MINUTES

WAIKATO/BAY OF PLENTY BRANCH

TRAINING AND NETWORKING EVENT

held on

Hamilton City Council

Welcome:

BOINZ Ex-President Phil Saunders and Waikato/Bay of Plenty Branch Vice Chairman Ian Chamberlain opened the meeting, welcoming members and new members as well as extending a special welcome to the event's guests.

THEME: 'Looking to the Future'

Attendance:

Bennet Building Inspections: Richard Bennett,
Hamilton City Council: Eric Davies, Kanwar Bir Kalouria, Andrew McCabe, Lindsay Overington-Knight, Jacob Parker, Adelina Pop, Willem Van Rooyen, Phil Saunders, Kevin Su
Thames Coromandel District Council:Rachel Maw, Ergin Nemburt.
Gustro Property Solutions Limited:Steve Hutton.
Region Consultancy: Dave Thompson.
Chamberlain Carpentry and Joinery: Ian Chamberlain
Opotiki District Council: Laurie Akurangi
Tauranga City Council: Phil Roberts.
Guests:
Building Officials Institute of New Zealand: Jason Goei, Bruce Klein.
Future Skills: Sam Alavi
Geotech Engineer: Ashley Bowtell
GJ Gardner Homes: Steve Jenkins
Resene: Todd Martin, Mike Olds

Apologies:

Hamilton City CouncilL Alister Arcus
Rotorua Lakes Council: Bushy Bester, Bob Cameron, Alan Hoffman, Darrell Holder, Berkie Kepa, Carl Lomas, Glen Majorbanks, Israel Reid, Charlie Sefuvia, Barry Taylor, Ray Thompson, Ed Wiklins
South Waikato District Council: Kevin Duthie, Gregory Hill, Malcolm Neil, Jason Reece, Roy Stewart
Waikato District Council: Terrence Hayes
Waipa District Council: Mervyn Balloch
Western Bays District Council: General Apologies

Previous Minutes:

Ian Chamberlain covered the previous minutes and asked fora motion to accept

Moved: Phil Saunders Seconded: Andrew McCabe

Matters Arising:

None

Correspondence In/Out:

General BOINZ monthly updates and correspondence

General Business:

• It was observed that there was a low attendance of members at this year's AGM. Other points raised with Nick Hill were around how our membership is structured and whether this should be reviewed. Should all members have the same equal rights irrespective of membership type.
• Thanks, were expressed to Ian Chamberlain for filling in as Vice Chair on behalf of Terrance Hayes at the Annual Branch Chairs and Secretaries Forum.
• Chief Executive Nick Hill expressed his thanks and appreciation for both the PowerPoint presentations presented by Dave Thompson and Ian Chamberlain, and Phil Saunders and Phil Roberts for their presentation to the Accredited Building Surveyors Forum.
• Congratulations to the whole Waikato/Bay of Plenty Branch for winning the 'GIB Branch of the Year' Award.
• Congratulations to Corrine Hamlin from Thames-Coromandel District Council for winning the 'BRANZ Outstanding Commitment to Information Skills Development and Education of Building Officials' Award

9.00 - 10:30am

Site visit: GJ Gardner Homes, 163 Maui Street Hamilton. Steve Jenkins

General welcome by Vice Chair Ian Chamberlain who introduced Steve Jenkins to talk about Building Information Modelling (BIM) and how this process is working for GJ Gardner Homes. Steve invited all members on a tour of their new premises. Steve also, presented a PowerPoint review on GJ's BIM process.

Designer homes are but a small percentage of what GJ's do. They are also, involved in a variety of construction types: Duplex, Terrance etc.
GJ's has been worked on around 1570 homes nationwide. This includes 8% of the Waikato region.

BIM provides an accurate reflection of a site and leads to better collaboration within the teams, ease of resolving conflicts, HVAC Services, and other construction components within the Build. It can be accessed anywhere in the cloud. The VR technology allows for the ability to review a site live, set out sand pads, check foundations, locate slab plumbing and the ability to preview subfloor plumbing.

A highlight of the site visit: Steve invited two members to use BIM Virtual Reality. The members were able to walk around and access various parts of the building with the technology.

10.30 - 10:45am - Travel to Hamilton City Council

Guests Presentations:

Jason Goei and Bruce Klein - BOINZ

Jason Goei and Bruce Klein both spoke briefly about their backgrounds and roles within BOINZ, Jason then gave an overview of the strategic training platforms and the proposed training deliveries covering a host of training initiatives delivered in half day to four-day training sessions.

Jason spoke of the 3 Doorways to Training Success: Accessibility, Applicability, and Affordability of the training provisions available to members and highlighted the benefits of the three provisions. He then covered some of the more advanced courses available and updated members on the qualification updates and the new entrant level 4 diploma.

Bruce talked about the Online Training Academy covering Restricting Access to Residential Pools which members where introduced to via a small video presentation. He reviewed the statistics around drownings in NZ, the requirements and rules for both past and post Fencing of Swimming Pools Act (FOSPA). He talked about the new webinars being introduced and BOINZ advanced courses. Bruce also discussed the process moving forward around the Competency Based Initiatives designed to deliver consistency within the industry. He touched on the process of some of the legislative reforms from MBIE:

• Building Products and Methods
• Occupational Regulation
• Risk and Liability
• Building Levy
• Offences, Penalties and Public Notification

(Copy of Power point is available to members.)

End of Presentation

Sam Alavi - Future Skills

Sam gave a presentation on the NZ Building Surveying Diploma. The new qualifications have been in circulation for around two years, with the previous Level 5 and 6 Diploma no longer applicable. The new Diploma now meets Regulation 18. Future skills developed the training program to enable BCA technical staff to become qualified while they work and provides a balance between workplace and classroom-based learning.

Sam covered some details of the new program:

• 240 credits required to complete the Diploma.
• Year 1 - 7 Blocks
• Year 2 - 5 Blocks
• 3-year program depending on numbers
• Eligibility - must be BCA Staff engaged within the BCO role.
• Looking to have prior learning recognized by 2020.
• Looking to reduce block course.
• There is a 3-year option
• Reducing costs.

Sam advised members that Future Skills can come in-house to deliver their courses to a minimum of fourteen students. The program also can be extended to external contractors who are employed or contracted to any BCA.

(Copy of Power point is available to members.)

End of Presentation

Ashley Bowtell - Geotech engineer
Subject: Look at gaps and what the future will be for the standard NZS3604:2011.

Discussion points:

• Review of NZS3604 and what its objective is.
• What are the most recent changes?
• Where can we find the information and latest updates?
• Where are we going? The gaps, and how do we fill them?
• Geotechnical Reports, recommendations vs design.
• The challenges for Councils.
• What are the impacts on Councils?
• What solutions are available to Councils?

Ashley reviewed the origin of NZS3604 which is now almost 90 years old. It was first developed in response to the 1931 Napier earthquake, where brick systems were not working and led to a change to timber frames. He covered the various changes to the standard first codes NZS 1900: Chapter 6.1:1964 Construction requirements for timber buildings not requiring specific design. Further changes were made in 1978, 1981, 1984, 1990 and 1999. The latest version was in 2011 and was being finalised just as the Canterbury earthquake sequence occurred. Ashley noted the work BRANZ has done and currently doing to provide updated solutions to many of the changing design areas affecting NZS3604.

He then broke down a coverage of NZS3604 in relation to determining good ground, confirming the presence of expansive soils and ground settlement - In short if good ground is not present using NZS3604, then SED Foundations are required.

• NZS3604:2011 is a means of compliance for limited types of a timber framed structure.
• It takes fundamentals of bearing capacity, settlement and slope stability but has limitations and outside of the property boundary.
• These gaps can be filled with NZ guidance documents
• Identify when you have buildings outside of NZS3604 needing specialist skills and peer review.
• There needs to be more discussion with Councils around regulation and setting of standards.

General interaction from members covering Q&A.

(Copy of Power point is available to members.)

End of Presentation

12.45 - 1:30pm Lunch kindly sponsored by Branch Sponsor REDSTAG

Mike Olds and Todd Martin - Resene Construction.

Subject: Inspection and sign off from Resene construction systems, and the process of inspections.

Resene bought out Rockcote in 2002. In 2012 Plaster Systems were brought in. Now, Resene has 200 Licenced applicators in every region, with their main technical office located in Christchurch.

Their role includes inspecting cladding systems and making sure they comply. Resene keep strong communication over the years and send reminders of when the cladding walls need to be re-inspected. They are also covered with a 15-year warrantee.

Mike also covered their Integra Facade Wall System, which is a one-off system that covers the majority of fire requirements meeting the 120 minimum. The walls can be constructed up to 12 meters, making it suitable for all.

Members were treated to goody bags containing hats and other items.

General interaction from members covering Q&A.

End of Presentation

Paul Hobbs - Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Subject: The compliance strategy Paul's technical team have recently developed and adopted which focuses solely on BCA and TA functions. He will also touch on the proposed changes to the Building Code that are presently out for submissions

Paul highlighted that there are some 67 TA/BCA and 5 Private both accredited and Registered BCA. He talked about the increasing growth within the Industry, including 33,000 Building Consents for new dwellings.
2018 showed larger growth in the Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga and Waikato/Bay of Plenty areas. New significant developments are on the increase with no signs of slowing down.

Paul covered New BCA / TA Compliance strategy and it's three simple objectives: Promote compliance, develop a picture of risk, and identifying and responding to noncompliance.
Paul highlighted the following key review points:

• Promoting Compliance: Engage - Educate - Enable.
• Understanding Risk: We need a better understanding of Council's risk.
• Why data important. Auckland vs Christchurch shows that LBP complaints are 50% higher in Auckland
• Objective: Respond and identify noncompliance.
• Tauranga City Council Review: issues have now been identified and what action are needed to move forward.
• There needs to be more diligence in observations of development and note what doesn't look right.
• Smaller allotments are not practical. Driveways didn't work.

Main findings:

• Council departed from normal process.
• Processing of Building Consent applications
• Management intervened.
• One-person sole contact.
• Too much red carpet not enough red tape.
• Reasons for decisions not clear.
• Poor process for placing conditions on Building Consents
• Departure From consented plans - SED issues not minor.
• Enforcement powers not used.
  

Council actions MBIE Monitoring:

• 10 CARS.
• 2 Month Report
• Revisit 6 months
• I develop gone wrong huge impact with people's lives.
• The system failed within council and people suffered as a result.

Lessons:

• Always follow documented process.
• Ensure safeguards in place.
• Train and upskill staff.
• Currency of Technical and Regulatory knowledge is vital.
• Hold LBP to account.
• Exercise statutory powers without fear or favour.

Building Reforms:

• Biggest changes since 2004.
• Construction industry 4^th largest
• Low GDP 7%

REFORM:

• Building products and product assurance.
• Place onus on person providing the product.
• Some issues around lead-based products- Trying to lift the Bar = Code Mark issues composite cladding systems.
• Occupational Regulation - Engineering Issues, working outside competencies LBP into Com world. Not everyone is working at the correct level - Supervision issues LBP process. Offences and penalties - public notifications.

End of Presentation

Vice Chair Ian Chamberlain concluded the meeting thanking all our guest speakers for their time and presentations.

Next Branch Training and Networking Event: scheduled for September 5^th Rotorua

Special thank you to: Hamilton City Council, GJ Gardner Homes and local Branch sponsor: REDSTAG

The meeting was closed at 3.00pm.

Sam A Presentation
Ashley B Presentation

Dave Thompson

Waikato Bay of Plenty Branch Secretary

office@rctok.co.nz