EDITORIAL | COMPLIANCE
THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS PROBLEM IS FOR THE VALIDATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH RELEVANT CODES TO BECOME A RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYONE IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN . level political response and regulatory review should also be an indicator that these issues are going to be put under the spotlight .
In Australia , we are suffering from a deluge of junk building products . Substandard glass in 50 Collins Street , Melbourne , is estimated to have cost $ 18 million to rectify . Expensive glass panels at the ASIO headquarters are falling out and hundreds of windows and doors manufactured in China for the Ararat prison arrived on site cut to the wrong sizes , making them useless .
There have been recalls on electrical wiring used throughout the country . Toxic levels of formaldehyde have been found in imported composite boards used in domestic kitchens and in formwork . Steel strapping and bracing used in timber framing has been found have a substandard galvanisation coating , compromising the durability of the product . Non-conforming showers and plumbing products are being sold everywhere . Poorly fabricated steel is a major problem and the list goes on and on and on .
The only way to stop this problem is for the validation of compliance with relevant codes to become a responsibility for everyone in the supply chain . Builders and buyers need to be more aware of the standards that products should meet . Manufacturers and suppliers need to ensure they can provide proof that products meet the relevant standards . As part of the building approval process , building certifiers should require information that shows the products meet these standards .
Builders and contractors shouldn ’ t just be keeping an eye out for products that go into their buildings . There are just as many issues with nonconforming products in temporary structures that aid construction like formwork , hoardings and site electricity supply .
But all is not lost . Manufacturers have a key role to play in ensuring that building products are Code compliant and suppliers need to ensure that the evidence to demonstrate Code compliance accompanies their product to market . Product selection is likely to depend on easy access to sound technical information , enabling building designers to confidently specify that product as part of a building , and builders or specialist trades to adequately install it .
The first priority is to read and fully understand what the NCC Evidence of Suitability requirements for products actually are under both the deemed-to-satisfy and performance compliance pathways , as well as what standards are referenced by the NCC in specific applications .
While product promotional material and product warranties have their place , building designers and specifiers are looking for factually-based product performance claims and supporting technical information . Of particular importance is what products are fit for , as well as honesty and transparency about what they are not suitable for .
If you find builders or contractors intent on substituting the products you make , let them know that from a contractual perspective they should be providing their clients with product documentation that is equivalent to that which you provide .
If you are a specifier or energy assessor , and you have documented a product and used the words ‘ or equivalent ’, make sure you clarify what the performance and durability requirements of an equivalent product should be – don ’ t leave it up to others to guess .
If you are an installer or contractor , you need to make it abundantly clear to your clients that you have a zero tolerance policy on both nonconforming products and non-compliant use of products . Since one of the main drivers behind the proliferation of dodgy building products is the belief there will be no consequences , get your legal expert to include appropriately worded clauses in your work contracts , then let it be known you will enforce your policy vigorously .
If you have clients considering using a building product other than that originally specified or requested , make them aware they need to ensure it meets the same performance and conformance requirements as the original product . Ignorance is no longer an excuse and they should follow a risk management process like the one developed by the Building Product Innovation Council ( BPIC ) called Substitution of Construction Products : A guide to managing product substitution 1 .
Encourage clients and buyers to look for products that carry what are known as third party certification from well-known and reputable industry associations and authorities like the Australian Window Association ( AWA ) that comply with ISO / IEC 17065:2013 Conformity assessment - Requirements for bodies certifying products , processes and services .
If you are a builder or building surveyor , the following guidelines will help you steer clear of dodgy products :
• If you intend to buy products from manufacturers or suppliers that market products as ‘ own brand ’, make sure they have an independently audited Quality Assurance system in place that is recognised in Australia .
1 BPIC Substitution of Construction Products Guide : http :// www . bpic . asn . au / guides / substitutionofconstructionproductsguide 2 ABCB NCBP Reporting Portal : http :// www . abcb . gov . au / NCBP / Non-conforming-building-products / Lodge-a-query-or-report-a-suspected-NCBP
10 Spring 2017