Action Urged to Prevent Leading Cause of Building Defects



Engineers Australia is advocating for urgent amendments to the National Construction Code (NCC) to tackle the primary cause of defects in Australian apartments and commercial buildings: water leaks. As quoted in a recent article in Times News Group these leaks constitute 80% to 90% of all building defects and cost owners and insurers up to $3 billion annually. 

Industry experts from the Watershedding Community of Practice have joined forces with the Australian Building Codes Board to propose four critical changes: 

  1. Using Gravity: Implementing requirements to naturally collect, redirect, and drain water. 
  2. Fixing Flat Areas: Eliminating flat surfaces on balconies, roofs, and basement floors, communal areas for water issues. 
  3. Managing Underground Water: Introducing guidelines for outdoor concrete slabs, including specific slopes and edges to be integrated during construction. 
  4. Improved Concrete: Ensuring structural engineers account for the long-term sagging of concrete slabs to maintain proper drainage over decades. 

Michael van Koeverden, a member of Engineers Australia and the Watershedding Community of Practice, emphasises the urgent need for change to enhance building performance and address leakage issues. He highlights the crucial role of structural engineers in preventing leaks and ensuring that structures continue to drain water even when membranes fail. 

Romilly Madew, CEO of Engineers Australia, supports the proposed changes, stating that engineers are essential for delivering resilient and safe buildings. She stresses the importance of improving industry standards to meet Australia’s housing demand. 

Public feedback on the NCC 2025 improvements related to waterproofing and water shedding is encouraged. The proposed changes are available for review on the Australian Building Codes Board website at abcb.gov.au/pcd. 

https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/bellarinetimes/real-estate/action-urged-to-prevent-leading-cause-of-building-defects/  



Quora: https://kyrillosghalysspace.quora.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyrillosghaly100/
Newsletter: https://reletter.com/search/authors/Kyrillos%20Ghaly

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Strengthening Standards: How NSW's Building Commission is Transforming the Construction Landscape

Image
Author: Kyrillos Ghaly In a recent exposition on LinkedIn, Mr Chandler, the NSW Building Commissioner, elucidated the strides made in construction reforms across New South Wales. Since its inception in December 2023, the Building Commission of NSW has been instrumental in pinpointing and mitigating risks posed by the less scrupulous elements within the residential building sector. Mr Chandler underscored the necessity of fortified intelligence and investigative efforts, which underpin the Commission’s strategic undertakings encompassing inspections, enforcement, licensing, and policy formulation. This comprehensive integration has yielded palpable results, notably through the utilisation of 'Heat Maps'. These innovative tools enable focused surveillance of over 70,000 residential building sites throughout NSW, boasting an impressive 95% success rate in identifying sites likely to engage in non-compliant building practices. For building inspectors and surveyors, Mr Chandler’s di...
Read more

Evaluating the Prospects and Challenges of Prefabricated Housing in Australia's Construction Landscape

Image
  In Australia, a prefabricated home is defined as a dwelling manufactured off-site in advance, typically in standard sections that can be easily shipped and assembled on-site. According to the Prefabrication Industry Roadmap 2023-2033 by prefabAUS , prefabrication could halve construction times and cut costs by up to 20% compared to traditional building methods. The roadmap extols several benefits of prefabricated homes including higher quality, affordability, better environmental performance, greater resilience to climate change, and lower life cycle costs.   Despite these advantages, significant concerns were raised by NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler at a recent Property Council event in Sydney. Chandler argued that prefabrication is not the immediate solution to Australia's housing challenges, citing a gap in digital maturity and innovation, especially among smaller builders and contractors who are crucial for delivering affordable, medium-density housing. Notably...
Read more

Introducing the Building Certifiers Learning Resource (BCLR): Elevating Standards in Australian Construction

Exciting News! Today marks not just a significant milestone in my professional journey but also a leap forward for the building and construction industry in Australia. I’m thrilled to unveil the Building Certifiers Learning Resource (BCLR), a platform conceived from a vision to elevate the standards of excellence within our field. Why BCLR? In the dynamic landscape of construction and building surveying, staying abreast of the latest regulations, code changes, and innovative materials is indispensable. BCLR is designed to bridge the knowledge gap, offering comprehensive, accessible, and in-depth information. What to Expect on the Site: Comprehensive Industry News: Stay updated with regular briefings on legislation, technological advancements, and industry shifts. Key Industry Terms Glossary: A dedicated section to clarify specialised terminology, fostering better communication and understanding within our community. Our commitment through BCLR is to empower building surveyors and inspe...
Read more