This information sheet provides guidance on how to find out whether asbestos-containing material (ACM) is present in a building or structure and the basic matters required to be determined prior to undertaking any asbestos removal work, including removal work that is allowed to be undertaken without a licence.
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From 1 November 2011 the Office of the Renewable Energy regulator will adopt AS/NZS 4234: 2008. This coincides with a change to now refer to Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) as Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs).
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When fixing plasterboard to garage ceilings, alfresco areas or the like the initial consideration should be around the materials used being fit for the purpose.
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You may have heard the term Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) over the last few years, but may be unsure what it refers to. This information sheet introduces LCA and how it can be used as a decision making tool for the assessment of building products, when the builder or owner is interested in considering the overall environmental impact of a building.
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This information sheet has been prepared to provide members interested in life cycle assessment of buildings and building materials with information on things to consider in an assessment. More details on Life Cycle Assessment and how it can be used is provided in HIA’s Information Sheet Principles of Life Cycle Assessment.
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A new edition of AS 2870 has been published by Standards Australia but it will not be called up by the BCA until 2012. This information sheet explains the changes.
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Amendments to AS 1684 and AS 1720 have been published by Standards Australia. The changes affect the Machine Grade Pine (MGP) classifications but do not take legal effect until they are called up by the BCA in May 2011. In the interim, suppliers and builders can choose to comply with the new standards or continue to comply with the current standards.
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The requirement to insulate a timber floor will depend on several factors including the orientation, design, fabric or external cladding and amount of glazing in the building. In some circumstances it may be worth considering insulating the sub–floor to achieve the required rating as more cost effective than other methods.
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The Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ) have developed a free handbook publication which provides useful details on the right choices of insulation for your job and how to install insulation to meet the current requirements of the BCA.
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As a result of the cancellation of the Federal Government’s Home Insulation Program, there is currently a large amount of insulation products now available in Australia, a percentage of which includes imported products.
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There is information coming out of America that plasterboard* imported from China is creating problems in relation to corrosion of metal components that it comes into contact and potential health and safety issues.
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The Australian Government has announced the phase-out or inefficient incandescent light bulbs over the next 3 years. The intention of the phase-out is to reduce energy consumption throughout the country as part of the Government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by 60 per cent by 2050.
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The upward or downward movement of a concrete slab’s corners or edges due to moisture and/or temperature differentials within the concrete is known as ‘curling’ or ‘warping’.
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The selection of right render types, construction procedures and surface finishes using renders are all important to having the right render for the job.
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Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials. Anyone who uses concrete or is responsible for managing or supervising its use should be aware that it may be a hazard.
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