NZ Plumber June-July 2017

SMART BUSINESS TIPS FROM THE 2017 MASTER PLUMBER OF THE YEAR—See p50

JUNE/JULY 2017

SMART YOUNG THINGS Our industry’s future leaders

TRENCH SHORING

New technology for excavations NEW!

TECHNICAL THEME

VINTAGE SOLUTIONS ONLY ROCK ’N’ ROLL Plumbing for wineries But he likes it!

BATHROOM INNOVATION

Intelligent toilets, wet area showers and more

Thanking plumbers for 130 years of support.

Buy any* 3 get a FREE CENTIQUE SINK MIXER! FUTURA FT BASIN MIXER

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Promotion valid from 11th May 2017 to 31st August 2017. For full t&c’s visit methven.com/130promo

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ECHO STRATA SINK MIXER

EDITORIAL

Volume 69, Number 3 MAGAZINE TEAM CEO Greg Wallace EDITOR Beverly Sellers 03 543 2008 beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz DESIGN Sally Travis Design www.sallytravisdesign.co.nz PRINT Service Printers 258 Taranaki Street Wellington 6141 SUBSCRIPTIONS NZ Plumber is published six times a year by Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ. MPGD members receive all six editions.

Non-members can subscribe online at www.masterplumbers.org.nz MAILING LIST For enquiries, or to update your details: beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz Non-Master Plumbers’ members with address detail changes should notify the PGD Board direct, giving their registration number licensing@pgdb.co.nz TO ADVERTISE Contact Catherine Schuster 027 839 8398 cschuster@masterplumbers.org.nz

NZ Plumber is the official magazine of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Inc. Contact details for the MPGD Board, Society staff and Regional Associations are available at www.masterplumbers.org.nz ©NZ Plumber 2013. Registered as a Newspaper, GPO, Wellington, ISSN 0111-4379. NZ Plumber is subject to copyright in its entirety. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication, unless initially specified otherwise.

All letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled ‘Not for Publication’. Views expressed in articles in NZ Plumber magazine are not necessarily those of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Inc, or of the Editor. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication, the publisher and the Editor take no responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences of reliance on this information. Publication of advertising material implies no endorsement of either a product or service.

Talkin’ ’bout my generation How many different generations work together in your workplace?

AS A TAIL-end Baby Boomer, I enjoyed listening to Lynn Harris talk at the recent conference about the different generations and how they interact.

Successful workplaces are able to embrace diversity to get the best from their staff—be that diversity in age, race or gender. When a Baby Boomer boss understands what makes a Gen Y or Gen X employee tick, it becomes that much easier to manage expectations and motivate staff.

These generational categories are generalisations, of course, and each individual has his or her own drivers and values, which an employer does well to understand.

Turn to p70 to read more about the topic.

We feature some outstanding Gen Y tradespeople and apprentices in this edition—shining lights who look set to be this industry’s leaders in the future. Meet the James Douglas Medallion finalists and overall winner on p66, as well as five young Masterlink apprentices who have impressed their host firms, polytech tutors and Masterlink mentors (p72).

Millennials are said to value a good work-life balance and a trades career satisfies this well, judging by the many hobbies and interests each of these winners has outside the workplace.

The generation that’s currently entering into apprenticeships in our trades will soon be training within an updated qualification programme. On p74, Skills asks for your feedback on the new plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying apprenticeship programmes, with the aim of launching them by this December.

As the Baby Boomers head into and towards retirement, it is these young people we need to attract into trades careers. If you have a millennial in your workplace, do you know what motivates them to do their best?

Beverly Sellers Editor, NZ Plumber, beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz

OVER TO YOU The best email, letter, tip or photo sent in by readers that we publish on this page wins a $30 prize voucher!

Do you have a picture, story or news to share? Or feedback on any of the articles you’ve read in NZ Plumber? We’d love to hear from you. Email the Ed: beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz or give me a call on 03 543 2008.

OH YEAH, LIKE THAT’S GONNA HELP This is wrong in so many ways… thanks to Derek Staines at Weltec for bringing a chuckle to the day by sending in this photo of one bloke’s sorry take on health and safety. Prize voucher coming your way Derek!

June/July 2017

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Inside this issue

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JUNE/JULY 2017

WHAT’S ON 7

MASTER PLUMBERS NEWS 8

CEO Greg Wallace raises concerns about AS/NZS Standards; new e-learning opportunities; Best in Brand winner and new members

IN FOCUS 12

(Not so) freshwater The state of our rivers and lakes

REAL LIVES 14

22

Training and events for the industry

Business as usual In sickness and in health

23

Shower channel installation Getting it right Aged care New nurse call technology

INDUSTRY TALK 36 By George!

Celebrating George Methven’s legacy 37

NUTS & BOLTS

Sam’s speak The eating habits of plumbers

24 Hydraulic trench shoring Lightweight trench jack systems

39 Flexi hose failures Cause for concern?

26 Gas Ring Is gas heating being misrepresented?

40 Scholarship for women Site Safe has a new construction scholarship

27

Tech points This edition’s technical updates in brief

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

40 People NZ representative for WPC & new PGDB investigator

64 Rock ’n’ roll plumber Richard Reder loves to dance

30 Vintage solutions A winery plumbing specialist

41

TECHNICAL THEME: BATHROOM INNOVATION

WORLD VIEW

17

Toilet intelligence Toilets get clever

18

Waterproofing tiled showers Installer advice

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June/July 2017

34 Across the ditch Promises from WA’s new state government

Havelock North report out Findings from the Stage 1 inquiry

42 Truck loader crane safety Why training is a must 42 Site Safe online learning Launching an online & classroom training option

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER SMART BUSINESS TIPS FROM THE 2017 MASTER PLUMBER OF THE YEAR—See p50

JUNE/JULY 2017

66

SMART YOUNG THINGS Our industry’s future leaders

24

TRENCH SHORING

New technology for excavations NEW!

TECHNICAL THEME

30

30

42 Gas appliance testing IAPMO now offers certification and testing

54 Good time planning Profitable business focus: remember to future proof

SUPPLY LINES

55

43 Joined the movement?

Take the plunge, says Teletrac Navman!

INNOVATION

5 tips for accurate estimating Profitable business focus: how to secure project success

VINTAGE SOLUTIONS ONLY ROCK ’N’ ROLL Plumbing for wineries But he likes it!

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BATHROOM INNOVATION

Intelligent toilets, wet area showers and more

64 Cover photograph: Brendan Baker & Colby Baker at Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing. Photograph by Bruce Bernard of Sun Media Ltd.

NEXT GENERATION 66 Future leaders Meet the James Douglas finalists and overall winner 70 Generational divide Is Gen Y getting an unfair rap?

Know thy customer Profitable business focus: understanding your customer

72

Scholarship winners Masterlink apprentices with promising careers ahead

74

46 Trading on your terms How to make terms of trade work for your business

58 Permanent or casual?

Standard, fixed term and casual agreements

What’s your view?

Skills wants your feedback on the new PGD quals

TIMES PAST

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 75

48 Paying contractors Tax changes you need to know about

60 Member services Services offered to Master Plumbers over the years

44 Copper revolution Award-winning copper plumbing system

SMART BUSINESS

50 Customers first Business tips from the 2017 Master Plumber of the Year 52

For the family Advice for husband and wife tradie teams

57

SAFETY FIRST 62 Playing it cool Preventing Legionnaires’ disease from cooling towers and plant

What’s new to the marketplace

AND FINALLY 77

Offcuts Memes, jokes and media odds and ends

78 Dodgy plumbing You couldn’t make it up…

June/July 2017

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#loveplumbing

DELIVERING THE GOODS

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

COMPETITIVE TRADE PRICING

FULLY STOCKED All leading brands stocked

YOUNG PLUMBERS CLUB Future proofing our industry

INDUSTRY SUPPORT

Leading supporter of the industry and apprentices

Branches Nationwide. Freephone 0800 800 686 www.plumbingworld.co.nz

SPECIALIST EXPERIENCE

REWARDS

Earn 1 MaxPoint for every $125 spent*

RELIABLE DELIVERY

Urgent and reliable deliveries direct to site

TRADE DEALS Regular trade promotions

WARRANTIES

Full parts back-up service and warranties

E-COMMERCE

Secure online access to account information

EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS

Superior quality at competitive prices

What’s on

Events and training coming up on the industry calendar.

EVENTS

If you have an event you would like to promote in a future edition of NZ Plumber, please email the Ed: beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz

Associated Tradesperson Electrical course

Facilities Integrate

Dates:

Venue: ASB Showgrounds, Auckland

•

10 July-23 September, Christchurch

Cost: Free

•

4 September-18 November, Auckland

This trade-only event is for building operators, facility managers and installers. Try and buy equipment, source suppliers, network and stay up with what’s happening for the industry via workshops and speakers. For facility management professionals, the event will cover building management systems, energy management services, HVAC systems, maintenance supplies and technologies, and more.

For more information, go to www.facilitiesintegrate.nz

Cost: $950 inc GST (including EWRB exam fees). The student’s employer will be subsidised $550 ex GST from the ITO on successful completion of the course and exam. Costs do not include the application fee for the EWRB practising licence.

E-tec is offering Associated Tradesperson Electrical Licence courses for plumbers and gasfitters. The course comprises: • • •

6-10 weeks’ distance learning in your own time in paperbased format 3-day practical course at the end of the distance learning ERWB Associated Tradesperson exam at the end of the practical course.

A list of the types of electrical work this permits the plumber and gasfitter to carry out can be found at www.ewrb.govt.nz/workingsafely-and-in-compliance/limits-of-work Download and complete the application form at www.etec.ac.nz/ Courses/5

Water New Zealand Backflow Conference 2017 Date: 3-4 August Venue: Trinity Wharf Hotel, Tauranga The Water New Zealand Backflow Group will be holding its biennial conference over two days in August. The event is aimed at backflow practitioners, territorial water utilities, regional councils and Ministry of Health water assessors.

For more information, visit www.waternz.org.nz/Events

Gas NZ Industry Forum Date: 7-9 November Venue: Wairakei Resort, Taupo This is the annual event for the upstream and downstream gas industry. The shape of the Forum programme is likely to remain similar to that of previous years. For updates on programme details and pricing, visit the Gas New Zealand website. If you’re planning to attend, it’s worth booking your accommodation early using the form on the website.

For more information and to book, visit www.gasnz.org.nz/nz-gasindustry

Date: 27-28 September

Backflow Prevention courses Dates: July, September & October Venues: Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Lower Hutt Cost: $850 ex GST Three-day backflow prevention and one-day refresher courses are being held by Opus Education. The three-day course covers the installation, testing and inspection requirements for backflow prevention.

For more information and to book, visit www.masterplumbers.org.nz and go to the Training menu.

Auckland Build 2017 Date: 2 & 3 November Venue: ASB Showgrounds, Auckland Cost: Free This construction exhibition focuses exclusively on noncommercial and commercial construction opportunities in Auckland and the rest of New Zealand.

Gain access to construction projects and solutions, and network with contractors, developers, architects, government and other industry professionals.

The 2017 show will expand on last year’s event, with additional themes, workshops, 50+ speakers, 200+ international exhibitors and a doubled floorplan size.

Auckland Buildings Expo will run alongside, with a focus on building services and management, security, smart technology, automation and interiors.

Register for free at www.aucklandbuildexpo.com

June/July 2017

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MASTER PLUMBERS NEWS

Keeping up Standards

Master Plumbers spends a great deal of time, resource and money working on various AS/NZS Standards committees.

MASTER PLUMBERS IS committed to ensuring that this industry has a voice and that these Standards are practical for the New Zealand market.

We utilise specialists in their fields to participate in Standards committees.

Joint standards are reviewed, modified and discussed in a number of different formats to meet a timeframe that is mutually agreed by New Zealand and Australia.

The AS/NZS 3500 plumbing and drainage Standard series is currently undergoing a major review, with meetings taking place each month to break down the Standards in detail.

Although our goal is to have joint Standards with Australia wherever practical, sometimes there will be particular requirements for New Zealand conditions. For example, modifications are necessary to meet earthquake requirements for the New Zealand construction market.

We should not underestimate the work that Master Plumbers and our specialist consultants do in this area.

It is an expensive process, but hugely important that we are represented.

The Specialist Trade Contractors

Federation (STCF)—of which Master Plumbers is a member—recently expressed its concern that the cost to be involved in NZ Standards committees is significant, yet there is very little or no cost recovery.

STCF is concerned that the Standards process is slanted to reflect the interests of those who can satisfy the funding requirements to meet the costs of Standards NZ. In a disturbing development, some Standards have even been dropped due to Standards NZ’s refusal to fund the costs, despite the industry investing significant time and resources to provide technical expertise.

STCF believes problems have become acute since Standards NZ was incorporated into MBIE last year, and it is seeking urgent action to address weaknesses in the organisation and its programme. Master Plumbers will be following developments with interest.

On another note, I was recently invited to attend a conference of the Building Officials Institute (BOINZ) as the plumbing representative on a panel also comprising representatives from MBIE and the steel and glass industries.

It was a surprise that many in the audience didn’t realise that the entry point for plumbing products arriving into New Zealand was so low and not policed to any level that Master Plumbers is satisfied with.

We are still seeing a wide range of

NEW MEMBERS

• • • •

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Advance Plumbing & Gas Ltd in Hamilton Artisan Plumbing & Gas Ltd in Rangiora Baywide Plumbing & Gas Ltd in Tauranga Bigelow Plumbing Ltd in Christchurch Complete Plumbing Solutions Ltd in Lower Hutt

June/July 2017

Greg Wallace, CEO Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ

Want to join?

A warm welcome to new Master Plumbers’ member businesses: •

products entering the market through the internet or direct purchasing. We have grave concerns around their durability in New Zealand conditions. Until there is a process for products entering the market to be verified by an independent organisation, we believe New Zealand consumers remain vulnerable to future issues of product failure.

It is worth noting that Australian state governments have agreed to strengthen the Watermark certification regime for products being sold in the Australian market. This will eventually mean that merchants will have to verify that products have been tested and meet local standards.

Master Plumbers believes this is a much stronger process than we have currently in New Zealand. It is something MBIE should be considering to protect tradespeople and consumers from products that may not meet the Building Code or New Zealand Standards.

We are again addressing this issue with MBIE officials, with the aim of heightening their awareness of the risks of taking little or no action.

• • • • • •

Elite Plumbing & Gas Waikato Ltd in Hamilton Flow Plumbing & Heating Ltd in Wellington Hunter Plumbing Ltd in Christchurch Parallel Plumbing Ltd in Auckland Progress Plumbing in Auckland Winger Services Ltd in Waiheke Island

Discover the business benefits of becoming a member of Master Plumbers! Contact Catherine Schuster on 027 839 8398 or email cschuster@masterplumbers.org.nz SPECIAL TWO-YEAR MEMBERSHIP DEAL AVAILABLE!

Watch and learn!

Struggling with the pressures of work, and not enough time in the day? Want to get more from your team?

Two new 30-minute ‘webinars’ on the Master Plumbers website have some useful tips and advice on these topics.

Webinars are basically online learning sessions that you can view on your desktop computer, tablet or smartphone.

To access, just go to www.masterplumbers.org.nz/training/elearning and click on the webinar of your choice.

Couldn’t be easier.

We are keen to hear your feedback on our free e-learning opportunities. Email your comments and suggestions for course topics to training@masterplumbers.org.nz

Metal Collection

A great way to pick up some valuable business skills—and it’s free.

Luxury Bathroom

Shower Channel

Finishes

Code of Conduct updated Be sure to read the latest version.

This is a reminder to members that we recently updated the Code of Conduct, which is a fundamental condition of membership. It sets out the expectations Master Plumbers has of its members and their conduct with other members, employees, customers and the industry in general.

Members must always ensure their actions support the purpose of the Commerce Act 1986—that is, the promotion of competition in markets for the long-term benefit on NZ consumers.

A pre-recorded webinar on the Commerce Act and its purpose is available to view in the member section of the Master Plumbers’ website. It is presented by Nick Crang, a Partner with Duncan Cotterill.

Find the webinar, together with the Master Plumbers’ Code of Conduct and Code of Practice, at www.masterplumbers.org.nz, under Rules and Strategy.

Best in Brand prize We have another winner.

Congratulations to CF Reese Plumbing for winning this edition’s Best in Brand prize. A $200 prize voucher is on its way. “Luv your work. Anything will be well received for the team!” says CF Reese's Dave Morgan.

Get your entries in For your chance to win, send in a photo of how you’re using the Master Plumbers’ branding in your workplace. Email to vprice@masterplumbers.org.nz by Friday 14 July 2017. >

Custom sizes available Kit includes VF80 flange

And floor waste gully

AS/NZS 1260

The Vision series is an all stainless steel shower channel and grate system with a centre outlet, available off the shelf from Allproof.

Vision shower channel kits include your choice of stainless steel grate and channel, a VF80 leak control flange and Allproof also have available the full floor waste gully system.

The Vision series is available in four stock lengths: 800, 900, 1000 and 1200mm.

allproof.com

MASTER PLUMBERS NEWS

NEW: HR templates

Free! Online course: AS/NZS 5601

A number of members have expressed an interest in being provided with interview and performance review templates for their businesses.

These are now available through Master Plumbers’ HR Manager Lisa Duston and will be uploaded to the website in due course. Contact Lisa on 021 245 1704 or email lduston@masterplumbers.org.nz

Our online courses are a great way to get the team involved in some on-site learning at no cost to your business.

The first has just launched. Entitled AS/NZS 5601 Gas Installations, it includes some short online quizzes to test your knowledge of this essential gasfitting Standard—so it’s best studied individually.

Anyone wanting to take the course needs to register their interest at www.masterplumbers.org.nz/training to be emailed a username, password and link to the Moodle platform where it is hosted.

Our first online course is up and running.

Love the Tron!

Save the date for next year’s NZ Plumbing Conference in Hamilton.

Put it in your calendar now… the 2018 NZ Plumbing Conference will be held at Hamilton’s superb Claudelands Arena from 21-23 March 2018—all members welcome and urged to attend!

Why? Because it’s got to be the best way to get information under one roof to help your business become more profitable, efficient and sustainable.

Above: Attendee accommodation will be available at the Novotel and Ibis Tainui Hamilton.

Above: Lost World experience with Waitomo Adventures.

Above: The Hobbiton movie set in Matamata.

Above: Hamilton Gardens.

Above: Black Abyss tubing with the Legendary Black Water Rafting Company.

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June/July 2017

Above: The Claudelands Conference & Exhibition Centre venue.

Platinum Partners Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ thanks the following Platinum Partners for their support:

Gold Partners Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ thanks the following Gold Partners for their support:

Silver Partners Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ thanks the following Silver Partners for their support:

June/July 2017

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IN FOCUS

(Not so) fresh water Our lakes and rivers are under growing strain from both urban and rural activities, says the 2017 freshwater report.

NITROGEN LEVELS ARE worsening at over half of New Zealand’s monitored river sites; 72 percent of native fish species reported on are threatened with or at risk of extinction; and more than half the water allocated for consumptive use is being used for irrigation, the bulk of it in Canterbury.

This, according to the Our fresh water 2017 report, released in April by the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ. The report confirms our freshwater environment faces a number of serious challenges, says Government Statistician Liz MacPherson.

“Many of our species are found nowhere else in the world, so it is even more crucial we don’t lose any under our watch.”

As a society, we have seen clearing of native vegetation, draining of wetlands, farming, forestry and urbanisation—all of which have placed increasing pressure on our lakes and rivers and their ecosystems, notes the report. “As our population and agriculture-based economy grow, our need for fresh water is likely to increase in the future.”

Urban water quality As the report summary notes, in urban environments, contaminants enter water bodies mainly through stormwater and wastewater networks, illegal connections to the networks,

our need for fresh water is likely to increase in the future 12

June/July 2017

and leaky pipes, pumps, and connections.

Barriers to uptake of sustainable urban water technologies need to be identified and removed, says Professor Jenny Webster-Brown, the Director of the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management at the University of Canterbury.

The report highlights the poor state of urban streams, she says, “something which is easily overlooked in the rush to blame dairy farmers for all of our freshwater problems”.

“There are already solutions available for preventing

National water management survey

Water New Zealand is running a survey to gauge national opinion on water management. Called ‘What value do we put on water?’ the survey is the first of its kind and covers such topics as: • • • • • •

Water quality and cost Climate change Disaster preparedness Service from providers Infrastructure management Water costs.

The survey is at www.nzwatersurvey.co.nz and comes with a chance to win $2,000 for those who take part.

IN FOCUS

90% of wetlands have been drained since people arrived in NZ. Wetlands are important for filtering nutrients, flood control, and native wildlife habitat.

New Zealand’s fresh water at a glance

Sediment loss is a widespread problem for NZ waterways.

Deposited sediment occurs naturally in the beds of rivers and streams, but too much fine sediment (particles less than two millimetres in size) can severely degrade streambed habitat, carry excess nutrients into surface water, and affect water clarity and recreational activities.

Our fresh water 2017

Livestock waste and fertiliser, eroded soil, septic tanks, and wastewater and stormwater systems are the main sources of phosphorus in rivers. Phosphorus levels are improving at more river sites than worsening (1994–2013).

Phosphorus, combined with nitrogen, can lead to excessive algae growth.

Nitrogen enters rivers through run-off of livestock urine and fertiliser, septic tanks, and wastewater and stormwater systems. Nitrogen levels are worsening at more river sites than improving (1994–2013).

Nitrogen also filters through groundwater. Agricultural nitrogen leaching has increased (1990–2012). High nitrogen levels can affect drinking water.

Animal or human faeces in fresh water can increase the risk of illness for swimmers in the area.

When E.coli is detected in rivers or lakes, this indicates that faecal matter is present in fresh water. E.coli levels are 22 times higher in urban rivers and 9.5 times higher in pastoral rivers compared to rivers in native areas.

Many of our native freshwater fish, invertebrates, and plants are threatened with, or at risk of, extinction.

Health of monitored lakes 24 lakes good to very good

29% nitrogen leaching increase

90% wetlands drained

River sites monitored for nitrogen

River sites monitored for phosphorus

28% improving 55% worsening

42% improving 25% worsening

10% wetlands remain

72% fish

34% invertebrates

The greatest pressures they face are from pests, and habitat loss and change

The health of our monitored lakes varies. Those that are good are clear (unless naturally turbid) with little algae growth. Those that are poor are green and murky with high amounts of nutrients and algae. These lakes are rarely suitable for recreation and have habitats that are unsuitable for some native aquatic species.

Monitored lakes are less than 5% of all lakes greater than 1 hectare.

51% irrigation 14% drinking 13% industry 22% other

E. coli 22x higher Nitrogen 18x higher Phosphorus 3x higher Threatened with or at risk of extinction

24 lakes poor to very poor

Consented water volume for consumptive use

Urban river contamination compared to native rivers

31% plants

17 lakes moderate

Cultural Health Index of 41 freshwater sites 11 sites good to very good

21 sites moderate

9 sites poor to very poor

The ability to take water is allocated through consents from regional councils. Not all consented water is used.

Managing water takes is important for maintaining flows downstream. If flows of rivers are reduced, algae and fine sediment can build up, which reduces amenity and recreational value and results in a poor habitat for aquatic species.

Our urban rivers are generally the most polluted of NZ’s waterways.

In addition to high nutrient levels, stormwater from roofs and roads contains heavy metals, which can be toxic to freshwater species and for people who eat them. There are contaminants that are much higher in urban rivers when compared with rivers in native areas.

The Cultural Health Index scores a site’s traditional status, mahinga kai status, and cultural stream health status to provide a rating of the cultural health of a site on a water body. Tangata whenua groups have assessed 41 freshwater sites and have graded 11 as good to very good, 21 as moderate and 9 as poor to very poor.

More information at www.mfe.govt.nz or www.stats.govt.nz Published in April 2017 INFO 792

Above: This infographic from MFE and Stats NZ shows the current state of New Zealand’s fresh water.

barriers to uptake of sustainable urban water technologies need to be removed contamination of urban streams, a problem shared by all cities, and yet we still cling to the same systems of stormwater control and choice of problematic building materials that have led to these issues.”

Dr Mike Joy, a freshwater ecologist at Massey University believes that, whilst the report shows “an improvement in honesty”, there are still “obvious attempts to shift focus away from agricultural impacts”.

The report also doesn’t discuss the activities already underway to counteract the issues of concern, says Ken Taylor, Director of Our Land and Water National Science Challenge. “One of the problems of the report is that it only presents half the story: the bad news half, not the good news half.

“We no longer have to demonstrate there’s a problem—there’s plenty of information to show that there is—now we need to focus on finding the solutions.”

Clean Water plan The government’s much-debated Clean Water plan proposes a grading system for New Zealand’s rivers and lakes in terms of recreational water quality, requiring 90 percent to be swimmable by 2040.

Europe is the only other jurisdiction that attempts to grade waterways for swimming. Their ‘excellent, good and sufficient’ grades match NZ’s ‘excellent, good and fair’, though New Zealand’s proposals for the ‘fair’ category is set at a more cautious level than Europe’s ‘sufficient’.

Two recent reports from NIWA and the Ministry for the Environment provide more detailed information on the levels of risk from swimming in the different grades of rivers and lakes.

“The grading of waterways into different categories for swimmability inevitably involves choosing some arbitrary thresholds,” says Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith. “The balance in setting these levels is to ensure we provide sufficient protection for people to swim safely while also ensuring we do not set a level that discourages people from enjoying the outdoors when the risks are low.”

The government sought further submissions from water quality scientists and other interested parties in May in an attempt to establish wide support for the grading system “to enable the focus to be on the significant task ahead in driving improvement”.

Read more about the report at www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ environmental-reporting/our-fresh-water-2017

STAINLESS STEEL FASTER. SAFER. SMARTER.

Cause and effect Several data gaps have been identified by the report. What we need most, however, are cause-and-effect relationships, says Dr Scott Larned, Manager of Freshwater Research at Niwa.

“We need to identify causes to understand why some water quality variables are getting worse in some areas, and other variables are improving. The most valuable causal data would be detailed land use data.

“To make this need more tangible, here is an example,” he says. “There is widespread improvement underway in river phosphorus concentrations in agricultural areas. This could be due to stock exclusion, better fertiliser management, better effluent management, better erosion control, or some combination.

“If we have good information about the causes for the improvements… we can encourage specific practices, and provide evidence that investments in fencing, effluent treatment etc, are good investments.” ■

Contact MM Kembla for a huge range of stainless steel tube and press fittings and finish fast and in front.

www.kembla.co.nz

0800 kembla June/July 2017

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REAL LIVES

Business as usual When ill health forced Wayne Copestake to leave his plumbing business, his wife Chris continued as sole director with no interruption to service.

WAYNE COPESTAKE STEPPED aside from his plumbing career this January at the age of 42, due to health issues. Having lived and breathed plumbing for more than 25 years, leaving was no easy step.

Wayne comes from a long line of plumbers, following in the footsteps of his father Ken and grandfather Charlie.

He worked for his dad until setting up his own business, Copestake Gas and Plumbing, in New Plymouth 13 years ago.

The company continues to flourish, however, with wife Chris ably holding the business reins as its sole director. The team of eight specialise in plumbing, gas and drainage services for new homes, and also do maintenance and light commercial work.

Family focus “I have always enjoyed being a business owner, although it comes with a lot of responsibilities,” she says. “I enjoy that it fits around my family. With cloudbased software, I can literally work from anywhere at any time.

“One of the reasons Wayne left the business was due to stress and not being able to shut off. I am lucky that, once I sign off for the day, I can leave my work behind me and focus on the family. Of course, being husband and wife, it’s only natural that we talk about our day, but I try to keep it low key.”

Married for 19 years, they have two children: Liam, aged 15, and Brylee, 13.

“Brylee dances competitively and Liam is involved in squash and lots of other activities, so when I’m not working I feel like a taxi driver, constantly dropping off and picking up the kids. I have set myself

Above: Wayne and Chris Copestake with Wayne’s parents Jenny and Ken at the NZ Plumbing Awards.

a goal of completing a quarter Ironman at the end of the year to try and do something for myself and get more active again.

“Wayne is also a keen runner, though issues with his hips and several hip reconstructions have prevented him from doing what he loves. He is currently training towards this again and also hopes to do a half Ironman at the end of the year.”

Smooth transition The only real challenge Chris faced as sole director was making people aware the business was still running. “Once word got out that Wayne was no longer plumbing, people just assumed we had closed down—but we managed to retain all our contracts and loyal clients.”

She has done the bookwork at the firm since it started in 2004, switching from a career in banking when their daughter was born. “As our business grew, so did my role within it,” she says. “I was able to carry on where Wayne left off due to the systems and procedures he had in place.

Above: Chris with the Copestake Gas and Plumbing team.

14

June/July 2017

“He had a really good pricing formula and had developed checklists for jobs.

This ensures quality workmanship is always maintained and lets me know what stage each job is at for invoicing.

I rely heavily on my staff for technical advice, and this new responsibility has seen them thrive and really take ownership of their jobs.

“Ken is still involved and regularly onsite, and he is a great source of knowledge and a major asset to our company.”

Contribution acknowledged Wayne remains committed to the industry, particularly to apprentice training. He gives the firm’s current apprentices support with their block course studies and helps ready them for their registration exams.

He has also has just started running weekly apprentice night classes for Skills at the Taranaki Polytechnic.

Heavily involved in the Taranaki Master Plumbers Association, he was serving his second term as President when he reluctantly resigned. At the 2017 NZ Plumbing Awards, he was awarded the Victor Graeme Smith Contribution to the Industry Award, a fitting acknowledgement of his achievements.

With Chris committed to ensuring the continued success of Copestake Gas and Plumbing, and their son Liam keen to become a plumber like his dad, the Copestake name looks set to continue into the fourth generation. ■

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BATHROOM INNOVATION

For this edition’s technical theme, we look at some innovations that are changing the face of the modern bathroom.

In this section

17 18 22 23

16

Bathroom intelligence Waterproofing tiled showers Shower channel installations Aged care

June/July 2017

BATHROOM INNOVATION

Toilet intelligence BIDETS ARE RELATIVELY commonplace in markets such as Europe, Asia and the Middle East. However, these standalone devices for hygienic cleaning are rarely specified for bathrooms in Australasia, the USA and UK. This may be due to a more conservative approach to bathroom ‘etiquette’, or perhaps a lack of available space in the average bathroom. It may also be because the traditional bidet was inconvenient. The user had to move across from the toilet to access it, then wash with cold water and use a towel for drying.

This has changed with the introduction to the Australasian market of ‘intelligent’ toilets, which combine the toilet with an integrated bidet.

Increasing multiculturalism and a more diverse population have led to an increased demand for a bidet to be present in the bathroom. This is especially true in high-end accommodation, such as boutique apartments and luxury hotel suites, where overseas visitors from Europe, Asia and the Middle East have an expectation of top-end products.

Combining the bidet and toilet is one of the key features of ‘intelligent toilets’, as Kohler explains.

Above: The wallhung version of Kohler's Veil intelligent toilet.

manufacturing process, reduced toilet paper consumption contributes to water savings, as does the toilet’s dual-flush function.

The dual-flush actuator delivers 4.5/3 litre dual flush, with an average of 3.3 litres per flush. Compared with a traditional 6-litre toilet, often found in commercial facilities, this could represent an annual saving on average of 22,700 litres of water. ■

Hygiene considerations

Intelligent toilets also satisfy the growing consumer demand for hygienic, antibacterial products and technologies in the bathroom. Multiple flushing options include a hands-free flush— either automatic or ‘touchless’ (by hovering the hand over the flush panel). The rimless design makes the toilet easier to clean, and flushing technology is capable of dispensing a 360° flush.

Ageing population needs

In New Zealand, the 65+ age group has almost doubled since 1981, according to the 2013 Census. With this has come increasing pressure to meet the needs of the elderly in the bathroom.

For instance, as a wallhung, the Kohler Veil intelligent toilet has a recommended installation height. However, this can be customised for particular situations—for example, making it easier for wheelchair transfer. The electronic remote control can also be an advantage for those with limited mobility.

An LED Nightlight illuminates the toilet, helping prevent trips and falls.

Ben has been using Fergus for three years.

In that time, he has grown his business by 300%.

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The overview it offers gave us the confidence to grow.”

Ben Thompson Cable Systems Electrical

Sustainable design

By having an integrated bidet, intelligent toilets can reduce, if not eliminate, the need for toilet paper.

Veil’s bidet ‘wand’ provides different spray functions, ranging from soft wash to pulsating wash and spiral wash. The wand nozzle is automatically cleaned with sterilised water after each use and with UV light every 24 hours. A warm air dryer blows warm air after washing.

When you consider that the production of one toilet roll requires an average of 140 litres of water during the

Cloud-Based Job Management Software

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June/July 2017

17

BATHROOM INNOVATION

Waterproofing tiled showers

Although tiles may be impervious to water, cement-based grout is not, so the waterproofing in tiled showers is crucial. By Alide Elkink.

A LEAK IN a tiled shower can be difficult to discover and may result in severe damage and costly repairs. The key to a tiled shower that won’t leak is in the substrate and waterproofing installation.

Performance requirements New Zealand Building Code clause E3 Internal moisture requires that surfaces likely to be splashed must be impervious and easily cleaned and prevent water from penetrating behind linings or into concealed spaces.

The Acceptable Solution E3/AS1 provides a range of options for linings and finishes in showers that meet the performance requirements of clause E3. These include that ceramic or stone tiles have 6% maximum water absorption, have waterproof grouted joints and are bedded with an adhesive suitable for the tiles, substrate and wet area environment. It also states that ceramic or stone tiles must be laid over a continuous impervious substrate or membrane (see Figure 1).

Information on installing tiled showers can be found in BRANZ Good Practice Guide Tiling 3rd edition. AS 3740-2010 Waterproofing of domestic wet areas also provides useful advice.

Waterproofing requirements For enclosed showers, impervious linings and finishes such as walls must: • be continuous • be at least 1800mm high from the floor or top of an upstand • extend at least 300mm above the shower head.

When the shower is not enclosed, impervious linings and finishes must extend in a horizontal radius of 1500mm from the showerhead (see Figure 2).

Figure 2 Extent of waterproofing to an open shower.

An enclosed shower with upstands must have a minimum 1:60 fall towards the floor waste. For a shower with a level access, the fall must be at least 1:50 towards the floor waste. This must extend over a radius of 1500mm from a point measured vertically below the showerhead or from any wall within the radius (see Figure 3).

Figure 3 Level-access shower entry—falls formed in floor.

Figure 1 Locating the waterproof membrane.

18

June/July 2017

For a bathroom or other wet area room with a tiled floor, laying a waterproof membrane across the entire floor and extending it up all walls for at least 150mm is recommended.

A waterstop (see Figure 4) should be provided where the membrane terminates at adjacent spaces such as doorways.

If the substrate is a sand or cement mortar or screed, the waterproof membrane should be laid over this. Cable entry points for undertile floor heating laid under the waterproof membrane must be above the flood level of the wet area.

BATHROOM INNOVATION

•

Figure 4 Waterstop detail—falls formed in floor.

Preparation for tiling Correct substrate installation and preparation of tiled shower floors and walls are essential for the shower to remain fully waterproofed. Create falls during substrate installation.

…. for floors The minimum for suspended timber floors under a tiled shower should be one of the following: • H3.2 treated, 17mm thick minimum, CD grade structural ply with the C face upwards (LOSP-treated ply must not be used) supported at 400mm maximum spacings in both directions. Fix with 10 gauge, 50mm stainless steel, countersunk screws at 150mm centres maximum at the sheet edges and 200mm centres maximum across the sheet.

• 20mm thick, treated RWB, wet area grade sheet material supported at 400mm centres maximum and installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

19 or 22mm thick sealed, fibre-cement flooring installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• 18mm fibre-cement compressed sheet flooring or 6mm thick fibre-cement sheet tile underlay laid over flooring (minimum H1.2 flooring or H3 plywood) and fixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The substrate must not deflect more than 1/360th of the span under dead and live loads. For example, where L = the span between joists: if L = 400 mm L/360 = 400/360 = 1.1 mm is maximum permitted deflection.

Concrete floors can have a rebate formed in the slab with the falls created using a mortar bed, or the falls can be incorporated when the floor is laid. A waterproof membrane should be laid over (not under) a mortar bed to ensure that the mortar remains dry.

Proprietary metal or acrylic tray-type shower bases over which tiles can be laid are also available. Install according to the manufacturer’s instructions. They may require notching the framing or packing out the sheet wall lining material to provide the required waterproofing detail at the tray/wall lining junction.

The floor outlet, either a conventional waste or a channel drain, should be specifically designed for use with a waterproof membrane and tiles. Rebate flanges into the substrate to create a flush surface so drainage is not restricted and seal the waterproofing system onto the flanges (Figure 5 overleaf). >

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BATHROOM INNOVATION

•

liquid-applied acrylic or latex-modified two-part cementitious coatings • one-part waterborne elastomeric moisture-cured polyurethanes • glass fibre-reinforced resins.

Reinforcing such as fibreglass, polyester mesh or chopped strand microfibre may be incorporated into the waterproofing material.

Also available are sheet waterproofing systems such as: • polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet material • chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) sheet material • SBS (styrene butadiene styrene) – modified rubberised asphalt material.

Applying the waterproof membrane

Figure 5 Dressing the membrane to the floor outlet.

…. for walls The wall substrate under tiles should be: • 6 or 9mm thick fibre-cement sheet • 10 or 13mm thick wet area plasterboard • a proprietary waterproof sheet material such as closed-cell polystyrene insulation board with a reinforced cement polymer mortar surface.

Fibre-cement sheet and plasterboard should be fixed with stainless steel screws at spacings recommended by the manufacturer. Fill the gap at the junction of the base of the wall substrate with the flooring substrate with a continuous bead of sealant and apply sealant around fittings and taps where they penetrate the substrate.

Proprietary waterproof sheet materials should be fixed to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The waterproofing membrane must cover the sealant around each penetration (see Figure 6).

Figure 6 Sealing penetrations through wet area tiling.

Range of waterproofing systems Waterproofing systems available for interior tiling include a range of liquid-applied systems such as: • liquid-applied polymer (acrylic) gels or pastes • styrene butadiene co-polymer latex admixtures (SBRs) 20

June/July 2017

All waterproofing systems will require application according to the manufacturers’ instructions by a specialist applicator for the warranty to be valid.

Liquid-applied membranes Before applying liquid-applied membranes, prime as required using a primer recommended by the manufacturer.

Membranes must be applied according to the manufacturer’s specified number of coats to achieve dry film thickness and allowed to fully cure between coats and before flood testing (generally at least 24 hours at 20°C). Don’t apply heat to speed the curing process as it may cause the membrane to skin while remaining uncured below the skin. Ensure the membrane has adhered to the outlet flanges.

Glass fibre-reinforced resins are less flexible than other liquidapplied membranes, so they must have a rigid substrate. Bond breakers may be required at changes of direction.

Sheet systems Flexible, welded sheet materials may require priming to aid adhesion. They are typically 1–1.5mm thick and supplied in 900mm wide sheets. They generally need to be installed with 50mm side laps and 50mm end laps. Joints, junctions and corners are heat welded, and the membrane is heat welded to flange outlets. The wall sheet must overlap the floor sheet upstand.

They have advantages in that there is no drying or curing time, so tiles can be laid immediately and they can span small cracks in the substrate.

Protect and test Protect all waterproofing material from damage before laying tiles. Once installed and cured as necessary and before the tiles are laid, carry out a flood test to ensure that the whole area is fully waterproofed.

Tiling and grouting Select a tile adhesive that is compatible with the waterproof membrane, and ensure that tiles and grout are compatible.

Spread the grout diagonally across tiles, forcing it into all joints.

Remove excess grout with a damp sponge.

Apply a suitable sealant at the junctions between horizontal and vertical tiles. Also apply additional sealant around the tops and sides of fittings and tap flanges, leaving a drainage slot over the tiles at the bottom edge. Finally, adding a proprietary clear sealer to grout will reduce moisture absorption. ■ © BRANZ. From Build 150 Oct/Nov 2015. www.buildmagazine.nz

Torsion® Shower

Product • Torsion Square Corner In-swing Shower

1000mm x 90 1000mm x 10

864-884

96

356

135

263 356

864-884 (900 side panel) 964-984 (1000 side panel)

900mm x 900mm 900mm x 1000mm

663 337

365

864-884 (900 side panel) 964-984 (1000 side panel)

Technical Details

*Right hand doors shown

Installation Notes: • Doors are handed, denoted by the side that the handle is o • The door retracts into the enclosure - ensure the door swing • Door installation requires double studs in the wall framing.

• 8mm glass is very heavy and requires a two-person install.

• Wall retainers must be installed onto the waterproof membr

Australia www.kohler.com.au

New Zealand www.kohler.co.nz

Sizes are approximate All measurements sho

BATHROOM INNOVATION

Shower channel installation Allproof Industries give some rules of thumb for the installation of shower channels in bathrooms.

WET ROOMS ARE becoming increasingly into place with screws and adhesive. popular in New Zealand homes. They When forming the floor it should always require professional installation to ensure have a fall towards the channel. This the entire room is waterproofed, or ‘tanked’ ensures that any moisture, surface or sub(see article on p18). A floor gradient is surface, will find its way to the outlet and created to allow the water to flow to a be drained away. The fall can be created shower channel, or drain. with screed or a leveling compound, then At its stainless steel fabrication and plastics waterproofed to the waterproofing suppliers moulding factory in Auckland, Allproof recommendations with a strong bond to Industries manufactures the Vision Shower the VF80 flange. This creates a completely Channel range from 304 stainless steel in four waterproof or ‘tanked’ area. stock sizes of 800, 900, 1000 and 1200mm.

Once the room has been tanked, tiling The channel comes as a kit containing can commence. The Vision shower channel a 80mm floor waste gully, pipe riser and can be set into the recess and levelled with VF80 flange—designed from market a porous compound with the tiles set up feedback to fit into the preformed channel 1-2mm higher than the edge of the shower rebate. This provides the ideal surface to channel. A bead of silicone is installed dress waterproofing membranes onto. between the channel and tiles. Last but not Channels can be customised to suit Above: Allproof's Vision shower channel and least is the installation of the grate. grate systems come with a leak control flange specific jobs, with a custom order form Clear installation instructions with and floor waste gully. that allows the length of channel and outlet illustrated steps accompany every Vision positions to be changed. A cut down service shower channel kit. is also provided for minor adjustments to stock products.

Allproof also manufacture full custom made stainless steel Multiple outlets can be added to a channel that requires shower trays for either a stainless steel finish or as a tile over base higher flow rates, with further customisation via contact with an incorporating a channel or point drain. ■ Allproof representative.

Installation process

When installing a shower channel, the required length should first be noted and tile depth taken into account. If up against a wall, the length will start from finished tile depth and not the waterproofing membrane. Whether it’s a concrete floor or timber, the process is the same. A recess of 100mm wide and a minimum of 15mm deep is required for the channel, and the VF80 flange should be rebated into the bottom of the channel recess. The flange should be fixed

Above: Powder coating options are also available.

22

June/July 2017

Left: Detail of channel and grate system installation.

BATHROOM INNOVATION

Aged care NURSE CALL SYSTEMS are commonly used throughout hospitals and aged care facilities, allowing patients to activate an alert to healthcare staff when help is required.

Traditional nurse call devices can give bathrooms an institutional look, which is why Caroma has introduced the Caroma Advantage alert system that is integrated into its range of care toilet suites.

The Caroma Advantage nurse call button integrates the toilet suite with new and existing nurse call system installations. It has

An innovative nurse call system launches this July.

the advantage of enabling patients to use the device for nurse assistance without having to reach around to the wall.

The nurse call button is available as a left or right hand option and comes with the toilet roll holder. The button is located to the side of the armrest to avoid accidental triggers. However, when activated, the LED light appears as reassurance to the patient.

The integrated nurse call toilet suite is easy to install using a cable hard-wired into nurse call system. A wall plate and cable gland are included with the armrests.

The nurse call button is suited for use in damp environments and rated to IP56, meaning that the wiring is protected against jet sprays of water and dust.

Caroma Advantage Nurse Call products will launch in July 2017 and are now Above: The Caroma Nurse Call Button in the Caravelle Suite. available for specification. ■

NUTS & BOLTS

Hydraulic trench shoring With the advent of super lightweight hydraulic trench jack systems, Frank Swanberg of Trench Shoring New Zealand explains the theory behind their practical application.

THE USE OF hydraulic struts with aluminium soldiers has been around since the early 1950s. The system was developed in the USA and, at the time, they were a major technological advancement over timber shoring because they could be safely installed and removed from outside the trench, so that workers did not have to risk entering an un-shored excavation, as with timber.

Another major advantage was the dramatic increase in productivity achieved using hydraulic trench jacking.

A 2m deep trench jack can be set in less than a minute with a two-person crew.

Hydraulic trench jacks were designed and manufactured to be re-usable, and hinged

so that they could swing into a trench and be pumped out, all from the surface.

These systems rely on the ability of the hydraulic struts to impose a force into the ground either side of a trench, which then forms safe walls by virtue of soil arching being induced.

The original design has changed very little since the early days. However, now, for the first time, hydraulic trench jack systems have been produced using lightweight GRP composite material with aluminium hydraulic cylinders. Launched

by MGF, a UK shoring manufacturer, supplier and hire company specialising in shoring systems, the new GRiPSHORE™ range is now available in New Zealand.

Origin of soil arch theory The use of arch construction has been around since before the Romans made it famous in their architecture. The unique aspect of an arch is that it eliminates tensile forces created when a structure spans a space, such as in an arch bridge.

All the forces are resolved into compressive forces that are carried through and arch into an unyielding base. A description of the application of arch theory into soil mechanics was made by Karl Terzaghi (in Terzaghi, Peck and Mesri, 1996). He described the soil arching process as the transfer of pressure from a yielding mass of soil onto adjacent stationary parts.

In the case of trench shoring applications, the unyielding parts are the hydraulic cylinders in the trench jacks, as well as the bottom edges of the excavation and the inside corners of vertical excavated walls.

Above: The GRiPSHORE lightweight shoring system in action.

24

June/July 2017

Application of theory in shoring Soil arching is the reason that gaps can

be left between the vertical soldiers in small sections of shored excavation walls without the soil behind it flowing out.

Arching is responsible for the fact that trench walls shored with trench jacks will stand, even with no sheeting in between the jacks.

Soil arching does not reduce the total soil load; it just distributes it to the shoring elements and away from the excavation wall face.

For soil arching to work, there has to be some very tiny movement of the soil. Trench jacks and even a trench box, which is dug into the ground, will add compressive forces and, thereby setting up an arched stress path between the supports. The key concept behind preloading the shoring struts is to set up the arching capability, by pushing the soil in slightly without allowing the soil to move outward.

Above: Soil arch diagram.

The part that soils play An important element of soil arching is the consistency of the soil. Both cohesive and non-cohesive soils will experience soil arching to some extent. But, in order for this type of shoring to be deployed, the trench must be able to be pre-excavated and to stand up while the trench jack system is placed and pressurised. So, soils lacking cohesion are generally not good candidates.

the trench must be able to be preexcavated and to stand up while the trench jack system is placed and pressurised Manufacturers of these systems will advise on spacing requirements, as well as recommended pre-load pressures, for their systems to be safely and effectively used. The closer the trench jacks are placed, the better the system works. The maximum spacing recommended is 1.5m.

A further safety consideration is the use of a minimum of three sets of jacks in any excavation. Basic criteria for the system to work well are: • the soil is good enough for the trench to stand when excavated • minimum 400 psi pressure is able to be achieved when pumping out the hydraulic jacks, and is able to be maintained • jack spacing is limited to 1.5m.

Some ravelling, or soil falling off the trench face between the jacks, may occur but this will not compromise the system. Some users will elect to use backing boards to reduce or eliminate ravelling.

Uses for hydraulic soldier shoring Hydraulic soldier shoring is ideal for trench depths up to 2m, especially when access is limited or only small machinery is available for excavating and shoring. In situations where there are lots of services crossing the trench line, soldiers can be positioned to avoid them whilst maintaining a safely shored trench.

Users should be aware that mechanical strut soldier systems are not safe. These systems cannot be installed without entering the trench to install them. It is also not possible to measure the pressure being achieved in the strut, so it is not known whether soil arching is being achieved. ■ The new GRiPSHORE™ range of lightweight hydraulic trench jack systems is now available in New Zealand through Trench Shoring New Zealand Ltd. Further information is available at www.shorenz.co.nz

About the author: Frank Swanberg is General Manager of Trench Shoring New Zealand. He has extensive experience in the shoring industry, including membership of the WorkSafe NZ committee that developed the 2016 Excavation Safety Good Practice Guidelines.

MOBILE APP & CLOUD APPLICATION

Gas Ring A high-risk database reminder, plus concerns about gas heating misrepresentation.

High risk database requirements

WorkSafe Energy Safety is reminding gasfitters that the requirement to certify gasfitting and complete an entry in the High Risk Database applies when they do gasfitting that involves the alteration of, or addition to, an existing gas installation.

This includes removing part of an installation, for example an appliance, and/or plugging the pipework.

Regulation 5A of the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations (GSMR) makes any addition or alteration of a gas installation high risk gasfitting. This includes terminating an open end, because you are adding or altering something to the installation—even if it is just a plug or brazing shut the open end of a pipe.

Because this work is considered high risk, the regulations require that a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) and Gas Safety Certificate (GSC) are issued, and that the details of the CoC are entered into the Electricity and Gas High Risk Database.

For information on gasfitting risk categories, Master Plumbers has produced a webinar and printed guidance on Regulation 5A for gasfitters. Find them at www.masterplumbers.org.nz under Training (E-Learning).

GRiPSHORE Lightweight Hydraulic Trench Jack System – now available in New Zealand

®

Gas heating misrepresented

According to the April Gasline publication, the LPG Association and Gas Association of NZ are concerned about a media release that details the findings of a new Growing up in New Zealand study. The study provides an insight into the lives of Kiwi children—their health, education, cultural influences and community life.

On the topic of internal living environment, the release states: “unlike electric and solid fuel burning heaters, gas heaters (particularly if unflued) emit moisture and a number of other pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and formaldehyde, which affect children’s respiratory health.”

LPGA Executive Director Peter Gilbert argues that solid fuel burning appliances actually produce more of all these pollutants, along with particulates. Whilst flued gas heaters do produce emissions, these are flued to the outside of the property, as are emissions from wood burners, so they cannot affect indoor air quality and children’s health, he says.

The release also states “this is a type of household heating that has been banned in a number of other countries, but there are no such restrictions in New Zealand”.

Peter says it is unclear which type of heating the report findings refer to, leaving many to conclude incorrectly that all gas heaters are banned in some countries. No countries have a ban on flued gas heaters, he says, and only Canada and five American States on unflued.

The study states that both flued and unflued [gas heating] is a major cause of New Zealand’s higher childhood hospital admission rate compared with the US and England.

Peter points out that the US and England have far greater numbers of flued and unflued gas heaters that are also used more often due to their climates. “So, if NZ’s rate of child acute respiratory illness is higher than the United States and England, despites those countries’ greater use of flued and unflued heaters, then there must be other factors at play.”

At the time of publication, the Associations were waiting for a response to the concerns from the author of the press release.

Homestar Ratings guidance amendment

For further information contact TSNZ www.shorenz.co.nz

26

June/July 2017

The Homestar Rating Tool does not preclude the use of flued gas heating, as suggested by a Homestar Ratings website guide.

A building developer raised the error in the guidance after informing a gas supplier they couldn’t install a gas heater if they were building a house to a Homestar rating of 5 or above.

LPGA Executive Director Peter Gilbert followed up the matter with the New Zealand Green Building Council and was assured that the guide did not reflect the official Homestar Tool.

NZGBC said they would look to amend the guide to prevent any confusion.

Tech points ASBESTOS REMOVAL LICENCE REMINDER If you hold a Certificate of Competence for the removal of asbestos, be ready when it expires to move to the new asbestos licensing scheme. All Certificates of Competence will expire on or before 4 April 2018, when the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 take full effect.

The business you run, or work for, will need to hold a licence to carry out asbestos removal work. The business is granted the licence, not the individual. This means it is no longer possible to do such work as an individual without involving a licensed company. Conditions are put on each licence to specify the type of removal work allowed (Class A or B), and the licence lists the company’s nominated supervisors.

Get your licence as soon as possible. Apply online at www.worksafe.govt.nz (under Information & Guidance, Guidance by hazard type, Asbestos).

Training is an important part of the new licensing system.

Four new asbestos removal unit standards are being introduced to support the regulations. You can't legally work in the asbestos removal industry beyond 4 April 2018 if you haven't undertaken training. Several providers are becoming accredited to deliver the training to NZQA standards.

NUTS & BOLTS

This edition’s technical updates in brief.

NEW ACCEPTABLE SOLUTIONS FOR POOLS

MBIE has published two new Acceptable Solutions for Clause F9 Means of restricting access to residential pools: • F9/AS1 applies to barriers to residential pools • F9/AS2 applies to small heated pools, such as spa pools.

Small heated pools with a water surface area of 5m2 or less may have a removable cover instead of a fence, as long as it complies with the Building Code requirements. F9/AS2 specifies the construction of covers and their robustness.

Find the F9 Acceptable Solutions at www.building.govt.nz/buildingcode-compliance-f-safety-of-users/pool-safety

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June/July 2017

27

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL PGDB/MICO CPD

ROAD SHOW 2017 DEVELOPMENT 2017

Jonathan Smith Certifying Plumber Tradesman Gasfitter Journeyman Drainlayer

Details of the work this licence holder is entitled to carry out are available at www.pgdb.co.nz

TO REGISTER VISIT WWW.SKILLS.ORG.NZ/PGDB2017 OR CALL 0508 754 557

0800 101 999 | www.mico.co.nz

Plumbers CPD Handbook 2017 4.0.indd 1

Presented by

23/02/17 9:27 PM

WIN, EAT, LEARN, NETWORK • We’ll shout you breakfast for the morning sessions • Attend the interactive training session • Your chance to ask the questions you need answering • Get the latest product updates at the trade stands • Get access to exclusive trade stand deals

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• Have a catch up with other industry members

SESSIONS MORNING SESSION WITH TRADE SHOW

MORNING SESSION WITHOUT TRADE SHOW

AFTERNOON SESSION WITH TRADE SHOW

AFTERNOON SESSION WITHOUT TRADE SHOW

7:00am – 8:00am (Breakfast and browse trade stands)

8:10 – 8:30am (Business Improvement Seminar)*

2:00pm – 3:00pm (Browse trade stands)

1:40pm – 2:00pm (Business Improvement Seminar)*

7:30am – 7:50am (Exhibitor technical training)

8:30 – 11:30am (CPD training)

8:00am – 11:00am (CPD training)

*at selected venues

2:30pm – 2:50pm (Exhibitor technical training) 3:00pm – 6:00pm (CPD training) 6:00pm – 7:00pm (Mingle)

DATES & LOCATIONS

2:00pm – 5:00pm (CPD training) 5:00pm – 6:00pm (Mingle) *at selected venues

= Session without Trade Show

DATE

SESSION

VENUE

DATE

SESSION

VENUE

Thu 1/6

Kapiti AM

Coastlands Kapiti Sports Turf

Tue 15/8

Hamilton AM

Hamilton Gardens

Wed 7/6

P North AM

PN Convention Centre

Tue 15/8

Hamilton PM

Hamilton Gardens

Wed 7/6

Wanganui PM

Wanganui Racecourse

Wed 16/8

Thames PM

Thames Fire Brigade

Thu 8/6

Wanganui AM

Wanganui Racecourse

Tue 22/8

AKL South AM

Pukekohe Indian Community Centre

Fri 9/6

New Plymouth AM

Yarrow Stadium

Tue 22/8

AKL Central PM

Ellerslie Event Centre

Mon 31/7

Taupo PM

Great Lake Centre

Wed 23/8

AKL Central AM

Ellerslie Event Centre

Tue 1/8

Hastings PM

Hawke’s Bay Racing Centre

Wed 23/8

AKL Central PM

Ellerslie Event Centre

Wed 2/8

Hastings AM

Hawke’s Bay Racing Centre

Thu 24/8

AKL North AM

QBE Stadium

Thu 3/8

Gisborne AM

Waikanae Surf Club

Thu 24/8

AKL North PM

QBE Stadium

Mon 7/8

Rotorua PM

Copthorne Hotel

Fri 25/8

AKL North AM

QBE Stadium

Tue 8/8

Tauranga PM

Tauranga Racecourse

Thu 31/8

AKL West PM

Trust Arena

Wed 9/8

Tauranga AM

Tauranga Racecourse

Fri 1/9

AKL West AM

Trust Arena

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Tauranga PM

Tauranga Racecourse

Mon 4/9

Whangarei PM

Toll Stadium

Mon 14/8

Hamilton PM

Hamilton Gardens

Tue 5/9

Kerikeri PM

Kerikeri RSA

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Vintage solutions Uncorking an idea to help wineries has seen this company mature into a major player in New Zealand’s wine industry. By Matthew Lowe CRAFTSMAN PLUMBER STEVE Brooke-Taylor is the director and owner of Marlborough-based Hydramech. The firm regularly works with more than 20 wineries in the region, as well as many others further afield.

“My family was involved with the wine business,” says Steve.

“I had started doing a bit of work with a plumbing company and saw there was an opportunity to do my own thing, so started Hydramech in 2002.

“The idea was to bring a plumber’s perspective to the piping at wineries. In the past, general engineers and fabricators had been doing the work.”

The company started with two people but today it employs 28, whose work includes providing hot and cold glycol services, air and gas, pumping systems, filtration, hot and cold water supplies, stainless fabrication, wastewater systems, pipe insulation and more.

“But I use plumbers in this work because they tend to make better pipe fitters. They have got the base training and ability to solve problems or question things they think may be wrong.”

Steve says one of the biggest challenges for the Hydramech team is making sure wineries can keep producing wine as new systems are installed or existing pipework is repaired.

Plumbers and pipe fitters

“At the start we were learning as we went and spent a few years getting educated in pipe sizing and refrigerated loads,” Steve says.

“The majority of our staff now are not so much plumbers; they have become more stainless welders and pipe fitters.

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June/July 2017

Top: Hydramech is based in Marlborough, where 77 percent of New Zealand’s wine production is carried out.

Above: A typical plant room designed by Hydramech.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Photographs and illustrations courtesy of Hydramech.

Vineyard photograph courtesy of Only Marlborough.

to bring a plumber’s perspective to the piping at wineries “We have to work around wineries that are in full operation. If we have to turn off a ball valve to do maintenance, it may control the air that controls valves to wine tanks, and if that’s off too long you could kill the whole winery in a couple of hours.

“It’s a multimillion-dollar risk and that is the biggest thing we have to plan against.”

Growth industry

Other key factors the company has to deal with surround handling a rush of work before grapes are picked at vineyards, and health and safety.

“There is always a big peak in demand for our services previntage—about March/April—we have a lot of work to do from November until then. It is big hours and big weeks during those periods,” Steve says.

Top right: Crimped stainless piping to carry water and gases in a winery plant room.

Centre: Examples of pipework used to carry glycol, which often has to be chilled to -10°C. Right: Hydramech director Steve Brooke-Taylor.

June/July 2017

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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

“The litreage of wine and size of the tanks (up to half a million litres) has also grown substantially over the years.

“We were at the forefront of the industry’s growth so it hasn’t been a problem dealing with that volume, but health and safety is a challenge because you are often working on the tanks at height and can be hanging from a crane 40 metres in the air.”

While the majority of the firm’s work has been in Marlborough, the company has also completed contracts in Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, Waipara, Canterbury and Australia.

Its clients include Drylands Marlborough, Babich Wines, Mudhouse Wines, St Clair Wines, Awatere River Wines, Villa Maria, and last year it helped Giesen Wines expand its tank farm by designing and building a temperature-controlled reticulation network to link the new tanks.

4mm in diameter to 900mm with the winery work.

“The nature of our work is winding back a bit these days.

The main growth in wine has happened and the systems are installed, so nowadays it is more about providing ongoing maintenance to the wineries.” ■

Working in stainless

Each project at the wineries involves installing many kilometres of piping to carry gases and water.

“We get approached by clients for the design and build, and we work in nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hot and cold water, glycol lines, boilers and hot water generation,” Steve says.

“The industry has changed over the last three years and the majority of the work now is in stainless, whether welded or crimped, such as Europress.

“There has been a drive by the wineries to get into permanent materials as the industry has matured, and can better afford it.”

Hydramech also has a domestic plumbing division—Laser Plumbing—and a pump engineering and sales division.

Above: Hydramech’s 3D drawings allow clients to see what they’re getting before installation begins.

Specialised service

Steve began working as a plumber in 1990 and says he is glad he made the decision to offer a specialised service to the wine industry.

“I enjoy working with the wineries and for me it beats climbing under houses, but we still do that with Laser Plumbing.

“Saying that, a lot of what we do on the wine front is simply plumbing on a bigger scale. I’ve worked with pipe ranging from 32

June/July 2017

Above: Spiral pipes carrying chilled glycol surround tanks at Babich Wines in Marlborough to keep wine at the ideal temperature.

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WORLD VIEW

Across the ditch The Master Plumbers Association of Western Australia considers the impacts on the plumbing industry of the new Labor-led State Government.

THIS MARCH, A Labor Party election victory brought an end to more than eight years of Liberal-National State Government in Western Australia. The new Premier, Mark McGowan, has promised to be ‘very, very friendly’ to business in a bid to attract investment and rebuild the state’s economy.

Labor’s promise to do away with the current skilled migration occupation list may not directly impact plumbers, who are not on the list. But, coupled with a pledge to ensure local companies get a bigger share of work on government projects, the outcome is sure to be positive, says Master Plumbers Western Australia (MPGA).

Local workers for local projects “We are certainly in favour of WA construction sector projects prioritising WA based providers,” says MPGA Executive Director Murray Thomas. “Skilled tradespeople in this State are the most appropriately qualified providers to deliver services that comply with local regulations.”

Mr Thomas says it remains to be seen how the new Government will deal with Above: MPGA Executive Director security for contractor Murray Thomas. payments on large projects.

“The MPGA will continue to work with the new Government, as we did with the last one, to ensure the plumbing sector has as much protection as possible when it comes to payment security.”

Labor’s promised freeze on TAFE fees is a step in the right direction to reboot training opportunities, according to the MPGA. “Signs are positive for further investment into industrybased vocational training and apprenticeships too,” says Mr Thomas. “It is refreshing to see focus in WA at a time when the national trend sees apprenticeship training in decline.”

Above: Elizabeth Quay in Perth.

This incident, and another at Perth’s Elizabeth Quay water park, could have been avoided with tighter scrutiny and enforcement of regulations, says Mr Thomas.

“If we look at those two cases, which were attributed at least in part to inadequate plumbing works and the use of non-compliant products, we see situations where mandatory inspections could have saved a lot of time and money, not to mention better protecting the public from serious health issues.”

More plumbing inspectors needed In mid 2016, the MPGA lodged a report with the State Government, highlighting the need for more plumbing inspectors. Of all Australia’s states and territories, WA has the second-lowest number of plumbing inspectors, it said. Only the Northern Territory has fewer, and this was understandable given its significantly smaller population.

The MPGA is not looking for closer scrutiny of all plumbing contractors but supports mandatory inspections of “significant works”, such as the Elizabeth Quay public works.

Having more plumbing inspectors would also enable an immediate response to complaints about domestic and commercial plumbing works.

Recent water contamination issues The MPGA will be urging the new State Government to take action over the availability and use of non-compliant products after recent lead contamination of the water at the new Perth Children’s Hospital, which was likely to have been caused by ring main pipes and brass fittings installed at the hospital.

highlighting the need for more plumbing inspectors Above: Western Australia has only eight plumbing inspectors.

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June/July 2017

“The industry is largely reliant on contractors to self-regulate by complying with all application and notification requirements.

And for the most part, the industry functions effectively in that regard,” says Mr Thomas.

“Our State legislation allows for random inspections of plumbing works and auditing of licensed plumbers to ensure compliance with regulations. But with just eight inspectors servicing the entire State, it’s largely impractical to do so.”

By comparison, the WA gasfitting industry has 65 inspectors employed directly by suppliers and 13 State Governmentemployed inspectors responsible for general supervision and auditing of the supplier inspectors.

Until about 10 years ago, the Water Corporation was the State’s plumbing regulator, employing some 50 inspectors. But when the Building Commission took over, the self-regulation model was introduced.

The MPGA does not have a definitive position on the best way to overcome the inspector shortage. One possible solution, it says, is to follow the Queensland model in which local councils employ plumbing inspectors to carry out regular inspection work, and the State Government employs a small number of more senior investigators to regulate those inspectors.

Concerns over reduced licensing requirements Mr Thomas says the low number of inspectors may be one of the reasons the Building Commission had moved to relax regulations in WA, including reduced licensing requirements, which concerns the MPGA. “The quality and strict guidelines for plumbing have taken more than 100 years to get to the point they are today and that’s why in Australia we tend to take clean drinking water and effective wastewater and sewerage disposal for granted,” says Mr Thomas.

“We urge the new State Government to listen to industry and take steps to implement long-term solutions that place public health first. Increasing the number of inspectors is a logical first step in the right direction.” ■

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Focus on security of payment WA’s new Labor-led State Government is pledging to ensure that security of payments remains a high priority.

This has been a hot topic recently, with a number of construction companies falling into financial difficulties. As well as establishing project trust accounts for government contractors, Labor has proposed a potential demerit system for those that fail to pay. Under the system, businesses found not to pay subcontractors on three occasions would be disqualified from vying for government contracts. The MPGA will be lobbying to extend payment security to all commercial and residential construction. “While builders work to milestones that suit their needs, plumbers should be paid on completion of each phase of their work and within terms that suit small business operators,” says MPGA CEO Murray Thomas.

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INDUSTRY TALK

By George!

Methven is celebrating the induction of George Methven into the New Zealand Business Hall Of Fame—and they are offering Kiwi plumbers a giveaway to celebrate.

George Methven—or simply ‘George’ as he’s known at Methven today—set up the business that still bears his name in 1886, behind his home on Goodall Street in Caversham, Dunedin.

An 1899 advertisement noted the diversity of the services and products offered by Methven’s company as being ‘mechanical engineers, iron and brass founders, agricultural implement makers, blacksmiths and duplicators of all makers’ implements’.

The company’s original success was credited to Methven’s strategy of very high-quality products that were price competitive, and service that was unsurpassed. George was passionate about the business and it wasn’t until the age of 70 that he stepped down from his active daily participation in the company after 23 years.

The Methven company still designs, develops, manufactures and distributes high quality products from its brand-new head office in Avondale, Auckland, and products are now available in 12 markets around the world.

Methven recently announced that George Methven will be inducted in July

2017 as one of eight laureates into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.

“This is a huge honour,” says Group CEO David Banfield. “George joins a number of great business leaders of New Zealand, both past and present, whose history comprises iconic stories of Kiwi enterprise, hard work and success.

“It’s fitting that in the year that our business turns 130, George’s ‘Spirit of Innovation’ is alive and well and enshrined in our values today. We are actively working to ensure his legacy continues to grow, with products and services manufactured and developed in New Zealand.”

Established in 1994 by the Young Enterprise Trust, the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates past and present business leaders who have significantly contributed to the economic and social development of New Zealand.

The 2017 laureates have iconic Kiwi stories of enterprise, hard work and success. The Trust is focused on creating a more prosperous New Zealand through enterprise, and works with schools across the country to help students learn about business and entrepreneurship.

Above: George Methven, aged 92, in 1927.

Young Enterprise recognises the importance of capturing the history and story of New Zealand’s business and community leaders, so that young entrepreneurs can aspire to emulate them.

The New Zealand Business Hall of Fame Gala Dinner will be held on 27 July at The Langham, Auckland.

Above: George Methven will be inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame this July.

Join the celebrations To thank Kiwi plumbers for 130 years of support, Methven has a special sink mixer offer. Buy any three of the following and get a free Centique Sink Mixer: • Futura FT Basin Mixer • Centique Sink Mixter • Echo Strata Basin Mixer • Echo Strata Shower Mixer • Echo Strata Sink Mixer.

Please note, the promotion ends on 31 August 2017, while stocks last. You can get full terms and conditions from www.methven.com/130promo

Above: This photo was taken around 1913 at Methven’s manufacturing site in Crawford Street, Dunedin.

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June/July 2017

INDUSTRY TALK

Sam’s speak

Sam Tyson takes a look at the eating habits of plumbers.

I am on a health kick at the moment and am following a nine week online course with Dr Libby. My husband Lee is doing it with me and on the first day we were told to cut out caffeine and alcohol for the next nine weeks, along with gluten and dairy. Lee nearly backed out at that moment, but in support of me, and some plea-bargaining on my part, relented to be in, boots in all.

We decided to go cold turkey instead of a gradual reduction. I was surprised to realise I was having eight cups of tea a day, and wine most nights when we got home from work. For the first three days I had a horrific headache, a fuzzy brain and felt quite sick. This in itself was quite a shock as to how toxic my body must have been.

Since then, Lee and I get all excited about planning our meals and have been whipping up all sorts of fabulous gluten- and dairy-free creations (some not so fabulous ones as well, I admit).

I am not feeling as exhausted as I was before starting the course, I feel more in control of things, and am bouncing out of bed in the morning ready to start my day. Plus my clothes are starting to loosen up!

With this new focus of putting nourishing food into my body, I am quite shocked to see what our tradesmen are eating when I look around our smoko table at morning tea and lunchtime. Sausage rolls, pies, hot chips, sugary slices and cake. And because we are located quite close to McDonald’s, they often turn up with a brown bag full of burgers, hash browns, fries and a frozen Coke or ice cream sundae to finish off with.

I am sure this is pretty common with most tradies, and while I’m not wanting to judge a person for what they eat, I am concerned about the health and wellbeing of our nation of plumbers. I know the job is physically demanding, and that you need replenishing, but you are what you eat, after all.

Tackling meth contamination

Changes are being proposed for tenancy laws to make it easier for landlords to test for P. Plumbers doing work in properties contaminated by meth, or P, can be putting their health at risk. Master Plumbers recently ran a course on working with hazardous substances, which included advice to help plumbers recognise the signs and understand the precautions they need to take if they suspect they are working in a P house.

According to Housing New Zealand’s latest report on vacant rental properties, released in March, almost 400 of its state rentals around NZ were standing empty due to P contamination.

It says it can take up to three months to clean and decontaminate a property in serious situations.

If landlords rent out a property contaminated by P, they are breaching their legislative obligations. Landlords are supposed to check for any signs of P during and between tenancies.

In recognition of the fact that meth contamination of properties is a significant issue, the Government is proposing changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to make it easier for landlords to access testing for P and for tenants to terminate their tenancy if it presents at unsafe levels.

A new Standard, NZS8510, for the testing and decontamination of properties used for P manufacture or use, was due to be published at the end of June. It sets out the contamination thresholds and the Residential Tenancies

Amendment Bill will enable these to be recognised and enforceable.

The Bill also proposes changes around liability for careless damage of rental properties and tenancy of unsuitable properties.

June/July 2017

37

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INDUSTRY TALK

Flexi hose failures

Substandard products are back in the news, with reports of braided flexi hose failures on both sides of the Tasman.

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An Australian ‘Escape of Water’ study report by insurance company IAG has sparked media coverage in New Zealand.

IAG’s analysis of 15,000 water damage claims made by Australian homes last year shows that flexible braided hose failures under sinks accounted for 22 percent, reported Radio New Zealand (RNZ) in May. According to RNZ, IAG—which owns AMI, State Insurance and NZI—has not done a similar review in New Zealand and has said it was not aware of any major failure issues but would be “staying across any developments”.

Master Plumbers has been lobbying the government on the issue of substandard imported plumbing product for some time, as it believes the durability of such products is in question.

It wants to see better regulation of products arriving in the New Zealand marketplace, and supports the introduction of a mandatory quality assurance system, such as the WaterMark scheme.

Plumbing product failure—be it braided flexi hoses or PVC pipes—has the potential to cause thousands of dollars’ worth of flood damage to homes and take months to repair.

Auckland couple Kevin and Libby Haskell told Stuff in May that they were away camping this January when a flexible braided pipe burst in their master ensuite. According to the report, the house may have been flooded for a week before the damage was discovered by cleaners.

Going by the family’s Watercare bills, about 25,000 litres of water flooded the ensuite, master bedroom, hall and main bathroom, along with the room beneath and everything in it, Kevin told Stuff. Remedial work had taken more than four months and was still continuing.

Master Plumbers’ Chair Craig Foley says burst braided pipe isn’t common but can be a problem if pressure builds up in the pipes while homeowners are away on holiday—particularly in summer when local pressure builds up as lots of people are away at the same time.

A kink in the pipe or a twist from incorrect installation can also cause failure, as can perished rubber inside the braided steel. “It’s a good idea to turn off the water supply to the mains if you are going on holiday,” says Craig. “At the very least, homeowners should turn off the taps to the washing machine and dishwasher.”

Craig also advises homeowners to open up their taps, once the inlet valve has been turned off, to drain down the water from the pipework, and then to shut them off again. This is to ensure they are not open when the homeowner comes back and turns the water on again.

According one plumber’s post on the Master Plumbers Facebook page, flexy tails that come with the tap connect directly to plumbed connections in the wall without the need for extra flexy pipework. “I suppose the question then is, are the flexys that come as tails on mixer taps good quality?” he says.

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INDUSTRY TALK

Scholarship for Women in Construction Site Safe has a brand-new scholarship for women in construction.

Applications open on 1 July for Site Safe’s inaugural scholarship specifically for women working in the construction industry.

The scholarship will fully fund study towards the Certificate in Construction Site Safety.

“This is for women who want to be the best that they can be and become leaders who inspire others to see the benefit of a safe, health workplace,” says Site Safe Chief Executive Alison Molloy.

Stephanie Cerpa, who received a general Site Safe scholarship in 2015, said gaining the Certificate had definitely helped advance her career. Stephanie is now a Health and Safety Manager at Contract Construction.

“Getting the scholarship was so exciting because it gave me a high-quality health and safety qualification, which means employers know that I’ve had that core training.”

Apply for the Scholarship for Women in Construction by the closing date of 1 September at www.sitesafe.org.nz under Training.

Above: Scholarship recipients Stephanie Cerpa (left) and Rebecca Aranga graduating in the Certificate in Construction Site Safety.

People

WPC appointment Peter Jackson has been appointed as the New Zealand representative on the Executive Board of the World Plumbing Council (WPC), and has been assigned the research and development portfolio.

This international organisation was set up in 1990 to unite the world plumbing industry and promote its role in improving public health and safeguarding the environment.

Its nine members come from all around the world, including Australia, Hong Kong, the US, England and South America.

The Chairman is Shayne La Combre of the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre in Australia.

“The council is very proactive in developing systems and providing knowledge for countries where safe drinking water and sanitation is a priority,” says Peter.

“History shows that great leaps in avoiding health problems for many countries, such as New Zealand, have been tied to advances in plumbing technology and a well-trained workforce.

“Training is a large focus for the WPC, as are standards to ensure there is uniformity across the world. As a leader in the industry, we are well placed to participate in helping them achieve these goals.”

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June/July 2017

A Certifying Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer, Peter is Director of H2O Design in Queenstown and Chair of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board.

New PGDB investigator In response to New Zealand’s strong building growth in Auckland, the Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Board (PGDB) is stepping up its presence in the region to ensure that all plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work is performed to a high quality, and conducted by competent tradespeople.

Mark Ford started in the new Board Investigator role in April, with a dedicated focus in Auckland. Mark will be conducting enforcement action, targeting both residential and commercial building sites that have been brought to the PGDB’s attention.

A Certifying Plumber, he has previously provided technical assistance to the PGDB’s investigations unit.

Tradespeople wanting to help Mark with enforcement action can provide confidential intelligence via the R.A.C app.

Download it at www.pgdb.co.nz/app and choose the ‘text link’ to download it to your mobile phone.

INDUSTRY TALK

Havelock North report out

The report on the Stage 1 Inquiry into the Havelock North water contamination event has been released.

Heavy criticism has been aimed at the Hastings District Council, Drinking Water Assessors and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in the report of the government’s Stage 1 Inquiry into the Havelock North drinking water contamination event last August.

These parties “failed to adhere to the high levels of care and diligence necessary to protect public health and to avoid outbreaks of serious illness,” says the report, which goes on to note “a critical lack of collaboration and liaison” between the two councils.

The gastroenteritis outbreak affected more than a third of the town’s 14,000 residents, with around 45 hospitalised. It is possible the outbreak contributed to three deaths, and an unknown number still have health complications.

Lessons should have been learned from an outbreak in 1998 of a similar kind and in the same location, the report noted.

The 2016 outbreak was traced to contamination—most likely by sheep faeces—of the drinking water supplied by two bores in Brookvale Road, on the outskirts of the town. Heavy rain that flooded neighbouring paddocks probably cuased contaminated water to flow into a pond near one of the bores. This water then entered the aquifer and flowed from there to bore 1.

a critical lack of collaboration and liaison

Insecure water source

The District Council supplies drinking water to Havelock North consumers, sourced from the Te Mata aquifer, which was thought to be secure from contaminants and therefore not treated. Drinking-water Assessors worked with the District Council to monitor compliance with the Drinking-water Standards.

But, as the Inquiry has shown, meeting the Standards was only part of the story. Says the report: “Where the water source was an aquifer, the delivery of safe drinking water to consumers was dependent on the security of the source from contaminants.

“It was also dependent upon the water supplier being aware of and managing the risks of contamination of the water supply, and competent local authority administration of the broader resource management regime.”

The report goes on to list the specific failings of those responsible for supplying safe water to Havelock North residents. It notes that the response to the outbreak was well handled, particularly by the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, but there were “significant gaps in readiness”, such as the District Council’s lack of an Emergency Response Plan, draft boil water notices and up-to-date contact lists for schools, childcare centres and vulnerable residents.

Stage 2 of the Inquiry will address lessons learned for the future and steps to be taken to reduce the likelihood of another such outbreak. Hearings will be held later this year.

June/July 2017

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INDUSTRY TALK

Truck loader crane safety

If you own or operate a truck loader crane, training is a must.

A truck loader crane, also known as a knuckle-boom crane, is one of the most common cranes in NZ, used for delivering goods to building or construction sites. Anyone operating a truck loader crane must be qualified and competent, not only to operate the truck, but also the crane.

If you own, use, operate, dog or rig a crane, you must ensure you understand the rules, regulations and best practice for safe lifting. Find them at www.safecrane.nz Statistics show that truck loader cranes have the most incidents and are considered the cranes with the highest level of risk. Human error is the main cause of crane accidents, so it is in the owner’s best interest to ensure driver/operators are fully qualified.

Qualifications can be found in Part 4 of the Approved Code of Practice for Cranes 2009. This states that the driver/operator must hold either: • Unit Standard 3795 Configure and position a mobile crane and lift and place regular loads; or

Unit Standard 16617 Use a truck loader crane to lift and place loads NZQA states that a driver/operator must hold a Unit Standard or equivalent qualification through a recognised training establishment with a NZQA-approved programme.

A Unit Standard is the minimum level of training required. To be deemed fully qualified, a driver/operator must complete the NZ Certificate in Crane Operation.

Cranes are dynamic machines and demand the respect of everyone who uses, maintains and operates them.

•

The transport industry previously relied on Unit Standard 1754 Operate truck mounted load lifting equipment. This is no longer available and not recognised in the Approved Code of Practice.

Site Safe online learning launch

A new online and classroom training option is available from Site Safe.

The course gives trainees access to online modules as well as in-class time when renewing their Site Safety Passports. Trainees can choose the online modules that are directly relevant to the risks they face on site. Above: Trainees can now choose topics most relevant to the work they do.

Passport Plus Flexi (Online + Classroom) is now open for online bookings, and available at a special introductory price for the first six months.

Trainees select any two modules from a regularly updated online library, which currently includes asbestos, noise, worker basics, manual handling, mobile plant and electrical safety.

With this new addition, Site Safe now offers a total of four new renewal options: Course

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Successful completion of any Site Safe course, including one and two-day courses, or entry-level Foundation Passports, will renew Site Safety Cards/Passports.

Find out more at www.sitesafe.org.nz

Gas appliance testing

IAPMO is now able to offer its customers gas appliance testing and certification.

Melbourne-based IAPMO Oceana has acquired the HRL gas appliance testing laboratory in Mulgrave, Australia.

IAPMO Oceana is accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) to operate a product certification scheme for plumbing and drainage products to use the WaterMark™ symbol. It also offers certification services to its own OceanaMark™ and GasMark™ product certification schemes to Australian and international standards.

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June/July 2017

This move will enable IAPMO to deliver its clients an end-toend gas appliance testing and certification service, it says.

“Our acquisition of the world-class HRL gas appliance testing laboratory will allow IAPMO Oceana to offer and deliver to our customers a faster, more convenient and cost-effective gas appliance testing and certification service. We can now add laboratory testing of gas appliances to our suite of services,” said Paul Bonsak, Managing Director of IAPMO Oceana in April.

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TELETRAC NAVMAN IS a global leader in GPS-based fleet-management solutions, serving customers across five continents. The company tracks 80,000 vehicles across the Australasian region alone, and is New Zealand’s leading provider of fleet tracking systems.

The innovative combination of vehicle tracking GPS units, communications devices and software provides plumbing firms with reliable, immediate intelligence and enables them to manage their fleets more efficiently.

A number of plumbing firms in New Zealand already use the Teletrac Navman system and consistently report such benefits as: • Reduced fuel usage • Better use of company vehicles • Better service team dispatching • Better and more responsive customer service • Increased efficiency of staff through more accurate time keeping • Ability to record road user mileage, vehicle registration and warrant requirements • Peace of mind should theft occur.

Letting it all sink in Teletrac Navman delivers for business owners in the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying trades with its GPS fleet management software, DIRECTOR.

Above: Martin de Gouw of Clyne & Bennie Plumbing in Christchurch uses Teletrac Navman technology for his fleet.

SUPPLY LINES

Take the plunge and adapt to a world of technology at your plumbing firm, says Teletrac Navman.

DIRECTOR is built with a powerful mapping solution, comprehensive messaging capabilities and workflow forms, user alerts, vehicle maintenance tracking and reminders, user search functions and driver behaviour analysis.

DIRECTOR provides metrics such as vehicle speed, engine performance, driver behaviour, progress towards job completion, time spent on the road, fuel usage, engine idling, unauthorised vehicle use and more.

Real-time fleet analytics data provides immediate insight into the status of your plumbers, updates on traffic conditions, maintenance needs, traffic incidents and policy or regulation breaches as they happen. The system and platform is scalable to fit with different sized plumbing fleets.

Superior customer service Teletrac Navman’s DIRECTOR fleet management platform organises daily workflow management to help plumbing firms effectively respond to customer requests.

DIRECTOR’s instant visibility map feature allows dispatchers and managers to view all drivers and vehicles in real-time to pinpoint exact locations to dispatch the closest available plumber to the job. When a customer calls for a last-minute job update, the dispatcher can accurately answer inquiries based on location within seconds, and can also inform customers in advance if there will be a delay in the plumber arriving.

Multiple reports in DIRECTOR help plumbing business owners understand vehicle utilisation and driver hours’ usage. These reports inform users about the daily vehicle activity, how vehicles are used, and how they are assigned to jobs.

This removes any potential disputes, as DIRECTOR can produce accurate reports on exactly how long a job took, and how long the plumber was onsite at the customer’s home or business. This helps to maintain good relationships with customers as, once customers understand the plumbing fleet is tracked, they know they’re getting a cost-effective service.

Above: By viewing all vehicles in real-time, you can dispatch the closest plumber to the job.

Integrating systems In a connected world, nothing really stands alone. People in the plumbing industry need software that can work in sync with existing business systems, provide relevant insights into better managing the bottom-line and reducing costs, including compliance costs.

Integrating your business systems with your GPS vehicle tracking system allows you to streamline your business by providing accurate, actionable data, and reducing the time and effort you spend on manual processes.

The biggest benefits are seen in: • improved accuracy through removing manual processes • improved timeliness through instant access to the data • automation of processes allowing reallocation of staff to more meaningful work.

Join the movement GPS vehicle tracking systems are not just the domain of enterprise-size fleets but are an essential tool for small to medium sized businesses. Around New Zealand, many plumbing firms are already using them to discover new ways to automate routine tasks, reduce paperwork and timesheet reporting, ease routing and improve their customer service.

All crucial factors in improving your plumbing business. Have you joined the movement? ■

Platinum Partner

June/July 2017

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INNOVATION

Copper revolution MM Kembla’s innovative PressFit system won the company the 2017 Product of the Year at the NZ Plumbing Awards.

MM KEMBLA IS the only manufacturer of copper tube in Australasia. In 2012, the company teamed with a leading European copper manufacturer to develop a new copper piping system.

The aim was to fill a gap in the market by producing a highquality, cost-effective system that would reduce the potential for erosion and corrosion. The result was KemPress, a pressfit piping system that is suited to local conditions and eliminates the need for brazing and soldering. Due to its flame-free installation, the system doesn’t present a fire risk, and no hot work permit is required.

“Feedback from installers in Australia and New Zealand point to the reduction in staff resources and faster install times,” says MM Kembla NZ Country Manager John Alexander. “This is obvious when you consider how long it takes to braze a single joint; the support tooling and materials required on site; the health and safety risks associated with heat and gas; and the difficulty placing tube.”

A Push and Stay feature means the system can be set up quickly in advance before pressing each joint. “The recent introduction of a paper sleeve at the press joint provides visual evidence that the joint has successfully been pressed at all joints,” he explains.

The system can often be completed by a single tradesman

Above: A KemPress copper system has been designed and built by Pipin Hot at the Ramada Suites in Auckland.

rather than two, which represents a major labour cost benefit.

Installer training is key to operational performance of the product, says John. “MM Kembla believes that operational performance begins with ensuring all distributor personnel and potential installers are adequately trained in the correct installation methods.

“This includes being trained in the correct connection/ jointing methods and the corrrect use of tooling. A KemPress Certificate of Training is issued to each trained installer, and routine site visits are carried out to ensure correct methods of installation and answer any technical questions.”

Australian projects Case study 1: ERA Apartments, Chatswood The ERA Apartment complex in Chatswood, New South Wales is a 42-level tower, completed by the Mirvac real estate group in May 2014.

Amenities include a gym, an indoor-heated pool with adjoining lounge area and sauna, as well as an outdoor BBQ. Hydraulic services contractor McPherson Plumbing was in charge of installation of the hydraulic services to this project. Around 40 metric tonnes of Kembla copper tube was used in the project, as well as a range of DN15-50 KemPress fittings and tools.

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June/July 2017

Case study 2: Darling Harbour Live, Sydney The recently completed redevelopment of Darling Harbour has a total project size of 20ha and a budget of A$2.5 billion. The new International Convention Centre lies at the heart, surrounded by 1,400 apartments, student accommodation, retail and commercial spaces and car parks.

Plumbing contractors Brown & Moodie Plumbing were responsible for a significant portion of the hydraulic and mechanical pipework on the project, which uses over 46,000m, or 100 tonnes, of Kembla copper tube.

Indulge yourself in functionality and design.

Above: Plumbcraft installed this commercial boiler in 2016, using Kempress copper.

The company is working to have PressFit technology included at tertiary level training to the trade and apprentices.

In addition to increasing use in residential situations, KemPress is building a signifiicant portfolio of commercial projects in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Post Head Office refurbishment in Wellington, Burwood Hospital in Christchurch and the Ramada Suites in Auckland.

Press fit valves, size specific pipe clamps and insulation have recently been added to the KemPress range, which is also expanding into stainless steel. ■

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Right: MM Kembla’s John Alexander and Craig Earons with the 2017 Product of the Year award.

Case study 3: Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital, Birtinya Completed in 2017, the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital is the first public hospital in Queensland to be delivered under the Public & Private Partnership (PPP) model.

The initial 450 beds are expected to increase to 738 by 2021.

Commercial plumbing company Beavis and Bartels Pty Ltd was awarded the tender for the plumbing installation work, which uses around 130 metric tonnes of Kembla copper tube as well as KemPress fittings, tools and plumbing fittings. “Kembla arranged regular training of all operators, conducted on-site audits and kept in close contact with the Beavis & Bartels team throughout the project,” says Managing Director Michael Ryan.

P: 0800 357 1233 E: info@centralheating.co.nz w: www.centralheating.co.nz

SMART BUSINESS

Trading on your terms

What are terms of trade? Are they really necessary? And how can I make them work for my business? Duncan Cotterill has some answers.

TERMS OF TRADE are designed to protect the rights of a business and are an effective tool for business administration and debt management.

They are the essential terms of a contract between a seller of goods or services and the buyer, and cover matters such as payment, delivery of goods, risk and insurance, title to the goods, liability, copyright, warranties, and the consequences of failing to pay.

However, many businesses, particularly sole traders, supply goods and services on the basis of informal arrangements.

Not surprisingly, disputes often arise that could have been easily avoided had there had been clear, written terms of trade entered into from the start.

Terms of trade and contracts You can have the most robust terms of trade available, but if they do not form part of the contract with your customer, then they are ineffectual and unable to be relied upon.

disputes often arise that could have been easily avoided had there had been clear, written terms of trade

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June/July 2017

Your terms of trade should be provided to your customer before you start doing any work for them.

If you have written terms of trade, it is important that the other party is made aware of them and agrees to them.

The best way to do this is by getting the other party to sign the terms of trade before the goods or services are provided.

A good place for your terms of trade to feature is on the reverse side of an order form or of an application for credit.

It is also wise to get a new customer to complete a credit application. This will clarify who you are dealing with, provide a credit record and references, and alert you to the need to obtain a credit check.

Note, however, that where a customer is a private individual, the business must be authorised to undertake these checks by a specific Privacy Act authority.

Nowadays, many goods and services are procured via a website. In this case, you should ensure that your terms of trade are displayed on all the relevant pages of your website and that a customer clicks a button confirming they have read and agreed to your terms of trade before the sale is completed or the service booked.

If you already have terms of trade in place, make sure that these are regularly updated to ascertain they comply with relevant legislative changes.

Tailoring terms of trade Note that there is not a ‘standard form’ of terms of trade. While all terms of trade should address essential key issues, they will usually need to be tailored to the specific business activity.

R

they will usually need to be tailored to the specific business activity It will be very difficult for your customer to argue that your terms of trade do not apply if you have a copy, signed by them, on file.

On the flip side, if you don’t have a signed copy, your customer can argue that they were not aware of the terms and deny you the right to rely on them when trying to enforce the terms contained therein.

If you wish to exclude or limit your liability in the event of a claim against your business for a defective product or service, you can include a clause in your terms of trade that will effectively do this.

However, because the courts will review these clauses very carefully in the case of a claim, it would be wise to enlist the assistance of your lawyer to get the correct wording to ensure you are in the best legal position.

Terms of trade and bad debt Having clearly defined terms of trade is also an excellent way of minimising and preventing bad debt.

Terms of trade can be drafted to include the right to charge interest on overdue payments, and to recover any costs incurred when enforcing payment against your customer.

Knowing that you have the ability to charge these amounts can often deter your customer from failing to pay on time. It makes sense to draw these terms to their attention right from the outset.

Personal guarantee provisions can also be interwoven into terms of trade and are highly recommended, particularly if your customer is a company, has a limited trading history or is unable to provide sound trade references.

At all times you should ensure that all the essential elements of your business, including terms of trade, are in place and being used effectively.

This will eliminate unnecessary headaches further down the track when things go wrong. ■ Disclaimer: the content of this article is general in nature and not intended as a substitute for specific professional advice on any matter and should not be relied upon for that purpose.

About the author: Tracy Yarrell is an associate at Duncan Cotterill and specialises in property and commercial/ company transactions. Her client base ranges from individuals and families through to larger commercial property owners and investors, property developers and SMEs. Contact Tracy on 03 372 6434 or 021 222 2795; tracy.yarrell@duncancotterill.com

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SMART BUSINESS

Paying contractors Do you pay contractors or work as a contractor?

The IR has some tax changes you need to know about.

FROM 1 APRIL 2017, the way some contractors are taxed on payments for their work changed, giving them greater choice and helping them get their tax right.

If you pay contractors under a labour hire arrangement, these payments must now have tax deducted before the payment is made to the contractor.

This is opposed to previously, when no tax was deducted and the contractor paid all the tax after filing an annual income tax return at the end of the year. This meant they were also potentially liable to pay provisional tax the following year.

The pay most contractors receive is referred to as a schedular payment. You can check if the payments you make are classified as schedular payments on p3 of the Tax rate notification for contractors form (find it at www.ird.govt.nz by searching under IR330C). Listed activities include contracts wholly or substantially for labour only in the building industry.

People who don’t receive a type of schedular payment listed above can still opt into the schedular payments rules with the agreement of their payer.

If you were already paying schedular payments before 1 April 2017, then you can still continue to deduct tax this way.

However, now you can either deduct tax at the standard rate or the contractor can choose their own rate, subject to

minimums for the various categories of schedular payments.

A contractor will need to advise you of the rate by completing a Tax rate notification for contractors (IR330C) form instead of the Tax code declaration (IR330) form.

If you engage contractors under a labour hire arrangement (ie, where someone is paid by a labour hire business to perform work directly for clients of the business), they will need to complete an IR330C and give it to you. They can choose the tax rate they want deducted or use the standard tax rate for the activity type.

You will deduct tax from payments made to them from 1 April 2017, regardless of when the work was completed or the contract was signed. If they don’t fill out the new form, their tax will be charged at the non-notified rate of 45%.

If your business paid schedular payments before 1 April, new contractors starting with you will need to complete and give you a Tax rate notification for contractors (IR330C) instead of the Tax code declaration (IR330). Your contractors can give you an IR330C to change their tax rate.

If you’re making these payments to a contractor who has a certificate of exemption (COE), from 1 April it must be treated as a 0% special tax rate certificate

until the earlier of: • the expiry date; or • 31 March 2018.

If you’d have incurred unreasonable costs to comply with these changes by 1 April, you can delay the date you start to the earlier of: • 1 July 2017; or • the date you can start complying.

If you need help determining whether your circumstances meet the criteria for this extension it is recommended you seek advice from a tax advisor. ■

More information •

•

•

Tax rate notification for contractors (see p3 for schedular payment activities): http://www.ird.govt. nz/resources/9/c/9c019ad09071-4f3d-babb-7aa37e954bb4/ IR330C.pdf Labour hire arrangement: http://www.ird.govt.nz/ contractors/labour/labour-hirebusiness-arrangements.html Certificate of exemption: http://www.ird.govt.nz/ contractors/exemption/ certificate-exemption-schedularpayments.html

Even the most experienced plumbers can run into a tricky situation.

Get your hands on Public Liability Insurance designed specifically for the plumbing trade.

A N A R T H U R J . G A L L A G H E R C O M PANY

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SMART BUSINESS

Customers first The secret to business success? Who better to ask than 2017 Master Plumber of the Year, Plumbing & Gas Works in Hamilton.

FIVE SPECIFIC CRITERIA help the judges decide who is to be the winning business for the Master Plumber of the Year Award.

Plumbing & Gas Works explain their approach to each.

1

Customer service

We pride ourselves on our tagline ‘Where Service Begins’.

On first contact, customers using our maintenance and service team are given an agreed date and time when we will attend. If there is any change to this, we let them know as soon as possible.

This ensures our customers don’t have to put their lives on hold while waiting for a tradesman to turn up.

If the client isn’t on site when a job is completed, we make contact to update them. This is especially helpful for our landlord clients. Our customers receive invoices within a day or two, as we believe this is also part of the ‘job’. It isn’t finished until the paperwork is done.

We have recently introduced customer satisfaction surveys, which enable our customers to tell us how well we did.

This means we can work on targeted ideas for continuous improvement, if need be.

We work with large commercial and industrial building companies, and can also design systems with or for them during the concept phase.

2

Marketing

A significant amount of our work comes though referrals from happy customers. Any additional marketing has traditionally been in print, but in 2016 we started to move our company into the future with a strategic marketing plan, which includes social media. Initiatives include face-toface networking, sponsorship, branded merchandise, direct marketing campaigns and targeted campaigns.

With five of our vehicles retired from service last year, we were able to update our Master Plumbers’ signage and this will be completed on our vehicles and our premises this year.

We also launched our website in 2016, with further upgrades due in 2017.

we have worked hard to ensure our customer image portrays timeliness, reliability, honesty and professionalism

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Above: Plumbing & Gas Works team members Kris Rangitaawa (left), Jacob Smith (centre) and General Manager Mike Foote with their hat-trick of awards from the 2017 NZ Plumbing Awards.

3

Image

4

Business performance

We have worked hard over the last 18 months to ensure our customer image portrays timeliness, reliability, honesty and professionalism—and a company you can depend on to get the job done.

Our tradespeople are respectful of the customer’s needs and professional in their dealings with them. We demand a high quality of work for our customers and investigate in a timely manner if there is an issue on-site. We will also remedy it, if required.

Our office staff answer our phones as quickly as possible and greet customers in a friendly, professional and helpful manner.

During 2016, we implemented a uniform policy to ensure the whole team maintains the image we wish to portray. It’s now easy for everyone to keep their uniforms clean, tidy and up to date.

Our staff also maintain their vehicles by washing them regularly and keeping the inside tidy. All vehicles with any damage were either replaced or repaired last year. We conduct regular vehicle checks as part of our health and safety checklist, and any new damage is repaired in a timely manner.

The business is owned by shareholders, who must work in the company. In 2016, two new shareholders joined the company, replacing four previous shareholders at short notice due to a death, age and health-related reasons.

This gave the two existing shareholders a good opportunity to

our management team now has time to work on the business, not in the business refresh the company. The main changes were to employ an office manager and additional maintenance plumber/gasfitter and set up an advisory board with an independent chairperson, who is a chartered accountant.

This has allowed our staff to focus on their core capabilities, and our management team now has time to work on the business, not in the business. This has led to a more focused and far more profitable company.

From mid-2015, we started moving towards a paperless office, which has reduced clutter and improved efficiency. We have also invested in a job management system, so staff can create purchase orders or look up job details on their mobile phones.

We intend to extend this and move the remaining in-house systems into the cloud.

We have also improved our workshop organisation. Staff now put tools and materials away in the correct place, which reduces downtime for other staff when looking for shared items.

5

For all your hot water solutions

Staff

We have 11 team members with a combined experience of 125 years. Half of our staff have been with us for 10 years or more, with three of them since we started in 2000.

Most of our field staff have a Certifying licence in one or more trades. This February, we started a Train the Trainer programme to put more techniques at the disposal of our tradespeople in unleashing the potential of our current and future apprentices.

We believe this will pay huge dividends for years to come. Our low staff turnover is a big factor in being able to commit to this investment, with the three staff involved in the training having been with the company for between 10 and 20 years.

Our staff are encouraged to seek opportunities for professional development and to attend courses outside of their compulsory CPD. This has included mobile elevated platform training, associated tradesperson electrical training and the Schedule 80 PVC certificate. Our office manager (currently the only female in the business) has joined a women’s networking group, so she can tap into the experience and ideas of other business women.

In recent months, our learning focus has been on health and safety, including fire extinguisher and first aid training. A recent inititiative has been for a team member to present at our monthly toolbox meeting, helping build confidence, leadership and communications skills.

Through our performance reviews, we are able to identify areas where staff need additional assistance, and we are currently planning how we can fit extra on-the-job training into our work schedules. ■

For more information call 0800 657 336 or visit www.rheem.co.nz

June/July 2017

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SMART BUSINESS

For the family

Advice from Jerome Jacobs on how husband and wife tradie teams can increase their profits and enjoy a more balanced lifestyle.

THERE ARE LOTS of husband and wife teams working long hours in trade businesses. Plumbers, builders, electricians, you name it… there are hard-working couples in every trade sector.

Overworked and underpaid The usual story is that the man gets a trade, meets a partner, they settle down, and then both end up working in the business. The wife may do some admin, maybe the accounts, taking phone calls etc. They are generally reactive and willing to take on any job that comes along so they can pay their bills. Maybe they start or want to start a family, but it is difficult to make ends meet and to find the hours needed to raise a family. As a result, life and work become a struggle and very stressful.

successful businesses have two very important things in place

Case study

One husband and wife team working in the plumbing industry have just recorded their most successful year ever, two years after receiving business coaching.

Their turnover more than doubled in 2016, going up to more than $3 million.

They achieved this by employing more qualified plumbers, so the husband doesn’t have to go out on the tools.

Instead, he can now manage the business.

This has meant he can control costs, and target better business so that their profit has increased by 125%, and gross profit is up by 130%. The key staff now have incentivised payments so they take more responsibility, reducing the stress

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Typically, the couple work long hours and, if they work out their dollars per hour, it is likely to be close to a minimum wage.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Successful businesses have two very important things in place.

The first is a marketing plan so they can generate valuable sales leads that enable them to set and meet their income targets. This depends on how much revenue and profit the husband and

and workload on the owner. Plus, the owner now has a regular income that is way better than the ‘pay yourself if there’s anything left over’ situation he was working in before.

This also makes the business a far more valuable asset, which could be sold when the couple want to retire at a much higher price than they would previously have been able to consider.

Perhaps the best outcome for the family is that the wife has reduced the amount of time spent on admin work, so she can now spend more time at home looking after their three children.

wife team need to meet their lifestyle requirements. This can be a one-, two-, or five-year plan that factors in children, overseas holidays, retirement planning, or whatever other major events they both want to achieve.

The second is to have effective systems in place. Think of McDonald’s. They operate exactly the same anywhere in the world with teenagers running the business, simply because they have assessed and refined their systems. Every business can benefit from having routine tasks covered by a system.

This sounds a hard task for most business owners, but there are common, key areas of the business that can be systemised to reduce the time worked on them, and lower the costs of performing them. Repeated tasks cost a lot of money. ■

About the author: Jerome Jacobs specialises in working with husband and wife trade business partnerships. If you want to improve your family life, increase profits, and create a valuable retirement nest-egg, call Jerome for a no-cost, no-obligation initial chat and the opportunity to receive a copy of his book, Business Mechanics. 0800 747323; jerome.j@riseadvisory.co.nz; www.riseadvisory.co.nz/tradebusiness

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SMART BUSINESS – PROFITABLE BUSINESS

Good time planning Make hay while the sun shines—but remember to futureproof, advises BNZ. THESE ARE BUSY and exciting times for most trade and trade related business owners and their staff—and plumbers are no exception. Most are enjoying big volumes of available work, the ability to pick the ‘right’ jobs, and a good steady stream of cash flow.

Sorting out your finances gives you more time to grow your business and build your customer base.

Avoid surprises in your finances

It makes sense to have your business finances in one place, such as in a business account that you can monitor quickly. If all your finances are easily accessible and transparent, it’s straightforward to budget for tax and other expenses. Start a savings plan and set aside funds each month. Utilise cash flow forecasting to manage your money flows and anticipate any future cash flow difficulties.

Having clear financial data with no hidden surprises is essential if you’re thinking of selling your business further down the track. In the event of a cash crisis, the survival of your business could rest on quick thinking about how to manage funds and build cash reserves.

If your finances aren’t in the best

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June/July 2017

shape, now is the time to take action.

The solution to your cash woes could be relatively simple—like shortening your credit payment cycles or trimming unnecessary expenses. Or, it might be time to think about raising a bit more capital via a bank loan, or seeking investment from other sources. Consider applying for Asset Finance or leasing rather than buying high-ticket items such as equipment and vehicles with your capital.

Correct your bad habits

It takes 21 days to form a new habit or break an old one. If you haven’t done so already, start implementing these simple practices in your business: Margins: Maintain your margins and where possible increase them without losing your market dignity.

Your customers need you, but you also need them. Remember, your existing customers already trust you, are happy doing business with you, and are invested in your business.

Costs: Keep a strong eye on your overheads and fixed costs. If you can slice your overheads, you can make more money without having to do more work.

It can be easy to loosen the grip or drop

the reins when cash flow is good. This can prove costly—across both management and staff, it can be easy to splash out on business expenses.

Invoices and debtors: If you are having problems with debtors, it’s time to start putting systems in place to make sure you get paid sooner. Getting payment at the point of sale gives you cash in the hand straightaway and removes the daunting task of having to chase customers for payment. Always follow up overdue invoices promptly –the longer you leave it, the less likely you are to get paid.

How BNZ can help

If you need a bit of extra help, BNZ is on hand with a range of finance options to suit your needs. You could take out a term loan, use BNZ Asset Finance to buy new business assets, or even take advantage of a low-interest overdraft.

And by taking payments on the job BNZ PayClip can solve overdue payments and remove the need to contact late payers.

Contact the BNZ Small Business team on 0800 269 763 if you want to find out more about how to complete a cash flow forecast that works for your business, or for help to set up a strong and realistic savings plan. ■

SMART BUSINESS – PROFITABLE BUSINESS

5 tips for accurate estimating

Five practical tips from simPRO to help you calculate an accurate estimate and secure your project’s success.

DETERMINING THE COST of a job accurately and efficiently can be challenging, overwhelming and fraught with risk.

When you price a job right and win it, it can deliver instant improvements to your bottom line—but getting it wrong can be a very expensive mistake.

When estimating, there are a number of basic factors that need to be taken into account, from the type and scope of the project to potential risks and resources involved.

1Look to the past

“I reckon it’ll take about five hours” is not a great way to start an accurate estimate. Tracking your time on a project and specific tasks within that project, and creating a database of regular tasks, will take a lot of the guesswork out of estimating.

If you know the exact amount of time and resources you’ve expended on a project in the past and can quantify it with real numbers, you can take the risk attached to “I reckon” out of any estimate.

2Too low, no go

Winning work at any cost is a surefire way to bankruptcy.

It can be extremely tempting to deliver a low estimate to stay within the customer’s budget and secure their work. While that may work sometimes for special customers who you want to maintain strong relationships with, it’s not sustainable as a whole-of-business strategy.

Most estimating is about balancing costs and price. If your customer’s budget is set, it might be worth talking to them about the scope. If the scope is set, you need to set a realistic budget.

5

Use software to your advantage

The right software can make a huge difference to the accuracy of your estimates—and can significantly reduce the amount of time you spend on each estimate.

With job management software such as simPRO, you can quickly and easily compile an accurate and competitive estimate based on your real costs.

So, estimate the right way: accurately, transparently, and efficiently. ■

About the author: simPRO is a Platinum Business Partner of Master Plumbers.

To find out more about simPRO and its exclusive offer to Master Plumbers members, call 0800 100 854 or visit simprogroup.com/mp-members

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3Contingencies are a must

Don’t fall into the trap of removing a contingency from an estimate because it looks more affordable. Contingencies are essential as they provide you with a safeguard against any unforeseen scenarios that could affect a project’s completion.

Anticipating risks to the project will ensure your company can successfully meet any challenges that may arise.

4

Use detailed descriptions

Make sure all tasks are broken down into as much detail as possible. Outline exactly what the deliverables are, how long they will take to complete, what resources will be needed and who in your team will be responsible.

Yes, your estimate may end up being more expensive, but it’s better for you and your client to have the same expectations.

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June/July 2017

55

EXCLUSIVE

NZ PLUMBER NOW AVAILABLE DIGITALLY TO MASTER PLUMBER MEMBERS! FINAL CHANCE! BOOK FOR THE 2017 NZ PLUMBING CONFERENCE—See p10 CONTENTS

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017

21

ON THE COVER Book your place now at the 2016 New Zealand Plumbing Conference! – See page 7 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Art and Craft

17

Sheetmetal mastery at the Len Lye Centre

PROS & CONS

12

24

28

Inside this issue

37

Mud, glorious mud Tradies join the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 37

New consumer campaign promotes qualified professionals

WHAT’S ON

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

7

17

Registrations are open for the NZ Plumbing Conference 2016

MASTER PLUMBERS NEWS 8

CEO Greg Wallace talks marketing and membership; Master Plumbers gets the big tick from ACC; National President on tour; awards entries; new members; and two Gold Partner updates

12

Commercial leases One of your most important business contracts…

REAL LIVES 14

Out West Why West Coast plumbing takes planning

28 To the rescue This plumber’s a fire truck driving dynamo!

4

Mirror, mirror Sheetmetal mastery at the new Len Lye Centre

INDUSTRY TALK 30 Bathed in glory Bathroom Excellence winner 31

Occupational regulation review MBIE plans to simplify

Preventing Legionnaire’s Keeping water systems safe

31

Innovation for Green Star Rating tool gets an update

Best practice: rainwater Top tips from Marley

31

24 Backflow know-how Questions installers should ask themselves

Involving the industry PGD Board establishes a liaison group and proposes a new CPD model

32

Sam’s Spot A plumber’s tools are sacred, says Sam!

NUTS & BOLTS 21

22

IN FOCUS

FACE-TO-FACE TRAINING

43

60

25

27

The gas ring This issue’s updates for gasfitters Tech points Some online projects afoot for the industry

32

People NZPM Board; vale Nigel Mason

34 Recent convictions Licence checks are proving effective 35

Raising the roof Winners at the RANZ Roofing Awards

Fees in focus New regular column for PGD Board CEO Martin Sawyers

SMART BUSINESS 39 Eyes on insurance Covering your tools… and keeping your insurance current 43 Growing your business Business development advice from The Icehouse 44 Biz brief Employment law changes and more…

46 Understanding GST The IR has the low-down 47 Recruit to suit Kicking off our new HR series with recruitment

TIMES PAST 48 Wartime apprentice A gust of wind leads to hair-raising results for Ernie MacManus

Commercial leasing

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF

What you need to know

BACKFLOW KNOW-HOW Installer basics

OUTWARD BOUND Tomorrow’s leaders

NEXT GENERATION 66 Why hire an apprentice?

MasterLink videos have the answers!

AROUND ASSOCIATIONS 53

Active in Auckland Q&A session with Auckland Master Plumbers President Regan Frost

WORLD VIEW 54 Water for future Plumber Trevor Gatland volunteers in Timor Leste 62 On the world stage Kiwi plumber at the World Skills Internationals

HEALTH MATTERS 58 Asbestos alert Ignore the risks of asbestos on worksites at your peril!

TECH SAVVY 60 Accounting add-ons You need them but be selective

58

ASBESTOS ALERT Worksite risks

70 Cover photograph by Patrick Reynolds: Len Lye Centre facade

SAFETY FIRST 50 H&S reform: one step closer The Health & Safety Reform Bill has passed

69 Got a Trade The first-ever Got a Trade Week 70 To the limit Ten apprentices test their mettle with Outward Bound 72

MasterLink winners Success down South

72

Following the code An apprenticeship code of practice

73

Making 2015 a success Skills looks at credit completion

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 75

What’s new to the marketplace

AND FINALLY 76 Offcuts This issue’s media snippets 78 Dodgy plumbing Will they ever learn?

October/November 2015

5

October/November 2015

Reporting from the World Skills Nationals NZ—See p72

A new programme from Master Plumbers

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016

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New excavation safety guidance FASHION SHOW International bathroom trends

ENGAGING CONTRACTORS Getting it right

RACING LINE Apprentice plumber & motocross champCONSTRUCTION

HITS NEW HIGHS Seize the opportunity!

READY FOR GROWTH BIM BASICS Buying a second Getting NZ on board business

SPEED MERCHANT Back at Bonneville!

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Just log-in to enjoy on your iPad, iPhone, Android device, Mac, PC or Amazon Kindle Fire

www.masterplumbers.org.nz

SMART BUSINESS – PROFITABLE BUSINESS

Know thy customer Understand your customer and you can quote to win, says Dan Pollard.

KEEPING A TRADE business afloat can be tricky. A recent article by noted.co.nz identified that 221 companies in the trade industry had been put into liquidation over the last year.

The article posed the rightful question: “If there’s a shortage of tradies, why are they going out of business?” While there are many factors, the article identified the main one to be wafer-thin margins and quoting fixed prices to win jobs.

Quotes that win

There is often a tension between quoting to win a job and quoting to stay solvent (or, better yet, to make a good profit).

You need decent margins to make a profit but it can sometimes feel like winning the job is the only thing that matters— especially when you are building a new business. It can be really tempting to quote low and offer fixed prices.

I learnt this the hard way in my first two years in business. My first year boomed, and the second year I spent scraping up the pieces. I didn’t have a long-term view, I didn’t take all my costs on-the-job and overheads into account when quoting, and I always quoted low to win jobs.

I knew I needed to find a way to win jobs and still make a very decent margin. For me, this meant getting savvy about identifying who my customers were and what they wanted. So, who are they? #1 The Experienced Contractor I love this guy. He’s done heaps of jobs, he knows what stuff costs, and he wants to make sure the job is done well. Get good at identifying this customer and chase him down! Quote the entire job up front and make sure you request a deposit up front, so your costs stay low and your profit margin high—win, win. #2 The Busy Administrator This customer is busy. They’re booking the work for the boss.

They don’t care who does the job; they just want the process to go smoothly. The key is convincing them you’re the right person.

They need all the information and options in order to make their decision. Quote the full job, include all the relevant information, and give them options. Your extra effort will show you’re there to help, and they’ll think of you when they need a plumber in future. #3 The Hardworking Homeowner We all know this guy. He’s fairly handy in the toolshed, he’s tempted to have the work done, but thinks he could do the job himself. Quote exactly what you’ve been asked to do and you’ll have met his need. The key with this guy is to remember that you never have permission to spend the customer’s money. If you discover something on a job that needs doing, but that you haven’t quoted on upfront, don’t do this piece of work until you’ve quoted on the new variable and it has been accepted.

making sure your quotes cover your costs and allow a decent profit margin Tools down until cost approved. This means you’ll never be stuck bearing this cost.

Covering your costs

Once you’ve figured out how to quote to keep your customers happy, the next step is making sure your quotes cover your costs and allow a decent profit margin. The key is to know clearly both your on-the-job costs and your overheads. Make sure these are built into every job, so you are not footing the cost.

Good luck out there! ■

About the author: Dan Pollard spent 25 years as plumber before starting Fergus Job Management Software. His passion is giving tradies the tools they need to build a successful business. For more tips and tricks, check out Dan’s blog at www.gofergus.com.

June/July 2017

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SMART BUSINESS

Permanent or casual?

Standard agreements

A Standard Employment Agreement is used for anyone working permanent hours. This can be for part-time or fulltime employees. Full time means 30+ hours per week, whereas part-time means anything from a few hours up to 30 hours per week. These are set hours each week, and are only changed if agreed by both parties and a variation of the agreement is issued. Employees’ entitlements—such as annual, sick and parental leave—will differ, depending on their full or part-time days and/or hours.

Fixed term agreements A Fixed Term Employment Agreement can be used for anyone who is employed for a specified time (for example, to cover maternity leave) or for a short-term project with a set timeframe. Employees need to be made aware of this fixed term/ temporary agreement throughout the

Which employment agreement to offer—standard, fixed term or casual? Master Plumbers’ HR Manager Lisa Duston explains.

recruitment process.

Fixed-term employees are entitled to the same benefits as a permanent employee.

Note that there has to be a genuine reason for the fixed term agreement. This can’t be used to trial an employee.

Casual agreements A Casual Employment Agreement is for an employee working irregular hours (eg, over a busy period like Christmas when extra hands are needed). Casual employees should only be called into work if, for example, you need to fill in for another employee who is on leave, or you have extra hours due to the time of year.

If a ‘casual’ employee has regular hours, you will be in breach of employment law if you have them on a Casual Employment Agreement. ■ The Master Plumbers’ website has a selection of employment agreement templates available to members.

Get it in writing

A verbal employment agreement is binding. An employer has an obligation under the Employment Relations Act to give a written agreement, but that does not stop an oral agreement being binding in the meantime, so long as the terms of the agreement are clear and a candidate can show that they and the employer intended to be bound by it.

An employer can employ a new employee on a trial period. This period is the first 90 days from starting their employment. The employment agreement must be signed before the employee’s first day of work, and an employee can’t be on trial if they have worked for the employer before.

About the author: Lisa Duston offers HR advice to Master Plumbers' members. Contact Lisa on 021 245 1704 or email lduston@masterplumbers.org.nz

cost to advertise is $60+GST for Master Plumbers' members; $100+GST for nonCLASSIFIED ADS The members. Just send your text (up to 100 words) to advertising@masterplumbers.org.nz

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June/July 2017

Expressions of Interest Plumbing Tutors Permanent opportunities For further information: www.ara.ac.nz | 03 940 8623 People and Development, Ara Institute of Canterbury

Plumbing Vacancies in Hawkes Bay We are seeking a motivated Tradesman and/or a Certifying Plumber with a commitment to quality work, who is customer focused with excellent people and communication skills and a great personality. A current PGDB licence is essential.

Panton Plumbing has been in business for over 30 years and is a reputable, well established Plumbing, Drainage and Gasfitting company based in Hastings. We are wanting either an experienced reactive maintenance plumber, and/or a plumber who is experienced in commercial and residential new builds. We offer excellent rates of pay, health insurance, and relevant training for the successful applicant.

Please apply in strict confidence by email to: denise@pantonplumbing.co.nz

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MANUAL INCLUDES: • H & S Policies • Accident & Hazard Registers • Information on Training & Supervision • Emergency Planning & Readiness

Call 04 801 2017 or email flo@masterplumbers.org.nz

TIMES PAST

Member services In the final part of our series of extracts from the Otago Master Plumbers memoirs, we look at just some of the services offered to members over the years.

DURING THE CENTURY covered by the memoirs, various activities provided to members deserve special mention, say the authors.

The black book

One of the earlier and more unusual services at the Otago Association goes back to 1898, when a book was purchased to note the names of defaulting customers. Scrutiny of the Black Book was available to any member on application.

In 1959, the Secretary was once again instructed to keep a record of the names of doubtful credit risks submitted by members. Members were free to have the record checked but the Secretary was under strict instructions not to have the names sent out on any printed matter.

Special ‘holidays’

On some occasions, the Association set special holidays. One example was recorded in November 1901, when the Association decided to observe the King’s Birthday and noted that ‘all Boards and the Press be notified’. After years of Queen Victoria’s rule, it must have been considered proper and loyal to honour the new King Edward.

In mid-December 1910, all Association members were to be sent a letter informing them that the Executive had agreed that all members’ shops were to close between 24 December and 4 January. However, at the first meeting of the New Year, the Chairman mentioned that some members had not done so…

Trade publications

“Today we take very much for granted the tremendous contribution made to the trade by the NZ Plumbers’ Journal,” say the authors.

“It is difficult to imagine the industry not having a method of disseminating and distributing the wealth of information necessary for all to be well informed.”

However, there was a time when it did not exist. In 1903, Mr Burt reported to the Association that he had written to several Journals in the hope that they would send papers to the Association.

In 1953, the Association decided to subscribe to the Journal of The Royal Sanitary Institute of London. After a 12-month trial, however, the subscription was cancelled as it was felt there was little of interest to members.

In March 1948, the Association minutes make reference to the free copies of the first issue of NZ Plumbers’ Journal being distributed to each member, and urging every member to be a subscriber for an annual fee.

“And so dawned, arguably one of the best services every provided for members to date,” say the authors. “Today, the Plumbers’ Journal can be claimed to be the most prestigious of 60

June/July 2017

a book was purchased to note the names of defaulting customers all New Zealand trade publications, the envy of others and the pride of the plumbers.”

Supplier price lists

In 1954, Otago members discussed the idea of a price book service for the guidance of members, but decided to use Nelson and South Canterbury Association lists in the meantime.

“By 1974, Association members were becoming desperate for a price guide service,” say the authors. “Inflation had been severe and costs were escalating to such an extent that the merchants who had been providing this service were fining it onerous and costly to maintain.”

As a result, the Association decided to provide a price book, with one copy per member. “The project was an instant ‘winner’ with the membership, who saw the service as an answer to their prayers.”

A decade later, NZPM started providing a twice-monthly list of 14,000 priced stock items by microfiche. “The value of the price book to the Association had been eliminated, almost as quickly as its arrival,” say the authors.

By the 1990s, computers had started overtaking microfiche systems for relaying such information.

Charitable activities

The first charitable involvement of the Association is recorded in 1900 when members were praised for taking only two days to raise thirty pounds to pay for a horse and some of the equipment for a member of the Fourth Contingent going to the Boer War. Many plumbers over the years have had affiliations with the Scouting movement. In 1961, help was needed with the installation of troughs, basins and other fittings for a Scout

1 S A / G12 ents s dm y n a e r t am e f le a b s a for applic now HOT WATER UNIT

many plumbers over the years have had affiliations with the Scouting movement Fully compliant with Building Code Jamboree. Members were asked to volunteer their time and did so willingly.

When a youth camp was being built in the Catlins for school groups in 1974, members once again volunteered their help, removing plumbing fittings from the disused Seacliff mental hospital and assisting with installation on-site.

Trade evenings

Saves installation time Saves on parts and materials 20 year warranty Minimal space requirements Recovers shape if bent

On many occasions, manufacturers and groups or bodies that wish to solicit Association support, or merely have a message to convey, have made use of trade evenings at local Associations. “Many and varied have been the demonstrations and the topics covered,” say the authors, going on to list space heater installations, metal corrosion, insurance options, child safety, personal health and new tap models as just some of them.

Collective advertising

The Society’s ‘Industry Promotion Committee’ produced Plumb Talk articles in the 1970s and 80s. Designed to offer solutions to the many plumbing problems encountered by consumers, they were distributed all over NZ for inclusion in newspaper supplements and magazines.

At the Otago Association, Barry Dell also arranged for regular articles to appear in a Dunedin community newspaper, complemented by member advertising. The project started in 1984 and continued for many years. ■

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Playing it cool SAFETY FIRST

New guidance from WorkSafe provides advice on preventing Legionnaires’ disease from cooling towers and cooling plant.

LEGIONELLA BACTERIA GROW on the wet surfaces of cooling towers, evaporative condensers and scrubbers, and can cause Legionnaires’ disease. Legionella become airborne when fine water droplets (aerosols) carrying the bacteria are expelled from exhaust fans. Poorly positioned air intakes for air conditioning units can also capture the bacterial plume and draw it into buildings.

Businesses whose work involves premises that operate cooling

towers or evaporative condensers (cooling plant) must eliminate the risks from Legionella colonisation and dissemination so far as is reasonably practicable. If a risk can’t be eliminated, it must be minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. When different PCBUs work on cooling plant, they need to consult and coordinate activities.

The table below describes the different PCBUs that may be involved, their duties and the likely extent of their influence or control.

Table 1: Different PCBUs with overlapping duties PCBU’s role

Duty

• Designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of the plant • and structures

• Installers, constructors and commissioners of plant and structures

•

Managers or controllers of the workplace

•

•

Managers, maintainers or servicers of the cooling plant

•

•

Tenants in buildings with cooling plant as part of the air conditioning system

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June/July 2017

•

Extent of influence/ control

Upstream PCBUs can influence and often eliminate health and safety risks through designing, manufacturing or installing plant that is safe for the operator.

Designers of cooling plant are in a unique position, in that they have the opportunity to eliminate or minimise risks by adopting the principles of health and safety in design. The elimination or minimisation of risks after installation of plant is usually less effective, and more Ensure the way plant or structures are installed, costly. constructed or commissioned is without health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Ensure plant, substances, or structures, are without health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable Test to make sure the plant designed/ manufactured/supplied is without health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable (or arrange the carrying out of such tests) Give adequate information to people who are given the design/plant, substance or structure.

Ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the workplace and anything else arising from the workplace are without health and safety risks to any person.

Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the provision and maintenance of safe plant and structures.

This PCBU has influence and control over who manages, maintains or services the cooling plant. This PCBU could carry out these actions themselves or contract someone else to do it.

For new buildings or renovations, this PCBU will have significant influence or control over the type of cooling plant installed.

Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of workers and others (eg, visitors to the workplace or members of the public not associated with the premises) is not put at risk by its work (managing, maintaining or servicing the cooling plant) Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that any fixtures, fittings or plant they manage or control are without risks to the health and safety of any person.

This PCBU has influence and control over eliminating or minimising the day-to-day health and safety risks from Legionella in cooling plant. They should have effective systems in place to maintain, monitor, treat and report on their sampling/testing/reporting procedures.

Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others (eg, visitors to the workplace or members of the public not associated with the premises) is not put at risk by its work.

This PCBU is likely to have a a limited extent to influence or control the health and safety risks.

The extent of this duty will likely involve: Confirming that the PCBU who manages or controls the workplace has a maintenance schedule and monthly water quality testing programme in place.

Either receiving these reports or being notified if Legionella is detected and what actions are being taken to address this.

Keeping workers informed when Legionella is detected.

SAFETY FIRST Tables 2 and 3 describe recommended actions when intending to install new cooling plant, and when dealing with cooling plant on an ongoing basis.

Seek the views of your workers about the ways to eliminate or minimise the risks from Legionella in cooling plant.

Table 2: Recommended actions when intending to install new cooling plant Role

Recommended action

Designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of cooling plant

Design, manufacture, import and supply cooling plant that: • use processes that restrict bacterial growth (eg, a hot water unit with mixing valves instead of a warm water storage system).

• have parts that avoid sludge build-up. Legionella grow better in sludge.

• avoid dead legs in pipework so bacteria cannot grow in them.

• use well-designed drift eliminators for effective capture of aerosols.

• have easy access for maintenance and cleaning.

• use a continuously-operating disinfection process to kill bacteria.

• use a closed-circuit system instead of an open circuit—this removes bacteria growth surfaces.

Installers, constructors and commissioners of plant and structures

• • •

Managers or controllers of the workplace

• •

Install and construct cooling plant following relevant specifications.

Install cooling plant so that potentially-contaminated aerosols from other discharges are not drawn into the building air intakes.

Do not start up cooling plant until all water treatment systems are operational.

Use a plant design based on air-cooling rather than water cooling. This eliminates the risk of Legionella growth.

If the above is not reasonably practicable, use water cooling plant that is designed to minimise the risk of Legionella growth. Such plant should be easy to access and keep clean.

Note: Buildings (including their air-conditioning systems) must comply with the requirements under the Building Act.

Table 3: Recommended actions for day-to-day operations of existing cooling plant Role

Recommended action

Managers or controllers of the workplace

• •

• • Manager, maintainer or servicer of the cooling plant

• •

• • • •

•

Ensure the water cooling plant is kept clean and well maintained. Make enquiries to ensure the PCBU used to manage, maintain or service the cooling plant is competent and qualified to complete the task.

Insist on timely receipt of water quality reports with clear explanations of findings. The PCBU should keep written records to demonstrate ongoing compliance to relevant authorities. The records should also show actions taken when results indicate an increased microbial growth in the water.

After consulting with the PCBU who manages, maintains or services the cooling plant, decide the actions to be taken to protect workers and others when microbial growth is found.

Provide copies of all water quality reports to building tenants or provide reports to tenants/visitors when levels of Legionella requiring action are found.

Keep the water cooling plant clean and well maintained. Consider steam cleaning as part of maintenance schedule of wetted surfaces.

Treat the water with chemicals—if needed, use specialist advice for help with: selecting and running the chemical dosing equipment the design of bleed-off techniques to avoid chemical residue build-up choosing biocides—effectiveness vs ecotoxicity regular water sampling, testing, and reporting of findings (in accordance with AS/NZS3666.3 Air handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control – Part 3: Performance based maintenance of cooling water systems).

Ensure the person who monitors, tests or treats water or records microbial growth is competent and qualified to complete the task.

If the cooling plant is in a start-up phase after being shut down, more frequent sampling may be initially needed.

If earthworks are occurring in the vicinity to the cooling plant, more frequent sampling may be needed.

Provide the PCBU who manages or controls the workplace with water quality reports as soon as possible.

The reports should contain clear explanations of the findings (see AS/NZS3666.3 and the New Zealand Building Code).

Alert the PCBU who manages or controls the workplace immediately if results indicate an increased microbial growth in the water and inform them what actions should be taken to address this.

Note: The Institute of Environmental Science and Research’s guidelines Environmental Sampling for Legionella Bacteria provide procedures for collecting samples from cooling plant for testing. These guidelines are available from www.esr.cri.nz

The new WorkSafe guidance can be found at www.worksafe.govt.nz (search under legionnaire) June/July 2017

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REAL LIVES

Rock ’n’ roll plumber WHEN SELF-EMPLOYED Richard Reder is out and about fixing people’s plumbing problems, he’s also keeping a look out for youngsters to join his rock ’n’ roll club.

The Wellington Rock ’n’ Roll Club president says dancing to the style of music that originated in the US in the 1950s is a great way to keep fit and boost your social skills.

“I enjoy plumbing because you meet a lot of people. When I’m at a house and I see kids in a family I say, ‘What do you like doing?’ And, if they’re interested, I will tell them about rock ’n’ roll,” Richard says.

“We’re getting more kids turning up at the club. Our evening sessions are just $2—we’re pretty cheap—and people are getting taught valuable social skills.”

Richard, from Lower Hutt, has been involved with rock ’n’ roll for about 30 years. He is in his second year as president of the Wellington club where his wife Karen is the DJ. “When we were younger we were into American cars and went to hot rods but nobody was dancing. Then we went to a rock ’n’ roll club and that has given us the cars, music and dancing,” Richard says.

“American Graffiti was also the movie of our time and we wanted to replicate some of that style and life for ourselves.

“A lot of guys wish they could dance, so it’s good to learn that, and I use it as a fitness thing as well. Your fitness levels go through the roof when you dance.”

The Wellington Rock ’n’ Roll Club has about 130 members. Next year

we went to a rock ’n’ roll club and that has given us the cars, music and dancing

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Photograph courtesy of RNZ/Rebekah Parsons-King.

Dancing to rock ’n’ roll is sociable and great for fitness, as Richard Reder tells NZ Plumber. By Matthew Lowe.

Above: Self-employed plumber Richard Reder by one of his American cars.

it celebrates its 40th anniversary and will also be hosting the national championships.

“For the nationals you normally see 500 to 600 people, but in 2018 we are trying to get over 1,000 people for our event. We have got people coming from overseas and hope to draw in a big crowd.

“I have competed only for the last two years and it has gone well. I’ve not won much but I am in there for the fun. I do not need to worry about first place; I’m too old to get competitive.”

As president, Richard says his role is to maintain membership levels, organise weekly training sessions and help bring in funding through monthly club meets and regular theme nights.

“My thing is to get all the beginners and younger people involved so they can do well and take it anywhere in the world and dance happily,” he says.

“We put the fun back into socialising, and dancing is one of the best social skills you can come across.”

While the rock ’n’ roll occupies Richard on a number of evenings and at weekends, he is kept busy during

the day at his plumbing firm, Waterloo Maintenance 2017, which he runs with his son Jason.

“Jason did his apprenticeship with me, and since May we’ve become a father and son business as my previous business partner has just retired from drainlaying.”

Richard started his plumbing career at 15 as an apprentice based at the railways in Wellington. “From there I did my exams and worked for myself for oneand-a-half years before working at South Pacific Tyres on night shifts. During that time, I was just helping people out with plumbing for a few years before eventually going back to plumbing fulltime.”

The Reders have three children, Nicole, Shayne and Jason. All three have been involved in rock ’n’ roll, with Nicole and Shayne winning national age group titles in the past.

“My children do not like nightclubbing and the atmosphere you sometimes encounter at those places,” Richard says. “Whereas rock ’n’ roll is a safe environment and you have always got friends around you.” ■

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NEXT GENERATION

Future leaders Meet three newly qualified former Masterlink apprentices who have great careers ahead of them.

KRIS RANGITAAWA, ANDREW Ranger and Colby Baker were each picked as finalists for the 2017 James Douglas Medallion, with Kris Rangitaawa taking the overall award. We find out what qualities have got them noticed.

Kris Rangitaawa

JAMES DOUGLAS MEDALLION WINNER AND PLUMBING FINALIST Kris was a latecomer to the plumbing industry. He took up a Masterlink apprenticeship five years ago after 10 years as a carpenter and, at 34, has now become a fully qualified plumber and gasfitter. “It was a slow time in the building industry and I was looking for a new challenge,” he says of the career 66

June/July 2017

switch. “A friend already worked with Plumbing & Gas Works and told me they were looking for a few new people.”

It was the right move, and Kris loves his job at the Hamilton firm. “I have a fantastic boss and a great bunch of guys to work with. Every day is different because there’s such a broad spectrum of work and interesting challenges. You can be doing solar panels or hot water cylinders one day and gas fires the next.”

He says it was a real honour to win the James Douglas Medallion at this year’s NZ Plumbing Awards, and hopes it will encourage other young people to consider a plumbing apprenticeship as a career option. “There’s a lot of opportunity for bright young people who don’t mind hard work.”

This isn’t the first recognition for Kris’s skills. He received a Plumbing World Scholarship during his apprenticeship and picked up three awards at the 2015 Waikato Master Plumbers Awards, including Apprentice of the Year.

General Manager Mike Foote has only good words to say about his employee.

“To sum Kris up, he is a well-rounded, genuinely nice person, who will do anything for you. He is a team player, who is always offering to help colleagues.

His workplace is always tidy and clean, he is very professional and punctual, and often wins praise from our clients.”

Above: Kris brazing copper onsite for commercial clothes dryers at a new laundromat.

NEXT GENERATION

Above: Andrew Ranger by his van.

In his spare time, Kris enjoys spending time with and entertaining friends and family—and cooking “low and slow” BBQs over charcoal.

Andrew Ranger

GASFITTING FINALIST Andrew Ranger is a qualified plumber and gasfitter at Laser Plumbing Te

Puke, having completed his Masterlink apprenticeship at the firm last October.

He takes an analytical approach to his work, says the firm’s owner John Wilson.

“He is able to think about a job, plan it and communicate it to the customer. He also thinks about what he has done and discusses ways he can improve.”

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NEXT GENERATION

James Douglas

Above: Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing’s Colby Baker (right) with work colleague Brendan Baker.

Colby Baker

DRAINLAYING FINALIST Energetic and enthusiastic is how Colby Baker’s boss describes him. Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing General Manager Andrew McCarthy says 23-year-old Colby is also highly skilled and well versed in installing drainage fittings and fixtures.

“He is quick at learning new concepts and good at solving complicated drainage problems, and he also has a logical and resourceful mind. He has a profound capability for reading plans, drawings and specifications to determine the layout of drainage systems.”

I take pride in the way my work looks

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Certifying Drainlayer Robert Moore, Colby’s supervising trainer for the past two years, says he was a real pleasure to guide, teach and work with. He has a long list of positive attributes for Colby, which include being motivated, polite, loyal, honest and conscientious, with a good sense of humour.

“The list could be considerably longer,” says Robert, a Certifying Drainlayer who has been in the industry for 35 years.

“He’s the most efficient and easiest young guy to have on the job.”

“I got into drainlaying because I enjoy the physical work and getting my hands dirty,” says Colby. “I also like to take pride in the way my work looks and satisfaction that it’s done at a high standard even though it’s buried 90% of the time.”

When he’s not working, Colby’s hobbies are surfing, tramping and getting out being active with his dog. ■

James Sandilands Douglas had an incredible drive to enhance the plumbing industry and the way it was perceived by the public and legislators. A founding member of the Otago Master Plumbers Association, which started life in 1897, he became part owner of a plumbing business at just 22.

Within six years of the Association’s establishment, James Douglas was appointed Secretary, and in the same year elected to the Dunedin Drainage Board. Two years later, in 1905, he began a year in office as the Association’s President, promising “to do all that lay in his power” to forward its interests. He was to take the office again in 1910, this time for 23 years…

The National President of Master Plumbers on no fewer than three occasions, James Douglas was among the first to be awarded Life Membership of the national body. He also served on the NZ Plumbers’ Registration Board from 1914 through to 1946, a total of 32 years’ service.

As if that weren’t enough, he was also Mayor of Dunedin for two years during the 1920s, a Major in the Otago Regiment and a church deacon.

He died in Dunedin in 1957 at the age of 85. The national James Douglas Medallion was first awarded in 1948.

Above: James Douglas in his mayoral robes.

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NEXT GENERATION

Generation game If you understand what makes different generational groups tick, you’ll get the best from them in the workplace.

“EVERY GENERATION IMAGINES itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” So wrote English novelist George Orwell.

We may imagine ourselves to be a cut above, but what is the reality? Generation Y, in particular, is much maligned, said trainer and business coach Lynn Harris during her workshop at the recent NZ Plumbing Conference. Set them up right and they can be your most constructive workers because they love to learn, she said.

Lynn went on to separate the audience into groups to consider the defining events that have shaped recent generations, including: • • • • •

Traditionalists: born pre 1945 Baby Boomers: born 1946-1964 Gen X: born 1965-1979 Gen Y: born 1980-1995 (also known as the Millennials) Gen Z: born 1996-early 2000s

These dates are not set in stone, of course, and different sources have slightly different start and end dates for each generational group.

Of the groups, the Baby Boomers make up the largest percentage of the New Zealand workforce, at around 42 percent.

Traditionalists Having lived through the tough World War years, the traditionalists tend to be dutiful, frugal and hard working. They respect authority and believe that advancement in a job comes through time served. They are loyal, reliable and make good team players.

Most will be retired or reaching retirement and, of all the groups, they’re the least likely to have embraced modern technology.

Baby Boomers The Times They Are a-Changin’, sang Bob Dylan in 1964, summing up the significant historical events that changed the world forever during the baby boomers’ youth.

Parented by traditionalists, this group inherited the hard work ethic. Unlike their parents, though, they tend to be career focussed and motivated by professional success. For these people, promotion should be given on merit, not long service.

They were raised in a world where women tended to stay at home, while men went out to work. That all changed with the advent of Women’s Lib and the contraceptive pill. This was the time of the Swinging Sixties, the Beatles, peace protests and the US Civil Rights Movement—plus the space race was on.

The oldest Baby Boomers started retiring in 2011.

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Gen X Generation X is a far smaller group than the previous generation. The birthrate dropped dramatically as increasing numbers of women entered the workforce. Gen X children whose parents were both working grew up to be independent and self-reliant.

This group believes hard work and expertise in the workplace deserves respect, but they place more importance on a good work-life balance—working to live, rather than living to work.

They like a hands-off style of management but thrive on direct feedback to keep them motivated and engaged. Their work hard/play hard mentality means they enjoy a bit of fun in the workplace.

With computers becoming an accepted part of the workplace scene from the late 1980s, this generation was the first to grow up with technology as part of their lives. This makes them quick to adapt and change as new technologies come on board.

Gen Y These guys are tech savvy and know how to use technology to their advantage at work. Mobile phones and the internet took off when this group were children, so they take the digital world for granted.

Like the previous generation, they want a good mix of work and play, and family time is a priority. Flexible work hours are important to this group.

Many were brought up by ‘helicopter parents’, who hovered closely on the scene, and they were shuttled to and from activities rather than being shooed out the house to play. They tend to thrive on positive feedback and reassurance, and value the input of supervisors and mentors.

Being used to organised sports and activities, Gen Ys make good team players and they like structure. Employers will get the best from Gen Y by explaining the expectations of the job clearly from the start, providing plenty of fresh challenges and giving positive feedback when a job has been done well.

Gen Ys like to be kept informed about what’s going on in the workplace, aren’t afraid to question authority, and will happily move from job to job to work their way up the ladder.

Gen Z Generation Z is just starting to enter the workforce in numbers.

A 2016 study in the US found that this group is going to change the workplace, aligning more closely with Gen X than the Millennials. Less tech-dependent (smartphones excepted), they value the effectiveness of face-to-face communication. They also want flexible hours, but like a mix of working remotely and in a physical workplace. Time will tell… so watch this space! ■

NEXT GENERATION

In defence of Gen Y is also happy to work away At 32, Certifying Plumber and independently.”

Gasfitter Hayden Maxey is in the The business is virtually Gen Y age bracket. Not the least paperless, which is second bit afraid of hard work, Hayden nature to this age group, says runs his own plumbing firm, Hayden. “If I had to go back Maxey Plumbing and Gas in to paperwork, I’d probably Wellington, and usually works a chuck it all in. It makes for a 12-hour day… and the rest. lot of unnecessary work and “I’ll be up at 6am answering too many things get missed.” emails and doing invoices before He believes the younger going to work around 7am,” he generation is not quite what says. “I get home at 6:30-7pm Baby Boomers perceive it to and, after putting our 2-year-old be. “Each generation has its son to bed, I’ll often be back pros and cons. Being up with doing quotes at 10 at night.” technology, both in terms of Hayden employs 27-year-old systems and products, is a qualified plumber, Ben Southey major advantage for ours.” (aka Ben Snr), and 20-year-old As for the supposed Gen Y apprentice Ben Dowman (aka Above: A Gen Y, Hayden Maxey is a hard-working, successful business work-life balance, Hayden is Ben Jnr), and says their working owner. still hopeful he might get there one day. “Every evening, my relationship is open, honest and upfront, with a lot of mutual wife and I discuss how we can achieve that. With another respect. “If Ben Jnr turns up to work before me, he’ll be out baby on the way, it’s of highest importance to us to get a there with the broom without being asked. He’ll always look for better balance—but it’s really hard to find staff.” something to do and if he can’t find anything, he’ll ask. Ben Snr

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NEXT GENERATION

Scholarship winners These five Masterlink apprentices have what it takes to go far.

EACH YEAR, FIVE Masterlink apprentices are picked for a Plumbing World Scholarship, receiving $1,000 each to spend at Plumbing World. We find out why this year’s winners are great role models for future apprentices.

Brendan Baker – 4th year plumbing and gasfitting apprentice

Honest and respectful. These two words sum up Brendan, says Ben McCord at Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing. “These traits have in turn earned him the respect of all our staff and clients on the job site. He is also reliable and carries out his work with responsibility and great care.”

General Manager Mac McCarthy agrees, adding that Brendan is charismatic and well spoken. “Brendan’s workmanship, organisation, productivity, attention to detail and finishing skills have always been excellent,” he says.

Brendan, who has been at the company for the past four years, says he really enjoys helping other apprentices and labourers learn about the trade and how to do their work to a high standard.

He believes the key to making jobs run as smoothly as possible is good communication. A good example of this was his involvement in a recent retirement village project. “It’s fast-paced work and can be a stressful environment, reaching deadlines for both completion dates and inspections—but it’s hugely rewarding completing units on time to a quality standard.

“There’s a whole other world out there in the trades, and you come out with a qualification you can take anywhere. Good money and it can set you up for life.”

A lover of the outdoors, Brendan enjoys tramping, surfing and football. “I play for a local football club every Saturday, as I enjoy the competitive and social aspects of the sport. My friends and I have recently take up surfing, which we haven’t quite mastered yet, but we love the challenge of something new.”

He also enjoys travelling, and working at Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing has given him the chance to do so. “I have been on trips around America and recently came back from Europe.”

Above: Brendan (left) with Masterlink host Mac McCarthy and mate and work colleague Colby Baker.

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Robbie Harrop – 3rd year plumbing and gasfitting apprentice

Host Dale Lovell describes Robbie as a ‘model apprentice’.

In the first two years of his apprenticeship, Robbie has shown himself to be a capable and willing worker.

“Ask him what he does for fun and he will tell you seriously: ‘Plumbing,’” says Dale. “He is hard working, thinks over the problem and finds the best solution.”

To date, Robbie’s proudest achievement has been piping Above: Robbie with his Plumbing World Scholarship certificate. out a hot water cylinder manifold at the High Court in Auckland.

“I got into the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry because of the diverse range of skills it offered to teach me,” explains Robbie. “From fixing flashings on the roof to changing out a kitchen tap, the daily tasks provide a sense of both challenge and reward.”

In his spare time, Robbie enjoys running and cycling.

Josh Edwards – 2nd year plumbing and gasfitting apprentice

Josh featured in the last edition of NZ Plumber for his work at the University of Otago in Dunedin. Masterlink South Island Manager Roger Herd nominated him for a Plumbing World Scholarship, saying that Josh works to a very high standard and interacts well with customers.

Having started his apprenticeship straight from school, the past 12 months have been a steep learning curve Above: Josh Edwards examines a for Josh, and he has grown in glass waste pipe. maturity and confidence. He says he really enjoys the variety of the work and the fact that you never know what the day will bring.

“We regularly work within demanding timeframes,” says Josh.

“For example, last year I had to complete a laboratory upgrade, which meant working overtime on short notice. I take a lot of pride in completing these projects in time and feel my trade skills have improved significantly.”

“Josh recently worked on a major project, which involved

NEXT GENERATION

working in with the academic department to plan shutdowns of services,” says his host Jeff Burrow. “We had very positive feedback from the department on the way he planned the work to fit their schedules.”

A keen sportsman, Josh plays cricket and golf and enjoys fishing. He no longer plays rugby due to an injury but still loves watching it.

Tane McGuire – 3rd year plumbing and gasfitting apprentice

“I’ve always wanted to work with my hands, so plumbing looked and sounded like the trade for me,” says Tane McGuire. “Being outdoors and having variety keeps me actively interested day in day out.”

Tane works at Tech Mechanical Services in Napier, which supplies a wide range of plumbing and gasfitting services to its clients. This has given Above: Tane by his work van.

Tane well-rounded on-job experience, from domestic servicing to industrial plumbing. “His ability to absorb information and pick up new skills is exceptional,” says General Manager Brad Ellison.

In the past year, he has grown more confident and gained the trust of his peers and managers. “They know they can rely on me to do any job and do it properly,” he says.

Tane was recently part of a prison contract, installing four showers every week for five weeks. “Working in Corrections can be testing at the best of times with all the regulations and paperwork,” he says. “Working around inmate and officer schedules can make it hard to hit deadlines.”

Tane had to work out how to get hot water to the showers and how to install the stainless showers while making them safe and secure for inmates. “By planning who did which part of the installation and using the old cliché ‘ass up, head down’ working

long hours to get the job done, we finished the showers and made them secure by deadline every week.”

In his spare time, Tane likes to keep as active as he is at work, by playing rugby and going to the gym. “I’m proud to say I made the Hawkes Bay Sevens team earlier this year through hard work and dedication.”

Braden Lawton – 2nd year plumbing and drainlaying apprentice

Not even his girlfriend Shelby gets in the way of pig hunting, says Nelson-based Braden Lawton. Yet, despite heading for the hills every weekend and sometimes after work, Braden has learned to put his study first, which has seen a real improvement in his block course reports. He came to plumbing through Gateway at high school, and loves everything about it. “It's Above: Braden and partner Shelby great seeing the end product Andrew at the NZ Plumbing Awards. and what you’ve achieved,” he says.

Braden is up for any job that’s put in front of him, and has just completed his first HWC. “The more I understand how things work and can be changed, the more I love the job,” he says. “I enjoy being able to work directly with clients and discussing bathroom appliances and positioning. I’ve also formed good relationships with suppliers, ringing them for specs or other products.”

Braden has Type 1 diabetes, which can be a challenge but with his can-do attitude, he never lets it stand in the way of completing a quality job. “I’ve had diabetes since I was two and it’s a seesaw balance,” he says. “If your blood sugar gets low, you feel dizzy and unable to concentrate, so you have to take insulin, eat and rest—but after about five minutes, I’ve had enough of standing round watching other people work.”

Host Ben Allen says Braden has become an integral member of the team. “Our customers regularly compliment him on his workmanship and manners.” ■

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NEXT GENERATION

What’s your view?

New plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying qualifications—have your say!

THE NEW SLOGAN at Skills is ‘Grow by growing others’. It’s a theme we’re carrying into each of our industries, and we’re looking forward to growing the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying sector.

We’re already making moves to do so—with new programmes for plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying apprenticeships on the way. Best of all, we want to hear your thoughts on them and give you a chance to help shape them! It’s all about working together for the best interests of the industry.

Here’s a quick overview of what we’re looking to change in the programmes: •

•

Block courses: classes will focus on practice and understanding theory, not just assessment.

Verifying on-job assessments:

apprentices will have the opportunity to be assessed and verified on the job, not just in class. This means less time away from work having to re-learn everything you taught them on the job.

• Combination learning: want to do plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying all in one programme?

The new programmes will allow trainees to do all three, or a combination of them.

We’re making these changes as we have the same goals as you—to make sure the industry continues having a skilled workforce trained to a high standard.

us to design programmes that prioritise the needs of you and your trainees.

Once we’ve listened to the industry, we’ll be working overtime to make it all happen by December this year, so we can roll out the new programmes in 2018.

Keep your eyes and ears open for communications from us around this, as we’ll be seeking feedback through a range of sources. If you have any questions in the meantime, just give us a call on 0508 SKILLS (0508 754 557).

We look forward to hearing from you! ■

Seeking your feedback We’re currently talking with industry to hear everyone’s thoughts. This will allow

JOIN US TO SHAPE THE FUTURE

Changes to Plumbing, Gasfitting, & Drainlaying Apprenticeships

Why the update?

Our goal is the same as yours –to make sure the industry has a skilled workforce trained to a high standard.

Next steps Over the next few months we’ll be chatting with industry. This will help us shape the programmes into something that really works for you and others in the industry. From there, we’ll be working overtime to make it all happen by December this year, so we can roll out the new programmes in 2018.

Great news! We’ve got new programmes for plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying on the way. And before they’re set in stone, we want your input on how they’re going to look.

Some of the key changes we’re looking at are: Block courses: Classes are going to focus on practice and understanding theory, not just assessment.

On-job assessment: Apprentices will be able to be assessed and verified on the job, not just in class. This means less time away from the site re-learning everything you taught them on the job.

Combinations: Want to do plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying all in one programme? It’s coming your way!

The new programmes allow trainees to do all three, or a combination.

WANT TO THROW IN YOUR TWO CENTS?

Keep an eye out for messages from us – we’ll be in touch to get your feedback. If you’ve got any questions, please call us on 0508 SKILLS (754 557).

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available at leading plumbing merchants

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THE POWERFUL BATHROOM FAN THAT PROTECTS YOUR HOME ...SILENTLY!

Gettin’ a bit frosty there mate?

Schweigen, the makers of New Zealand’s first silent rangehood, deliver a powerful bathroom extraction system.

The Schweigen BR500 Silent Bathroom Exhaust System removes steam & smells in seconds.

As always, we’ve got ya covered. The Apex Winter Promo is back with more rewards!

It is perfect for any installation where users need to remove odours or to prevent condensation in bathrooms, toilets, laundries, offices & garages. > Silent externally mounted motor > Most powerful extraction fan > German made motor > Up to two room extraction with one fan > 5 year warranty

et

Trek Jack

60

Apex Beanie

5

valves

valves

ible Reversvest hi-vis

35 valves

Terms and Conditions apply, see detail on our website or on the entry forms in-store.

PROMOTION RUNS 1 MAY TO 31 July 2017

Visit your local merchant or apexvalves.co.nz to enter

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June/July 2017

For more information Call: 0800 200 510 Email: info.parex@emerson.com

www.schweigen.co.nz

AND FINALLY

Offcuts

Our regular page of offcuts and oddities.

Not ready to retire

The Hokitika Guardian recently reported on American man Bill Hansen, who wanted nothing more for his 100th birthday than to spend the day at his old workplace, where he had been a permit coordinator for 32 years until reluctantly retiring at the age of 97. Apparently, Hutchinson Plumbing, Heating and Cooling in New Jersey fulfilled his wish, providing birthday cake and a standing ovation before giving him a full day’s worth of assignments for the grand payment of $1.

Toilets for tourists

A $102 million Tourism Infrastructure Fund will enable more tourist toilets, carparks and freedom camping facilities around New Zealand over the next four years. The government announced the fund in mid May, along with $76 million new DOC funding. Last year, international tourism expenditure was $14.5 billion, and the tourism industry is a major employer.

Breaking the stereotypes Baseball forever

US plumber Roy Riegel, who died in 2008, was a huge New York Mets fan.

Now his lifelong friend and fellow Mets fan, Tom McDonald, is flushing Roy’s ashes down toilets at ballparks around the country to keep a vow to honour his mate, reports the New York Times. Apparently, Tom has a rule that the game must be in progress as he does it. He told the newspaper that pumping his friend’s essence into the plumbing was the perfect tribute to a plumber, a baseball fan and “just a brilliant, wild guy”.

Taking the temperature

According to an article in the UK newspaper The Times, it’s so vital for humans to experience a range of temperatures that offices should consider varying the indoor climate with the seasons. Recent scientific research had shown that exposing diabetic people to moderately low temperatures produces positive changes in their metabolism, reported the paper. Apparently our bodies were not evolved in an environment that lacks variation in temperature, and it’s not good for us. Time to adjust the temperature controls on our office air conditioners and heating, perhaps?

American rugged workwear brand Carhartt launched a Mother’s Day campaign with a difference—with a commercial featuring hardworking mothers in everyday roles as farmers, bakers, builders and mechanics. According to Yahoo Style, one of the women in the commercial is Adrienne Bennett, the president and CEO of Benkari Mechanical LLC in Detroit, who is also the first and only female master plumber and plumbing contractor in the state of Michigan—and the first African-American female master plumber and plumbing contractor in the US. Called All Hail the Carhartt Woman, the film is “an ode to moms everywhere,” says the company.

Boiling up

Water hot enough to boil has been discovered just 630m down into the Alpine Fault near Franz Joseph. The find was made during a scientific drilling project to monitor activity before a major earthquake. The water was much hotter than predicted, with temperatures at the bottom of the borehole (approx 820m) around 120°C. The geothermal find has spurred speculation about power generation but researchers think it might be more applicable to the dairy and tourism sector, due to the location. Low-grade heat could be used for tourist hot springs as well as industrial or agricultural uses like milk processing, said Victoria University’s Professor Rupert Sutherland, lead author of a paper published in Nature.

June/July 2017

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AND FINALLY

DODGY Plumbing Keep them coming! Send your Dodgy Plumbing examples to the Ed: beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz

You couldn’t make ‘em up… thanks for this edition’s contributions, guys.

In hot water

“We were called to service for hot water,” says Dale Lovell of Heron Plumbing. “We have rectified what was necessary to get the water heater going again. We had to upgrade the following: • replaced the ball valve as it wouldn’t shut off • replaced the exposed yellow pipe and male fittings as wasn’t disconnectable • extended the cold water expansion valve drain closer to the ground.

“The owner still needs to sort out the gas meter below ground and hole full of water. Also needs to decide what to do with the rest of the exposed yellow pipe and tees configuration.”

Kitchen nightmare

Certified Gas sent in this photo of an unsafe new installation they came across in Canterbury.

It’s a wrap

“Client not able to use her basin, newly installed by someone we suspect is not a plumber,” says Martin De Gouw of Clyne & Bennie Plumbing.

Wash out

“Came across this DIY outside shower,” says Taupo District Council Building Consents Manager Kelvin Short. “BBQ fittings with water pipe for the gas installation, unrestrained gas bottle, not sure where the shower drained to… Wouldn’t be too inviting in midwinter in Taupo.”

Please send the biggest size photos you have.

The bigger the file, the bigger we can show it on the page!

78

June/July 2017

UK’s No. 1 selling condensing oil boiler * – the

GRANT VORTEX

now available in New Zealand The award-winning Grant Vortex Oil-fired Condensing boiler range has been in production for over ten years and offers a wide choice of models that provide low cost heating and hot water for homes of all sizes.

Award-winning oil-fired condensing boiler.

SAVE UP TO

Highly efficient

30%

Most reliable & whisper quiet

ON YOUR HOME HEATING BILL

THINK BOILERS. THINK GRANT. FREE plumber/installer technical presentation on condensing oil boilers Contact Jerry at Waterware to register

DUNEDIN evening Monday 26 June, 4–7pm Edgar Centre 116 Portsmouth Drive Andersons Bay Dunedin 9012

QUEENSTOWN evening Tuesday 27 June, 4–7pm Arrowtown Bowling Club 6 Hertford Street Arrowtown 8351

+64 21 632272 • Jerry@waterware.co.nz

WATERWARE SERVICES LTD. NZ

54 Stonedon Drive, East Tamaki, Auckland 2013 Ph +64 92 739191 • Email: info@grantboilers.co.nz

www.grantboilers.co.nz WWW.GRANTBOILERS.CO.NZ

*Source: Latest EUA Figures

BLACK ON BLACK

Introducing the new Marley Stratus Design Series gloss black uPVC spouting and downpipe system.

®