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NABERS is seeking industry involvement to expand its rating system into warehouses and cold stores. A national initiative, NABERS has enjoyed great success as a world-recognised and robust rating tool for offices, shopping centres, hotels, and other building sectors. This year it is expanding to the warehouses and cold stores sector and is looking to […]
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is seeking input on a draft model for continuing professional development on the National Construction Code. The Building Confidence Report (BCR) recommended that each jurisdiction require all practitioners to undertake compulsory continuing professional development (CPD) on the National Construction Code (NCC). In response, the BCR Implementation Team has developed […]
In recent years, especially in Australia, split systems have become the default appliance for home air conditioning, displacing the once ubiquitous “window rattlers”. Now, US company Gradient has reinvented the classic design and is offering a sleeker and more sustainable solution. Gradient hopes its new system – created by thermal scientists, engineers and executives from […]
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has launched a new website. It forms part of a larger effort to develop a more user-friendly online NCC, and provides access to a refreshed suite of digital products that the ABCB says delivers “a tailored and more engaging experience”. The site design was informed by stakeholder consultation. It […]
Nominations have opened for the ARBS 2022 Industry Awards, recognising excellence and outstanding contributions within Australia’s HVAC&R and building services industry. The awards form part of ARBS 2022, slated for April 27–29, 2022, and include the following categories: ARBS Young Achiever Award 2022 ARBS Product Excellence (HVAC) Award 2022 ARBS Product Excellence (Refrigeration) Award 2022 […]
The Melbourne CBD office tower at 500 Collins Street has become the first existing building in Australia to earn WELL Certification at the Platinum level, the International WELL Building Institute’s highest rating. Completed in 1973, 500 Collins Street is a 26-storey tower featuring approximately 26,000m2 of net lettable area comprising an office tower with a […]
Although the 2022 edition of the National Construction Code is still at draft stage, one of the biggest changes is already confirmed: a new look with improved useability. This will apply across all three volumes of the NCC: Volume 1 (Class 2 to 9 buildings); Volume 2 (Class 1 and 10 buildings); and Volume 3 […]
Pro Clima has released a book that explores a variety of construction systems, to help inform and guide simulations of the combined heat and moisture transport of residential and commercial façades. It also takes into account natural environmental impacts on the building envelope. The Blue Book is authored by Pro Clima’s building science manager Jesse […]
The Kirby Apprentice Fund is celebrating its second anniversary with the announcement of training scholarships to promote the use of natural refrigerants. The Naturals Training Scholarships will be available to fourth-year apprentices registered in the Kirby Apprentice Fund who want to further their trade knowledge with an understanding of natural refrigerants. The scholarship will facilitate […]
To support the recent NSW Building Confidence reforms, Consult Australia, Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects have developed the Guide for Design Practitioners and Engineers. The guide is designed to be a practical resource that highlights key issues relevant to contracts and professional indemnity (PI) insurance relating to the recent legislative and regulatory […]
The Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA) is hosting a free webinar on Thursday, August 19, where four experts will discuss commercial building design in the post-pandemic world. More than a year into the pandemic, new themes and trends are emerging in the design of commercial work spaces. The presenters include: Julia McPhersonMcPherson is a strategist and […]
Researchers at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have developed a swarm of tiny drones that can autonomously detect and localise gas sources in cluttered indoor environments. One of the key challenges the researchers faced was the minimal processing capacity of the drones. They overcame this by using bio-inspired navigation and search strategies. […]
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is updating the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program for refrigerated cabinets. Refrigerated cabinets are designed to store and display chilled and/or frozen food items, and are typically used in retail stores such as supermarkets, petrol stations, liquor outlets and smaller food and beverage vendors. The VEU […]
In response to the COVID-19 restrictions that have halted construction work in New South Wales, Standards Australia is offering temporary free access to a compulsory e-learning module. “The recent COVID restrictions have forced New South Wales into lockdown again, and for the first time, have put the brakes on the construction industry, impacting almost 250,000 […]
Entries are open for the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2021 until July 30, 2021. Sustainability Victoria runs the awards on behalf of the Victorian government to recognise and reward Victorians implementing sustainability initiatives across the state. The organisation says it hopes the awards will “inspire industry, businesses, communities, local governments, schools and individuals across Victoria to take action towards a […]
Infrastructure Australia has published new guidelines for the development and assessment of major infrastructure proposals. Infrastructure Australia says the 2021 Assessment Framework is a contemporary approach to guide infrastructure decision-making in Australia. “It provides clear and concise instructions on how to develop strong business cases and aims to streamline approval processes,” the organisation says of the framework. […]
Distinguished AIRAH life member Jack Laracy passed away peacefully on July 11 in Queensland, his home state. “It is with much sadness that we share the news of the passing of an AIRAH legend, Jack Laracy,” says AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, M.AIRAH. “Jack was a leading educator with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and impacted […]
Mitsubishi Electric Australia has celebrated its Diamond Dealer Network at its annual Diamond Dealer Awards Weekend. This year’s event was held in Hobart, and marked nearly 15 years since the event was last hosted in Tasmania. It was also a return to a face-to-face format, after the 2020 Awards were held virtually due to COVID-19 […]
Bitzer has appointed Christian Wehrle as CEO, with immediate effect. Wehrle will also chair the executive board. The position has remained vacant since former Bitzer CEO and leader Peter Schaufler died in 2015. His wife and chair of the supervisory board, Christiane Schaufler-Münch, has now realigned the board structure to ensure stability in the planned […]
Seeley International has become the first air conditioning manufacturer to join a new collaborative research centre (CRC) focused on clean energy – RACE for 2030. The company formalised a partnership with other industry, research and technology partners to incorporate innovative air conditioning solutions into projects aimed at boosting energy productivity and demand flexibility, cutting energy […]