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Category: Regulations
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Seismic standard open for comment
Standards Australia’s BD-006 committee has released a draft of an amendment to AS 1170.4 Structural design actions – Earthquake actions in Australia for public comment. Standards Australia says the main purpose of the amendment is to incorporate general editorial changes to improve clarity and remove ambiguity, as well as updates to the seismic hazard map. […]
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NSW Climate Change Bill
The NSW government has introduced a bill that enshrines in law the state’s emissions reduction targets – and that establishes an independent Net Zero Commission to help hit those targets. Titled the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023, it supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2030, […]
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ACT confirms start date for professional registration
The ACT government has confirmed that its scheme for professional registration of engineers will begin on March 6, 2024. The scheme is underpinned by the Professional Engineers Act 2023, passed in March this year. There will be a phased approach for different areas of engineering: civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and fire safety. The government says […]
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Europe forges ahead with HFC phase-out plan
The European Parliament and Council has taken the next – and what appears to be decisive – step towards a new and ambitious phase-out schedule for HFC refrigerants. The deal includes specific phase-out dates for the use of fluorinated gases in sectors where it is “technologically and economically feasible to switch to alternatives”. This includes […]
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Pilot program for women in construction
The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), with assistance from the NSW government’s Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program (IIP) grant, has launched the ASBEC Women in Construction Future Leaders Pilot. The pilot seeks to promote gender diversity within the construction sector to create lasting transformative change. “Increasing leadership and participation of women in Australia’s […]
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Women in construction: Have your say
The NSW government is collecting feedback from female construction workers to improve working conditions in the industry. Only 13 per cent of the construction industry in New South Wales is made up of women, and a recent survey showed 12 per cent of respondents identify as women within the industry nationally. The survey aims to […]
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Consultation on Australia’s carbon credit scheme
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is consulting on the next phase on proposed changes to the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme. These changes aim to ensure the ACCU Scheme has high integrity and delivers confidence to participants, the market, and the wider public, says DCCEEW. As outlined in the ACCU […]
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States move ahead on road to registration
It may have taken some time since the recommendations originally appeared at the top of the priority list in the 2018 Building Confidence report, but professional registration schemes are now spreading quickly across the country, and establishing new rules to lift standards in Australia’s building and construction industry. Practice Standard in New South Wales This […]
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ACT seeks input on electrification plan
The ACT government is seeking input on its Integrated Energy Plan to guide the energy transition away from gas to renewable energy. “The ACT continues to lead the world in taking action on climate change,” says the ACT government. “We are set to become the first Australian jurisdiction to be powered exclusively by renewable energy, […]
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Government survey on pair coil issues
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is conducting a survey to investigate issues with pair coil. There have been reports of ant nesting and corrosion problems with pair coils, resulting in the leaking of refrigerant. DCCEEW notes that under consumer guarantee law this issue could be costing businesses time and […]
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Grid-interactive buildings on the road to net zero
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has launched its first report on grid-interactive buildings, highlighting how these can help achieve a zero-carbon future. Grid-interactive buildings are designed to use electricity in a smart and efficient way, shifting energy usage to times when it’s both cheaper and cleaner, helping to generate clean energy and reduce […]
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Victoria bans gas in new homes from 2024
The Victorian government has added major momentum to the electrification movement with the announcement that it is banning gas connections to new homes from next year. New homes and residential subdivisions that require a planning permit cannot connect to the gas network from January 2024. This will apply to new planning permit applications submitted from […]
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Queensland NCC stance highlights ‘patchwork’ problem
Queensland has confirmed that it will maintain the original timetable for adopting improved energy efficiency, condensation management and livable housing provisions in NCC 2022. Although industry stakeholders have applauded the decision, they have also raised concerns about delays in other jurisdictions, and the inconsistent implementation of what is intended to be a national code to […]
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Net zero plan for Australia’s built environment
The federal government has confirmed that it will develop decarbonisation plans for different sectors – including a specific plan for the built environment. In its issues paper on setting, tracking and achieving Australia’s emissions reduction targets, the Climate Change Authority proposed focusing on sectors as set out in Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: electricity, stationary […]
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US lays out next steps for HFC phase-down
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an HFC reduction of 40 per cent below historic levels from 2024 through 2028. The rule aligns with the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act’s goals to reduce the production and consumption of HFCs by 85 per cent by 2036. The US began its phase-down on […]
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NSW offers preview of incoming fire safety schedule
The NSW government has shared an advance copy of the fire safety schedule template, due to start on August 1, 2023. The new schedule is one of a raft of reforms that respond to recommendations in the report on improving fire safety in new and existing buildings, developed by the Office of the Building Commissioner. […]
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Victoria delays energy efficiency provisions
The Victorian government has confirmed that it will delay the adoption of key provisions in the National Construction Code until May 2024. Victoria has extended the transitional arrangements for updated energy efficiency, condensation mitigation requirements, and liveable housing requirements. This includes the lifting of minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes from 6 to 7 […]
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Australia to ban high-GWP refrigerants in small AC
The Australian federal government intends to implement restrictions on small air conditioning equipment with high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant. From July 1, 2024, Australia will ban the import and manufacture of small air conditioning equipment using refrigerant with a GWP over 750. This ban will apply to equipment with up to 2.6kg refrigerant charge […]
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Free vehicle registration for Victorian apprentices
The Victorian government has announced it will make vehicle registration free for eligible apprentices from July 2023. The $10 million initiative, included in the Victorian Budget 2023/24, will provide free registration to apprentices if their employer can verify that their vehicle is an essential part of their work. Apprentices who need their car for work […]
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NCC energy efficiency improvements put on hold?
The Victorian government has announced that some requirements in the National Construction Code that were due to come into effect in October 2023 may be delayed, including those around energy efficiency. In 2022, industry stakeholders advocated strongly to lift the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes from 6 to 7 NatHERS stars – the […]