As we come to the end of another year I would like to thank all of the members and sponsors of the NSSA for your support and commitment to our Association this year . 2017 has been a very big year and a lot has been achieved . It has been a year of building the foundations and developing the structure for the association to operate effectively and efficiently . Unfortunately , this is not very glamorous work , and it isn ’ t the type of work that provides a lot of short term benefits to the members . But nonetheless , it is critical work that must be done to ensure that the NSSA can deliver real value to its members into the future .

Achievements for 2017 :

• Re-incorporated the Association .

• Ensured that the legal structure was sound .

• Developed a new constitution .

• Elected a new Board , with representatives from Queensland , New South Wales , Victoria and Western Australia .

• Set up a new Technical Committee .

• Redeveloped the members ’ AS 5039 auditing process and trained a number of new auditors .

• Commenced membership audits , to help both support and educate fabricators to understand their requirements as a business and the requirements of the Australian Standards

• Redeveloped the website .

• Created a new section within Windows magazine for both the promotion and the engagement of the security screen industry called Screens .

• Grew our membership from a low , but very loyal base of 35 members to over 100 + nation-wide .

• Developed a number of other key messages and certificates to support the quality work that these members produce .

• Attended Fenestration Australia 2017 in Fiji alongside the AWA .

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our Association this year . Whether you have joined one of our forums , worked on a project , joined the board or a committee , completed a survey or just expressed your thoughts or ideas to me about what you think we are doing well , or what we could do better . Any contribution and feedback to the Association has been enormously appreciated and I would like to thank you for your effort and contribution this year .

WORDS FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO

TRACEY GRAMLICK

Executive Director & CEO , Australian Window Association

Welcome to this final edition of the magazine for 2017 . I would like to start by personally congratulating all of the Fenestration Australia Design Award winners . I would also like to thank all of those who sponsored and attended our first international conference in fabulous Fiji and made it such a memorable event .

If I look back and pick a highlight off the list of the many industry achievements , projects and initiatives for the year , I would have to say that the increasing awareness of and focus on product conformity and compliance stands out for me . The significant amount of work by so many parties ( over a number of years ) that we have been privileged to contribute to and support is formidable . From presenting at the Building Ministers ’ Forum , responding to government and regulatory papers , joining committees with the Australian Industry Group ’ s Conforming Product Alliance and the Master Builders Association Queensland ; the list goes on .

We finish the year with the amendments to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 and the Queensland Building and Construction Regulation 2003 in relation to non-conforming building products .

These amendments were effected through the passage and proclamation of the Building and Construction legislation ( Non-conforming Building Products – Chain of Responsibility and Other Matters ) Amendment Act 2017 and will , no doubt , be used as a litmus test for the drafting of similar legislation in other states and territories . They have also published a Code of Practice designed to provide additional , technical advice on how to achieve compliance with the recent amendments . They include the obligations of the suppliers / manufacturers to pass on information to the owner ( but is silent on the installers ’ obligation ) and the fact that suppliers / manufacturers must communicate the suitability of the product , how to install it and how it must be used . Suppliers will also not be able to limit their responsibility through exclusions clauses in their sales paperwork .

It ’ s a great start to tackling this dilemma but there is a long way to go . Rest assured we will be front and centre representing your interests along the way .

Finally , thank you for your support of the Association . I would like to wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas and happy and prosperous new year .

WINDOWS MAGAZINE 3

WINDOWS Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 5