Response 191018985

Back to Response listing

Personal Information

What is your name?

Name
David Gradwell

What is your organisation?

Organisation
Gradwell Consulting

Which best describes your industry sector?

Which best describes your industry sector?
Please select one item
Building Commercial
Building Residential
Building Commercial and Residential
Building and plumbing products
Building Certification/ Surveying
Architecture and design
Engineering
Plumbing
Compliance, testing and accreditation
Legal and Finance
Specialist - disability access
Ticked Specialist - energy efficiency
Specialist - fire safety
Specialist - health
Specialist - hydraulic/ plumbing
Student/ apprentices
Trades and other construction services
Education
Community and Non-Government organisations
Government
General Public
Other

Please select your State or Territory

State or Territory
Please select one item
ACT
Ticked NSW
NT
Qld
SA
Tas
Vic
WA

On whose behalf are you making this submission?

Please select one item
(Required)
Ticked I am making this submission on my own behalf
I am making this submission on behalf of a business
I am making this submission on behalf of an industry body
I am making this submission on behalf of a government agency

General Questions

Does the proposed NRF deliver an appropriate and proportionate response to BCR Recommendations 1 and 2?

Please select one item
Yes
No
Ticked Unsure

Will the NRF, if implemented, enhance confidence in the building industry by ensuring that key practitioners in the building process are registered?

Please select one item
Ticked Yes
No
Unsure

Do you foresee any risks in implementing this proposal, noting that the states and territories are responsible for implementation of the NRF?

Please select one item
Ticked Yes
No
Unsure
Please explain your reasoning.
States may set different standards perhaps allowing nationally recognised registration via the lowest level.

Do you think the proposed NRF will improve compliance with the NCC?

Please select one item
Ticked Yes
No
Unsure

NRF Discipline Specific Comments

Please provide your comments below.

Your comment relates to:
Please select one item
(Required)
Building design
Ticked Energy efficiency design
Disability access design
Geotechnical design
Structural design
Electrical design
Mechanical design
Hydraulic design
Plumbing design
Fire safety design
Fire systems design
Façade design
Building
Fire systems installation
Plumbing
Building surveying
Fire systems inspection
Project management
Registration levels
Level 2 - commercial
Qualification requirements
The commercial level mandates architectural or mechanical/building services qualifications and fails to recognise qualifications (and experience) in energy efficient "fabric design".
I will use myself as an example of an experienced commercial energy efficiency practitioner who may not meet the proposed threshold for registration. I have a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and have worked on the design of commercial building for 10 years - primarily focused on the building envelope.
My work including JV3 assessments is based on Deemed-to-satisfy mechanical services i.e. HVAC designers complement my work.
My experience makes it clear that most architects and mechanical/services designers do not understand fabric/building envelope energy efficient design. It therefore
makes no sense to include architects and services expertise yet exclude fabric design.
Experience requirements
The commercial level mandates architectural or mechanical/building services experience and fails to recognise experience in energy efficient "fabric design".
I will use myself as an example of an experienced commercial energy efficiency practitioner who may not meet the proposed threshold for registration. I have a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and have worked on the design of commercial building for 10 years - primarily focused on the building envelope.
My work including JV3 assessments is based on Deemed-to-Satisfy mechanical services i.e. HVAC designers complement my work.
My experience makes it clear that most architects and mechanical/services designers do not understand fabric/building envelope energy efficient design. It therefore
makes no sense to include architects and services expertise yet exclude fabric design.

Would you like to comment on another discipline?

Please select one item
(Required)
Yes
Ticked No

Other Comments

The ABCB is specifically interested in your comments on the registration levels for building surveyors. Do you agree with the criteria used to distinguish between with the two levels of registration for building surveyors and does it adequately accommodate the different levels of risk?

Please select one item
Ticked Yes
No
Unsure