News

FPAA – IB-06 V3 Selection and Use of Firefighting Foams

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http://www.fpaa.com.au/technical/technical-documents/information-bulletins/ib-06-v11-selection-and-use-of-firefighting-foams.aspx

The purpose of this document is to increase awareness of the issues surrounding the selection and use of firefighting foams based on their:

  • Firefighting performance;
  • Environmental impact; and
  • System and equipment compatibility

Version 3 updates the information to include:

  • a new and detailed section on environmental regulations (both local and global);
  • updates on remediation technologies and recommendations for cleaning or change out of existing legacy foams;
  • new information on environmental and firefighting performance indicators; and
  • new insights on both fluorinated and fluorine free foams.

FPA Australia – IB 06 V3 Selection and use of firefighting foams.pdf

NCC Energy efficiency transition period ends today!

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See below message from the ABCB

NCC 2019 energy efficiency requirements are no longer voluntary.

In 2019, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) agreed to significant changes to the energy efficiency requirements in the National Construction Code (NCC), including a 12 month transition period during which either these or the 2016 provisions could be applied. The changes affect all buildings, but are particularly significant for commercial buildings.

Noting that individual states and territories may apply the provisions differently and in some cases delay their introduction, from 1 May 2020, practitioners will be required to use only the NCC 2019 provisions. The new requirements, particularly for commercial buildings, mark a shift in how energy efficiency is considered as part of the process of design and construction.

It is imperative that these new energy efficiency requirements are well understood by all those involved in designing and constructing new and refurbished buildings to ensure that buildings perform better and use less energy.

Please note: The application of the new energy efficiency provisions may be treated differently by the States and Territories. If you are unsure, please contact your local Building Administration to confirm how they apply in your jurisdiction.

Resources to support you

To assist in understanding the new and updated energy efficiency provisions, the ABCB has released a number of supporting resources:

You can access more resources or find out what is expected to be released soon from the energy efficiency initiative.

Need support or assistance?

If you need help or assistance with understanding or implementing the NCC 2019 provisions, we recommend you can contact your member association.

https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/ncc-online/

ACCC Alert – COVID-19: Supplying and installing bidet products

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See below notice from the ABCB.

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has seen an increase in the purchase by those performing do it yourself tasks, of plumbing products such as toilet seat bidet douches, handheld bidet sprays and trigger sprays, and other bidet type products that are connected to toilet water supplies.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has just published an alert, COVID-19: Supplying and installing bidet products on the Product Safety Australia website: https://www.productsafety.gov.au/news/covid-19-supplying-and-installing-bidet-products.

The ACCC has prepared the alert for suppliers and consumers in consultation with the ABCB.

The key message of the communique is that the installation of bidet products connected to the drinking water supply must be undertaken by a licensed plumber and hold WaterMark certification. The alert will also be posted on the ABCB website.

If you have any questions, please direct them to me.

Kind regards

Anne-Maree Campbell
Director – WaterMark NCC Management and Product Certification
Australian Building Codes Board

2020 Audits – COVID-19 Update – Important Notice

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CMI has received provisional approval from JAS-ANZ to remotely undertake audits that are currently affected by travel restrictions and lockdowns not only in Australia but on a global basis due to the COVID-19 Virus.

CMI will be undertaking these remote audits using the IAF mandatory standard MD 4:2018 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Auditing/Assessment Purposes.

CMI will be contacting clients who have upcoming 2020 audits to organise your remote ICT audit.

CMI is seeking our client’s assistance in facilitating this ICT remote audit when we contact you. This will ensure that we can complete your 2020 audit within the required regulatory time frames so that we do not have to place your certification in suspension due to it not being completed.

There would be limited grounds to request a postponement of this ICT audit such as:

  • The manufacturing facility being audited has suspended/stood down all production and has temporarily shut down.
  • The client’s certification staff have been temporarily suspended/stood down and the client is not operating.

In such cases, can you please advise CMI of such situations and an expected resumption date if known. This information is important as CMI may need to place a client’s certification into suspension in such cases during this period. Once the manufacturing facility and client’s certification staff have returned to normal operations, CMI will not be able to lift the suspension until the required ICT audit or actual onsite audit are completed.

ICT remote audits are a positive way for a client to maintain their product certification without the need for an actual onsite audit being carried out due to the impact of the COVID-19 Virus.
Where onsite audits can still occur normally, CMI will also be contacting our clients to organise these onsite audits.

If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact CMI at: surveillance@certmark.org
CMI remain committed to offering the best possible service to our clients and remain positive in our outlook for the future.

NCC 2019 Amendment 1 preview released

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Please See the following Statement from the ABCB regarding the up coming NCC amendment.

Access the preview of the out-of-cycle amendment for NCC 2019.

In preparation for the expected adoption of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 Amendment 1 by all States and Territories from 1 July 2020, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released a preview of the Amendment.

NCC 2019 Amendment 1 will include:

  • a new provision in NCC Volume One regarding egress from early childhood centres;
  • an update to the Governing Requirements for all Volumes to require labelling of aluminium composite panels in accordance with SA Technical Specification 5344;
  • clarification of the concession in NCC Volume One that permits the use of timber framing for low-rise Class 2 and 3 buildings;
  • clarification in NCC Volume Two that anti-ponding board requirements only apply to roofs where sarking is installed; and
  • correction of minor errors.

In addition to the above, the NCC 2019 Amendment 1 preview also contains the following proposed changes that are yet to be confirmed:

  • a new defined term, building complexity, that may be used in the future to identify buildings for which additional oversight is appropriate; and
  • a new provision to require that a process be followed to improve the quality of, and documentation for, Performance Solutions.

NCC 2019 Amendment 1 can be viewed or downloaded from the NCC Suite, or you can download the summary and instructions for all Volumes from the ABCB Resource Library.

Announcement of Change of Certmark International (CMI) Management

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CMI is pleased to announce that Mr Richard Donarski, CMI’s National Compliance Director Australia & New Zealand will be taking over the day to day operations and management of CMI from our CEO Mr John Thorpe. Assisting Richard, will be Ms Talissa Ireland, CMI’s General Manager.

REASONS FOR THE CHANGE

CMI is going through a period of re-organisation and growth and will be diversifying its certification activities into the areas of Fire Systems & Products, Safety Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment, Construction & Building Materials as well as continuing the expansion of our services in the areas of WaterMark and CodeMark Certification.

Mr Donarski has over 30 years’ experience at senior managerial level in all these areas of certification activities and is ideally suited to manage CMI during this period of growth. Mr Donarski will be representing CMI on a range of relevant Standards Committees, Fire Protection Association of Australia (FPAA) Committees, Working At Heights Association (WAHA) as well as representing CMI with the Joint Accreditation System of Australia & New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) and the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).

CLIENT ACTIONS

Moving forward with this change, could you please ensure that any existing communications with John Thorpe or CMI should, in the first instance, be sent to office@certmark.org or if you have been dealing with one of our other Staff directly, the Staff member involved.

CMI is very excited about the direction it is taking and we are very confident in CMI’s abilities moving forward.

Important ruling on undue fire spread risk

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Please find below link to important ruling on undue fire spread risk for external cladding for your information.
https://www.gadens.com/legal-insights/non-compliant-cladding-extends-to-biowood-composite-cladding-used-as-an-external-attachment/1­.

The article refers to the CSIRO Guideline ‘Fire Safety Guidelines for External Walls 2016’, which has ‘been withdrawn pending revisions to incorporate current BCA, Standards and research’­­2.

References:
1. Archer, A. (17/01/2020). Non-compliant cladding extends to ‘Biowood’ composite cladding used as an external attachment. Retrieved from https://www.gadens.com/legal-insights/non-compliant-cladding-extends-to-biowood-composite-cladding-used-as-an-external-attachment/.
2. Unknown Author – CSIRO. (Updated 01/08/2019). Fire safety for external walls of buildings. Retrieved from https://www.csiro.au/en/Do-business/Services/Materials-infrastructure/Fire-safety/Facade-guideline.

Richard Donarski joins CMI

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CMI is very excited to announce the appointment of Mr Richard Donarski to the position of National Compliance Director for Australia & New Zealand.

Richard will commence his duties with CMI as of 28th of October and will be responsible for overseeing CMI’s growth into broader areas of product certification as well as enhancing our service in the Building Product and Plumbing Certification sectors.

Richard has 30 years experience in product certification has held senior positions with British Standards Institute (BSI), SAI Global and Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC).

Richard sits on various Standards Australia (SA) and International Organisational Standards (ISO) committees for a range of standards as well as Fire Protection Association of Australia (FPAA) Technical Advisory Committees (TAC).

You will be able to contact Richard on:
Australia +61 (07) 5445 2199
New Zealand +64 (09) 951 8246  
Email richard@certmark.org