The Blog

Monday November 7 2016 – Article by VBA Recently, the VBA has received a number of complaints involving failed waterproofed balconies resulting in major damage to homes throughout Victoria. The recent wet weather and rain events across Victoria highlight the importance of waterproofing in the building process. There are many reasons why waterproofed balconies may fail, and identifying the cause …

The words “draftsman” and “architect” have become synonymous to the lay man, but for those in-the-know they are hardly one and the same. Both professions play important roles in the Australian building industry, but it’s extremely important to have a solid grasp on what exactly these roles are before you hire either one to work on your project. Learn from history …

Under new changes to the Victorian Building Act, you ht home owner are now required to choose your Building Surveyor…NOT the Builder.  What do they do? A Building Surveyor is a registered building professional who is responsible for ensuring the construction project meets the minimum standards set out in the building code of Australia, national standards, and relevant state and …

Wednesday October 5 2016 by VBA Safety in the kitchen is important for everyone. Good building practices will help maintain safety and one important area too often overlooked is the proximity of gas cookers to their surround, combustible, areas. The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has recently seen a growing number of domestic gas cooking appliances installed in residential premises which …

Tuesday October 4 2016 by VBA Research and understanding of bushfires is generating significant improvements in safety and as that knowledge and expertise advances so do the regulations required to ensure consistent application for all buildings but especially those used by our more vulnerable community members. On 6 September, the Building Amendment (Specific Use Bushfire Protected Buildings and Other Matters) …

If you are owner building or using a builder please be aware of the following: Author: Jacqui Rigby-King If a person commissions an architect or a builder to draw architectural plans for them in accordance with their own “mud map” designs, and even if there is not much additional design input into the drawing of the architectural plans, the architect or …

With the current trend of eco-friendly and green initiatives driving better energy consumption and sustainable design of new buildings, there is an increasing requirement to have buildings further sealed off to air leakage and ensure any air entering or exiting your apartment is avoided, which unfortunately can sometimes result in condensation and moisture build up. Condensation in modern apartments must …

Article by Insurance News   About 2300km of potentially deadly Infinity electrical cable remains in thousands of homes, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) warns.   The product, imported from China, was recalled in 2014 after tests showed its poor-quality plastic insulation breaks down over time, leading to electric shocks or fires.   Retailers and suppliers report electricians and …

Article from Insurance and Risk   Insurance brokers have been warned that non-compliant, highly flammable cladding appears to have been used in buildings around the country – not just Victoria.   The Victorian Building Authority last week revealed that of the 170 buildings audited as part of the their investigation, which was prompted by the Docklands Lacrosse apartment fire of November 2014, 51% were …