29 November 2018 / Safety Alert

Fire Safety

Be prepared, listen to authorities and stay safe

As we head into the warmer months, fire safety should be at the front of everyone’s mind at home and on your projects. We’ve prepared a simple list of things to help you be prepared for fire threats.

Stay informed by following local news, listening to your local radio station or keep an eye on your state fire and emergency response services online (ie their website or social media) to stay up to date in what can be fast changing circumstances.

Things to consider and prepare for on your project before the Christmas break and at home

  • Have a fire safety survival plan in place, refer to it now and be ready to follow it (SES guides are available here).
  • If you don’t have a fire safety plan, or if your plan is to leave, identify where you will go if the situation changes.
  • Consider buying or making your own first aid kit with key essentials (a guide is available here).
  • Always follow instructions from authorities – it’s for your own safety.
  • Clean out and remove any dead leaves, branches and plants in your gutters, and around your property.
  • Move any flammable materials such as hazardous substances, doormats, wheelie bins and outdoor furniture away from your property.
  • Close windows and doors to minimise smoke exposure.
  • If you suffer from a respiratory condition, keep your medication close by.
  • Drive with caution in low visibility conditions.
  • Contact your neighbours to see if they need help preparing for a fire threat.
  • Consider finding your essential items (ie identification documents, prescription medication, food and water, and protective clothing such as a long sleeve cotton shirt and trousers, and boots) in case you need to leave quickly.
  • Consider what you will do to protect your pets and / or livestock.
  • Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
  • Advise family and friends of your intended actions if the situation changes.
  • If you are in immediate danger, call 000. If your property is damaged and you need assistance, call SES on 132 500.

Local Emergency Services

ACT

ACT Fire & Rescue / www.esa.act.gov.au

NSW

NSW Fire & Rescue / www.fire.nsw.gov.au

NT

NT Fire & Rescue Service / www.pfes.nt.gov.au

QLD

QLD Fire & Emergency Service / www.qfes.qld.gov.au

TAS

TAS Fire Service / www.fire.tas.gov.au

VIC

Country Fire Authority / www.cfa.vic.gov.au

Other Monitoring Services

Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)

www.bom.gov.au

News

ABC / www.abc.net.au

News / www.news.com.au

Live National Significant Weather Map

Other Recent Activities

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30 October / Quality Alert
Prohibition on the Use of Engineered Stone

Engineered stone ban effective 1 July 2024

ALL engineered stone regardless of the silica content percentage will be banned

Alternative products must be considered and implemented on all projects.

The industry is shifting away from engineered stone due to the risks of respirable crystalline silica, which can cause silicosis and other silica-related diseases. Although the consultations are under way and there has been no official announcement by Federal or State Governments on the issue, the health and safety risks along with the uncertainty around this issue warrants a decision to ban all engineered products entering job sites nationally. The ban will take effect on 1 July 2024 and will extend to ALL engineered stone regardless of the silica content percentage. 

An update to this alert will be provided before the end of the year when the Federal and State Governments are expected to issue a formal decision on the ban. In the meantime, to mitigate the impact of potential delays and variations, the best approach is to inform the clients of the pending ban and to propose and seek approval for an alternative product. Similarly, ensure all future estimates have the stone specification qualified and priced accordingly.

Product alternatives going forward include:

Compact Laminates

  • Under 1% silica content
  • Extremely competitive pricing
  • Only comes in 12mm thickness
  • Heat resistance is an issue
  • Product not suitable for high end applications

Porcelain Surfaces

  • Under 10% silica content
  • Price dependant of product and supplier
  • Large variety of colours and thicknesses (4, 8, 12, 20 and 30mm)
  • Great resistance to staining, scratches, UV and heat
  • Good warranty terms

Acrylic Solid Surfaces

  • 0% silica content
  • More expensive alternative
  • Limited thickness availability
  • UV stable and heat resistant but direct heat exposure not advised
  • Minimising wastage through flexibility in sheet sizing
  • Seamless joints

Natural Stone*

  • Various silica content percentages
  • Variety of products at different price points available
  • Ongoing maintenance may be an issue
  • Unlikely to satisfy specific warranty requirements

*Although this alert does not directly impact natural stone, some types have high silica content so risk of using these on projects should be considered carefully.

For an up-to-date list of available products and their usability, click here.

More information

If you need additional support, please contact the Quality Team:

Phone 1300 HUTCHIES
Email QualityTeam@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au

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10 October / Update
Installation Details for Elephant's Foot & Wastech Bin Chutes

Make sure bin chute systems are installed correctly, following the tested systems and the manufacturers’ instructions.

Check the detailed drawings from Elephant’s Foot and Wastech for different wall types (plasterboard, shaft-liner, speed panel, concrete, Hebel, and masonry).

Any changes to the tested systems must be approved by your project certifier, signed off by the fire engineer in the fire engineering report (FER), and accepted by the relevant state / territory fire service.

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