Recent Survey Suggests that Non-Compliant Building Products Cause Major Construction Issues

Survey Found Non-Compliant Materials Cause Major Issues

Many builders have come across non-compliant materials. This is despite the strictness of the country’s building codes. Here is why this is such a major issue in the building sector.

There is no denying the importance of building compliance in Australia. The country’s inhabitants often live in areas that are at risk from natural disasters, like bushfires, for example, which occur at a rate of 50,000 per year. This has a devastating effect on the natural environment, and causes major issues for the buildings that get affected by the fires.

Australia also experiences an average of 13 tropical cyclones each year. These events batter buildings with heavy winds. They lead to water ingress and cause structural damage, even destroying property. Even January 2018’s Tropical Cyclone Joyce still delivered 88mm of rain in a day, despite it only being a category one cyclone.

The Australian building codes that we follow are in place to protect buildings from such issues. Any shortcomings create vulnerabilities. For example, a building may be structurally sound, but issues that allow for water ingress can still compromise this structure. This often happens even if the building’s structure meets all relevant codes.

The potential for vulnerabilities isn’t a small issue either. In fact, a survey from 2013 highlights how widespread the issue is.

What Does the Survey Say?

The Australian Industry Group published the survey, which asked over 200 people in the building industry about their experiences around non-compliant materials.

The survey found that 90% of those quizzed had come across non-compliant materials. This displays a startling level of negligence from manufacturers. It also places a greater burden on builders. They have to check every material they use for signs of non-compliance. With the problem being so widespread, these checks take time. Moreover, finding non-compliance means finding a new supplier, which is also time consuming and adds to the cost of building projects.

Many also believe that non-compliant materials saturate the market. Some even go so far as to claim they make up 50% of the available materials.

Those in the industry believe that a lack of Australian building codes enforcement is to blame. The punishments are not severe enough, assuming they come at all. With little risk of punishment, some manufacturers take shortcuts. Often, these are not noticed until the completion of a project.

The report also separated the compliance issue into four key categories:

Category #1 – Electrical

Electrical problems are a major issue. All 220 survey-takers noted that they had experienced issues with subpar electricals which have cost them money through lost revenue and may even have cost jobs.

Fake products seem to be the main issue in both lighting and electrical products. The market’s competitiveness is also a problem as some survey-takers noted that they had fallen victim to false marketing claims. It is likely that the manufacturers made these claims to get a jump on their competition.

Many also pointed to a lack of regulatory action as a problem. In fact, many respondents said they do not know how to report non-compliance. This suggests that regulators are not communicating well with the industry.

Survey Found Non-Compliant Materials Cause Major Issues

Category #2 – Glass and Aluminium

Glass and aluminium products are not much better – in fact, more than 80% of respondents report experiencing non-compliance with such products.

The problem here is a lack of trust in the current certification schemes. Some survey-takers claim the certification is a “paper exercise”, meaning it does not test manufacturers up to a high standard. The lack of a clear regulatory body was also cited as an issue, and this situation lets manufacturers to get away with making faulty products.

Again, these problems create a cost for builders. Several of the respondents said that non-compliance causes quoting issues. Often, this meant making a loss on the quote to keep their customers happy.

Category #3 – Steel

Steel is almost as much of a problem as electrical. About 95% of the respondents noted coming across non-compliant steel products. Respondents pointed to first-party certification schemes as the main problem, creating a conformance standard that does not meet the needs of the building industry.

Moreover, many respondents mentioned imported products. Many of these do not meet the standards outlined in the Australian building codes. Yet, false claims and a lack of conformance checks allow them to seep into the supply chain. This increasing exposure may even set a standard that other manufacturers follow.

Survey Found Non-Compliant Materials Cause Major Issues

Category #4 – Wood

While not as big of an issue as the other three categories, wood still has its problems, specifically in engineered wood. The processes used to engineer the wood often leads to a reduction in quality as the Australian standards do not offer the level of testing that many look for.

Issues with engineered wood include the following:

  • Resins with high water content
  • The use of formaldehyde
  • Either no or incorrect labelling
  • Products not meeting the required strength specifications

Wood is a key component in many Australian buildings as wood is also used in many flooring solutions. As a result, non-compliant engineered wood places buildings at risk.

The problem here is that many of these problems do not come to light until much later. The materials usually hold up to the rigours of the construction process, but they create vulnerabilities. It only takes one thing to go wrong to expose these issues.

The Effects of Non-Compliance

In 2017, a huge fire engulfed Grenfell Tower in London, which made the national news. The 24-storey building ended up gutted by the fire, consequently destroying over 150 homes and causing the deaths of over 70 people.

The cause of the fire came down to the external cladding used throughout the building. Tenants had complained about the fire risk several times before the disaster, along with the exposed gas pipes in the building. The aftermath saw lots of legal action and the British police launched investigations into 60 different companies.

Why is this relevant to the Australian building industry? Because it is not the first time such a disaster has happened – Australia experienced its own with the Lacrosse building fire of 2014. Like the Grenfell Tower, the Lacrosse building was of similar size, and the fire affected hundreds of people as well. The investigation also pointed to the external cladding as the culprit. Luckily, there were no recorded deaths or serious injuries. But the events in Grenfell showed just how much worse the event could have been.

In both cases, non-compliance with Australian building codes lies at the root of the issue. The aftermath of the Lacrosse fire raised a lot of questions. Moreover, the event happened only shortly after the survey mentioned above. The events stand as proof of the scale of the issue. They also reflect the concerns of the industry at large.

An extensive review took place following the Lacrosse building fire, reinforcing many of the issues raised in the Australian Industry Group’s surveys. For example, the documents lodged to the council before construction weren’t suitable as they didn’t contain enough information about the combustibility of the walls – they only allowed for 36 occupants per floor between floors six and 21. The wall claddings carried no accreditation as well.

These oversights reinforce the opinion that regulation is not as strong as it needs to be. The report’s recommendations mirrored the industry’s concerns of requiring a stricter product approval process. It also asked for a review of the use of non-compliant materials in the building industry.

The Lacrosse building fire was a warning of the hazards of non-compliant materials, and the Grenfell disaster in London showed how severe the consequences can be. Australia has seen a huge rise in the rate of high-rise building construction. The industry can’t fail to take these warnings into account. Doing so could lead to even more horrific consequences in the future.

Regulatory Reactions

Several states have reacted to these issues on improving compliance standards. As a result, they should have a direct impact on the non-compliance issue.

2017 saw several of these regulation changes come into force as a direct response to both the Lacrosse and Grenfell fires. New South Wales’ Building Products (Safety) Act 2017 (NSW) is a good example, which came into power in December 2018. The key with this act is the extra power afforded to the Fair Trading Commissioner (FTC).

The FTC can now ban the use of a building material if tests show it to be unsafe. Any material that creates an unsafe environment for building tenants may end up banned. Importantly, the act considers all possible scenarios. For example, materials that may cause safety issues during a fire could get banned under the act.

The act is a step in the right direction, and it is only upon enforcement that we’ll see how much of an effect it has.

Queensland has also introduced similar legislation. The state’s Queensland Building and Construction Commission focuses on plumbing and drainage, allowing for the banning of materials that may compromise safety. On a practical level, this means that all plumbing and drainage products must obtain accreditation. Any that do not carry the Australian Building Codes Board’s WaterMark certificate immediately go on the scrapheap.

These are all actions that improve the regulatory oversight of the construction industry. They are also things that those in the industry have called for since 2013. With the right enforcement, these new laws should improve building safety.

Conclusion

Non-compliant building products are a huge issue because they affect thousands of Australian buildings. As you can see from the Lacrosse and Grenfell fires, failure to tackle the problem has a very human cost.

New legislations aim to remove as many non-compliant products from the supply chain as possible. However, builders still need to conduct extensive checks of their own, for the time being, prioritise the use of accredited products and check Australian building codes if there are any uncertainties.

Safetyline Jalousie louvre windows meet the requirements of Australian Standards AS2047-2014 (Windows & Glazed Doors in Buildings), AS1288-2006 (Glass in Buildings – Selection & Installation) and AS4055-2012 (Wind Loads for Housing).

To find out more, please do the following:

 

References:

The real costs of installing non-conforming and non-compliant building products – CSR

Update on non-conforming building products legislation in NSW – Mondaq

QBCC introduces legislation changes – Trenchless Australasia

 

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Ali Asmar

Business Manager - VIC & SA

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As the most recent addition to the Safetyline Jalousie family, Ali is still coming to terms with the fact that a typical telephone conversation will often be answered with “You’re calling from Safety what”? followed by having to sound out and spell the name “ja-lou-sie” (it happens to us all). Born in Lebanon, Ali has moved around a lot over the years, living in Cyprus, Sydney for most of his Schooling, as well as China and Hong Kong. He currently resides in Melbourne where he spends a lot of time in his garden or doing some sort of work around the house. (Not too dissimilar to many other Melburnians following the onset of Covid). With a very obvious cultured background, Ali is warm and talkative and he’ll get you talking too.

Romile John

National Business Manager

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One of the Safetyine Jalousie originals, Rom (often mistaken for John) holds a great passion for the product. He says its “its innovative, a market leader and ever-evolving, very much like the company itself”. When you meet Rom, it is apparent that he is well-educated and well-travelled. Coming from a family of medical professionals, they moved around extensively and often. Last count was 125 countries. So nearly all of them! It’s really no surprise that Rom has mastered packing a weeks-worth of clothes and necessities into a carry-on bag. And when we say clothes we actually mean meticulously prepared outfits and accessories. When Rom enters a room, you’re sure to know it!

Adam Racomelara

National Manager – Partnerships & Strategy

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Adam is our strategist and big ideas generator whose somewhat reserved nature could have some mistake him as a bit of an introvert. But that’s only until this quiet thinker is given a whiteboard and a marker – and then there’s no stopping the dialogue! 7 Years in at Safetyline Jalousie, Adam is continually expanding on his knowledge of the construction industry and is incredibly driven in his pursuit to help create better buildings via the use of better products. When Adam’s not on his quest to improve Australia’s built environment he’s spending most weekends escorting one of his 4 young kids to birthday parties, sometimes multiple parties. He has some stealth survival tips for other parents currently in the same predicament.

Michael Cocks

Factory Manager

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Michael has become recognised at Safetyline Jalousie for his continually changing hairstyles (facial hair included). Buzz cut, undercut, dreadlocks, even a mullet. We’ve see it all. His current man bun could even be gone before we finish this sentence. Always up for a laugh, friends and colleagues love a chat with Michael, and his easy-going and approachable nature has earned him the respect of all staff. In fact, he even has a cohort of followers on the factory floor sporting his same hairstyles. Outside of work Michael has recently turned his attention to mountain bike riding. His very first ride ended with a pretty serious accident resulting in a deep puncture wound to his leg– it’s been a sore topic for his leg and his ego.

Jonathan Gueudinot

National Logistics & Production Manager

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Our South American Native, Jonathan is more simply and better known as “Chilli” (no need to try and guess his country of origin). After 16 years of military service, Chilli joined the Safetyline Jalousie team for what he describes as “a change of pace”. Although his average work day might look very different these days, there’s no doubt that Chilli’s previous experience has contributed in shaping a culture of commitment, community and comradery within the production team – the very important engine room of our company. Driven by a sense of accomplishment, in addition to running Safetyline Jalousie’s production line with military precision, Chilli has recently been studying hard to complete his Master’s Degree in Business and Logistics.

Mandy Saliba

Marketing Manager

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Mandy has been with Safetyline jalousie since day one so would technically be considered a geriatric in “Jalousie years”. Whilst her role has changed and evolved over her time with the business, one thing that hasn’t is the happy and fun, team culture that she says “continues to make each day at work a joy”. As a mum of two little ones, Mandy thrives on new challenges and a little bit of chaos. Although, as a self-proclaimed clean freak, she ensures that all forms of chaos are kept in a very neat and tidy manner. We’ve also observed that Mandy appears to have an inherent fear of colour and will almost only ever be seen in black or white (or sometimes grey if she is being really out there).

Lisa Spinks

Office Administration Manager

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As a busy mother of 4, Lisa is highly skilled in organising, delegating, and troubleshooting – the proficiencies which she also demonstrates in her daily management of the Safetyline Jalousie office. Lisa tells us that she lives by the saying “What doesn’t break you makes you stronger”. (No doubt she’s had to use this little piece or personal encouragement from time to time to deal with our infinite requests)! Always on the go, Lisa has a very active lifestyle and starts every day with a walk to the beach with her husband and two dogs. Of an evening she still has the energy to spare for star jumps and squats in her makeshift gym/ (our office) before heading home to her other full-time job as “mum”.

 

 

 

Nathan Rust

Founder & National Operations Director

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The younger brother of the co-founding sibling duo, “Nath” is the go-to for just about every technical, install, and manufacturing enquiry that comes via the business. Very early on, Nath’s product knowledge and problem-solving ability saw him organically take on the role of Operations, overseeing the design and management of Safetyline Jalousie’s behind-the-scenes work. When he’s off duty (and not answering a million questions), Nath enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 young kids. You’ll find him cheering on his son at weekend sports, enjoying the water somewhere along the Northern beaches and this lover of food is generally always planning his next big meal. Preferably a Lebanese banquet if anyone can suggest a restaurant he doesn’t frequent already.

Leigh Rust

Founder & Director

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Leigh aka “Wolfpack” is one-half of the driving force behind Safetyline Jalousie and comes with two decades of experience within the Australian manufacturing and construction industry. The multi-award-winning entrepreneur and father of three youngsters is a passionate advocate for supporting Australian-made goods and improving the built environment for future generations to come. Always up for a challenge, Leigh never sits still and is constantly pushing himself to test his physical and mental endurance. He’s given just about everything a go. From amateur MMA fights, triathlons, or personal development endeavours, Leigh stands by the motto, ‘I never lose, either I win or I learn’.

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