11 December 2020 / Weather Alert

Weather Alert

La Niña Event Forecast

2020-2021 Summer Strong Potential for Severe Weather Events

11 December 2020

A La Niña event has been officially declared by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) for the Australian summer of 2020-2021.  

La Niña typically brings with it heavy rainfall, intense storms and the possibility of strong wind events such as cyclones. The last time Australia saw a fully-fledged La Niña was from 2010 through 2012.

This alert is issued as a reminder to begin preparations for the likelihood of these severe weather events in the coming months.

Of immediate concern is the weather event forecast from tomorrow, Saturday 12 December through Monday 14 December. Those in Northern NSW, the Gold Coast and SE QLD should be prepared for:

> strong winds of ~75 km/hr

> storms and heavy rain

> seas in excess of 6.0 metres Check the Toolbox Weather page or local BOM warnings in your location for more information.

WHAT IS LA NIÑA?

La Niña is a complex weather pattern that occurs every few years, as a result of variations in ocean temperatures in the equatorial band of the Pacific Ocean. It occurs as strong winds blow warm water at the ocean's surface away from South America, across the Pacific Ocean towards Indonesia.

RESOURCES FOR SITE

The below resources are available to assist in the preparation for and in the aftermath of severe weather events. These are also available on the Doc Library and via HammerTech.

More Information

Please contact Danny O’Reilly / National Health & Safety Manager

Phone 0408 920 496
Email danny.oreilly@hutchies.com.au

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18 December / General

Congratulations all of our Hutchies' veterans and to the winner of Constructor of the Year 2024.

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30 October / Quality Alert

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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