Plumbing Connection Autumn 2016

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16 PLUMBING CONNECTION AUTUMN 2016
INDUSTRY NEWS
PICAC AND STC SIGN LANDMARK AGREEMENT
Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) is
pleased to announce that following the signing of a
historic agreement between the Services Trade College
(STC) Australia and PICAC the on 15 December 2015,
our industry has secured ongoing access to world class
training in Queensland and expanded the scope and reach
of our industry programs.
The STC in Brisbane plays a critical role in training
apprentices and tradespeople to equip them with the
skills necessary to meet the challenges of the dynamic
plumbing industry in Queensland.
PICAC, together with our partners, have identified the
importance of the service that STC delivers. In order to
ensure STC’s ability to continue and grow its pivotal role
in supporting the industry, the newly appointed STC Board
has welcomed the opportunity to integrate operations
with PICAC. This enables both organisations to meet
primary objectives to enhance and promote the plumbing
industry on a State and National level.
This affiliation will greatly enhance training at both
colleges, and more importantly ensure the plumbing
industry in both states has access to the best career
development available in Australia. It will also further
enhance the ability to share knowledge, capitalise on the
strengths of each entity and optimise training and skills
outcomes.
In addition to supporting the plumbing industry in
Queensland, the successful delivery of this project also
supports the creation of an industry-driven training hub
that delivers skills and other development opportunities
for students throughout their career life cycle.
The combined college footprint will now extend to a total
of 5 campuses, located in Brunswick and Geelong in Victoria,
Salisbury and Brendale in Queensland, and the currently
under construction campus in Narre Warren (VIC). To best
service the needs of all stakeholders, further Victorian and
Brisbane based locations are under consideration.
For more information, please visit .
SPRINKLER PROTECTION FOR BALCONIES
New regulations have been made to amend the National
Construction Code in Victoria so that all new multi-storey
residential buildings, hotels, healthcare buildings and
aged care buildings that are required to install sprinklers
designed to AS 2118.1, must extend that sprinkler
protection to include all covered balconies, regardless of
size.
These regulations will address the MFB finding in its Post
Incident Analysis of the fire in the Lacrosse Building.
Currently, small covered balconies with an area less
than six square metres, or that are less than two metres
in depth are not required to be sprinkler protected. On 15
December 2015 the Building and Plumbing Amendment
(Balcony Sprinkler Protection) Interim Regulations 2015
were made to address this issue. The regulations will
also amend the National Construction Code that allows
a building surveyor to determine that a material does
not significantly increase the hazards of fire, without
first subjecting that material to a performance based
assessment.
This change will provide for increased confidence in the
fire hazard properties of linings, materials and assemblies
installed in Class 2 to 9 buildings as it will require the use
of materials that have had their fire hazard properties
assessed.
NSWHOUSING AWARDS
The Master Builders Association of NSW Excellence in
Housing Awards is one of the highest profile events on the
building industry calendar, attracting nearly 800 building
industry participants.
The Housing Awards showcase the very best in
residential building, rewarding quality, workmanship
and innovation and attract a broad cross-section of
the residential building sector including project home
builders, contract builders, multi-unit developers,
medium density housing builders as well as builders
specialising in alterations and additions.
These Housing Awards are not only highly sought after
by builders and developers in the residential market
but also attract exceptional exposure to the consumer
market through the Sydney Morning Herald’s special
supplement. This is published in the Saturday edition
immediately after the Awards evening.
The 2016 Excellence in Housing Awards are now open
for entries.
For full details and to submit an entry, please visit www.
, download the entry form and return it by
Wednesday 23 March.