Issue 74-WA - August 2010

building & property All about Building Licenses - What to Know David Cadman, Manager Building Surveying, advises it is important for building owners and managers to know how to apply for, and obtain, a building licence before considering the appointment of consultants and contractors to perform services on their behalf. (HENDRY)   (more...)   Improving Way Finding and Evacuation Times Greg Payne, General Manager, reports that building owners, occupiers and certifiers who are either considering increasing an occupancy level in a building beyond normal allowable limits (pursuant to an approval situation), or who need to justify increasing exit travel distances, should consider (as part of a fire engineered alternative solution), the merits of a unique sounder device that emits distinct sound to alert and lead occupants in the building to the exits.  (HENDRY)   (more...)   Out of Sight, Out of Mind Brian Cameron, Manager Safety Measures, advises that sewerage pipes are usually placed in a drainage and sewerage easement, which is identified on the title to your land. Sewerage authorities, however, have the authority to place a pipe across a property (HENDRY)   (more...)   Final Call David Cadman, Manager Building Surveying, reports that for many buildings office tenancy fit outs occur on a regular basis without formal sign off at the completion of the construction stage. This leaves the property owner, tenant and property manager exposed. (HENDRY)   (more...)   BCA Illustrated - Your Guide BCA Illustrated provides the BCA in both a downloadable Desktop Edition (no internet connection required) and an Online Edition with over 3000 illustrations, issues and explanations all exclusive to BCA Illustrated.  Printing or saving clauses and illustrations for clients or personal use are just some of the many features of BCA Illustrated. BCA 2010 is available at our updated website now.  (HENDRY)   (more...)   Building Commission Note: Insulation David Cadman, Managing Building Surveying advises that the Building Commission has issued an Advisory Note ‘Quality of insulation products’. Some insulation products, in particular imported glass-wool batts, have not been tested appropriately and fail... (Bldg. Comm)   (more...)   BCA 2011 Draft Amendments Brian Cameron, Manager Safety Measures, advises that while everyone is getting used to BCA 2010, adopted on 1 May 2010, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is already advising of BCA 2011 amendments.  The BCA is amended on an annual cycle.  The ABCB has recently invited... (HENDRY)   (more...)   Windows Energy Efficiency Rating WFAANZ has issued an article advising from the 1 November 2010 most sellers or lessors of office space of 2000m² or more will be required to obtain and disclose a current energy efficiency rating. This requirement forms the basis … (WFAANZ)   (more...)   National Construction Code David Cadman, Manager Building Surveying advises that the National Plumbing Forum (NPRF) and the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) are working together to deliver consolidated building and plumbing codes in 2011. The National Construction Code Series will eventually include all on-site construction regulation (building, plumbing, electrical and telecommunications). (ABCB)   (more...)   safety measures & risk management Fire Door Maintenance Brian Cameron, Manager Safety Measures, reports that a number of building owners and managers are receiving notices from councils for not maintaining new fire doors in accordance with AS 1851 – 2005 Section 17 Passive Fire and Smoke Containment Systems. Some of these fore doors can never be maintained in accordance with the maintenance standard. (EPS)   (more...)   Lack of Documents Cost Owners Bruce Chaplin, Director FM Essentials, advises that there is an ever growing gap between the information provided by the project manager or builder and the information required by the maintenance manager of a new facility. With the increase in regulatory compliance, accurate and accessible information ... (fmXpert)   (more...)   Property & Facility Management Software fmXpert is a fully integrated Property and Facilities management system. Using the latest technology this system provides a simple user interface, web access, and mobile technology. Key features include Lease Management, Asset Management, Job Management, Document Management, many clients user fmXpert to monitor essential services.   (more...)   Portable Fire Extinguisher Recall Brian Cameron, Manager Safety Measures, advises commercial building owners and managers that Chubb Fire Safety has announced a voluntary recall of certain types of portable fire extinguishers within their product range. (EPS)   (more...)   OHS: Guide to Inspecting the Workplace WorkSafe is a division of the Department of Commerce, the Western Australian State Government agency responsible for the administration of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984. The Department has issues a ‘Guide to inspections to the workplace’, it contains a comprehensive self check list: (Dept Comm)   Fighting Fires in VADDS Vacant, abandoned, derelict or disused structures (VADDS) have been responsible for a number of tragic firefighter fatalities.  The Worcester cold store fire claimed the lives of six firefighters inside an abandoned and derelict cold storage warehouse in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1999… (FPAA)   (more...)

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