Thats Australia

Your Home - Design for lifestyle and the future

Your Home is Australia’s guide to environmentally sustainable house design and construction. Includes 300 pages of practical technical solutions for builders and designers and a 32 page consumer magazine.

Painting Contractors Certification Program (PCCP)

Painting Contractors Certification Program (PCCP)
An accreditation program that minimises spending on maintenance of assets and infrastructure

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What is the Painting Contractors Certification Program (PCCP)?
Organic coatings (paints) are the most commonly used means of preventing the corrosion and eventual degradation of assets and infrastructure. When properly chosen and applied, these coatings can, under optimum conditions, provide up to 50 years of protection in some cases. However, poorly chosen or badly applied coatings can fail in 12 months or less leading to expensive maintenance activities or even asset replacement. Each year, many millions of dollars are expended on unnecessary maintenance activities.

The PCCP was started in 1992 as a joint initiative between the Commonwealth (as a major owner of assets and infrastructure) and industry. Its objective was to accredit painting contractors who could demonstrate compliance with certain defined minimum performance standards - quality systems, satisfied customers, skilled and experienced personnel etc.

Adherence to these standards is ensured through a process of regular audits by personnel with appropriate skills, experience and knowledge of the industry. Organisations that want to make use of PCCP services apply to become Members and pay an annual subscription for the rights and privilege of PCCP Membership.

Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC)

The Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC) was established on 1 October 2005.

The ABCC was established and provided with powers to enforce workplace laws, to address the problems that the building and construction industry encounters.

The ABCC provides a national service, with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart. Its key objective is to ensure that workplace relations laws are enforced in building and construction industry workplaces. The ABCC also promotes proper conduct through educating industry participants on their rights and obligations.

For more information about the ABCC’s role, how we go about our business and our key priorities please refer to the ABCC Business Plan (PDF 317KB).How do I contact the ABCC?

You can contact us on our hotline, 1800 003 338. The ABCC Hotline is open daily between 7am and 7pm, (Eastern Standard Time). Callers can remain anonymous if they wish. Learn more about our hotline at ABCC Hotline FAQs.

You can also contact the ABCC via our online enquiry form.

How can the ABCC help you? If you have a query about a breach of industrial relations law, agreements, awards, or unlawful behaviour in the building and construction industry, we can discuss your options with you and offer advice.

The ABCC employs a team of investigators with varied backgrounds, from law enforcement to industrial relations specialists, who can help you identify relevant issues and research an appropriate solution for your circumstances. There are also lawyers, analysts and support staff throughout our offices nationally to ensure the ABCC is able to provide you with the highest quality advice and support.

The ABCC has powers under the Building Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 , the Workplace Relations Act 1996 and the Independent Contractors Act 2006 to look into your concerns. When appropriate we can launch an investigation and, if necessary, take legal action to have the matter resolved.If your questions cannot be directly dealt with by the ABCC then we will refer you to an appropriate government agency.

For more information about the ABCC’s standards of service please refer to the ABCC Service Charter (PDF 64KB)

Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)

Heating and cooling homes adds cost to energy bills and impacts the environment. The amount of energy needed to stay warm in winter and cool in summer can easily be reduced by the good design and construction of our homes.

Assessing a building’s thermal performance at design stage can identify simple, economical ways to make it more comfortable and save energy.

NatHERS enables the design of a home to be assessed by skilled professionals using sophisticated computer modeling programmes to improve the quality of design and achieve building approvals.

NatHERS sets national standards for professionals offering assessment services as well as the software they use.

Established in 2005, the Federal Safety Commissioner works with industry and government stakeholders towards achieving the highest possible occupational health and safety standards on Australian building and construction projects.

The role of the Federal Safety Commissioner is to promote and improve occupational health and safety in the building and construction industry.

The key functions of the Federal Safety Commissioner include:

• promoting world class OHS outcomes on Australian building and construction projects;

• developing and administering the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme; and

• identifying and progressing initiatives to improve OHS performance.

Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC)

What are the key environmental issues relevant to the design and construction of a new office building? What can be done to reduce the environmental impacts of new buildings and refurbishment? What is leading Australian practice in green buildings?

These three questions are answered in new guidance on ecologically sustainable development (ESD) and Australian Government buildings. The ESD design guide for Australian Government buildings provides an accessible introduction to ESD in buildings, suitable for all public sector staff involved in construction or refurbishment projects. It is also relevant for the private sector, including for architects, designers and project managers wanting to know more about ESD and what it means for buildings.

The ESD design guide is the first in a series of publications that will provide guidance to the public sector, including:

• Base Building Brief - Energy Efficiency Best Practice Guide
• Green Lease Schedule
• Energy Management Plan Templates

ESD design guide for Australian Government buildings

CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering (CMSE) provides a coordinated approach to materials design, creation, characterisation and application.

We have particular strengths in advanced materials and the physical sciences.

We combine the roles previously undertaken by the CSIRO Industrial Physics and CSIRO Manufacturing and Materials Technologies Divisions.

Our goal

Our goal is to be the provider of choice for innovative research and development in materials science to Australia’s manufacturing industry.

By developing a global centre of excellence for integrating performance enhancing advanced materials into high-technology devices, we aim to play a major role in transforming segments of the Australian manufacturing sector into vibrant, sustainable and globally competitive industries.

Results

Through strong engagement with existing Australian manufacturers and end-users in a selected range of application sectors, we look to develop new products and materials based on market need.

Among the outcomes of our research, we currently deliver:

• clever coatings on packaging to protect its contents
• the word’s most energy-efficient electric motors
• novel magnesium and titanium alloys
• precision optical devices for space-based applications
• nanostructured sensors and diagnostic tools
• high-performance coatings for automotive, tooling and medical applications.

Capabilities

CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering has a solid foundation in the physical sciences.

Our capabilities are:

• nanosensing and measurement: combining expertise in diffraction, micro-optics and sensors to allow measurement and analysis of molecules and chemical processes at the nanoscale
• polymeric materials: designing and manipulating nanoscale blocks to alter the functional or structural properties of polymeric and composite materials
• metallurgy: developing light metals by combining processing, solid state thermo mechanical processes with the manipulation of  microstructure and properties
• surface science: understanding reactions on or in surfaces so as to design interfaces between materials and therefore control mechanical, chemical or biological processes
• materials performance: assessing how materials perform when it comes to such applications as building and construction, flammability, durability and impact on the user
• thermal and fluid dynamics: using analytical, experimental and computational modelling to understand thermal and fluid mechanics
• particulate materials and processes: designing, developing and manufacturing new materials or products directly from powders
• materials physics, instrumentation and engineering: designing, creating, optimising and characterising advanced materials for use in fabricated devices and integrating those devices into fully functioning systems.

Research focus

At CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, our research focuses on:

CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering provides a coordinated approach to materials design, creation, characterisation and application.

• sustainable polymeric materials: developing materials that are self-healing, have multiple properties (such as durability and fire retardancy), can be triggered to biodegrade - for example:
  • selectively strippable paint
  • resins for aerospace applications
  • designer bioplastics
  • futuristic nanostructured fibres and textiles
• light alloy technologies: developing and commercialising light metal production technologies to keep local industry cost-competitive and establish an industry to move raw product down the value chain - for example:
  • light alloys for making lighter cars, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions
  • casting, forming and direct production technology that reduces the cost of parts
  • multiscale modelling to monitor corrosion and fatigue
• nanoadditives for the fine chemicals industry: developing materials that are safer (for both the user and the environment), last longer, and that have futuristic properties such as self-healing and hardening on impact - we are taking the ‘multiscale manufacturing’ approach which uses molecular design to develop nanoadditives and determine how they will affect the material’s properties at the micro- and macro-level
• manufactured devices, growing globally competitive Australian industries: developing high-technology, knowledge-intensive devices, from nanoscale sensors to room-size instruments, for medical, security and safety, energy conversion, manufacturing and resources applications
• industrial research services: complex testing and consulting services, spanning building and construction, materials conservation and materials characterisation, for quality control, fault-finding and to ensure Australian products meet local and international standards and that imports meet our standards.

Locations

CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering is the fourth largest of CSIRO’s Divisions.

We have around 300 research staff spread across six sites:

• Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria
• Lindfield, Sydney, New South Wales
• Highett, Melbourne, Victoria
• North Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales
• Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies, Brisbane, Queensland
• Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.

We also manage and operate the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (CDSCC) at Tidbinbilla in the Australian Capital Territory, partnering with NASA (the National Aeronautical and Space Administration) and their Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to support space missions.

Business partners

Although we are targeting small- and medium-size Australian businesses, we have linkages with businesses large and small, from short-term research contracts to long-term collaborations.

Our partners include:

• Boeing: many associations in aerospace technology from developing specialised resins to detecting defects in composite materials
• Holden: developing lighter cars and technologies for next generation hybrid electric vehicles
• T-Mag Pty Ltd: bringing CSIRO’s magnesium casting technology up to production scale
• Novapharm: developing antimicrobial polymer materials
• Can’t Tear ‘Em: developing specialised protective clothing.

We are involved in several Cooperative Research Centres, including those for:

• Cast Metals Manufacturing [external link]
• Polymers [external link]
• Advanced Automotive Technology [external link]
• Construction Innovation [external link]
• Welded Structures [external link]
• Bushfires [external link].

Read more about CSIRO’s work in Manufacturing.

References

• baNDIcoot™ is a registered trademark of CSIRO Australia.

The Consumer Handbook Online brings together details from over 730 private, community and government organisations that offer consumer advice and information and complaint handling services in Australia. This is the building and housing section of the handbook.

http://www.consumersonline.gov.au/Content/ACH/default.asp?Category=124&SubCategory=&State=&btnSubmit=Search 

Welcome to Consumers Online - your consumer reference and referral centre provided by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

This web site is here to help you find resources and assistance on a wide range of consumer issues.

We have arranged the different sections of this site to cover a range of issues. Background information is provided about various products and services. We also tell you what to look out for and who to call if something goes wrong.

You can also find out how to complain if you want to resolve a dispute with a business.

The Consumer Handbook Online can help you find the right organisation or agency to contact if you need more information or wish to make a complaint.
If you need more information, have a look at the Links and Consumer Publications  areas.

Founded in 1967 the Australian Procurement and Construction Council Inc (APCC) is the peak council of departments responsible for procurement, construction and asset management policy for the Australian, State and Territory governments. New Zealand is an associate member. The APCC reports to the Australian Procurement and Construction Ministerial Council (APCMC), comprising Ministers with direct responsibilities for procurement and construction matters. The APCMC is a Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) Ministerial Council.

The APCC has established itself as a national reference point for both government and industry on best practices, principles and emerging issues in procurement, construction and asset management disciplines.

The Council provides leadership in these disciplines to improve and implement new and evolving procurement practices in ways that will deliver service benefits to the Australian community.

The APCC forum is a catalyst for knowledge sharing, intelligence gathering and has the information networks to draw on for formulating solutions. The APCC collective continues to strengthen relationships with government partners and other stakeholders to promote a consistent and coordinated national approach to government procurement.

 http://www.apcc.gov.au