Nov 29, 2017  -  Two licensed building practitioners (LBPs) have been held to account by the Building Practitioners Board for serious offences relating to their performance and conduct as LBPs. Christchurch-based LBP Stefan Mortimer has been ordered to pay $1500 and had his license cancelled for what the Board described as a cavalier attitude towards Building Code compliance.

“Mr Mortimer failed to obtain building consents for two buildings he constructed on land he owned for his family to reside in. These buildings did not comply with the Building Code in terms of structural integrity, amenities or sanitation,” says Registrar LBP scheme Paul Hobbs.

“Mr Mortimer’s offences are at the serious end of the scale, and the Board noted that the dangerous and insanitary nature of the building work was an aggravating factor in this case.”

In another case, Auckland-based LBP Satish Chand has been ordered to pay $2000 and had his license cancelled. This is Mr Chand’s third appearance before the Board, and his license has previously been suspended.

Mr Chand made a number of building-related errors which demonstrated a lack of understanding and knowledge of the Building Code and applicable technical standards.

“Mr Chand’s work failed inspection 10 times, and on numerous items. Many involved serious shortcomings relating to weathertightness of the home,” says Mr Hobbs

“The Building Inspector noted the work at hand was a simple job but Mr Chand seemed to be out of his depth. Some of the work continued to fail despite remedial work attempted by Mr Chand.

“The LBP scheme requires builders to perform safe, high quality building work that follows the Building Code, including the inspection process. This requirement wasn’t met in these two cases.

“New Zealanders can have confidence that where necessary, LBPs are held to account by the Board, who ensure building practitioners meet the high standards expected of them,” says Mr Hobbs.

A guide to making a complaint about a licensed building practitioner is available on the LBP website.

| A MBIE/NZGovt.  release  || November 29, 2017   |||

Nov 28, 2017  - McConnell Dowell has won a contract for submarine and land-based pipelines to improve and futureproof the treatment of wastewater for three communities in Christchurch, New Zealand.  The package of work for the Governor's Bay, Diamond Harbour and Lyttelton wastewater project is for pipelines to convey untreated wastewater to the Christchurch Treatment Plant in Bromley. After treatment, wastewater will be discharged out to sea through the Christchurch Ocean Outfall, which was constructed by McConnell Dowell eight years ago.

Installation of the two (5km and 1.8km) weighted HDPE marine pipelines will involve prefabrication of pipe strings onshore before joining and bottom-pulling the pipelines out to the required location. A backhoe dredger and divers will then be employed to excavate the trench, lower the pipeline and backfill.

Work on site will begin in February 2018 and the project is scheduled for completion by Christmas 2018.

| A ConstructionIndex release  ||  November 28, 2017   |||

Nov 21 2017  - The valuable role played by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) in supporting women in construction for the past 20 years has been recognised with a President’s Award from the New Zealand Institute of Architects at their recent awards.  NAWIC’s immediate past president, Donna Howell, who accepted this award on behalf of the organisation, says the award is a testament to the increased profile of women in construction resulting from decades of hard work by a dedicated team of volunteers and supporters.

“It is such an honour to receive recognition from the NZIA, as NAWIC is run by a team of volunteers with everyone from committee members right through to the board donating their time for this important cause.

“We run businesses, hold down demanding jobs and strive for a work-life balance but still find the energy and passion to honour our strong commitment to improving the construction industry, not just for women, but for everyone. Our focus on diversity will continue to drive improvements which will benefit everyone involved in construction.”

NAWIC has over 600 members throughout New Zealand. It has chapters in Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury, along with a satellite group in Taranaki which was formed last year following requests from women working in the local construction sector.

Donna says that further satellite groups are likely to be established during the coming year in response to demand from the regions. She encourages women and men in all sectors of the construction industry from students and apprentices through to trades people and business owners to connect with NAWIC.

“We are keen to continue our fast pace of expansion. A number of men have approached our organisation following our recent successful women in construction panel event at Auckland Build, and are keen to get involved. We already have a number of male members and are keen for more to get on board as the only way we can achieve real progress in New Zealand’s construction industry is through everyone working together to build a better future.”

| A NAWIC release  ||  Vovember 20,  2017   |||

LINCOLN, Neb., Nov. 16, 2017 - Sandhills Publishing announces the launch of CraneTrader, a website and print publication connecting buyers and sellers specifically in the market for cranes and other rigging and lift equipment and parts. CraneTrader leverages Sandhills' presence and longevity in the construction and heavy machinery industry to establish a niche resource for buyers and sellers more specifically interested in cranes, lifts, and other high-value material handling assets.

CraneTrader.com features listings for various types of cranes including tower, crawler, truck mounted, articulated, boom truck and rough terrain cranes, as well as boom, bucket, and scissor lifts. Listings are organized categorically and include specs, photos, videos, machine location, seller information, and contact tools that make it easy for buyers to inquire about listed assets. CraneTrader.com also ties listings cross-posted for lease/rent to RentalYard.com, the leading resource for rental and lease equipment.

The CraneTrader print publication will launch in special editions ahead of the Spring 2018 crane and lift industry trade show circuit, providing focused exposure at the industry's largest events. Regular monthly editions of the CraneTrader magazine will enter circulation in early 2018, reaching active buyers (including contractors and dealers) through direct mail distribution.

The CraneTrader brand is an extension of Machinery Trader, which has been serving buyers and sellers of construction equipment and heavy machinery since the 1970s. "Our products and services benefit both buyers and sellers by providing easy access to an efficient, global marketplace for specific assets, and CraneTrader is no exception," explains Sandhills' Director of New Products Evan Welch. "CraneTrader strategically segments the construction equipment market for targeted, high-value exposure. At the same time, it provides buyers an easy and convenient way to source the specific equipment they need."

CraneTrader joins the ranks of a global product portfolio that includes a number of brands specifically serving construction, plant, and heavy equipment markets. In addition to Machinery Trader and RentalYard, these brands include: Machinery Trader Auction Results, AuctionTime.com, FleetEvaluator, Fast Track, Fast Track Iron, MarketBook, tp-Business.fr, Plant Locator, Resale Weekly, Maquinaria OP, and Cantierissimo Carrellistica. In total, the Sandhills group distributes over five million publications every month to audiences all over the globe, and its websites receive more than 16 million monthly visits. In addition to providing customers direct access to buyers in retail, auction, and wholesale markets, Sandhills also delivers practical tools that simplify sales transactions and internal business operations through the Sandhills Cloud.

For the latest updates on CraneTrader, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Google Plus.

About Sandhills PublishingSandhills Publishing is an information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our broad range of products and services gather, process, and distribute information in the form of trade publications and corresponding websites that connect buyers and sellers across the trucking, agriculture, construction, heavy equipment, aviation, and technology industries. Our integrated, industry-specific approach to hosted technologies and services offers solutions that help businesses large and small operate efficiently and grow securely, cost-effectively, and successfully. Sandhills Publishing—we are the cloud.

| a Sandhills Publishing release  ||  November 17,  2017   |||

16 Nov 2017  – New Zealand is calling out for expert help from the U.S. to fill a massive construction and engineering skills and talent shortage as it struggles to cope with the largest infrastructure and housing build in the Pacific nation’s history.

The new Labour-led Government is introducing a special “KiwiBuild” fast track visa system to facilitate the search for top construction talent, spearheaded by an innovative international recruitment campaign called LookSee Build NZ.

LookSee Build NZ is a consortium of private companies, local body entities and government organisations. The aim of the campaign is to attract some of the more than 56,000 construction and engineering staff, including 2,200 high-end specialist positions, New Zealand needs for the more than NZ$125 billion program of infrastructure works over the next decade.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has also announced a new NZ$2 billion housing program for the construction of 10,000 homes a year for 10 years, as well as a program of infrastructure works in addition to the existing pipeline.

Looksee Build spokesman and construction consultant Aaron Muir says it is the first time New Zealand’s public and private construction sector have combined in a single cause but the need for top talent is so acute it required an innovative approach to talent procurement.

Engineers, particularly in the areas of geotechnical, seismic, civil and structural, are top of New Zealand’s shopping list because of the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes, a nationwide seismic audit of buildings and significant compliance issues with historic buildings around the country.

But a broad range of specialist skills are required across the board and the campaign is offering a sweetener to entice Americans to migrate with a range of quintessential ‘Kiwi experiences,’ such as fishing, surfing and canoeing safaris, cultural events and the chance to see stunning sites of natural beauty, Muir says.

If people do get a job as a result of LookSee Build NZ their airfares to New Zealand will be repaid, he adds.

Over the past 12 months LookSee has seen unprecedented interest from US professionals looking to relocate to New Zealand. “We had a great response earlier this year to our LookSee Wellington campaign for tech workers to come to our capital and we believe New Zealand’s work and lifestyle environment will also appeal to construction professionals,” says Muir.

Former Californian Casey Giberson, a Discipline Manager, Resilience, for environmental and engineering consultancy Tonkin + Taylor, says the attraction of New Zealand is twofold: lifestyle and the breadth and complexity of construction work.

“It’s a small country and you can come down here and really make a difference for public good and that’s a rare and precious thing,” says Giberson. “We’re not looking for over designed or over engineered infrastructure and buildings however we are looking for people who can come up with simple and ingenious ways to create a tailored solution to a complex problem – we need those skills.”

Giberson started out in California doing transportation engineering and planning and then land development and associated infrastructure. In his 11 years in New Zealand he has covered a diverse range of disciplines, including exposure to specialist technical areas which Giberson believes has future-proofed his career.

In addition to the world class construction projects across the country Muir says the ‘Kiwi experiences’ will give them a real taste of the lifestyle that is available if they choose to live in New Zealand”.

More information about the recruitment campaign can be found at www.lookseebuildnewzealand.co.nz.

About LookSee Build NZLookSee Build NZ is an innovative international talent procurement program that turns the traditional recruitment process on its head by taking the opportunities in New Zealand to the world and, in turn, bringing the world back to New Zealand. It is specifically designed to address an acute skills and talent shortage in the construction and engineering sectors and future-proof the building industry as the country gears up for the largest infrastructure and housing build in the nation’s history. Acting on behalf of a range of participating employers, including public and private sector entities, the LookSee Build NZ campaign is targeting highly skilled professionals from the US, particularly seismic and structural engineers, to assist them in becoming ‘New Zealand-ready’ before match-making candidates who are interested, qualified and available with the appropriate employer.

| Published in The American Surveyor  Nov 10, 2017  |||

15 Nov 2017  -  Max Frank Pecafil Steel Formwork Is More Efficient Than Traditional Formwork

The rate of construction work being done to modernise New Zealand is increasing. In the year ended September 2017, non-residential building consents across the country totalled $6.4 billion – up 5.9 percent from the September 2016 year. The need for better formwork technologies has risen to make construction work faster, more cost-effective and less labour-intensive.

Pecafil is one form of modernisation in the construction industry answering this need for modernisation. It is a formwork solution especially useful for laying foundations formwork, replacing conventional timber or steel shuttering for in-ground construction of pile caps and ground beams.

Designed by Max Frank in Germany and distributed by Fletcher Reinforcing, Pecafil is a specially manufactured material constructed from a steel mesh encased in an outer layer made of reusable, strong, heat-shrunk polyethylene. It is lightweight and self-supporting, supplied by Fletcher Reinforcing as a full sheet or pre-bent off-site according to design requirements. This significantly reduces construction time on-site, promising a quicker transition from breaking ground to pouring concrete.

Continue here to read the full release  ||  November 15,  2017 - 13:07   |||

14 Nov 2017  -The New Autodesk Connect and Construct Exchange partner program tames construction app chaos.  LAS VEGAS, Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- At its 25th annual flagship user conference, Autodesk University, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) previewed its next generation BIM 360 platform, a seamless cloud service connecting the entire construction project lifecycle. Autodesk also launched the "Connect and Construct Exchange," a new BIM 360 integration partner program designed to bring third-party software applications and data into the BIM 360 construction workflow. The Connect and Construct Exchange launched with more than 50 inaugural BIM 360 integrators. 

The next generation of BIM 360, built on the Autodesk Forge platform, supports informed decision-making throughout the construction project lifecycle by centralizing all project data in a single place. Autodesk Forge is a connected developer cloud platform which enables customers and partners to create customized, scalable solutions for engineering, construction and manufacturing challenges. BIM 360 connects project stakeholders and workflows at all stages of the building lifecycle – from design to construction to operations, from the field to the office and back. BIM 360 removes the uncertainty that plagues construction projects of all sizes by pairing its project management tools and database with machine learning analytics and insights. The result is closer collaboration among project teams, greater transparency about changes, and improved data continuity that translates into increased profitability.

"Construction projects are growing more complex, but Autodesk meets that challenge head-on with BIM 360, making construction work safer, simpler, and connected," said Andrew Anagnost, president and CEO, Autodesk. "With the confusion of an ever-increasing number of construction apps across the industry, the option to manage all project data in a single cloud platform results in more predictable building project outcomes."

Developed with Autodesk Construction Industry CustomersThe new BIM 360 platform is a result of collaboration between Autodesk and 500 construction professionals from 100 organizations who informed the company's software development process. Autodesk BIM 360 solutions presently house almost four million models, and BIM 360 customers have logged approximately 200 million field observations.

"Autodesk made it a priority to work in lock-step with construction professionals to build the BIM 360 platform, which has resulted in a game-changing project management service," said Andy Leek, director, Virtual Design and Construction at PARIC, a St. Louis, Missouri based construction services firm. "Construction software is so fragmented with endless vendors claiming to offer the best mousetrap for each particular process. PARIC is trying to solve all of our problems as seamlessly as possible, and Autodesk BIM 360 could ultimately be our backbone to connect everyone from design to ownership in one place."

Connect and Construct ExchangeBIM 360 connects fragmented workflows across preconstruction, execution, fabrication, installation, and facility management. The new Autodesk Connect and Construct Exchange launched today adds value for each of these phases of construction with an inaugural group of more than 50 BIM 360 integration partners of which more than 40 are now available on the exchange. The exchange's goals are to showcase, catalogue and generate awareness for all applications and integrations to the next-generation BIM 360 platform so customers and partners have a broad choice of solutions to enhance and extend their workflow to better meet their unique construction needs.

"Rhumbix enables construction teams to manage timekeeping, quantity tracking, and other critical tasks from the palm of a hand with just two taps on a mobile device," said Zach Scheel, CEO, Rhumbix. "Our seamless integration with BIM 360 ensures that everything on the job site is tracked and communicated back to the home office and field trailer."

Rhumbix modernizes construction field operations, helping builders go paperless in the field and improving how they measure and manage labor productivity to be more profitable.

AvailabilityAvailable immediately. Learn more about Autodesk's next generation BIM 360 platform preview. Visit Connect and Construct Exchange for more information on Autodesk BIM 360 integration partners.

New ZealandCADPRO Systems is New Zealand’s leading supplier of professional Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology an an approved provider on the Autodesk Services Marketplace. They specialise in providing Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology to architects, engineers, contractors and owner/operators in the Architecture, Engineering & Construction markets, as well as Digital Prototyping solutions for Engineers & Manufacturers.

3 Nov - More than $100bn of infrastructure works are planned but country doesn’t have enough local workers to fill the gap.  New Zealand has launched a campaign to lure thousands of UK construction workers away from their wintry building sites to deliver the country’s biggest ever infrastructure and housing program.  An estimated 65,000 new construction workers will be needed over the next five years to meet demand, forcing the industry to work with the government to create what is the largest ever recruitment drive for UK workers.

The recent downturn in British construction activity had created an ideal employment environment to attract potential migrants, said Greg Edmonds, Auckland Transport’s chief infrastructure officer, as Brexit’s uncertainties continues to take their toll.

A package created by a recruitment consortium, called LookSee Build NZ, offers “experiences”, including fishing, surfing and cultural events, to entice construction professionals. Interested and qualified candidates would then be matched with appropriate employers.

The new Labour-led government wants to spend NZ$2bn (£1bn) building 100,000 new homes over the next 10 years as part of its election promise to improve housing affordability. There are also massive infrastructure works planned during that time, which the industry says will cost about $125bn. However, there aren’t enough local workers to make it happen.

The government forecasts New Zealand’s construction needs will reach a peak in 2020. But despite 11,000 apprentices learning the trades, the industry training organisation says New Zealand still needs many more to meet demand and replace those who retire or leave.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is introducing a scheme that would fast track 1,000 to 1500 visas to specifically attract construction workers from abroad.

Craig West of engineering company Downer, which is part of the LookSee group, said the need for top talent was acute. “Our construction sector is very competitive and this kind of inter-industry cooperation has never happened before but the need for staff requires us to take an all-of-industry approach.”

Aaron Muir, a LookSee Build NZ spokesman and construction consultant, said he did not think the free experiences such as fishing and surfing would by themselves persuade people to make the move. “What it will do is give them a genuine taste of the lifestyle that is on offer in New Zealand,” he said.

The recruitment schemes come as the Labour party also promises to cut net migration to New Zealand by between 20,000 and 30,000 people.

|  A TheGuardian release  ||  November 3,  2017   |||

31 Oct:  Building consents for new homes fell in September 2017, following a recent run of increases, Stats NZ said today. “The seasonally adjusted number of new homes consented fell 2.3 percent in September compared with August, after rising in each of the previous four months,” prices, accommodation, and construction senior manager Jason Attewell said. “Home consents have trended upwards recently, and are at a level last seen in 2004.”Some 2,770 new homes were consented in September 2017, up 6.0 percent compared with the same month in 2016.

On an annual basis, 30,892 new homes were consented in the September 2017 year – up 3.0 percent compared with the September 2016 year, despite a large fall in Canterbury. The national increase was driven by townhouses and apartments, with slight falls for retirement village units and houses.

The regions consenting the most new homes in the September 2017 year were:

Auckland – 10,317 new homes (up 2.9 percent from the September 2016 year) Canterbury – 5,122 new homes (down 18 percent as the post-quake rebuild continues to wind down, but still at a historically high level) Waikato – 3,596 new homes (up 1.7 percent) Bay of Plenty – 2,596 new homes (up 4.8 percent).

Note: We have improved the way we calculate the seasonally adjusted number of new homes consented. We now include an adjustment for the timing of Easter. As a result, the seasonally adjusted increase in the number of new homes consented in August 2017 has been revised down from 10 percent to 5.9 percent. For more information, see Building consents issued seasonal adjustment and trend changes in September 2017 on DataInfo+.

| A SyaysNZ release  ||  October 31,  2017   |||

Water utility Watercare is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) for construction of the new Central Interceptor wastewater project in Auckland, New Zealand.

Bids will be invited for the construction of the Central Interceptor in two stages:

EOI – open from 20 October 2017, and will pre-qualify up to four contractor consortia. Request for Proposal – held during 2018, to award a contract for construction of the works.

The EOI will be released via Watercare’s e-procurement portal, TenderLink.

Once completed, the Central Interceptor will increase the capacity of Auckland’s wastewater network.

An earth pressure balance (EPB) tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be used during construction, linking the 4.5 m diameter pipe to 4.4 km of sewers, ranging in size from 2.1 to 2.4 m in diameter.

The tunnel will be constructed between 15 and 110 m underground and will run for approximately 13 km between the suburbs of Western Springs and Mangere.

The TBM will be driven through weak sandstone and may encounter mixed face materials in Auckland’s geology, which is overlain with volcanic soils and rock.

The southern end of the tunnel will extend through marine and alluvial sediments, and then under the Manukau Harbour.

The main tunnel will terminate at a lift pump station that will be constructed at the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Shafts for the station will be constructed using a D-Wall method and feature a dual cell configuration approximately 40 m deep; the cells will be 12 m and 26 m in diameter.

The pumps will deliver up to 6 m3/sec through two 1.4 m diameter high density polyethylene rising mains into the treatment plant.

Connections into the existing network built under urban central Auckland will be made via 16 cascade drop shafts that are between 25 and 70 m deep, ranging in diameter from 3 to 12 m.

Land for the shafts – which has already been designated to parks – is owned by Watercare, or its parent organisation Auckland Council.

An option exists to dispose of tunnel spoil at a landfill operation managed by Watercare.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2019 and to be completed by 2025.

For more information visit the Watercare website.

| A Trenchless release  ||  October 11,  2017   |||