Win with AWS

Introducting Elevate™Aluminium Systems

Nothing stays the same, especially at Architectural Window Systems (AWS). For the past 15 years we have been busily developing one of Australia’s largest and most innovative ranges of high performance commercial aluminium window and door systems. We’ve been so busy in fact; we never actually got around to designing a logo.

The time has now come for us to elevate our commercial systems to new potentials. AWS has chosen a name that represents the ideals that our design team hold true in every system they develop, such as innovation, forward thinking, style, strength, integrity and efficiency.

AWS is excited to announce the launch of Elevate™ Aluminium Systems – the new name for AWS Commercial joinery.

To celebrate the launch of the new name for Elevate™ Aluminium Systems we are taking 4 lucky winners on an aerial architecture tour of their capital city, hosted by none other than John Gollings. To enter the draw simply visit www.elevatealuminium.com.au and register your details.

The Elevate™ Aluminium Systems range incorporates a variety of commercial aluminium window and door suites. These range from commercial framing systems to high performance bi-fold and sliding doors that are capable of large panel sizes and ideal for contemporary architectural designs. Our innovative range of thermally-broken commercial framing systems demonstrates our commitment to the development of cutting edge technologies and energy efficient solutions. Find out more at the Elevate™ Aluminium Systems website.

BDAQ to Exhibit at Build & Design Queensland

The next big idea at Build & Design Queensland

9 – 11 May 2012
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Building design is a competitive industry with everyone looking for that next big idea, an idea that could be waiting for you to discover at the first Build & Design Queensland expo on 9-11 May at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Building Designers Association of Queensland (BDAQ) sees BDQ as an ideal platform to source the latest building products and technologies, and we are proud to support this exciting new expo. Visit us on stand H38 to get an update from the Association and catch-up with your peers.

Register for free entry today to meet the suppliers behind the latest innovations that will help you to win more projects, design more sustainable buildings and build for the future.

 Altogether now

BDQ will bring industry professionals, suppliers, products and services under one roof to help build and design a smarter state. Not only does it allow designers and architects to see, hear and learn about products and services to make the next big thing a reality, the expo brings you, your peers and your ideas together.

Discover and design

Sustainability is more than a concept of green building. It’s the seamless integration of sustainable design into its surroundings ­ – its longevity, its environmental footprint, its urban integration and its appeal. Make sure you visit the GreenTag Pavilion where you can compare and source a wide range of GreenTag certified products for their environmental credentials and green building ratings.  

Refine your skills

With every new product or service there is something new to learn, whether it’s how to integrate it into a design or how to meet environmental guidelines. Build & Design Queensland’s CPD accredited seminar series and Q&A sessions with leading industry figures will give you that knowledge.

Remember entry to Build & Design Queensland is free for industry professionals who register online.

Get more inspiration at www.bdqexpo.com.au

OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:DRAFT STANDARD ON BUSHFIRE WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS

The Draft Australian Standard on Bushfire Water Spray Systems (DR AS 5414) is open for public comment Standards Australia announced today.

“Australia will always be at risk from bushfire, but there are strategies which can be adopted to at least reduce the likelihood of devastation,” said Adrian O’Connell, General Manager of Operations, Standards Australia.

“This Standard is about managing the risk posed by bushfires and will provide yet another option towards greater bushfire protection.

Mr O’Connell said the objective of the Standard is to provide system designers and installers with information on the design, installation and maintenance of bushfire water spray systems.

“Bushfire water spray systems are intended to complement the requirements of AS 3959, and should be considered as one component of a holistic fire management plan,” Mr O’Connell said.

“While the measures contained in this Standard cannot guarantee that a building will survive a bushfire on every occasion, the techniques outlined in the Standard go some way towards mitigating the risk.

“There is increased community vigilance when it comes to managing the threat of bushfire, so this Standard is about meeting the need for a wider array of bushfire management strategies,” Mr O’Connell said.

The public comment period closes on 8 February 2012. Comments can be registered through www.standards.org.au

BDAQ membership fees made easy for 2012

The BDAQ management council has considered the current economic times and the state of the building industry in Queensland when setting the membership fees for 2012. 

The decision has been made to reduce the fee for the full member category and to hold the student, associate and corporate fees at the 2011 level.  There is also a range of easy instalments plans for members to make it as easy as possible for those members doing it tough to retain their membership. 

BDAQ is only asking that some commitment is made before the due date of 1 January 2012. 

All the details are on your membership subscription invoice. If you haven’t received yours by November 30 please contact the office on 07 3889 9119.

2012 QUEENSLAND BUILDING DESIGN AWARDS LAUNCHED

The 2012 Queensland Building Design Awards are officially underway with the launch of the Regional Awards Entry Form. 

If you have designed a project that you are proud of, don’t keep it to yourself. This is your chance to share it with the rest of the world. 

In 2011, BDAQ ramped up its media release program and achieved some excellent coverage for the design awards right across Queensland. You can become part of that and get promotion worth thousands of dollars for nothing more than the entry fee. When you make it through to the state awards, you are guaranteed to get at least a photo of your project and your contact details into the glossy magazine sold in newsagencies all over Queensland. 

We have made some changes to the awards procedures this year to simplify the process. The key points to note are as follows.

1.      There will be no branch design awards coordinators in 2012. The Design Awards Coordinator for all regions is Russell Brandon (contact details see p5 of the Entry Form).

2.     All submissions regardless of the branch of origin will be submitted to the BDAQ office. Should branches wish to conduct their own judging, they will need to coordinate their judging with the awards coordinator.

3.      We are now requiring one set of photographs only but have clarified the required resolution and file size range.

4.     Winning entries will automatically proceed to the state awards judging. The original presentation submitted to the regional awards will be used in the state judging. There will be no separate state awards entry form and no opportunity to change entry submissions between regionals and state awards. The awards coordinator may choose to judge the state awards at the same time as the regionals are judged. Regional award winners will be automatically invoiced for the state fees.

5.     You will notice that the Environmental categories and Product categories are no longer listed on the entry form. All entries submitted are eligible for these categories and the judging will be based on points awarded during the category judging. 

 6.     We have clarified the rule about re-entering projects that have previously won an award to permit projects which have previously won a category to be entered into a different category in subsequent years. For example if you have previously won a residential category, you can now enter the same project in the residential interiors category. Also we have removed the restriction on projects which have been awarded a commendation to be re-entered in any category. 

You’ve got to be in it to win it. Why not give it a go this year but don’t put it off, start planning now. If you have any queries, please contact the office on 07 3889 9119 OR DOWNLOAD THE FORM HERE

NEW YEAR - IMPORTANT NEW LEGISLATION

1 January 2012 is fast approaching and as well as ushering in a brand new year, this 1 January sees the commencement of the new harmonised Workplace Health and Safety legislation in Queensland. The Act will require building designers to consider the health and safety of people who work in, on or around the buildings they are designing. 

The major difference in this legislation with regard to the existing Queensland legislation is that there is no exemption of any class of building. 

In regard to designers of buildings the current Act states;

“structure does not include a structure that is a class 1a building or an associated class 10a building.”

The new legislation contains no such exemption and also makes it clear that the designer’s obligations for health and safety of people apply to a building, part of a building or change to the design of a building.

That means that houses are now included as are extensions, renovations and refurbishments of any building. A workplace is defined as anywhere where someone is employed to do any type of work. So the designer’s responsibility extends to persons employed to construct, maintain, extend or refurbish and/or demolish the building as well as those who work in the building, in the gardens or even on the footpath outside the building. 

The responsibility of the designer is to;

1.       identify the hazards related to working on or in the building;
2.       assess the risk posed by the hazard;
3.       eliminate or minimise the risk
4.       communicate any residual risks.

According to the Draft Code of Practice for Safe Design of Buildings and Structures;

“The WHS Regulations require a designer to provide a written report to the person commissioning the design on the health and safety aspects of the design. This report must specify the hazards relating to the design of the structure that, so far as the designer is reasonably aware:

•       create a risk to persons who are to carry out the construction work, and

•       are associated only with the particular design and not with other designs of the same type of structure.

The information should include:

•       any hazardous materials or structural features and the designer’s assessment of the risk of injury or harm resulting from those hazards;

•       the action the designer has taken to reduce those risks, for example changes to the design; or changes to construction methods; and

•       any parts of the design where hazards have been identified but not resolved.”

At the BDAQ RoadShow in March 2012 we will be workshopping these requirements and providing templates and checklists to assist members to comply with the Act. We will start to roll out the material as it becomes available between now and the RoadShow to ensure that members are as prepared as possible before 1 January. 

The Code of Practice will be clear about what is expected of designers and the draft gives some clues as to the extent of consultation required.  

“While designers may not have management and control over the actual construction work they can discharge their duty by consulting, co-operating and co-ordinating activities, where reasonably practicable, with those who do have management or control of the construction work, for example by:

•          providing guidance on how a structure might be constructed safely

•         applying risk management processes to more traditional designs and considering whether new or innovative approaches to design will eliminate or minimise risk and result in an intrinsically safer building or structure

•         providing information of any identified hazards arising from an unconventional design to those who will construct or use the building, and

•         carrying out the above in association with those who have expertise in construction safety.”

This will be an important change to how building designers carry out their work and the March RoadShow will be important training for every member. You should program it into your 2012 diary now to ensure you don’t miss out. 

In the meantime building designers should be including time for research, consultation and reporting in every quote prepared for work to be completed after 1 January 2012.

Below are the RoadShow dates:

GLADSTONE   Mon 12 March      BOONDALL              Wed 21 March

MACKAY          Tue 13 March       SPRINGWOOD         Thu 22 March

TOWNSVILLE  Wed 14 March      TOOWOOMBA          Fri 23 March

CAIRNS             Thu 15 March       HERVEY BAY           Wed 28 March

DARWIN           Sat 17 March        SUNSHINE COAST   Thu 29 March

Put yours in your 2012 Diary NOW. We look forward to seeing you there.