PROBLEM DEMANDS A RADICAL SOLUTION As one of Australia’s largest insurers, Suncorp is determined to make a difference. While it can’t prevent extreme weather, it can work towards the next best thing: improving the homes Australians live in.

With this in mind, we set out to design, test, and build a prototype house constructed to better withstand the natural disasters affecting the state of Queensland, where Suncorp operates.

We gathered some of Australia’s leading minds on natural disasters, home resilience, and environmental and architectural best practice. Together with experts from James Cook University, the CSIRO (Australia’s preeminent body responsible for scientific research), and Room 11 Architects, we explored ideas that would make a home safer, more liveable, and easier to maintain in the event of severe weather.

A HOUSE FOR TODAY, AND TOMORROW An architectural concept was created incorporating pioneering ideas and sustainable building innovations. In partnership with the full team, the blueprint evolved into a prototype that took inspiration from existing homes in Australia. We call it ‘One House To Save Many’: the first house ever designed to be more resilient to Australia’s severe weather events.

ONE HOUSE, MILLIONS OF POSSIBILITIES The intent of One House is to challenge conventional thinking around how we build homes, encouraging homeowners, builders, and institutions to view resilience as a vital consideration for homes today. The innovations and learnings of One House are publicly available and open-source, ensuring existing homes and new ones can be made more resilient.

We also wanted to generate a conversation around building codes, as it’s important they continue to be reviewed in the context of the increasing impact of extreme weather.

If we can improve building resilience and adapt to a future of more extreme weather, generations to come will be better protected and less likely to be displaced before, during, and after natural disasters.

We believe One House is distinct for two key reasons.

One House is unique in its preparedness To our knowledge, this is the most thoroughgoing development of a weather-resistant house ever.

One House was designed with a myriad of weather conditions in mind, spanning fires, floods, and cyclones. In our dedicated testing units, at the CSIROoperated Bushfire Burnover Facility and James Cook University Cyclone Testing Station, we exposed prototypes of One House to a series of torture-tests to understand what aspects of the house would fail, and what would be resistant to fires, flooding, and cyclones.

Some tests included: • Wind-driven debris and a roof pressure-testing, simulating the effects of cyclonic wind • Water ingress testing to understand the vulnerable aspects of windows and doors to rain and inundation • Bushfire testing measuring the impacts of different burnover levels using specialised bushfire flamefronts One House is unique in its scalability We decided early on to give ourselves a key constraint: that the home would have to be comparable to the cost of any standard architecturally-designed home today in Australia. This could not be the sole preserve of the very wealthy.

For this reason, One House is built from sustainable materials, readily available at local retailers around Australia.

“

An architectural concept was created incorporating pioneering ideas and sustainable building innovations. We call it ‘One House To Save Many’: the first house ever designed to be more resilient to Australia’s severe weather events.”

FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

We invite you to explore the resilience features of One House in the following section.

Equally, it could not have the aesthetics of a bomb shelter. One House had to be a warm, desirable place that you’d not only feel protected by, but want to live in.

There are three outcomes that we’d like to highlight.

1. A step-change in how insurers support communities Being an insurer means Suncorp is acutely aware of the problems of climate change. At present, nine in 10 natural disaster claims include damage that could have been avoided if homes were built more resilient to begin with.7 Furthermore, 97% of the local insurance industry’s investment goes into recovery after a disaster, with only 3% being spent on resilience and preparation.8 One House shifts how we think about disasters and the role the insurance industry plays. Prevention, after all, is better than the cure.

IMAGES Left: A bushfire resilience test on a One House prototype measuring the impacts at different burnover levels using specialised simulated bushfire flame fronts.

Above: A water ingress test was undertaken to understand the vulnerable aspects of standard windows and doors in the event of wind driven rain and inundation.

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2. A step-change in how we build homes Our one design contains hundreds of innovations. While we’d invite you to explore the longer list in our supporting materials, here is a selection.

For fires, One House has: • Glazed elements are fitted to a frame designed to keep embers out while evenly distributing heat • Bi-fold mesh screens to reduce heat load • Stainless steel roofing, providing lower thermal conductivity • A dual tank water system - one for firefighting if the house is disconnected from its main water source, the other serving as a dedicated back-up water supply • PVC plastic gutters that melt during a fire so that they become ‘sacrificial’ and fall off the main house For floods, One House has: • Electrical wiring in the roof to militate against loss of power • Powerpoints and switches at least one metre above floor level to reduce the risk of electrical issues during flooding • Internal wall linings that are waterproof and a fibre cement sheet system with vertical battens covering joints. This enables occupants to remove and reuse their walls after the cavity has been cleaned and dried • Dedicated storage in the ceiling for

“

In 2020, over 134,000 Australian homes were damaged by extreme weather.11 Given the scale of the issue, it is not a matter of if our homes should change to become more resilient, but rather how quickly. One House has the potential to save many, many more - in Queensland, but we hope across Australia and even beyond."

additional services like batteries and hot water And, for cyclones, One House has: • External finishes that are noncombustible • Glazed windows and doors to prevent water inundation • Bi-fold mesh screens around the perimeter to minimise damage from air projectiles • Cyclone-rated roof fixings

havoc, it needs to be.

ONE HOUSE WITH WORLDCHANGING AMBITIONS In 2020, over 134,000 Australian homes were damaged by extreme weather.11 Given the scale of the issue, it is not a matter of if our homes should change to become more resilient, but rather how quickly.

3. A step-change in how we live One House launched in April 2021. Since then, it has already sparked a national conversation in how Australians think about their homes and existing building codes. To date, the project has already reached over 3.9 million Queenslanders (approximately 80% of the total population).9 Furthermore, we have received inquiries from 13 leading industry and research stakeholders, four of Queensland’s largest city councils, and two national building companies interested in partnering with Suncorp to scale One House.10 The potential for ‘One House’ to indeed ‘Save Many’ is encouraging. And, frankly, with climate change continuing to wreak

One House has the potential to save many, many more - in Queensland, but we hope across Australia and even beyond.

REFERENCES 1.

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Insurance Council of Australia, ‘$3.85 billion already paid in natural disaster claims as insurers overcome pandemic upheaval’ Australian Geographic, ‘Australia’s Most Destructive Cyclones: A Timeline’ Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology, ‘Droughts and flooding rains already more likely as climate change plays havoc with Pacific weather’.

In this instance, “30% more” is in reference to preIndustrial times University of Melbourne, ‘Recent Australian droughts may be the worst in 800 years’ Suncorp Group, ‘Built to last: A Protecting the North initiative’ Australian Government, The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/disasterfunding/report/disaster-funding-volume1.pdf https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/disasterfunding/report/disaster-funding-volume1.pdf Internal media agency tracking data, 2021 Internal Suncorp data, 2021 A Current Affair, 2021, ‘The house that's designed to protect against floods, fires and even cyclones’

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE HOUSE TO SAVE MANY AND HOW IT CAN WITHSTAND NATURAL DISASTERS>>>

Wind-driven debris and a roof section pressure demonstration simulate the effects of cyclonic wind on One House.

BONDOR'S INSULLIVING® SYSTEM: QUICKER, LEANER, SMARTER AND GREENER BONDOR'S INSULLIVING® BUILDING SYSTEM IS AUSTRALIA’S NEXT STEP TOWARDS ZERO ENERGY HOUSING. QUICKER, LEANER, SMARTER AND GREENER, INSULLIVING® DELIVERS A NEW CODEMARKED BUILDING SYSTEM FOR ECO-FRIENDLY AND ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES THAT CAN KEEP AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES COMFORTABLE ALL YEAR ROUND. IT WORKS THROUGH THE COMBINATION OF INSULATED WALLING AND ROOFING PANELS, WHICH ACT AS A COMPLETE THERMAL BARRIER AND STRUCTURAL SHELL. THIS BARRIER REDUCES AIR-LEAKAGE FOUND IN TRADITIONAL BUILT HOMES, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO RISING HEATING AND COOLING ENERGY BILLS.

InsulLiving® is a complete building system that replaces the traditional system in totality. In doing so, it delivers a range of benefits, from design freedom and reduced costs, through to energy savings and a shortened build time.

According to Bondor's General Manager, Geoff Marsdon, the development of the all-in-one system was no mean feat.

"The development process took quite some time. It was one of those ideas that we worked on in the background for quite a while. We always knew what the capability of panel was but, while the core advantages of panel were always there, we had to develop the product so it was suitable for the residential environment. There was a lot of testing around weatherability and air tightness for residential standards," said Marsdon.

"We wanted to create an attractive, modern house that didn't look any

different to the other houses in the street, but offered far superior performance."

"We got to a stage where we had a lot of technical and concept work done, but there is no test like building a house.

So we built an InsulLiving® prototype house in Burpengary, Queensland.

We designed and built it from scratch, learned things along the way, and changed elements of our process.

Then, in conjunction with Queensland University of Technology (QUT), we had a family live in the house for 12 months and monitored their energy usage," said Marsdon.

INSULLIVING® HOUSE ACHIEVES 9.5 STAR ENERGY RATING

One year after an Aussie family of four moved into Bondor’s InsulLiving® prototype house in Burpengary, Queensland, the house achieved an incredible 9.5 star ‘real life’ energy rating, slashing the home's energy bills by

FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

IMAGE: Bondor’s InsulLiving prototype house in Burpengary, Queensland.

almost 50 per cent.

Built by Bondor to showcase its InsulWall® and SolarSpan® thermal building products, the stylish singlestorey home originally achieved an 8 star ‘as designed’ energy rating, easily surpassing the Australian Building Code’s current minimum of six stars.

An independent study by QUT assessed the energy performance of the house over the course of 12 months. As a result, the home achieved an even higher ‘real life’ rating of 9.5 stars.

Over the monitored period, the house required much less heating and cooling than the national average: 13 per cent compared to 39 per cent, according to the report by Dr Wendy Miller of QUT’s Science and Engineering Faculty.

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INSULLIVING® BENEFITS Quicker • Faster build times compared to traditional building methods • Home owner can move in sooner • Better cash flow for builders, with payments received sooner • Increased house builds per year • Fast supply from local manufacturing facilities in all states • Transform unskilled labour into capable installers within weeks Leaner • Lower construction costs, with reduced walling and roofing costs • Less components and materials than traditional homes • Reduced reliance on trades. One trained team can erect walls and roof • Shorter supply chain, fewer deliveries and decreased logistical issues • Ongoing energy savings over the life of the house Smarter • Smart InsulWall® walling system replaces frames, brick, plasterboard, and insulation • Smart SolarSpan® roofing system replaces trusses, roof sheets, ceiling, and insulation • Panels interlock easily to form a complete thermally efficient shell • Fully engineered and CodeMarkTM accredited for compliance with the Building Code of Australia • Products developed and manufactured in Australia by Australian companies • InsulLiving®'s modular nature means downsizing, renovation and recycling are catered for • Simplified and improved building process • Insulated panels act to 'dampen' outside noise. No chance of structural damage due to termite damage • Suitable for one and two storey designed homes Greener • Significantly exceeds Australian requirements for Energy Ratings • Reduced environmental impact in manufacturing, delivery, building and residency • Achieve Zero and Positive Energy housing communities • Reduction in building materials, resulting in fewer transport journeys, which means a reduced carbon footprint during construction • Fully reusable, recyclable and non-toxic building materials

“The house used 48 per cent less electricity than the average South East Queensland home, which equated to a heating and cooling bill for the year of just $160, or 44 cents a day,” Miller said.

“This is because a house with a high rating of 9 stars, in this climate, provides a very high level of thermal comfort 87 per cent of the year, without the need to purchase additional space heating or cooling.”

“If occupants choose to provide additional comfort through the use of cooling or heating appliances, the energy required to provide this additional comfort is very minimal, about one third of the energy that a 6 star house would need to provide the same level of comfort.”

Miller said the InsulLiving® construction, which featured structural insulated panels, “provided a more consistent and reliable insulation quality for the building envelope, compared with other construction methods.”

Bondor General Manager, Geoff Marsdon, said the QUT findings justified the six years of research and development that went into the InsulLiving® system, as the next step towards zero energy housing.

“Bondor is committed to optimising thermal efficiency in the built environment and reducing the need for heating and cooling,” Marsdon said.

Marsdon said the house energy rating system was based on house plans but that homes, when constructed, often failed to live up to the performance levels predicted by computer simulation.

Unlike Bondor, few building products

manufacturers checked the ongoing performance of their insulation systems.

“With the cost of electricity rising all the time, this new data paints a very clear picture of how families can save money.”

Marsdon stressed that the energy savings outlined in the report were only possible with a combination of good design incorporating the InsulLiving® system, in conjunction with lifestyle habits that focused on energy efficiency.

For the monitored period, the InsulLiving® house was ‘net zero energy’ for space heating and cooling, lighting and most water heating, with renewable energy sourced from a modest solar system.

Miller’s report concluded that the installation of a larger, 5kW solar system would allow the home to be completely solar powered.

In order to make her assessment, Miller gathered data on electrical and solar power consumption; internal room temperatures; solar cell temperatures; external wall material temperatures; internal air quality; and thermal imaging, used to highlight any gaps in insulation which indicated energy 'leaks' within the home.

“In contrast [to homes built via traditional framing methods], the InsulLiving® house did not reveal large gaps in the insulation. This is to be expected, as the insulation is manufactured into the wall and roof products, eliminating the risk of poor worksite practices, during construction or maintenance, impacting negatively on thermal performance,” Miller said.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BONDOR'S INSULLIVING® SYSTEM AND THE BENEFITS IT HAS TO OFFER >>>

IMAGE: The interior of Bondor’s InsulLiving® prototype house in Burpengary, Queensland.

WHAT IS THE INSULLIVING® SYSTEM? InsulLiving® works through the combination of InsulWall® (insulated walling panels) and SolarSpan® (insulated roofing panels).

InsulWall® "If you look at the walling side of it, a traditional build would have a frame— either steel or timber—insulation, external cladding and internal wall lining. All of that gets replaced with one insulated sandwich panel: InsulWall®.

So rather than having to install framing, insulation and cladding, just one panel is installed," said Marsdon.

InsulWall is lightweight, load bearing insulated wall panel, developed to offer the residential and commercial market a building technology as an alternative to monolithic traditional building methods. ®

This all-in-one product is made from EPS-FR that is lined with 0.6mm G300 prime coated Bluescope® steel, which is ready-made for painting, rendering or cladding, encasing a high performing insulated core.

InsulWall® offers unique features such as a preformed rebated joint for setting plaster and delivering a continuous coated surface for painting internally using Dulux Wash and Wear and rendering externally using Dulux Acratex. InsulWall® includes electrical service ducts for easier roughing in of electrical wiring.

InsulWall® is available in thicknesses to suit 90mm interior walls and 140mm exterior walls and is available for use with the National Construction Code CodeMark accredited lnsulLiving® building system.

SolarSpan® "The roofing component follows a similar concept to that of the walls: rather than needing to use trussing, framing, insulation, and external cladding, InsulLiving® utilises a single panel that clicks together," said Marsdon.

introduced it back in 1988. It has been a particularly strong roofing product in Queensland, with a solid track record as a good alternative roofing product in the residential market. SolarSpan® has stood the test of time, if you like," said Marsdon.

Bondor's roofing panel product is SolarSpan®. It combines roofing, insulation and ceiling in one durable, functional and attractive panel.

SIMPLIFYING THE BUILDING PROCESS "The system removes a lot of products from site and simplifies the building process. Once a crew understands the installation process, it is very fast," said Marsdon.

SolarSpan® is Australia’s leading insulated roofing panel offering long-spans, low pitch and high thermal efficiency to satisfy Section J requirements in commercial, industrial and residential applications.

Developed over 20 years ago, this engineered all-in-one insulated roofing solution offers a ceiling, insulation and roof sheet in one product for optimal thermal and build efficiency when constructing high performance building envelopes. CodeMark™ approved and Australian Standards tested SolarSpan® features a COLORBOND® steel exterior roof layer, an EPS-FR rigid insulation core with a pre-finished COLORBOND® attractive, smooth ceiling without the need for plastering or painting and superior thermal performance.

SolarSpan® insulated roofing is up to 50 per cent faster to install than conventional roofing, eliminates the need for additional structural supports and extra layers as required in traditional roofing system eliminating purlins, beams, trusses, mesh, sarking, insulation and plasterboard, as well as reducing the need for multiple trades.

"SolarSpan® is a product we’ve had around for a long time. Bondor

"InsulLiving® brings the advantages traditionally associated with insulated panels to a residential build. Insulated panels are typically used in instances such as warehouses, freezers, laboratories and data centres – all of which require a constant temperature and an air tight environment."

FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

IMAGE: Bondor’s InsulLiving prototype house in Burpengary, Queensland.

"The InsulLiving® panels interlock and, because the insulated core of the material is adhered to two steel faces on either side, it holds all the insulation in place—it doesn’t sag or crumble over time. With traditional building methods, insulation batts do sag, and there are always gaps in insulation. The airtight seal created by InsulLiving® can maintain the integrity of a building's temperature compared to a traditional build."

"The other key advantage of the InsulLiving® panels is that they are structurally sound. They allow for large spans for roofs, reducing the need for support structures. This ensures that quite dramatic spaces and interesting designs can be created, aiding open span living with kitchen, dining and alfresco all under the one roof span."

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The Legacy Living Lab (L3)at Curtin University is a circular economy building designed for disassembly, deconstruction and relocation.

LEGACY ‘LIVING LAB’ SHOWCASES CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRINCIPLES CONSTRUCTION CREATES MORE THAN 20 MILLION TONNES OF WASTE IN AUSTRALIA EVERY YEAR. WHAT IF THERE WAS A MEANS BY WHICH TO MINIMISE THIS WASTE, AND CREATE A STRUCTURE THAT CAN BE MOVED FROM PLACE TO PLACE? IN FREMANTLE, A NEW WAY OF THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE AND WORK IS NOW ON DISPLAY: THE LEGACY LIVING LAB (L3). CURTIN UNIVERSITY'S L3 IS A MODULAR BUILDING DESIGNED USING PRINCIPLES OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY – AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ECONOMIC CONCEPT THAT AIMS TO DESIGN OUT WASTE

BY INCLUDING AS MUCH RECYCLING AND RE-USE OF MATERIALS AS POSSIBLE.

C

onstructed as part of their thesis, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute PhD candidates Timothy O’Grady and Roberto Minunno, together with Curtin Professor Greg Morrison, worked alongside many industry partners to create L3 as a resource to support and inform the building industry on different construction methodologies, test new products and review the performance of materials, including their energy consumption, automation, and effects on building wellness.

O’Grady said L3, located at DevelopmentWA’s East Village precinct in Knutsford, Fremantle, was designed to be flexible, sustainable, and can be fully disassembled. Many of the building’s materials were recycled, including the

original 100 year-old Jarrah staircase from the Dingo Flour Mill and carpet tiles reclaimed from a Perth office space.

“In Australia, the construction industry is responsible for about 30 per cent or 20.4 million tonnes of annual waste. Although it’s a significant and largely ignored issue, this is also an opportunity,” O’Grady said.

“The circular economy concept sits at the heart of the L3’s design and construction and reduces waste by incorporating many fortuitous finds and generous donations, giving real meaning to the phrase ‘one person’s trash is another’s treasure’."

“The 17 tonne steel frames we used to construct L3 actually came from a

project that went bankrupt, and were originally destined to be recycled. We were able to redesign L3 to incorporate these frames, putting them to good use."

“The carpet is from a near-new office space on St George’s Terrace in Perth that was being renovated and it was due to be thrown away before we re-purposed it. It’s secured with a double-sided contact pad, rather than glue, meaning it can potentially even be reused again in the future."

“We were also able to find a home for the beautiful Jarrah staircase from the Dingo Flour Mill in Fremantle, bringing a piece of local history to L3, and importantly saving it from going to waste,” said O'Grady.

L3 co-creator Roberto Minunno said, in addition to the physical waste created by construction, it was also important to consider the amount of CO2 emissions emitted during building projects.

“In the specific example of L3, a traditionally built modular building of this size would have created about 50 tonnes of CO2 emissions, whereas the modular Living Lab build only created 5 tonnes of CO2 emissions – a huge benefit for the environment,” Dr Minunno said.

“A non-modular build would normally have a concrete foundation or slab, but L3 is built using a steel micro-pile footing system, consisting of a series of steel poles that are skewed in to the ground at specific angles, to anchor the building."

Regarding its thermal efficiency, L3 is highly insulated and fully electrified (no gas in its appliances). In combination with the high-quality solar panels, L3’s carbon footprint is minimal compared to the footprint of traditional buildings.

DevelopmentWA CEO, Frank Marra, said the State Government’s development agency was excited to be supporting the ambitious project through $100,000 of funding and a three year lease.

“DevelopmentWA is committed to championing change in Western Australia’s housing industry by demonstrating new technologies and sustainable living initiatives,” Marra said.

“An Innovation through Demonstration project, East Village in Knutsford will be Fremantle’s most sustainable new development, featuring energy and water savings, renewable energy revenues for residents, and a range

of homes with adaptable spaces for home offices."

“L3 is revolutionary in the way it will bring together industry, researchers and the community to shape and create the future of living. Research undertaken here into precinct-scale sustainability initiatives will help inform best-practice design for future housing developments that we undertake,” Marra said.

Industry partners for the L3 project included Acoufelt, Armstrong Flooring, BGC, Bluescope Steel, Brajkovich Demolition, Delos, DevelopmentWA, Enware, Fleetwood Australia, Forest One, Infinite Energy, Intelligent Home, Interface, ITI – Innovative Timber Ideas, Jason Windows, Ludlow Timber Products, Metforce Balustrades, Mettech imaging, OP Properties, Proform, Quantify Technology, RWC – Reliance Worldwide Corporation, Schneider Electric, Somfy, Stramit, Verosol, and Weathertex.

“This alone saved 20 tonnes of concrete, compared to 735 kilograms of steel – which, unlike concrete, can be recycled.”

Professor Greg Morrison, also from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, said that because L3 is modular, it can be relocated – potentially multiple times – which helps it last even longer.

“On average, the lifespan of buildings in Australia is 20 years, but L3 is designed to last for at least 50 years,” Professor Morrison said. “Once it finally reaches its end of life, around 57 per cent of L3 can be deconstructed and reused in other buildings, 25 per cent of it can be recycled, and 18 per cent disposed of."

FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

Other environmentally-friendly features of L3 include the outdoor balcony, made from recycled tyre rubber and plastics; the acoustic ceiling panels, which are 68 per cent recycled PET bottles and other plastic materials; and the kitchen benchtop, made from pressed recycled timber. L3 also features solar panels, an on-site electric vehicle charger, and incorporates water balancing features.

Internal spaces: L3 is used for research among universities and networking with the building industry.

“L3 is currently a Curtin University building, used primarily as a space for industry demonstration and a place to carry out important research on new building and material concepts," Professor Morrison said.

The building features smart-home devices, such as automatic blinds, circadian rhythm lights, and many sensing devices, such as air quality (TVOC, CO2, PM2.5 and humidity), temperature, lighting, and vibration.

There is currently a group of six electrical engineering students and an upcoming PhD student researching creating a symbiosis between all of these smarthome elements.

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GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL AUSTRALIA:

DRIVING RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT BUILDINGS, AND THE PRODUCTS USED TO CONSTRUCT THEM, HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE WORLD. BUILDINGS ACCOUNT FOR AROUND 40 PER CENT OF ENERGY RELATED GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS. WITH OVER 42.2 BILLION TONNES OF MATERIALS CONSUMED ANNUALLY, IT IS LITTLE SURPRISE THAT BUILDINGS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AROUND 50 PER CENT OF GLOBAL MATERIAL USE. INDUSTRY AND CONSUMERS WANT CHANGE. TO HELP MAKE THIS CHANGE A REALITY, THE GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL AUSTRALIA HAS DEVELOPED A NEW RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTS FRAMEWORK.

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he building materials sector accounts for 8 per cent of Australia’s total emissions. It has an economic value of $70 billion dollars per annum.

According to the Green Building Council Australia (GBCA), transforming the building materials sector is the next step in decarbonising Australia's economy.

Launched by GBCA in 2003, Green Star is Australia’s only national, voluntary rating system for buildings, fitouts and communities. In early 2018, GBCA announced Green Star Future Focus—an ambitious plan to review and reshape their range of Green Star rating tools for the future. One year later, GBCA shared their plans for Green Star Buildings, an evolution of their Design and As Built tool, which is what currently supports ASI's Environmental Sustainability Charter (ESC). GBCA anticipated that the new Green Star would guide the way to net zero buildings, cities and communities.

GBCAs NEW GREEN STAR BUILDINGS In late 2020, that vision came to life with the release of Green Star Buildings— the biggest overhaul of the Green Star

rating system in 18 years. This was no solo effort; GBCA was guided by expert advisory panels made up of 150 industry professionals and 10 early access partners who shaped the new tool.

According to Davina Rooney (CEO, GBCA), “While we currently have a lot of ‘nearly net-zero’ buildings in Australia, there are only a handful of genuine net-zero buildings. Green Star Buildings has been designed with industry and government to ensure net-zero becomes the norm.”

"There is overwhelming support from industry to eliminate carbon emissions from buildings and construction to meet our obligations under the Paris Agreement, prevent assets becoming stranded and, ultimately, put a stop to unsustainable changes to our climate.”

“Climate change is a global challenge that manifests itself in very local ways.

The bushfires and coronavirus pandemic have shown us that our buildings need to be more resilient to changes in climate and more focused on the health of people. Green Star Buildings responds to

these challenges in very practical ways,” said Rooney.

Green Star Buildings responds to the three key megatrends in the built environment – climate action, health and wellbeing, and resource efficiency.

It also drives opportunities for supply chain transformation and creates clear expectations for new buildings.

RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTS FRAMEWORK

Green Star Buildings aims to create market demand for innovative, responsible, and low carbon products. It introduced a new minimum expectation to ensure all buildings are built with good design choices and lower upfront carbon products.

Green Star Buildings features eight key criteria that directly impact the supply chain. They aim to drive responsible, healthy, positive, and circular products.

They represent more than 25 per cent of the points available in the rating tool—the highest ever dedicated to transforming the supply chain.

shading and insulation, suspended slabs, as well as roofing systems.

finishes are also included. Loose furniture is not included.

Responsible Systems The systems are defined as the mechanical, hydraulic, transportation and electrical systems present in the building. Lighting, security, and fire systems are also included. Products that make up active systems such as pipes, cables, ducts etc are included.

Passive systems such as a façade shading device are not included in this credit.

RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTS CRITERIA

Responsible Structure The structure is defined as load bearing and stability components of a building, including steel, timber, concrete load bearing elements.

Responsible Finishes Internal finishes include flooring, plasterboard, paints, ceilings, partitions, doors, internal windows or similar. Joinery used as part of a wall finish may be counted, such as wall panelling or fixed shelving and cupboards that make up a partition.

Sealants and adhesives used for

Responsible Envelope The envelope is defined as the façade, and all its components such as external

The Responsible Products Framework outlines criteria for scoring how ‘responsible’ a product is, to support the built environment industry in adapting to and driving this change. These criteria are outlined below.

Responsible: Your product’s impacts and content are transparent and meet high standards. This criteria encompasses elements like: • Environmental impact disclosure • Carbon emissions disclosure • Health impacts disclosure • Ingredient disclosure • Environmental management

FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

GBCA's new Responsible Products Framework will become a key part of Green Star Buildings. The Framework aims to reward products that have lower environmental impact, are transparent, respect human rights, and are taking action to reduce in carbon content.

The vision of the Responsible Products Framework is to drive the supply chain to deliver transparent, healthy, lowimpact and net zero carbon products that are part of a circular economy.

The Framework will apply to a range of product categories, as outlined below.

GREEN STAR FAST FACTS

66% less consumption of electricity than the average building

51% less consumption of water than the average building

55% average emissions reduction than the average building

40% of CBD office space in Australia is Green Star certified

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Positive: Your manufacturing process avoids significant environmental impact, and delivers net zero products. This is quite a broad criteria, covering: • Carbon emissions reduction • Low carbon trajectory • Carbon neutrality • Reduced impacts to nature • Responsible extraction of material resources • Protection of areas of high ecological value • Energy use • Water use • Waste generation • Material extraction

Responsible Products Framework credits whilst delivering on sustainability best practice initiatives – this will add tremendous sustainability credentials to participating SSA members," said Dawson.

GREEN STAR AND THE STEEL INDUSTRY

According to Jorge Chapa (Head of Market Transformation, GBCA), "Steel manufacturers have a real opportunity to bring the best possible products to market because we’re trying to create a demand for these products – for products developed with lower embodied carbon using innovative techniques. We're looking to build a circular economy in the built environment that includes products with high recycled content."

Chapa explained that it is important that

the Australian steel industry be aware of, and participate in the Green Star program. And there are many ways that steel manufacturers can do this.

"There are three simple things that steel manufacturers can start doing right now. The first is reducing embodied carbon and setting clear targets for embodied carbon and net zero targets.

The second is exploring carbon neutral certification of some kind; developers are going to be asking for this type of certification. The third is increasing transparency. The expectation now is that big components in building should have environmental specific product declarations."

"These three things take planning and effort to implement, but that’s what developers and asset owners are looking for," said Chapa.

Circular: Your product is ready for low carbon production and the circular economy. The Circular aspects of the Responsible Products Framework are in development and are likely to be introduced by GCBA in 2023.

Leadership: The final criteria rewards additional achievement for issues critical to the built environment.

HOW PRODUCTS ARE SCORED

The Responsible Products Framework aims to assess how responsible a product is. However, to verify these outcomes, the GBCA relies on industry accepted initiatives and schemes.

FEATURE: RESILIENT BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

Healthy: Your product is low or non toxic and drives valuable social outcomes.

This includes elements like: • Reduced exposure to chemicals of concern • Modern slavery • Social accountability

An initiative or scheme is defined as a third party verification of a claim that is done in accordance with an industry recognised, well governed standard.

Ecolabels, environmental product declarations, ISO 14001 certifications are all types of initiatives and schemes recognised within the Framework.

The ASI has been developing a new sustainability certification scheme, Steel Sustainability Australia, under the GBCAs Responsible Products Framework.

Michael Dawson (National ESC Manager, ASI) said, "It’s an imperative that our industry is on the front foot with sustainability best practice, and continues reduction of our carbon footprint. This is a significant opportunity and exciting time for Steel as we need to showcase our circular economy strengths and long product lifecycle as we tackle embodied carbon reduction across a very wide range of fronts.In time, Steel Sustainability Australia (SSA) will provide our downstream members with access to a wide mix of Green Star Buildings

WHAT IS GREEN STAR?

Green Star is an internationally recognised sustainability rating system, developed by GBCA, that is transforming the way the built environment is designed, constructed and operated. A Green Star certification, by the GBCA, provides independent assurance that high standards across a range of sustainability categories have been met. There are four Green Star rating tools: • Design and As Built: Schools, offices, universities, industrial facilities, public buildings, retail centres and hospitals.

• Communities: Projects at the precinct or community scale.

• Interiors: Fitouts of offices and hotels to banks and shops.

• Performance: Supporting higher levels of operational efficiency within existing buildings.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL AUSTRALIA AND THE GREEN STAR RATING TOOLS >>>

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NEW ASI MEMBERS THE AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE (ASI) WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME SEVERAL NEW MEMBERS WHO JOINED OVER THE LAST QUARTER. TO BECOME A MEMBER, SIMPLY VISIT: STEEL.ORG.AU/ABOUT-US/ MEMBERSHIP

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Newflange Industries T: 0499 969 087 E: admin@nfigroup.com.au W: facebook.com/newflangeindustries A: 69 Callan Street, Keperra Queensland PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS Adept Steel Detailing T: 0419 933 027 E: alex@adeptsteeldetailing.com W: adeptsteeldetailing.com A: Adelaide Hay Consulting & Engineering T: 0417 015 560 E: admin@hayconsulting.com.au W: hayconsulting.com.au A: 12 Maize Parkway, Thrumster New South Wales Intrax Consulting Engineers T: 03 8371 0100 E: info@intrax.com.au W: intrax.com.au A: Level 4, 469 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Victoria Joshua Consulting Engineers T: 0414 405 005 E: mchuah88@gmail.com W: joshuaconsulting.com.au A: 20 Susan Street, South Wentworthville New South Wales km-mec T: +64 03 2141602 E: info@kmmec.co.nz W: kmmec.co.nz A: 33 Gala Street, Level 1, Invercargill New Zealand

Main Roads Western Australia T: 08 9323 4111 E: enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au W: mainroads.wa.gov.au A: PO Box 6202, East Perth Western Australia FABRICATOR MEMBERS BME Australia T: 0437 541 188 W: bmeaust.com.au/BME A: 9 Charlie Triggs Crescent, Bundaberg, Queensland

Protube Engineering T: 08 8363 1311 E: info@protube.com.au W: protube.com.au A: 76 North Terrace, Kent Town South Australia Steel Dale Industries T: 08 9399 2511 E: info@steeldale.com.au W: steeldale.com.au A: 3 Stone Street, Armadale Western Australia

Innovate Structural T: 0403 470 837 A: 40 George Street, Wingfield South Australia

Teks Engineering T: 0409 718 299 E: info@teksengineering.com.au W: teksengineering.com.au A: U10/520 Grand Junction Road, Angle Park, South Australia

Jag Welding & Fabrication T: 07 3390 2411 E: sales@jagwelding.com.au W: jagwelding.com.au A: 10-12 Steel Street, Capalaba Queensland

Tonkin Schutz Design & Build T: 08 8277 0111 E: office@tsdb.com.au W: tsdb.com.au A: 16-22 Erudina Avenue, Edwardstown South Australia

Lazco Fabrications T: 07 4035 5211 E: charles@lazcofabrications.com.au W: lazcofabrications.com.au A: 8A Redden Street, Cairns Queensland

Tuddy's Engineering T: 03 5335 9544 E: les@tuddys.com.au W: tuddysengineering.com.au A: 832 Latrobe Street, Ballarat Victoria

Paragon Steel Fabrication T: 0451 151 786 E: chirag@paragonsteel.com.au W: paragonsteel.com.au A: 18A Voyager Circuit, Glendenning New South Wales

ARE YOU TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR ASI MEMBER BENEFITS? Whatever the membership category, ASI members benefit from being associated with the peak industry body advocating for the interests of the steel sector.

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Advocacy at the local, state and federal levels to advance the cause of Australian steel Member discounts on technical presentations, seminars, networking events and our Convention Regular industry news, as well as steel Australia magazine and Steel Construction journal For corporate members, promotion in the online ASI Directory and use of the ASI logo Member discounts on ASI publications and eLearning courses Superior technical advisory services, delivered by industry experts Opportunities to participate in specialist committees and groups to address steel industry issues Countless other benefits from joining and networking with a community of like-minded companies and people

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF ASI MEMBERSHIP AND JOIN THE ASI TODAY >>>

Motoring Package THE AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE ITS BRAND NEW EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OFFERS PROGRAM. TO KICK OFF THE LAUNCH OF THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE CREATED A 'MOTORING PACKAGE'. WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING TO PURCHASE A LUXURY LEXUS, FILL UP YOUR TANK OR BOOK IN A SERVICE THROUGH MOTORPASS, OR HIRE A EUROPCAR VEHICLE, THE ASI's 'MOTORING PACKAGE' HAS GOT YOUR COVERED. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANNOUNCING THE EXPANSION OF THE EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OFFERS PROGRAM OVER THE COMING MONTHS.

INSIDE THE ASI | STEEL AUSTRALIA | SUMMER 2021-2022

Exclusive ASI Member Offers

THE LEXUS CORPORATE PROGRAMME The Lexus culture is based on one simple phrase, 'Experience Amazing'. This is a promise that extends far beyond the experience of driving a superior vehicle—it’s encapsulated in every element of ownership.

The Lexus Corporate Programme delivers on this promise, offering luxury and performance combined with unique privileges, experiences and membership rewards. Eligible members can receive great benefits, including preferential corporate pricing.

WEX MOTORPASS Whether you’re a sole trader, small business or multinational organisation, WEX Motorpass offers exceptional benefits. One of the most widely accepted company fuel cards on the market, WEX Motorpass can be used for fuel, vehicle-related services, roadside assist, and a host of discounts with industry partners.

A convenient, cashless solution for fuel and vehicle management, WEX Motorpass offers benefits both on and off the road, anywhere you are.

EUROPCAR PRIVILEGE CLUB Europcar's Privilege Club is recognised in over 140 countries worldwide. With four levels of membership, the key benefits include: priority service (skip the queue), precompleted rental agreements, dedicated pickup points at airports with reduced waiting time, and complimentary vehicle upgrades (conditions apply).

You can also enjoy coupons and rewards from Europcar's partners, and add your Velocity Frequent Flyer Number to earn extra points.

For further information, or to join the ASI, email membership@steel.org.au or visit www.steel.org.au

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ASI Members: Are You Taking Advantage of Your Member Benefits?

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Advocacy at the local, state and federal levels to advance the cause of Australian steel

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Member discount on technical presentations, seminars, networking events and conventions

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Regular industry news & steel Australia magazine and Steel Construction journal

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For corporate members, promotion in the ASI Directory and use of the ASI logo

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Member discounts on ASI bookshop publications and eLearning packages

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Superior technical advisory services, delivered by experienced industry experts

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Opportunities to participate in specialist committees and groups to address steel industry issues

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Countless other benefits from joining and networking with a community of likeminded companies & people

www.steel.org.au | +61 2 8748 0180 | enquiries@steel.org.au