NEWS/VIEWS/NEWS/VIEWS/NEWS/VIEWS/NEWS/VIEWS/NEWS/VIEWS/NEWS/VIEW

LETTER FROM THE Dept Building & Housing

Builder's Licensing is a somewhat difficult subject to work through, and getting exact information is elusive at times!
A recent meeting in Wellington with Craig Hill - Manager of Operational Policy and Regulatory Services (click on graphic at left) is both explanatory and yet confusing at the same time. Mr Hill was a perfect gentleman, and was a pleasure to meet with - (esp. compared top some Territorial Authorities I have met in the past), but of course he is limited to official policy - as noted in the first of his bullet points - but in the second paragraph he hits the target 100% by agreeing exactly with out aspirations to reduce the RED TAPE in getting Building Approvals in reasonable time spans.

I suggest we "read between the lines" and take special notice of his penultimate paragraph, and I strongly suggest that this is the path we must follow!


YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED - ARE YOU GOINGTO ACT?

A Builder Members was delivered his Bricks today!

A Concrete pool Builder Member was delivered a pallet of block has was intending to use to build a small retaining wall as part of his contract to build a swimming pool for his customer. The pallet was sealed in a plastic wrapper with THE DANGER SIGN attached. CLICK on the graphic (left) to read what it says!

 


Builder Members may want to take advantage of this free offer:

FREE PRINT ADVERTISMENTS BLANKS AVAILABLE

Builder Members may want to take advantage of this free offer:
We will use this Print Advertisment (shown at left) as the basis of your own newspaper ad, and fill in the words with your own details.

This advert is the same as the one we will be running in Spring to raise the level of awareness in the Public of the existence of the NZ Master Pool Builders Incorporated. Click on the graphic for a larger view

We will supply you with "Camera Ready" bromides for insertion in your local newspaper. This is a FREE SERVICE for Builder Members, and the use of this Advert will tie in with the NZMPB's advertising program this Spring. Email the Editor with your details you want added to the advertisment.

 


PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION 2012

Start thinking about your recently built pools: Do you have anything you are especially proud of, and would be happy to enter into the Photographic Competition to be judged in 2012? clickon the Photo Competition link on the Menu (Left) for details, and we are open for suggestions of categories that may suit the competition. Entry fee for each Pool is $20 and the builders of winning pools will be presented with an A4 framed photo for their office wall.

The results will be added to the PUBLIC web pages, so you should get a benefit from the exposure of your swimming pool products


N. KEVIN JULIAN

Founder Member and Past President of the NZ Master Pool Builders Guild from 1993 to 1999 and again in 2005 to 2007 Kevin has been honoured with Life Membership of the Master Pool Builders Inc.

A Concrete pool builder since the early 1970's until he "semi-retired" in the mid 2000's Kevin has spend the past few years doing odd jobs including installing Fibreglass pools for Laguna and Narellan, service and valet work for some of the Trade Members, and in recent times Pool Service work for the public.

Kevin's vast knowledge of concrete products (he was a Foundation Member of the Concrete Placers Association in 1990) developed late in life, as he started his working career as a Motor Trade apprentice then becoming Certified A Grade Motor Engineer. We welcome Kevin to the NZMPA as a Life Member.

THE SHAKEY ISLES, ALL RIGHT!

Check out this incredible map of New Zealand which shows more than 12,950 earthquakes logged since 3 September 2010! The graphic was produced in March 2011.

Click the map at left for a larger view of the incredible number of tremors we experience in New Zealand!

Fortunately most are too small to rate a mention, but the overlaying of red dots on a map of New Zealand gives a clear insight into the regions where the Pacific Plate meets the Australian Plate. It's in continual motion, and in time will change the geography of our country

Look like anywhere north of the Waikato is the place to be! And it's only a matter of time before Wellington will "do a Christchurch" on us.

Are we prepared to stump up another fortune in repairs?

 

AUCKLAND COUNCIL

Auckland Council have released their Code of Practice Version 3 as a Guide for the acceptable implementation of swimming pool fencing in order for your customers to be given a Code of Compliance.

You might want to read the document, so you are informed of what the Council is proposing, and give us any feedback you may have, as we have been invited to their next meeting in Auckland on 29th July.

ClickHere for the report

DEPT OF HOUSING & BUILDING HAVE RESPONDED
Common sense Prevails!

16 June 2011
Department of Building and Housing
Te Tari Kaupapa Whare

Dear Larry
Your query about making existing swimming pool fences non-climbable

Thank you for your letter of 21 May 2011 in regard to your assertion that Auckland Council (the Council) will no longer allow 45o timber fillets to-be used to.modify existing boundary fences to a swimming pool area in order to make them non-climbable to young children.

The Department of Building and Housing (the Department) understands that the Council has recently accepted a code of practice for swimming pool fencing (in which the Department had some input) and it is currently in the process of implementing it. But at this stage, the code of practice has not yet documented specific details, such as the minimum angle of timber fillets that will be acceptable when modifying boundary fences.

However, the Council has informally advised the Department that it intends to adopt 60o timber fillets for all new fence modifications, so as to align with Figure 3 of F4/AS1 (Safety from Failing) and Figure 2.4 of AS 1926.1-2007 (Fencing for Swimming Pools).

In regard to existing fence modifications (with 45o timber fillets), the Council has indicated that these fillets can remain if they are in good condition. However any deteriorated 45o timber fillets will be required to be replaced with 60o fillets: These existing modifications will be assessed by the Council on a case-by-case basis.

We suggest that it is not appropriate and premature at this time, for you to seek a determination by the Department as your scenario has not yet occurred for a specific project. I hope this letter is of assistance to you.
Yours sincerely
Steve Garner
Acting Manager, Consent Authority Capability and Performance Group

US NEWS
HUGE MAIN DRAIN COVER RECALL UPSETS POOL INDUSTRYIn a a surprising reversal, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled perhaps as many as one million previously approved Main Drain covers. The move came after questions were raised about the testing methods used in the original approval process.

The enormity of the recall effort was not lost on Scott Wolfson, CPSC public affairs director, in his announcement. "We know this is a very difficult message to share with the public as we roll into Memorial Day weekend, but better to address this now than in the middle of the swim season when a child was hurt on one of these recalled drains"

Essentially, the issue came down to flow rate through the covers. The CPSC said in a statement that the recalled drain covers "were incorrectly rated to handle the flow of water through the cover, which could pose a possible entrapment hazard to swimmers and bathers"

This means that a large number of drain covers which were installed during the VGB compliance period will have to be replaced, which is likely to produce a great deal of work for the same pool companies that installed these drain covers the first time around. The source of funding for the labor costs to switch the drain covers is not yet clear.

The following eight manufacturers were named in the CPSC announcement as part of the recall: A&A Manufacturing, AquaStar Pool Products, Color Match Pool Fittings, Custom Molded Products, Hayward Pool Products, Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Rising Dragon Plastics and Waterway Plastics.

LOCAL NOTE:
Our Builder Members must be aware of entrapment issues and follow New Zealand Standards guidelines such as NZS4441:2008 and NZS8500:2006 [JUMP TO THERE] in respect of including multiple suction points (instread of just one) within the distances prescribed between them to avoid suction entrapment. At t his point in time, the need to firmly affix the covers with screws is not required, as it is in the USA for underwater suction points as well as Skimmer lids.

DAYNOM TEMPLEMAN

A bit off-topic, but thought you might be interested ... long time Guild Builder Member Dave and Vicky Templeman's (Auckland's Pace Pools est 1975) son Daynom is really "burning up the track" in the relatively new sport of "Drifting".

Daynom has been into motorsports since he was a youngster - and with the moral and financial support of his Mum & Dad getting him started has excelled in everything he has tried so far - starting with off-road dirt buggies and now a fantasically well prepared 700 + hp Mazda RX7 Rotang.
Daynom's off to Singapore shortly to see how Kiwi drivers can do against the Asians (Asian drivers???)
Check out his You Tube clip for an example of Daynom's skill. Daynom has a bright future ahead of him in motorsport - Keep a watch out for his name in Motorsport circles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvMp9tFaBLw or just click the photo of Daynom at top left.

MODIFICATION TO FENCING UNDER DISCUSSION

Defying common sense - after being widely used with great success for 24 years since the introduction of the Fencing of Swimming Pool Act 1987 - the simple modification (at left) to timber plank boundary fencing to make them unclimbable by a five year or under child - as fitted to tens of thousands of fences - is being questioned by the new Auckland Council's "Pool Fencing Determination Committee".

Fitting a triangular wooden section to the lower and center longitudinal stringers of the wood fence (normally at 600 mm centers vertically) is a low-cost modification that has made the typical Kiwi wooden boundary fence unclimbable by children, yet this modification has been called into question by the Auckland Committee. Unable to suggest a low-cost alternative, they have deemed this mod "unacceptable" - raising the prospect of one more deterrent to ratepayers installing a home swimming pool by being faced with the huge expense of re-fencing their boundary with "compliant" fencing, when the simple mod has worked for more than 20 years. Makes you wonder what they they are thinking! If anyone has any comments on the effectiveness (or not) of this modification, please comment to the Web Editor and your comments will be added to this thread.

FIRST NEW GRADUATE:
2000 DIPLOMA in POOL TECHNOLOGY

PAUL FULLER Dip Pool Tech (Hons)

Builder Member Paul Fuller has become the first to successfully complete the Diploma of Pool Technology 2010 Course with an HONORS Pass, scoring an A+ pass with more than 95% mark and in accordance with the newly adopted Licensing Committee's rulings has been issued with the Guild's first CERTIFIED BUILDER'S LICENSE.

Members who may be affected by the need to provide their Local Council with a Builder's License might be interested in joining our scheme to provide you with Trade Qualifications based on your experience in building swimming pools for at least five years.

If you enroll in the Diploma Course 2010 and pass with at least a B qualification, and are a Master Pool Builders Member of this association, we will issue with a Certified Builder's License which will be renewable every three years following an updated assessment that assures us that you are keeping up-to-date with your industry skills.

Click the link to the Online Diploma Course (at the left) for more information on the course.   

OPEN LETTER TO THE POOL TRADE

Since the formation of the new "Super City" pool compliance requirements in the Auckland region can be described at best, as an unmitigated disaster...

Our clients (pool owners and prospective pool owners) have received multiple letters from the Auckland Council, most of containing contradictory advice , in regard to pool compliance for owners of both new and/or existing, residential swimming pools...  This challenge has been discussed with Auckland Council representatives at earlier Watersafe Forum's in December and January however, because of the apparent lack of interest shown by associated industries (as shown by attendees) those of us who are regulars at the meetings are finding their comments requesting sanity to prevail, are being largely ignored...

 All involved in providing product and services to the home pool market need to get involved otherwise, we might not have any market left to supply... Think this is an exaggeration?

Then you need to talk to your clients, the pool owners, because all the council has to do is make it too hard or difficult for them to own or buy a pool... (As is reportedly happening in Queensland, Australia)

Regards - Les J Hole, Director
Swish Automation Ltd
0800 2Swish / 0800 279 474Mob: 0274 77 9000 
Ph: +64 9 577 5819 Email: leshole@swishautomation.com


CERTIFIED BUILDER'S LICENCE PROGRAM 2011

Builder's licensing for the construction industry will be fully implemented by 2011 - that's THIS YEAR!

Due to the various trade skills requred by residential swimming pool builders. it is impractical for us to sit the ten trade licences offered by the Government - you simply wouldn't have time to build pools and satisfy the government's requirements too - especially  the annual upskill requirements!

The NZMPB Inc has developed a system to issue its own Certified Builder's License - one that recognises the trade skills required to build swimming pools. All of our Builder Members are half-way there! The requirements you met to be admitted to membership as a Builder Member means you already have Accepted Levels of Prior Experience (ALPE) which has been approved by the Australian Government in lieu of professional qualifications.

There is every indication that the NZ Government will follow the Australian rules, so it's up to you to participate in our licensing program if you hope to be building pools in 2011 and beyond! Click the image (left) or the link on the MAIN MENU.

LAW CHANGES BUILD ON Licensed Building Professionals SCHEME!

Planned amendments to the Building Act 2004 reinforce the importance of licensing building practitioners as central to improvements in the sector.

“Without compromising quality and safety, these amendments will help drive a more efficient and productive sector that stands behind the quality of its work,” Mr Williamson says. The law changes will mean that building contractors will need a written contract with their clients for any residential work above $20,000. They will have to give clients more information about themselves, and their track record, before the contract is signed, and explain what, if any, financial back-up or insurance they have to cover the cost of fixing any faults.

This will only be introduced after mid-2012, once the other improvements are in place to drive quality, including having a sound base of LBPs.More at   http://www.dbh.govt.nz/licensing-update-issue-17 .


NEW KID-PROOF GATE LATCH ANNOUNCED

There are tightened regulations currently being enforced throughout the state of Queensland that state that swimming pools must have a barrier which:  " has any gates fitted with latching devices not readily operated by young children, and constructed to automatically close and latch."

 'Some of the key issues regarding the latching devices do not safeguard young children from drowning or injury. This is not only a problem in Queensland but throughout each state and territory in Australia and that includes New Zealand too!
We at Safetech can provide you with an Intro Pack (latching device and hinges), for you and your organisation to analyse and evaluate our product, which is to provide you with ongoing support and our expertise in safety and pool barrier devices, so that together we can achieve the ultimate in pool safety.

 Kind regards,  Audrius Macernis 
www.safetechhardware.com

SPLASH CONVENTION IN WELLINGTON WELL UNDER WAY

Planning for the August 2011 SPLASH Trade Convention in Wellington is well under way, with several booths already taken . If you are considering going to - or displaying at - this Trade Convention, get in early to choose a good position or Hotel room while they are still available.

Click here to see a PDF file of the floor plan.   See you there?


CONCRETE SALE & PURCHASE AGREEMENTS!

I have been advised that the SAMPLE contract has confused some Builder Members because I used a real BUILDER MEMBER's payment schedule that had six payment stages.

This was because that's what he wanted.
Your Contracts will be personalised to YOUR COMPANY LOGO, YOUR NAME and YOUR desired PAYMENT TERMS.

Click on the graphic at left to see a non-personalised version.

You can have any progress payments you want, bu the basic version has the payments schedule agreed to by the Super Eight members.

Let me know what you want. The contracts (in colour) cost $1.00 each to print. You will need two copies each time you sign a client up.

CONCRETE BUILDER MEMBERS OF THE GUILD ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE THE SUPER EIGHT SALES & PURCHASE AGREEMENTS!

You may be aware that we recently were fortunate to be joined by the remaining founder members of the swimming pool industry in Auckland - we call them the "Super Eight" - and traded off three years of membership in return for the rights to use their "Building Contract for the construction of a concrete swimming pool" which they developed over a number of years at the cost of $8,000 in order to increase their customer's awareness of financial responsibility to the Builder and reduce disputes over payments due. Apparently it works really well!
 

DISPUTES COMMITTEE: NEW RULES
Disputes notified to the NZMPB Inc reached a level where it became apparent that we were being used by Members as a form of Debt Collection.

 (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)  In accordance with the agreement of the Committee of the NZMPB Inc and in particular Disputes Committee members, and in accordance with the Rules of Incorporation, it has been decided that Members who are engaged in the business of the NZMPB Inc are to be reimbursed or charged out to Dispute Applicants and/or compensated for their time and costs in accordance with the schedule published on this Web Page under the appropriate DISPUTES headings. (Approved)

LICENSING MOVES GO FORWARD IN AUSTRALIA
As part of the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) agenda to move towards a seamless national economy, COAG agreed on 3 July 2008 to develop a national occupational licensing system that would remove inconsistencies across State borders and allow for a more mobile workforce. COAG agreed to develop a national licensing system with the following characteristics:
    a. cooperative national legislation;
    b. national governance arrangements to handle standard setting and policy issues and to ensure consistent administration and compliance practices;
    c. all current holders of state and territory licences being deemed across to the new licence system at its commencement;
    d. the establishment of a publicly available national register of licensees; and
    e. the Commonwealth having no legislative role in the establishment of the new system.

It seems that the COAG agreement for Builders’ Licensing will also embrace New Zealand. A copy of the Draft and Explanatory papers are included for your information here: explanatory paper and here: COAG Draft. Will this meant that these guidelines will be adopted by the Legislature here in New Zealand? Will a Pool Builders License becomer mandatory? Only time will tell!

POOL PHOTO COMPETITION 2010 RESULTS!

We were fortunate to be graced with Judges of influence and importance in the Australasian swimming pool industry:

David Close CEO N.S.P.I  and S.P.A.S.A Qld Australia, Ben Smith, Senior Editor of Pool & Spa Industry Review (Formerly C.A.S.P.A. Magazine - the Council of Australasian Swimming Pool Associations - the forerunner of S.P.A.S.A. and senior Industry Member since the 1960's), Chris Mayer, Editor in Chief of SPLASH Magazine, NSW Australia, and the New Zealand team of John Williams, Managing Editor, Adrian Laws, Business Development Manager, Paul Taylor, Editorial Director, and Lydia Brewer, Deputy Editor - from our popular Local Home Magazine publisher, TRENDS Magazine (Outdoor Living and Home Trends).

The majority of the Builder Members did not bother to enter the Photographic Competition.

This time, however, we will be getting publicity in TRENDS OUTDOOR LIVING, The Swimming Pool & Spa Industry Review, and SPLASH magazine! So perhaps next time we hold the competition, we may attract a few more entries than the same few who have entered the past three competitions.  This year there were TEN Gold Medals awarded, 19 Silver Medals, 11 Bronze Medals and 3 Merit Awards.

THE 2010 photographic competition entries are a click away from here

ARE ENTRAPMENT GUIDELINES BEING IGNORED BY POOL BUILDERS?

New Zealand Standard NZ4441:2008 has been released into the public domain for some time as a non-compulsory guildeline for swimming pool builders, and many of the ideas encapsulated in the Standard seem only common sense to responsible pool builders, yet many are still fitting single 40 mm main suction line protected by only a "spa pool" type safety cover. These covers are easily broken and the resulting exposed suction line is a potential FATAL HAZARD to children - and even adults!

The Standard reads:

9.3.3
Where an outlet is piped directly to a suction pump, the outlet shall be duplicated to prevent injury or entrapment in the event of blockage of one outlet.

Each of the dual outlets shall be connected separately to the common suction pipe. The minimum distance between the dual outlets shall be not less than 1.2 m centre to centre.

THIS IS COMMON SENSE!
DO NOT USE A SINGLE SUCTION LINE unless (as a minimum) a Vacuum Break device is fitted, and even then, someone's life is dependant on the device actually working 24/7 - so in other words - use DUAL SUCTION POINTS at least 1,200mm apart!

We have received written comments to the NZMPB Inc that must be addressed, and are indeed very worrying: quite rightly - the public are concerned that swimming pools are being constructed or have been constructed with potentially dangerous deep suction points, and builders include NZMPB Member's pools as well as those being built by non-member pool builders!

This is not good enough!

Check your own designs, talk to your pool designers, and wherever possible check that your recent pools do not comprise a safety danger to little kids. If necessary, go back and "T"  the suction lines at the pump end so that the suction is spread over several pool outlet pipelines.

Just installing a three way valve is not good enough!

DON'T BECOME A POOL BUILDER
WITH A FATALITY OF A CHILD ON YOUR CONSCIENCE!

LANGELIER SATURATION INDEX
Every now and then I am asked about the Langelier Saturation Index. This was developed in the 1930's California State Government's Water Control Department, Water sources are scarce in Southern California, and so supplies are piped interstate from many sources including the Colorado River in Nevada.
It was soo discoveded that the huge pipelines were blocking up with scale and calcification, so Proferssor Langelier of UC Berkley developed a test to determine the range of water hardness that encouraged the scaling/calcification. The range he developed is from -5% to +5% and can be determined by following the link (below). To test your pool water, you need to know the following elements that are important for the carbonate equilibrium: Gaseous carbon dioxide CO2, aqueous carbon dioxide (CO2)aq, carbonic acid H2CO3, bicarbonate HCO3-, carbonate CO32- and solids containing carbonate like calcium carbonate CaCO3 or magnesium carbonate MgCO3.
Click Here to test your pool water


Read more: http://www.lenntech.com/ro/index/langelier-explanation.htm#ixzz1TLmBldlg