co m p l i a n c e
2015 in REVIEW:
BUILDING PRODUCTS COMPLIANCE
––AWA in discussion with Victorian Building
Authority.
––Industry Technical Infrastructure Forum.
––Industry Leaders Forum, Perth.
january
february
––Restructure of
AWA Accreditation
Program.
––Review of the Illegal
Logging Regulation,
2012.
tracey
gramlick
march
april
––CFMEU submission regarding government
procurement procedures.
––AWA and QLD MBA meet with Hon Karen
Andrews MP.
Issues with compliance for windows and
glazing, and, in fact, across wide and varied
industry and product sectors, continue to
increase throughout 2015. Over the past few
months, momentum has built regarding the
need to review the total supply chain for
building materials and products, including
ours.
There is too often a lack of credible and
accurate information available for purchasers
AWA Executive
and certifiers, particularly for imported, but
Director
also for Australian products, to assist those
wishing to verify product compliance and
conformance, in order to determine whether
or not a product is actually fit for its purpose.
The AWA is always conscious that its manufacturer members who
do the right thing, and meet the code of conduct that includes
active participation in the AWA third party accreditation and
audit program through its NATA accredited inspection agency, are
being disadvantaged against those that fail to test and confirm that
products meet Australia’s compliance standards. The evolution of
compliance, product conformity assessment and enforcement in
Australia have not kept pace with changes in our economy, global
supply chains and how or where products are manufactured or
sourced.
Regular readers will know that the AWA continues to work
relentlessly, representing the industry in as many forums and on as
many work groups and committees as they practically can on this
issue in order to drive change. Here we include a roundup of this
year’s activities.
may
june
––AWA submission to ACCC.
––Senate enquiry into non-conforming products
commenced.
january
After a successful 17 years
of factory audits, the AWA
accreditation and audit program
is restructured to include the
setting of tiers (Silver, Gold
and Platinum), in recognition of
the years involved and audits
passed, and the introduction
of market surveillance with
the random purchase and
independent testing of window
and door systems from the
marketplace.
february
The AWA participates in
a review of Illegal Logging
Regulation 2012 on small
businesses and sits on the
Conforming Products Alliance
(CPA) Steering Committee.
march
Formative discussions take
place in Melbourne on the
potential enforcement role for
the Victorian Building Authority
with non-conforming building
products.
The Industry Technical
Infrastructure Forum (ITIF)
emerges out of the CPA to
provide a means for peak
industry associations and
4 Australian Window Association Summer 2015
––AWA becomes a member of Standards
Australia and joins the Standards Australia
Council.
organisations to discuss,
identify and prioritise common
issues relevant to Technical
Infrastructure Organisations
(TIOs):
• Develop efficient, effective
relationships with TIOs and
work constructively and
positively in addressing the
ITIF priority issues.
• Raise issues with the TIOs
as appropriate and educate
Members regarding TIO
processes and methods of
operation.
An Industry Leaders Forum is
held in Perth, an initiative of the
FCJ Alliance (AWA is a member),
with the support of the Federal
Government’s Department of
Industry and Science to identify
core issues confronting the
industry throughout Australia
and derive a policy framework
to drive the industry’s ongoing
development over coming years.
Jason Windows hosted the
Forum at its production facilities
in Welshpool, Perth, and this
provided a backdrop conducive
to some very lively and informed
debate during the day.
april
The CFMEU published
a submission regarding