2MTR – Electrical Safety on Site

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Construction workers in New South Wales are being urged to take extra precautions when it comes to electrical safety. SafeWork New South Wales has launched a crackdown on construction sites, and electrical safety inspectors will be conducting inspections from now until June 2023. This move comes in response to the high number of electrical safety incidents reported in 2020, which resulted in 584 injuries and 3 fatalities.

To avoid fines and ensure the safety of workers on construction sites, it is recommended that construction companies and workers follow certain guidelines. SafeWork NSW provides a range of free electrical safety guides that can be downloaded and implemented on job sites. Some basic tips include disconnecting unused electrical equipment, getting rid of any damaged or faulty wiring or cabling, and using electrical tag registers to keep track of equipment inspections and tests. Additionally, the use of residual current devices (RCDs) and safety switches can help prevent accidents and save lives.

At Magico Constructions, we take health and safety very seriously and welcome this new emphasis on electrical safety on construction sites. We believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that all workers on site make it home safely at the end of every workday. We urge all construction workers to be aware of the new regulations and take steps to comply with them. By following these guidelines and tips, we can ensure that all workers on construction sites are protected and that accidents are prevented.

NCC Update

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The new National Construction Code (NCC) is expected to be released on the 1st of October this year. Within the revised code there contains several changes not only related to the layout of the NCC but also the new guidelines and standards for construction.

One of the big changes of the NCC is the introduction of the livable housing scheme. The new revision involves mandatory guidelines for all construction projects to take into consideration for potential future use of the building when it comes to adaptable living. (This includes making provisions to ensure wheelchair accessibility and future installation of grab rails in bathrooms for instance) Another change included in this revision of the NCC involves early childhood center designs.

There are now requirements when designing new childcare centers specifically for younger age toddlers. Other revisions include having a mandatory fall when it comes to any floor waste that is to be installed.

Further details can be found by clicking the link below. Major Changes to NCC https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/news/2022/wha…

2MTR – New Legislation

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New legislation is coming into effect that will affect class 3 and class 9 buildings in New South Wales. Changes are being made to the Design Building Practitioners Act, which will apply to class 3 and class 9C buildings from July 3, 2023. Buildings such as boarding houses, guest houses, hostels, and backpackers that have dormitory-style accommodations, as well as accommodations for children, elderly people, and disabled people, will be affected.

Under the new legislation, people working in the affected space will need to be registered. This is part of the New South Wales government’s commitment to restoring public faith and confidence in the building and construction sector, which has been affected by controversial cases such as Mascot Towers and Opal Towers. While the legislation aims to improve public safety, some small builders and teams are concerned that the additional cost and paperwork requirements may make it difficult for them to compete in the market, leaving only the bigger builders to work on Class 2, 3, and 9C projects.

Overall, it remains to be seen how this legislation will impact the building and construction sector in New South Wales. While it may improve public safety, it could also lead to a potential monopoly for bigger builders and teams, which could limit competition and innovation in the industry.

Tip 1: Choosing the Right Architect for Your Project

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Tip 1/7 of the series on ‘7 Things to Consider Before You Build’.

Tip 1 – Choose the ‘Right’ Architect for your project. For most project, it all begins with a sketch design. It is important to be careful in the selection of the Architect as their sketch design will be used blueprint/bible for the project. Although the costs of engaging an architect is typically higher than that of a draftsman, we strongly believe that it is worth the investment.

Having a well-designed project will not only help add value to the property, but more importantly will help to improve the living experience of the building. Additionally, a well-designed home will help to add value to your home.

Tip 2: Making Sure You Have the Right Amount of Details

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Tip 2/7 of the series on ‘7 Things to Consider Before You Build’.

Make Sure Your Project Has the Right Amount of Details Nothing is more frustrating for a Builder than being given a set of tender documents which contains just the DA-stamped drawings and being expected to provide the Client with a construction cost. Whilst it’s certainly possible to provide a ‘rough estimate’, without finalising the variables all figures you receive are unsubstantiated.

Having accuracy and specifications on the details will not only allow for an easier comparison between quotes, additionally it will help prevent hidden variations that may occur on your projects.

That is why it is crucial to have all the details sorted out first before you start tendering and obtaining quotes for your project.

Tip 4: Know Thy Neighbours

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Tip 4/7 of the series on ‘7 Things to Consider Before You Build’.

KNOW THY NEIGHBOURS This is a factor that many people often factor in too late down in the building process. Before you begin submitting your project to council (for DA approval), you should give your nearby neighbours a heads up and let them know what you are planning on submitting.

Otherwise, you risk the neighbours responding in a bad manner when they suddenly receive a notice letter from council once your project has been submitted. Pre-emptively having this open dialogue with the neighbours can not only help improve the chances of your project obtaining DA-approval, but also help ensure the project run smoothly once a Builder begin construction of the project.

In this video, I share a personal horror story I encountered a few years ago with a shocking neighbour.

Tip 5: Make Sure You Have The Right Paperwork

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Make sure you have the right amount of documentation for your construction project. Tip 5/7 of the series on ‘7 Things to Consider Before You Build’. During the process, there is going to be plenty of paperwork and documentation involved on the project.

My recommendation is to encourage you to pick out a well experienced Architect to help you in the preparation of the documentation and paperwork through these processes and during Construction. Always remember that failure to have the right details and amount of documentation and paperwork can really affect not only in the determination of your development application, but also result in obtaining inaccurate quotes from Builders (which lead to cost blowouts).

Make Sure You Have the Right Amount of Paperwork and Documentation to expedite the process and mitigate misunderstandings and confusion around your project. I can’t tell you the amount of times we have been given insufficent documentation on projects.

This results in there being a huge disparity between the quotes received.

Tip 7: Choose The Right Builder

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I could probably talk about how to select the ‘right Builder’ for a project for hours on end, but ultimately the most important factor is TRUST. Nothing is worse than choosing a Builder you didn’t trust from the very beginning.

There are so many telltale signs to look out for when it comes to authenticity and ethics. DON’T choose a Builder that easily lowers their quote. This is a sign that they probably haven’t done an accurate costing of the project and aren’t certain of their true profit margins.

Never make your final decision based on cost as variations along the way may dramatically change the actual cost for the project. Working closely with a trusted Builder ensures that there are no unsubstantiated variations that can easily cause a budget blowout.

More importantly, choose a Builder that stays true to their word and is able to do what they promised.

How to Avoid Building Problems

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The secret in avoiding building problems stems from the source of all evil, and that is MONEY.

Time and time again I have witnessed many projects being put on hold or legal litigations being raised due to cost disputes. All of which could have been easily avoided had the project’s budget been realistic from day one.

The sure-fire recipe for disaster in any construction project is to force the construction costs down in order to fit in within the ‘budget amount’. Whilst it is normal to get excited about building your own house, do not make the mistake of rushing to get your project started when you are unsure of a realistic construction cost.

Additionally, do not rush to sign any contracts until you are certain that your finances are in order and that you have allowed for contingency sums for your construction. For anyone that is eager to start building even though the quotes received have come well over budget, my advice to you is to just hold off. Wait. Re-evaluate and reassess. Then make a rational decision whether you would like to keep the same scope of works and finishes (in which case, wait to save up more money).Or, you may consider reducing the scope of works and finishes in order to help reduce the construction cost. Assuming you have obtained quotes from professional and reputable builders, there is going to be a reason why the quotes have come in well above your budget.

Do not make the most common mistake of calling for more quotes until you stumble upon a builder that may under-quote on your project by mistake (or perhaps on purpose in hopes of claiming on variations).

In construction, you often only get one chance to build it right. The last thing you want is to regret settling on a dodgy build that is riddled with defects.

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