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Category: Regulations
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Health and Wellbeing regs up for review
The Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009 are scheduled to expire in December 2019 after 10 years of operation. New regulations have now been drafted, along with a regulatory impact statement (RIS). According to A.G. Coombs’ strategic development director Bryon Price, F.AIRAH, the primary area of interest for buildings and facilities relates to the […]
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New minimum standards for large AC
New greenhouse and energy minimum standards (GEMS) have been drafted for air conditioners above 65kW. They are open for public comment. There are currently no minimum energy efficiency requirements under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Act for air conditioners over 65kW capacity to be sold in Australia. There are, however, requirements in the National […]
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New energy labels explained
As reported previously, a new energy rating label is on the way for some air conditioners. The zoned energy rating label (ZERL) includes more detailed information to help customers choose the best air conditioner for their climate zone – and save money. The labels will be mandatory on new models from April 1, 2020. To […]
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Energy efficiency calculators ready for testing
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released four energy efficiency calculators for beta testing. The calculators have been developed to help users with understanding and applying the National Construction Code (NCC) Volume One Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions for the energy efficiency of façades, lighting, fans and pumps. The calculators include: Façade, Volume One Lighting, Volume One Fan Systems, Volume One […]
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ABCB to revise energy efficiency provisions
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has opened consultation for an energy efficiency scoping study. The ABCB has been directed by the Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) to investigate possible changes to the energy efficiency provisions, with an emphasis on residential buildings in the 2022 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC). The work is to […]
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Raising the efficiency bar for homes
Expect new Australian homes to become more sustainable after an agreement at last week’s Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) to enhance energy efficiency provisions for residential buildings in the National Construction Code (NCC). The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has warmly welcomed the agreement. “The homes built today will still be operating in 2050 – […]
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Last chance to review training package
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) is coordinating an update of the national electrotechnology training package and has made the draft materials available for final comments. The electrotechnology training package includes the materials used to teach refrigeration and air conditioning throughout Australia. It has undergone some important changes. Three units have been restructured so that students get […]
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Cladding safety plan unveiled
The Victorian government has announced a plan to replace combustible cladding. But the proposed approach has not met with support from all quarters. Earlier this month, the Victorian Cladding Taskforce delivered its report. It contains the results of audits performed on buildings in Victoria. Combustible cladding: state of play The report notes that although some […]
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Hospital design guidelines under review
The Victorian Health and Human Services Building Authority (VHHSBA) is revising its guidelines for engineering services, Design Guide for Hospitals and Day Procedure Centres (DGHDPC) Part E. The guidelines were last updated in 2004. The intent of the revised guidelines is to provide relevant minimum requirements for engineering services for new capital projects in healthcare. As […]
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Shape the future of Standards Australia
Standards Australia (SA) is working towards making its content more accessible to stakeholders and users, and is seeking input on how it distributes content. As part of this process it has released a Distribution and Licensing Policy Discussion Paper that is open for review. SA entered into a new distribution agreement with Techstreet recently, after a ruling that SAI […]
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NSW opens talks on professional registration
Earlier this year, a bill passed in Victoria that should see professional registration of engineers become mandatory in that state. Queensland already has this requirement. Now it appears that New South Wales will go down the same path. The NSW government has released a discussion paper that responds to recommendations of Shergold and Weir’s Building […]
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Have your say: New licensing in Queensland
As reported last year, Queensland is updating its licensing framework for mechanical services work, including air conditioning and refrigeration. It is now looking for feedback on the proposed licence classes and transitional arrangements. Perhaps the biggest change for air conditioning and refrigeration is the introduction of the occupational licence class, with a minimum Certificate III […]
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WA: Air-handling and water systems regulation review
The Department of Health (DOH) is reviewing the Health (Air-handling and Water Systems) Regulations 1994. Since the Public Health Act 2016 was introduced, the Air-handling Regulations must be reviewed and either repealed or replaced with new regulations. The focus of this review is to obtain feedback on the most effective option for managing the public health risks […]
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Fire compliance changes for soffit insulation
Insulation Australasia has circulated a statement alerting the industry to changes around fire compliance for soffit insulation in the new National Construction Code (NCC), adopted on May 1. “Soffit insulation manufacturers and building practitioners are alerted to the end of the concession period for acceptable demonstration of group numbers for building linings as required by the National […]
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Professional registration on track in Victoria
Victoria’s Legislative Assembly has passed the Professional Engineers Registration Bill 2019. The legislation, modelled closely on the existing Queensland Professional Engineers Act, is intended to fulfill the government’s 2014 goal to introduce a mandatory, statutory registration scheme, and work with other jurisdictions to develop a nationally consistent registration scheme for engineers. “The government remains determined […]
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Shooting for input on Green Star for New Buildings
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has put out a call to industry for feedback on newly proposed changes to its Green Star program – beginning with Green Star for New Buildings. Over 2,250 projects across Australia have now been certified under Green Star, a program established with the goal of making the built […]
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Training package ready to review
The Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) that has been working on the Electrotechnology Training Package Review project has prepared draft materials and is now looking for industry feedback. As reported previously, the project is an extension of the UEE11 Electrotechnology Training Package Transition Project. The transition and review of the training package is […]
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IEC rejects rise in flammable charge limit
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) committee responsible for IEC Standard 60335-2-89 has narrowly voted down a draft international standard that would have raised the allowable charge of flammable refrigerants in certain appliances. The vote comes after a five-year effort to raise the charge limit of flammable refrigerants such as propane and isobutane in some commercial […]
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Introducing stand-alone ventilation systems
The European Commission has released an online consultation on the possible introduction of the inspection of stand-alone ventilation systems in Europe. Stand-alone ventilation systems are defined as ventilation systems whose sole function is to ventilate a building. Inspections can be considered a way to improve the performance of ventilation systems. Article 19a of the EPBD […]
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New data on skills shortages
Australian Industry Standards (AIS) has conducted an online survey for stakeholders to find out more about skills shortages in the electrotechnology industry. And the results have now been published. In the electrotechnology sector, 76.9 per cent of respondents reported experiencing a skills shortage in the past 12 months. The occupations reported as being in shortage […]