North Construction & Building Pty Ltd’s Post

🚨If you haven’t heard yet, the BSA is changing. There’s a lot of new amendments to digest but thankfully the gang at ArchitecturePLB shed some light on this topic last week. Building safety should never be a second thought when it comes to design and construction 📝🏗️ Sadly, the industry has had to learn this the hard way through the Grenfell Tower tragedy. We all need to do more to ensure this never happens again. #building #safety #buildingsafetyact #grenfelltower #developers #development #housing #firesafety #emergancy #property #realestate #construction #surveyors #surveying #architecture #design #finance #legal #housingmarket #residential #landlord #tenant #socialhousing #council #estateagent #london #hampshire #southampton #southeastengland

The government has announced a significant update to fire safety guidance for tall residential buildings. Key Highlights: 🔹 From 30th September 2026, new residential buildings over 18 meters must include a second staircase, enhancing safety measures. 🔹 This update, part of a series of reforms, including the Building Safety Act, aims to improve the safety of residents in both new and existing high-rise buildings. 🔹 The decision, supported by the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Royal Institute of British Architects, follows extensive consultation and aligns with the Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations. This pivotal change underscores the importance of safety in design and offers clarity for developers during challenging times. https://lnkd.in/e-nada8E #FacilitiesManagement #FireSafety #BuildingSafety #ConstructionIndustry #ResidentialBuildings

This week marks three years since the collapse of Champlain Towers South and the deaths of almost 100 occupants. If we are going to incentivise high rise strata schemes with #TODs we must 1) ensure they are built properly (kudos to David Chandler OAM for his work) and 2) institute regular GOVERNMENT inspections. We know unequivocally, that despite clear, statutory obligations to repair, many schemes do not do work, even basic maintenance like painting. Maybe they don't understand, maybe they don't care or maybe they genuinely cannot afford it, but a system that relies solely on lay people to manage complex high rise infrastructure will not work.  This is also the reason architects, planners, designers, councils and state government must think carefully and realistically when making infrastructure common property in strata and community schemes and shared facilities in stratum. #strata #infrastructure #housing #construction #surveying #condo #councils #architecture #planning https://lnkd.in/gH-yxS-e

On June 10, 2024, City Council approved a text amendment to Zoning Bylaw 20001 that exempted particular regulations for an office to residential conversion. The exemptions reduce the need for variance approvals for components of a development that are generally beyond the applicant’s control. This helps reduce the regulatory barriers associated with these conversions, by providing greater certainty for applicants. The proposed exceptions apply to existing buildings, and for full and partial conversions of a building from a non-residential use to a residential use. The proposed exceptions can be broken down into two categories: 1) Exceptions to the existing building, such as setbacks, height, floor area ratio (FAR) and tower floor plate area requirements. 2) Exceptions to the site, such as site area, landscaping, outdoor amenity area and loading space requirements. These regulations do not apply to any development that results in additional floor area. The City will be engaging with IDEA, and other industry associations for feedback. Feel free to email us at info@infilledmonton.com to share your thoughts on these projects! #yegZBR

New South Wales sets a new standard in construction oversight by empowering Building Commissioner David Chandler. This move is especially relevant for states like Queensland, witnessing a construction surge, to ensure building quality and safety. Key Points: 1. Proactive Intervention: Inspectors can now intervene during construction, aiming to prevent defects early on. 2. Public Trust: The initiative boosts confidence in purchasing homes off the plan, ensuring investment safety. 3. Resource Enhancement: A $24 million investment expands the NSW Building Commission's capacity with 400 inspectors. 4. Combatting Malpractice: The reforms target unethical practices, emphasizing industry integrity. 5. Data-Driven Inspections: Intelligence teams from NSW Fair Trading guide targeted inspections. This strategic move towards a culture of safety and responsibility in construction sets an example for other Australian states.

Each year approximately 4,000 crimes take place at construction sites in London. 80% of these involve theft of plant and materials with 20% involving acts of violence and sexual offences. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 places a legal obligation on site operators to consider crime and disorder in all undertakings, and whilst the above statistics are shocking, measures can be put in place to reduce these numbers and make construction sites safer places for operatives and the public. Improving safety by adopting a true ‘placemaking’ approach to London site establishments, including planning, design and innovation are key subjects in our London Urban White Paper, written by our Chief Engineer Keith Smith. To find out more about how your site could be at risk and what measures you can take to mitigate this risk, download the London Urban White Paper https://lnkd.in/ebnzKBDC #infrastructuresafety #urbanplanning #placemaking #London #trafficmanagement #construction

This advisory by Real Estate Partner Gavin Vollans and Senior Associate Rhodri Preece discusses the Building Safety Act 2022, which introduced new requirements that sought to improve the overall safety, design, construction and management of high-rise buildings that have some element of residential use in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell Tower Tragedy. Broadly speaking, the requirements affect buildings that are either at least 18 metres or 7 storeys high and contain at least two residential units. Buildings that meet these criteria will be classed as “Higher-Risk Buildings” for purposes of the BSA. #UKRealEstate #RealEstateLaw #BuildingSafetyAct #ResidentialRealEstate

Did you know? San Francisco may be adopting a Concrete Building Safety Program that will require commercial real estate owners to retrofit buildings constructed with non-ductile concrete. Learn more about this pending legislation in our latest post: https://lnkd.in/gqADRpcV

Council highlights update. ONE There’s a report for referral to public hearing this week that will allow for increased height of #masstimber buildings of up to 10% outright. The intention is to accelerate mass timber construction in new buildings taller than six storeys. Mass timber can reduce carbon embodied carbon pollution of construction by 25-45% over typical concrete. And the offsite construction has the potential to reduce housing construction costs, mitigate the labour shortage, support BC wood, be seismic resilient and energy efficient. As this involves changes to zoning and development by-law, procedurally Council would refer to a future public hearing and public can speak if desired. TWO As part of our commitment to making permitting easier and making it easier to build housing and support innovation, a report on changes to the Building By-law will also come to Council this year. It will include recommendations to adopt Provincial changes to allow 18-storey #masstimber construction, as well as City efforts to allow mass timber to be used on firewalls and on the lot line, which could have broad applications in low-rise commercial buildings. Encoding these changes would reduce time spent by industry and staff on approvals #masstimber #housing #Sustainability #bcwood #vanpoli #bcpoli 📷 Gregory Henriquez Henriquez Partners Architects

Regulating higher-risk buildings We oversee the regulation of high-rise residential buildings with a minimum of 7 floors or 18 meters in height and at least 2 residential units. Our scope also extends to care homes and hospitals during their design and construction phases. Ensuring safety and compliance are our top priorities in these higher-risk structures. #BuildingRegulations #SafetyFirst.