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PLUMBING CONNECTION
SUMMER 2015
C
all me old-fashioned but the power of experiencing
live presentations, followed by the opportunity to
mix and converse with presenters and leaders from
across our industry, still garners favour with me.
We used to do that as an industry quite a lot but then the
internet came along... and it’s supposedly saving the world.
Pardon my cynicism.
Sure the internet is great as a (chiefly one-way)
communication server but we humans inherited the planet
long before the IT world and two-way discussion has worked
pretty well – putting aside a world war or two.
And when the subject matter is quite complex and ever
changing –such as building and plumbing regulation in the
NCC, all the more reason to make the effort to wise-up.
That was my take on the recent
Building Australia’s Future
2015 (BAF)
conference held mid-September at Surfers
Paradise and run by the Australian Building Codes Board
(ABCB).
Around 600 practitioners attended from all walks of the
industry, with building surveyors being the dominant group.
I felt some disappointment with how few suppliers/
resellers (you know the guys that want to flog you all those
products) made the effort to attend and get involved –
after all, they are quick to complain about how difficult it
is to influence the rules and regulation that govern their
particular sector though – but enough of the grumble from
me.
The BAF provided valuable insights for attendees over the
three days, with more than 30 speakers as well as keenly
attended workshops.
A strong focus was the focus on adopting Performance
Based Codes – something quite challenging for many,
particularly those who feel comfort in the long standing
deemed-to-satisfy approach.
This requires a change of attitude and culture by many
groups and individuals across the industry and it is going
to take time to educate ‘the masses’. Ultimately there is
national benefit and cost saving to be had in many areas –
though cost should not come at the expense of long term
performance and durability.
JEFF PATCHELL
ATTENDED THE ABCB’S BUILDING AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE 2015 CONFERENCE AND REMAINS A
STRONG ADVOCATE FOR ATTENDING SUCH EVENTS.
FACE TO FACE WITH THE
FUTURE OF BUILDING
CONFERENCE WRAP UP