wo r d s
WORDS FROM THE CHAIRMAN
WORDS FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to the autumn edition of Windows.
The new year is well and truly underway with activity appearing to continue at similar levels to last year. This is good news for our industry, particularly on the east coast, as most members enjoyed a very busy 2016. Although the building industry peaked in terms of new home starts in 2016, there is still a solid pipeline of work to support strong ongoing demand over the next twelve months.
The annual voting for the Directors that represent you on the AWA Board took place in February. These appointments were announced at the AGM on 3 March. Full details can be found on the AWA website.
Your Board remains focused on the long term strategic issues facing the industry and our members. All Directors, who volunteer their time to the Association, are committed to ensuring the AWA continues to be the peak membership organisation of the Australian fenestration industry. As per our stated mission, the Association will continue to endorse compliant, sustainable and fit-forpurpose products and to provide services to members that support your efforts to operate successfully.
Thanks for your continued support of the AWA. The Association looks forward to working with you and supporting you throughout what will hopefully be a successful 2017 for your business.
Enjoy the magazine.
BRENDAN O’ REILLY Acting Chairman of the Board
Welcome to 2017. The World Economic Forum( WEF) tells us that ten years ago the top five global concerns were( in order):
• The breakdown of critical information infrastructure.
• Chronic disease in developed countries.
• Oil price shock.
• A China economic hard landing.
• Asset price collapse.
In 2017, the top five global concerns are( in order):
• Extreme weather events.
• Large scale involuntary migration.
• Major natural disasters.
• Terrorism attacks.
• Data fraud and theft.
As we swelter through a long, very hot summer, I will point out that three of the top five current global concerns involve people and weather. I commented here last November that I have no doubt that Australia’ s signing up to the Paris Agreement will impact the way we build and the materials we choose to build with. The WEF report reinforces this and leaves little doubt that there must be a reinvigorated effort in design innovation of windows and door systems to address these emerging needs.
Over the next couple of years, the AWA will work extensively with all parties to understand the trajectory for increasing regulatory requirements, to better inform the industry to prepare and maintain its efforts on addressing non-conforming building products, as the two issues surely work in tandem.
I hope your year is a successful one and look forward to meeting you at one of our many events over the next few months and, in particular, at our annual conference when we celebrate Fenestration Australia in the tropical resort islands of Fiji.
Here we are moving well into 2017 already, welcome to Windows autumn edition.
This edition of Windows includes regular features: David Esler who discusses the challenge of keeping your high performers, our compliance section looks at the AWA accreditation program and how it has driven success for our members over the last 20 years, Bryan Pickard discusses quantum meruit and what it means, learn about social media marketing and how to utilise it by reading a great article from Stephanie Dale, and Harley Dale talks about the Trump era and what impact, if any at all, this will have on the Australian residential building market.
Our member profile features Dave O’ Connell, founder of Weatherall Windows, who talks about his life in uPVC windows.
In our technical section, we discuss the acoustic testing program arranged with CSIRO, as well as crevice corrosion.
There are plenty of new products in the products section and a list of important dates in the directory.
We have a case study exploring leaking timber framed windows from Simon Owen and feature two case studies on security screen solutions for two very different projects.
We also look at how training fast tracks profits and quality in your business.
We hope you really enjoy our autumn edition of Windows.
GARY SMITH Marketing & Communications Manager
TRACEY GRAMLICK Executive Director & CEO
2 Australian Window Association