Mitre 10 In Trade Magazine - March 2014

MARCH 2014

CUSTOMER PROFILE: AINSWORTH & COLLINSON’S PASSION FOR BUILDING TECH 5: INNOVATION IN RECRUITMENT AN OUTERLIFE JOURNEY WAKING UP TO EARTHQUAKE-PRONE BUILDINGS SAFETY AROUND MOBILE PLANT RIGHT PEOPLE; RIGHT JOB

SEE INSIDE FOR CHANCES TO WIN GREAT PRODUCTS Offers open to account holders only Call 0800 M10 TRADE to find out more All prices and offers in this publication are valid from Saturday March 1st – Monday March 31st 2014 from participating stores.

FOREWORD Building better business It’s obvious to me that running a successful building business is no longer just about being able to secure a contract, work well with clients and finish a project with a high level of workmanship.

Unfortunately, those days are long gone and, with the increased value placed on legislation, business education, meeting pre-prescribed standards and understanding the changes within the industry, it’s becoming an considerably different business to what it was even just a few years ago.

Looking through the content list of this issue of Mitre 10 In Trade, it’s easy to see just how much ‘external’ information a builder needs to be aware of when running a business. Which is why we strive to bring as much of that to you, rather than you having to seek it out and risk missing out on something useful or vital to your business.

One entertaining and valuable way of doing this is by working with the Building Hub. We’re really pleased to have been able to renew our association with them again this year for their third roadshow, which will take the Building Hub team around the country, making you aware of what’s important. For more information on this, see page 11.

We’re also constantly thinking about new ways we can bring you relevant information within this publication – information that won’t just help you as a builder, but will also help you to develop a strong and profitable business, allowing you more time to focus on your building projects.

Andrew Cochrane, General Manager Trade Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Ltd

CONTENTS 2

PROFILE

Well-respected and award-winning Hawkes Bay building company Ainsworth & Collinson has been a Mitre 10 Hawkes Bay customer for just over a year, but has already cemeneted a firm relationship with the local store and trade staff.

PROFILE

Tech 5 is a Kiwi-owned business providing skilled resources to clients with temporary and permanent skills requirements. With the Christchurch rebuild requiring huge numbers of workers, Tech 5 is really showing its value.

PROFILE

Growing from a garden maintenance business founded in 1999, Palmerston North’s OuterLife Construction now covers a wide a varied scope of the building and construction industry.

Ainsworth & Collinson

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Tech 5

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OuterLife

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11 12 14 16 18 21

BCITO

Right people; right job

BRANZ

Minding the gap

BUILDING HUB On the road again

LEGAL

Earthquake-prone buidlings

As the building and construction industry gains momentum, many builders are looking to the future, and expanding their teams. BCITO wants to ensure that you, as an employer in the building industry, ensure you get the right people to grow your business.

IN SOME SITUATIONS, buildings need to have gaps in their construction to provide separation between materials or elements and to allow drainage and drying to occur, such as behind wall claddings. In other situations, the gaps between materials and elements must be sealed to prevent airflow – draughts – that may also carry moisture into internal spaces.

Supported by Mitre 10, the Building Hub is about to begin its third roadshow, highlighting changes in the industry, developments in Christchurch and a range of other information that can help you as a business to remain viable, relevant and profitable.

More than ever being familiar with your local council’s policy on identifying and dealing with buildings that are “earthquake-prone” is important. But what does earthquake-prone mean? And what actions do you need to take?

SITE SAFE

New Zealand’s Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, regulation 21, discusses ‘work at height’.

The regulation references a distance of 3 metres.

Unfortunately, many have misconceived that if working at height below 3 metres then no height safety precautions are necessary, and this is not true.

RACING

It’s been a busy start to 2014 for the Mitre 10 Trade Racing teams around New Zealand, with ‘Huggi’ Urquhart preparing to reignite his UDC V8 Ute Racing campaign and sprintcar drivers Caleb Brooks and Glenn Torpey in action at various tracks.

Being hit or crushed by a falling or moving object can be fatal. On a construction site this risk is exemplified with the use of cranes, vehicles and excavators – known as mobile plant, and safety needs to be a priority.

Height safety, over and under 3m

Mitre 10 Trade Racing news

MBIE Reducing risks with mobile plant

COMPETITION /LBP COUPON

Stuff to win, points to earn Don’t miss the back page

Cover: Flint Collinson, Ben Hasselman and Ken Ainsworth.

Volume 7, Issue 9 March 2014 Mitre 10 In Trade magazine is published 12 times a year in association with Mitre 10.

Managing Editor

Scott Wilson Phone: 021 725 061 Email: editor@M10magazine.co.nz

Contributors

Adrienne Jervis Carolyn Culliney – Meredith Connell BRANZ Site Safe NZ Standards NZ MBIE Gracey Monteith

Printer

Nicholson Print Solutions

Enquiries

ReFocus Media Ltd P O Box 21081 Flagstaff Hamilton 3256 Email: Info@refocusmedia.co.nz MMS Publishing reserves the right to accept or reject all editorial or advertising material. No part of In Trade magazine may be published without the express permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in In Trade magazine are not necessarily those of Mitre 10 or the publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the suggestions of the contributors or conclusions that may be drawn from them. Although the publisher has made every effort to ensure accuracy, the reader remains responsible for the correct use and selection of any tools, materials and systems followed, as well as the following of any laws or codes that may apply.

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PROFILE

Ken Ainsworth, Ben Hasselman, Peter Edwards and Flint Collinson.

Ainsworth & Collinson Ltd

A passion for the industry Ainsworth & Collinson Ltd is a well-respected Hawkes Bay building company renowned for its high-end projects. The award-winning business became a Mitre 10 customer a year ago due to a strong relationship directors Ken Ainsworth and Flint Collinson had developed with Mitre 10 Hawkes Bay Trade Manager, Peter Edwards.

“Relationships are what the industry works on,” says Flint. “At the end of the day we’re all running businesses and all have to meet our obligations. Good working relationships are necessary in our business.”

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Ken and Flint, who share a common passion for building and seeing a project through from start to finish, teamed up in 1999 to form Ainsworth & Collinson Ltd. Over the years they’ve worked hard to develop their reputation as a trusted building company. They have an uncompromising commitment to their clients. Over 90 per cent of their work is now generated through client referrals.

Renowned for high quality workmanship across the full spectrum of the building market, Ainsworth & Collinson Ltd has especially made a name for itself in the upper end of the residential market. The company has been the recipient of several Master Builders House of the Year awards.

Ainsworth & Collinson Ltd has built up a strong network of experienced subcontractors in Napier, which it is proud to

PROFILE Ainsworth & Collinson Ltd has made a name for itself at the upper end of the residential market with homes such as these.

work with. The company also works with many of the finest architects and designers that Hawkes Bay and New Zealand have to offer.

Ken, Flint and their team provide a dependable, reputable service. Their aim is to save clients time and money - two critical factors, they believe, in any undertaking. Working with an efficient, reliable building supplier like Mitre 10 is essential in their line of work.

“Mitre 10’s huge product range is also a big advantage to us,” says Flint.

The project on which Mitre 10 and Ainsworth & Collinson Ltd first partnered together was a $1m redevelopment of the Parkvale shops, lasting 10 months. Mitre 10 Trade Sales Rep Ben Hasselman, himself a former builder, was a regular presence at the job site.

“Ben does a great job,” comments Flint. “He calls on site regularly and if anything needs sorting out, he does it quickly.

Deliveries are also quick.”

Ainsworth & Collinson Ltd, which has a team of 8-10 builders, appreciates the way Mitre 10 MEGA staff go out of their way to help, citing a recent example of Mitre 10 MEGA Napier taking their hoardings from Napier to a job site in Hastings.

“They’re very obliging.”

“Mitre 10’s huge product range is also a big advantage to us,” says Flint 3

PROFILE

Recruiting for the rebuild … and beyond Recruitment company Tech 5 is 100% focused on the New Zealand Built Environment. The Kiwi-owned company with an international outreach provides skilled resources to its clients on temporary and permanent placement basis across five main skill categories areas: construction (trades and labour); engineering; architecture; property and facilities management; resources and mining. Director, Ben Allen, says Tech 5’s team of specialists has more than 50 years recruitment experience, with a heavy concentration in the construction space.

a further 4,800 and about 2,700 painting trades workers would be needed during the peak.”

The ability to think outside the square led directors, Ben Allen, John Wyatt and Brett Bothma, along with Stephen Matheson from the Christchurch office, to provide an alternative labour solution for the Christchurch rebuild. They utilised their expertise to resource from the Philippines.

Proud of what it’s achieved, Tech 5 believes that partnering with key suppliers like Mitre 10 has been crucial to success.

Ben Allen; “The Christchurch rebuild will require an additional 36,000 workers by the time of peak reconstruction which is on our door-step now, and is a massive employment challenge.

About 23,900 will be needed in the trades. In Christchurch at the moment there were about 1800 carpenters and joiners, but

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The recruitment team has successfully landed a total of 100plus Filipino tradesmen, and organised permanent housing for them here. Currently performing for Tech 5’s Christchurch clients, they’re covering various trades including carpentry, painting, plastering, wall lining installation, steel fixing, and tiling. Teams working for various residential builders and commercial construction companies around the Christchurch area have been performing admirably.

Tech 5 attributes the success to previous experience recruiting in Asia, quality hiring and screening procedures, and the knowledge of how to get things done in a respectful and honest way in the Philippines.

“We appreciate the backing we’ve received from Mitre 10 and are pleased that Mitre 10 is benefiting from the results,” says Ben, who has a long-standing relationship with Ron Cribb, Mitre 10 National Trade Key Accounts Manager.

Part of Tech 5’s solution for its clients is to have all the guys tooled up from day one, so when they arrive on site they are productive straight away. This involves a significant up-front

PROFILE “The Christchurch rebuild will require an additional 36,000 workers by the time of peak reconstruction which is on our door-step now, and is a massive employment challenge.” says Ben Allen cost for the company. Ron and the team worked closely with Tech 5 to provide the tool solution for the core carpenter, painting and tiling trades being brought in.

“Sam is often putting things together for us and dropping things off to site or our office, which means we can focus on our core business,” says Ben. From their first engagement with Ron Cribb, through to working with Kevin and Sam in Christchurch, the Mitre 10 team has listened to what Tech 5 is trying to achieve and put some fantastic systems in place for the company.

“This ensures that when we’re landing our guys from off shore, or requiring tools for our local labour, it’s simple and easy to engage. We receive the tools that day, or in line with the timeframes we have agreed.”

Sam has helped streamline the tool kits and provided his expertise around what is required in each kit to ensure the tradesmen have the correct tools on site. Both Kevin and Sam go the extra distance, often provide leads for Tech 5 and put the company in touch with key relationships Mitre 10 has in the industry.

“Mitre 10 is very competitively priced, which was a key factor for us in making our decision, though not the only decision,” comments Ben. The customer service Tech 5 receives from Kevin Rae, Project Manager Canterbury and Sam Bailey, Mitre 10 MEGA Hornby Trade Account Manager, in the Mitre 10 Hornby branch, has been a key contributor to the success of the solution.

“Being in the customer service industry ourselves, it is quite refreshing to have Ron, Kevin and Sam partnering with us. They definitely all go the extra mile to ensure Tech 5 have the tools on time and that our expectations are met.”

What Tech 5 likes about its relationship with Mitre 10 is that the team is only a phone call away and they move at the same pace as Tech 5.

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PROFILE

OuterLife growth a joint effort Aaron Shirriffs of Palmerston North began his OuterLife journey at the age of 19. Founded in 1999 as a garden maintenance business, OuterLife progressed into soft landscaping, then into hardscape landscape construction.

Mitre 10 and OuterLife have partnered on several initiatives.

At the Manawatu Home Show for instance, Mitre 10 MEGA Palmerston North joined the OuterLife stand. The partnering was a huge success for both parties. OuterLife also constructs quality in-store landscaping and construction displays for Mitre 10 MEGA Palmerston North’s store, using Mitre 10 materials.

Once these developments were firmly established, the business began moving into house alterations and renovations for the construction division. A concrete division was also added, which grew quickly. OuterLife then started building new houses.

“Traditionally, we gain enormous feedback and exposure,” says Aaron.

“We also formed our design company. It now has a huge amount of work and tends to feed all of the other divisions,” says Aaron.

Mitre 10 MEGA Palmerston North’s Trade Manager, Scott Kearney, affirms that the relationship Mitre 10 has with OuterLife is mutually beneficial. The store has invested a lot of time in supporting Aaron and helping him grow his business. “We have a really good, solid relationship.”

OuterLife has been a Mitre 10 customer for 10 years.

“Mitre 10 has the same work ethic and service standards that I do: treat people right and it will pay off,” says Aaron, who found Mitre 10 MEGA Palmerston North’s team to be nothing but exceptional in their support of OuterLife’s expansion into various areas.

“In many ways Mitre 10 has joined us as a partner in our exponential growth. We tend to view the team at Mitre 10 MEGA Palmerston North more as workmates than as suppliers.”

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In addition, OuterLife is always in-store for trade nights, ladies nights, and other special events. The company endorses Mitre 10 where it can.

Since his appointment as Trade Manager of the Mitre 10 MEGA Palmerston North store in Featherston Street, Scott has worked on store development and introduced some refreshing new initiatives.

“Standard promotions have been done to death. We strive to introduce promotions that are fun and creative, and beneficial to client, customer and store. It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” says Scott.

BCITO

Grow your business: getting the right people If we can, we’ll contact the job-seeker and get them to contact you directly; it will be up to you (the employer) to interview and decide whether the candidate is suitable for the job.

However, you need to consider that in many areas most apprentices with on-site experience have already been snapped-up. As the industry gets busier, the reality is that employers will have no choice but to hire people with less experience. The upshot of this is that you get your apprentice to do things the way you want them done – no bad habits to break! The BCITO will of course continue to market the industry to youth to ensure the best people are available.

There is also a host of things you can do to ensure you get job applications. Here are some options worth considering:

Personal connections Many will do this anyway, but worth mentioning. The chances are you know someone who knows someone who needs a job. Once you have someone on site, the BCITO can send out a training advisor to setup formal training.

As our industry gains momentum, many builders are looking to the future, and expanding their teams. We know there’s already a skills shortage, and cracks are already starting to appear in areas of higher demand, namely Auckland and Christchurch.

We take a look at how you, as an employer in the building industry, can ensure you get the right people to grow your business.

For some, work is already starting to build up, and the decision to hire a new apprentice is becoming more appealing. But a lot may have changed since you last put on an apprentice, or you may have never had one before. So where do you start?

You can start by calling the BCITO on 0800 422 486. We offer a dedicated job-matching service which puts young aspiring tradespeople in contact with employers. When you call, a teammember will want to discuss your staff requirements (such as experience, whether or not they need their own tools) to come up with a profile of who you’re looking for. We can then search our database on these requirements to see if anyone matches.

Online advertising Recent BCITO research has shown that about 90% of our apprentices use the internet every day. So if you’re going to advertise, make sure you do it online. Seek.co.nz is the most popular site in NZ, but Trademe.co.nz is catching up with their recently-launched jobs section. Most HR people these days say you need to advertise on both websites to cover all bases.

Traditional advertising This is becoming less popular, and certainly doesn’t get you in front of a national audience. However, it can still be effective in regional areas, targeting local people.

Unconventional methods Here’s where the power of social media can work for you. Tweet your job, or put it on Facebook. If you don’t know how, ask your kids, nieces or nephews! You can also post is on the wall of the BCITO Facebook page – just search BCITO in Facebook to find us. This costs nothing and you will be amazed at how many responses you will get.

Bear in mind that getting a job application is one thing, but finding the right apprentice is a different matter altogether.

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BRANZ

Mind the gap

By Alide Elkink, Freelance Technical Writer, Wellington

Where is a gap required between building materials and when should any gap be sealed? It’s important to get these correct so we review the requirements in E2/AS1 and elsewhere.

IN SOME SITUATIONS, buildings need to have gaps in their construction to provide separation between materials or elements and to allow drainage and drying to occur, such as behind wall claddings. In other situations, the gaps between materials and elements must be sealed to prevent airflow – draughts – that may also carry moisture into internal spaces.

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Specifically designed gaps Specifically-designed gaps or openings are incorporated into the building design so that drainage and ventilation can occur.

Drainage is needed to deal with any water that may have entered the internal wall space through a cladding joint, a change in cladding material or around a

window or door opening so that it can drain out again.

Ventilation is needed to: •

dry any moisture from behind a cladding after the water has drained out

•

allow air pressure moderation between the drainage cavity and/ or framing cavity and the outside,

BRANZ across wall claddings and around window and door openings – pressure moderation restricts air and moisture flow from areas of higher pressure (outside) to areas of lower pressure (inside).

Some gaps must stay open Examples of specifically designed gaps in E2/AS1 that must remain open include: •

the drainage slots at the bottom of brick veneer walls at 800 mm centres maximum, i.e. every third perpend should be left open to allow for drainage (see Figure 1)

•

openings at the top of brick veneer walls for ventilation behind the veneer

•

between the bottom of the cladding and the top of a window head flashing – 5 mm minimum

•

between the bottom of the cladding and an inter-storey flashing – 5 mm minimum

•

the sill window flange and the sill flashing for windows installed with direct-fixed cladding – 5 mm minimum

•

a notched apron flashing downturn and the roofing profile – 5 mm maximum.

sealing is the one between the

Other gaps that must be sealed include:

window or door reveal and the wall

•

movement control joints in claddings

framing forming the rough opening.

•

movement control joints in tile finishes

•

the space between the back of the jamb flange and window cladding of windows that are installed with direct-fixed sheet claddings.

A continuous airseal consisting of expanding foam over a PEF backing rod must be installed to prevent air movement from the outside to the building interior (see Figure 2).

LOCATIONS WHERE GAPS ARE REQUIRED

Another gap that must stay open is an air gap between a flexible roof underlay and roof insulation so moisture cannot transfer across the materials – 25 mm minimum.

While not a gap as such, ventilation openings must be provided and left clear under a suspended timber floor.

NZS 3604:2011 Timber-framed buildings requires 3,500 mm2 of clear opening for each 1.0 m2 of floor area.

E2/AS1

Some gaps must be sealed In some situations, gaps between elements must not be left open.

These joints must be sealed with a flexible sealant installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

NZS 3604:2011

LOCATION WHERE GAP REQUIRED

SIZE OF GAP

Brick veneer cavity

40 mm (minimum) to 75 mm (maximum), BRANZ recommends 50 mm

Top of brick veneer and soffit or cantilevered floor framing above

5 mm minimum

Cladding base to apron flashing or membrane decl

35 mm minimum

Flashing at top of cladding or interstorey flashing

5 mm

Drained and vented cavity

18–25 mm (20 mm nominal)

Expansion gap to vertical flashings with horizontally fixed profiled metal cladding

5 mm, BRANZ recommends 10 mm

Rear of bottom edge of direct-fixed cladding and foundation wall

6 mm

The most important gap requiring 9

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Eliminates blockages and also the risk of accidental accidental release if can is dropped

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Sika 1240-M10

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EDUCATION

Building Hub roadshow highlights industry changes The Building Hub is growing from strength to strength with many more projects to help LBP’s in the pipeline.

We now have more than 4,000 members and there is still plenty of growth potential yet. Members have access to recommendations for activities they can do for points, a record of the activity is kept and a quiz is completed to act as evidence. We also create products to make every LBPs life a little easier. These include digital versions of forms, guidance on employee vs contractors and our latest development, access to free contracts that are simple and easy to use.

I am often telling people we don’t do anything an LBP couldn’t do on their own - we just make is easier, faster and cheaper.

The Building Hub is about to embark on its third roadshow. Our first two roadshows in 2012 and 2013 were voted the “best ever” by attendees and we plan to do it again in 2014.

Over the next year we are going to see many changes coming up for the industry, the most recent being the Building Amendment Act 2013, which will have quite an impact on many businesses. There are more changes in the pipeline as well, many of which will be led by changes happening in Christchurch.

In the upcoming roadshow, we are going to look at some of the most recent developments in Christchurch and how this might impact on changes to the industry as a whole.

We are also going to look at the changes due to the Building Amendment Act 2013 and how this effects the money cycle.

We will be explaining changes to contracts, looking at financial literacy and how to “be good with money”.

We know we always deliver a useful and engaging roadshow and this year will be no exception. But wait, there’s more. This year our partners have put up some pretty cool prizes - and who doesn’t like free stuff! We have a fishing trip with Graeme Sinclair and a $1500 prize pack of tools.

One of the changes that will be implemented this year is a 12year defect period. Under the Building Amendment Act 2013 you will be required to offer a 12-month defect period from the time you complete a job. This means you will be required to (according to section 362Q Subsection 3) “remedy the defect (including repairing or replacing defective materials used in the building work) within a reasonable time of notification in writing of the defect.”

At the Building Hub this raises some concerns when the defect is caused by faulty materials. Under the Building Amendment Act it looks as though you are still required to repair the defect “no questions asked”, as stated by MBIE. Does this mean builders will be taking the can for faulty product? We will be discussing this on the roadshow as well and offering some advice on the processes you should take when a client informs you of a defect.

This year is looking to be another interesting year and we look forward to seeing you on the roadshow.

For more information, go to www.buildinghub.co.nz

Top catch

We’re not too sure what he was using for bait, but Glenn Coburn was wearing the right equipment – his Mitre 10 Trade gear – when he caught this pair of whopper southern blue cod.

The Mitre 10 MEGA Invercargil trade customer was fishing off Escape Reef in Foveaux Strait recently when he landed these beauties.

If you’ve got any photos of you, or someone your know, out and about in their Mitre 10 Trade gear, send it in, or get your local Mitre 10 Trade rep to contact us.

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LEGAL

Earthquake-prone buildings

by Carolyn Culliney

Carolyn Culliney is a Principal in the Commercial Corporate team at Meredith Connell.

Carolyn’s practice encompasses advice on all forms of commercial contracts. Carolyn has a particular specialization in construction law and has been a guest speaker for the New Zealand Law society on the subject.

Carolyn can be contacted on (09) 336 7500 or by email at carolyn.culliney@meredithconnell.co.nz

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It is estimated there are between 15,000 to 25,000 earthquake-prone buildings in New Zealand. The recent Wellington tremors, Auckland’s shallow earthquakes and Canterbury’s continued trembling has served as a wake-up call for the nation that we cannot be complacent. The reality is that most regions in New Zealand are likely to be affected by earthquakes at some point.

It is therefore no surprise that the seismic soundness of buildings across the country has come under the spotlight. The scale of the issue? Potentially enormous.

More than ever being familiar with your local council’s policy on identifying and dealing with buildings that are “earthquakeprone” is important. But what does earthquake-prone mean?

And what actions do you need to take?

LEGAL “Earthquake-prone” An earthquake-prone building is defined in section 122 of the Building Act 2004. Basically, a building is determined to be earthquake-prone if, during a moderate earthquake the ultimate capacity of the building to withstand it would be too great and the building would be likely to collapse – causing damage to a property or injury or death to people on or around the property.

But what is a moderate earthquake? The legal definition describes moderate earthquakes as being relative to its effect on individual buildings. For example, the ability to withstand shaking brought on by an earthquake of a particular strength is taken into account when designing a building. If an earthquake occurs, and this earthquake’s strength is one-third of the strength of the earthquake that was considered during the building’s design, this earthquake will be considered a “moderate earthquake.” Without getting bogged down in this legal definition, what you need to know is generally, if a building is assessed, and the structural strength is less than 34% of code – the building will be considered “earthquake-prone”.

Are all buildings assessed the same way?

Each local territorial authority in New Zealand is required to adopt a policy to deal with earthquake-prone buildings. Each policy’s approach, priorities, assessment and application to historic buildings is unique to its area.

In determining a building is earthquake prone, each council must take into account particular conditions of their area. Some areas are considered more vulnerable than others. For example, a building that is deemed “earthquake-prone” in Wellington, may be accepted in say, Dargaville.

The standard that earthquake prone buildings are to be upgraded to is left to individual territorial authorities to decide.

Most Councils require 34% of the minimum code, but Gisborne District Council and Christchurch City Council require buildings meet 67% of the current code. It is important you are aware of the requirement applicable to your region when dealing with construction, ownership and/or management of buildings.

What happens if the building is below code?

The local council is your first port of call for details about how to bring your building up to code in line with the level of strengthening work they require.

A building being labelled “earthquake-prone” does not mean the building must be immediately vacated. Instead, there is a maximum of 15 years to strengthen or demolish the building.

Depending on the area, your council will have adopted either an ‘active’ or ‘passive’ approach to commencing strengthening work.

An ‘active’ approach requires building owners to undertake strengthening work within a set time-

frame. Depending on the building , this is usually somewhere between 5 and 15 years. For example, the timeframe for Auckland is usually 10 years.

In contrast, a ‘passive’ approach only requires strengthening work to be carried out when works are done to the building such as alterations or change of its use. Westland and Southland (for example) follow this approach.

What should you do if the building is earthquake-prone?

Building owners For owners, we recommend the following three steps: 1. Have the building assessed as soon as possible; 2. Work out a plan to fix the problems over a reasonable period; 3. If there is any required work pending, consider any immediate hazards.

Tenants For people renting earthquake prone office buildings and homes, generally you will not be able to force a landlord to undertake structural strengthening work. However, we still suggest that if there is a risk the building may be earthquake prone, you: 1. Seek your own engineering assessment (if the building has not been assessed); 2. Check or peer review the landlord’s assessment; 3. Consider the neighbouring properties for risk of collapse; and 4. Seek a seismic warranty from the landlord.

Conclusion Your first port of call is to contact your local council for details about how to bring your building up to code. Most of the larger councils such as Auckland now have a private register of earthquake buildings. So it may be worth calling your local council in the first instance to find out if a particular building is listed. A publicly accessible national register of earthquakeprone buildings is also currently being rolled out.

While most initial assessments are underway, if your building has not yet been assessed by your council you may wish to contact your local council to ask how the building rates against the building code. You may also wish to commission your own structural engineers report to get the ball rolling.

For builders, landlords and tenants there are a number of further considerations that have not been addressed in this article. There are also likely to be significant costs involved in carrying out structural work. We advise you contact your lawyer for further information and advice.

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SITE SAFETY

Height safety, over and under 3 metres WorkSafe New Zealand’s ‘Preventing Falls from Height’ campaign is part of the Construction Sector Action Plan. It aims to reduce harm by raising awareness about the safe use of ladders and safe working on roofs.

height safety precautions are necessary, and this is not true.

•

more than 50% of falls are from less than three metres;

‘Work at height’ means work in any place where a person could fall down and injure themselves, in other words if a worker is exposed to any of the following:

•

approximately 70% of falls are from ladders and roofs;

•

builders, roofers, electrical workers, painters and decorators are the most likely to fall from height and get seriously hurt while they are working;

•

the cost of falls from height in construction has been estimated at $24 million a year.

• • •

working above ground level a fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface a fall from ground level into an opening in a floor or hole in the ground.

New Zealand’s Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, regulation 21, discusses ‘work at height’. The regulation references a distance of 3 metres. Unfortunately, many have misconceived that if working at height below 3 metres then no 14

The Reality WorkSafe NZ statistics on construction falls from height show:

Solutions More relevant than regulation 21 are the over-arching duties of the Health and Safety Act 1992 which requires a hierarchy of control to be implemented whenever there is potential for harm.

SITE SAFETY

• Can the need to work at height be eliminated?

Is it possible to design out the need to work at height, such as locating plant and building services in a location free from falls, or prefabricating structural components at ground level for installation during construction? Additionally, long-handled tools or other equipment can sometimes be used to safely carry out a task from ground level.

•

If eliminating the need to work at height is impossible, then try to make sure the risk of a fall is isolated.

An existing roof with permanent guard rails or a parapet around the edges is an example of isolating of a fall from height – because the place of work is already safe. If regular access is required it may be reasonable to create a safe place of work by installing permanent guard rails around the work area. Using equipment with permanent guard rails systems installed such as in scaffolds, podium steps, cherry pickers and scissor lifts are another isolating measure to prevent people from falling.

•

If measures cannot be put in place to isolate a fall, then minimising the consequences of the fall is essential.

Fall arrest equipment and safety nets are examples of such measures, because they should minimise the risk of injury if someone falls.

Complies with standards AS/NZS 1576.1:2010 & AS/NZS 4994.1:2009

When using any equipment for work at height, it’s essential that: • • • •

The equipment is set up correctly Users are trained to use it properly and safely It is regularly inspected and well maintained A competent supervisor is present to ensure users are working safely.

Take home messages: • •

•

Working at any height is hazardous (over or under 3 metres) A means to prevent harm from falls must be selected using the hierarchy of control (eliminate, isolate, minimise) – use the most effective control possible Doing nothing is not an option.

For help in site specific safety planning, contact a Site Safe Advisor or check out the training course ‘Advanced Passport’. www.sitesafe.org.nz • 0800 SITE SAFE

Roof Edge Protection & Working Platform Scaffold System

Easily erected on building sites regardless of ground terrain No vertical support posts to restrict accessibility and construction around the site New Zealand-made steel components for durability and reliable performance Packs down into compact volume for transportation and storage

For more information visit: www.miteknz.co.nz

Accommodates a range of roof pitch and overhangs while maintaining required safety standards Available from Mitre 10 stores throughout New Zealand

15 15

RACING

Busy start to racing season None of the Mitre 10 Trade racing teams have had a relaxed or quiet start to 2014, with James’ Huggi’ Urquhart’s UDC V8 Ute Racing campaign and the sprintcar programmes of Glenn Torpey and Caleb Brooks all well underway for the new year.

“We ended last year a bit smashed up so have done a little bit of fine tuning and are ready to get back on track,” said Urquhart. “We continue into 2014 as the Mitre 10 Trade Racing team and are thrilled that our relationship with Mitre 10 has been renewed for another season. Mitre 10 is one of the country’s biggest and fastest growing trade suppliers, so we take great pride in supporting them to reward their trade customers’ loyalty with a unique motorsport experience.”

The first round of the 2014 season had taken place at the new world class Highlands Park Motorsport Park in Cromwell as this issue of In Trade was going to press, but wasn’t a great one for Huggi who collected a concrete barrier in practice and suffered significant front-end damage.

However, he’d headed into the Cromwell event full of confidence, planning to take 2014 head on and ready to claim as many points as possible, but it wasn’t to be, with the incident ruling him out of the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Christchuch-based Brooks Race Team sprintcar outfit has been working its way through the Wars of the Wings series throughout the South Island.

16

Two DNFs in the first two races at Caleb Brooks’ home track of Ruapuna saw him start at the back of he grid for the feature, but he fought hard to come home ninth before packing up and heading off to Cromwell.

In race one, he led from the front of the grid for eight laps before a slip saw him drop back to sixth, followed by an eleventh place in race two – a result which saw him off the back of the grid for the feature. In a chaotic race in which only half the field finished, Caleb held on to finish seventh.

A repeat shot on New Year’s day in Cromwell saw Caleb finish ninth and then a strong second before getting pinged for a debatable jump at a restart in the feature, which saw him relegated to the rear of the grid.

A third visit to Cromwell for the NZ Sprintcar Title required six exhausting heat races for Caleb to grab a spot in the B-main, a race in which he needed a top two finish to get onto the back of the grid for the A-main feature race.

Climbing from sixth to fourth in the first lap, he managed to jump up one further spot by the end, missing out on an A-main spot by one agonising place.

“Gutted I missed out on the A-main, especially by one spot, but a great experience overall,” Caleb said.

After only a few days back at home, Caleb and the team were back on track at Ruapuna for the Gold Cup, which involved most of the cars from the NZ title event.

RACING

After a couple of forgettable heat races and one DNF, Caleb ended up at the back of the 20-car field for the feature, but put his earlier races behind him to carve his way through the field and finish tenth.

“It was an awesome achievement to be in the top 10 amongst some heavy hitters,” he said. “It was also great to catch up with Auckland-based Mitre 10 Trade Racing driver Glenn Torpey who came out to fly the flag in the stand for us.”

Torpey himself has also been busy, beginning with a round of racing at Western Springs Speedway in Auckland.

Unfortunately for the sprintcar field, the NZ Midget Championship were also being run, causing just two sprintcar races to be run.

After starting race one in ninth, he climbed to eight by race end and followed that up with a sixth in race two.

The following round – also at the Springs – offered up a slick track, which the Team Torpey driver handled well to finish ninth in both heats. In the feature, a mid-race yellow flag caused his tyres to cool, and he struggled home in eleventh on a track he described as like “driving on polish concrete.”

Rain eventually washed out the next round, with just one sprintcar race run before it was called off – a race Glenn finished in eighth.

The New Years Day event drew a crowd of 13,000 to Western Springs – Glenn finishing tenth and seventh in the two heat races before a strong start for the Mitre 10 Trade racing

machine in the 20-lap feature saw him running well until he clipped another car and lost the front wing with the race almost complete.

Round nine of the season brought an even larger crowd – 16,000 people – and Team Torpey had repaired the sprintcar, which Glenn steered to a magnificent second place in heat one. A tenth place in heat two on a deteriorating track set him up for a good start in the feature but, because of time restrictions, the main race was called off, to the disappointment of the team.

“Over the Christmas and New Year race meetings, we were rapt to see and meet so many race fans,” Glenn said. “It has also been great to meet lots of the race fans, young and old.

This is what speedway is all about.

“We had queues of fans sitting in the Mitre 10 Trade Racing sprintcar and not one left the track without a smiling face.

We also has a lot of feedback on how awesome the sprintcar looks in its new Mitre 10 Trade Racing colours.”

“A big thanks to Mitre 10 for their fantastic support and sponsorship. Without this support, we would not have such a well-presented race car and team.”

For more information please visit: or facebook.com/mitre10traderacing mitre10traderacing.com

17

MB I E Reduce the risks with mobile plant Steve Moran and Steven Nikolovski Canterbury Rebuild Health and Safety Programme WorkSafe New Zealand

without the safety pin in place, and then suddenly swing open resulting in the bucket or attachment falling and crushing people in close proximity.

Being hit or crushed by a falling or moving object can be fatal. On a construction site this risk is exemplified with the use of cranes, vehicles and excavators – known as mobile plant.

• Checking that every operator is trained in the use of the quick hitch on the excavator and that they know whether it is automatically secured or manually secured with a safety pin

Right now almost every street in Canterbury has some kind of mobile plant and equipment working on or near it. This is why we’re making mobile plant safety a priority.

On-site traffic One of the major hazards on construction sites with mobile plant is traffic and vehicle movement. A traffic management plan needs to be in place to identify: • Where mobile plant and vehicles are in use • Where mobile plant may interact with pedestrians or plant, and potential collision areas.

The plan should also include providing training to all affected workers and visitors to the site and: • Separating vehicle and pedestrian routes on site, or scheduling work at different times • Substituting mobile plant with something less hazardous, ie replacing a forklift with a pallet jack if appropriate • Using audible and visible alarms on mobile plant.

Another option is to use spotters or traffic controllers and restricting access to certain areas where mobile plant are operating. Importantly, everyone on site should be wearing high-visibility clothing so they can be seen.

Quick hitches In 2012 two people died in New South Wales, Australia, in separate accidents involving quick hitches on excavators.

Quick hitches are devices that are fitted to an excavator arm or a backhoe arm to quickly mount or dismount attachments.

They depend on positive hydraulic pressure or a securing mechanism (a safety pin) to hold the buckets and other attachments. In some cases the system may still function 18

Keep yourself and others safe by:

• Ensuring that safety pins are in place as required • Always keeping quick hitches well maintained and in proper working order • Only using the excavator once the operator is satisfied that the quick hitch is secured • Setting up an exclusion zone when excavator is in use, to ensure others are not working below the excavator.

Breathing easy As with other hazards on a construction site, noise, fumes and poor visibility are also hazards when working with mobile plant.

Operators of forklifts are at particular risk of poor inhalation and even carbon monoxide poising if using fuel-powered plant in a confined space. People can become overcome without realising they are being exposed and even low levels of carbon monoxide positing can set off chest pains.

Avoid using a petrol or diesel-operated machine or vehicle in a confined space, or if you must use one, then ensure that the area is properly ventilated

Training Mobile plant are inherently dangerous if not operated correctly and safely. That’s why it’s crucial any staff operating mobile plant are appropriately trained and competent. In fact, it’s a legal requirement under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.

All trained operators will know that mobile plant should never been left running or the bucket or attachment raised when unattended, even for just a short time. Passengers and visitors to the site should also never be allowed access.

For more information on health and safety at work in Canterbury visit www.worksafe.govt.nz

YOUR PROTECTION IS IN

SAFE

HANDS

With the rapid growth of the serious DIY sector, hardware stores are continuing to grow to accommodate more in the way of home improvement solutions. With this rapid growth, comes a greater number of people putting themselves at risk by not knowing or using the correct PPE equipment when on the job.

Every year, more and more DYI home renovators are putting themselves at risk simply by not wearing the right safety protection or any safety protection at all.

Do you find yourself carrying out tasks using loud power tools, painting a wall, pulling out a kitchen, demolishing a bathroom? All of these activities have associated safety hazards. These hazards may include breathing in dust from sanding or having a flying particle lodge in your eye from grinding. You may have experienced ringing in your ears resulting from exposure to loud noise or have your hand cut when working around sharp objects. All of these hazards are preventable, and prevention is the key on and off the job.

Now every handy person can have the same industrial style protection to wear when working on projects and with the knowledge they’re using equipment that meets the most rigorous industry standards. Each Stanley® safety product is made with the highest quality materials, and meets Australian and New Zealand stringent safety standards. “Stanley® Personal Protection looks the part and takes comfort and style to the extreme” Get down to the job by using any one of the products from this innovative range: • Lightweight and disposable Standards approved respirators offer ultimate comfort and protection from harmful dusts, mists and fumes.

• Safety eyewear and goggles designed with protection from harmful UV rays, durability, comfort and style. All of Stanley’s eye protection products meet and exceed the Australian and New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 1337.

• Hearing protection products including the SYNC earmuff which allows you to plug in your MP3 player for personal listening enjoyment. Pop on your Sync, and you’re ready to listen to your favourite music or sports before starting up the lawn mower.

• Comfortable gloves provide cut, puncture and abrasion resistance, offer a better grip and protect your hands when working on projects every day.

• Falls from height are is a leading cause of injury, even death. The Stanley range now incorporates a Roof Worker Fall Protection Kit including harness, anchorage line with rope grab and tie off adaptor for your general work at height applications** With Stanley® Personal Protective Equipment, you get a premium class safety product that takes quality, comfort and style to the highest level, whilst keeping Standards requirements in mind. ** Working at height should be undertaken by trained personnel

STANLEY® and are trademarks of The Stanley Works or its affiliates are used under license by Honeywell Safety Products Australia Pty Ltd.

PersonalProtection

in to e b d n a

tWo

& Power tools

worth

one of gear trailers $

15,000

Purchase any Makita powertool or outdoor power equipment from an authorised retailer between February 1st & April 30th 2014, and go in the draw to win a Makita gear trailer and $5000 worth of selected powertools or outdoor power equipment.

see entry form in-store or www.makita.co.nz for details and conditions

WIN A

CANON IXUS COMPACT

CAMERA

Answer the following question and go in to win a Canon IXUS 16.1 Megapixel Camera.

How long do you have to strengthen or demolish a building once it’s been deemed “earthquake prone”?

Email your answer to m10trade@mitre10.co.nz with the words “March competition” in the subject line.

Email your answer, your name, company name, physical address, daytime phone number and the name of the store you hold an account with.

All entries must be received by 5pm on Wednesday April 2, 2014.

Conditions of entry: You may enter only once/ Prize(s) are as outlined. Prize(s) are non-

refundable, non-transferrable and not redeemable for cash. The winner(s) will be notified by phone or email. Employees of ReFocus Media Ltd Ltd, Mitre 10 (NZ) Ltd, suppliers of goods to Mitre 10 and their immediate families and agencies are not eligible to enter. By entering this contest, you consent to the use of your name in all matters related to this contest, including any advertising or publicity without further compensation. Results of this promotion will be published in a later issue of Mitre 10 In Trade magazine. Prices that may be quoted in this promotion were accurate recommended retail prices at the time of publication. ReFocus Media Ltd and Mitre 10 (NZ) Ltd accept no responsibility for any loss or damage incurred from the use of these products.

THIS PUBLICATION IS RECOGNISED

BY THE BUILDING AND HOUSING GROUP AS CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THE SKILLS MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LICENSED BUILDING PRACTITIONER SCHEME. If you are a Licensed Building Practitioner, cut out and safely retain this panel with your skills maintenance literature for future reference and audit confirmation.

Ref. In Trade Vol 7, Issue 9 March 2014

✃

21

速

Over 30 colours taken from nature A choice of traditional oil-based and new waterbased stains that enhance the look of exterior timber in ways you will absolutely love, while offering superior timber protection. This superb range of colours allows the exterior of your home to be as much a fashion statement as the interior.

Colour depicted is Red Kwila. This visual should be used as an indicative guide only. Photographic and printed image may not represent the true colour.