The benefits of joining the Australian Stone Advisory Association increased substantially with the recent announcement that ASAA members will receive exclusive discount from Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) if they choose to obtain an eco-label for their products. GECA will provide:

1. 50% discount on GECA application fees (value $220 per application).
2. 10 % discount on GECA verification fees; value will vary, but on average $300 – $500
3. 0 % discount on GECA events/forums

Hard on the heels on that good news ASAA is delighted to announce that new member Carl Strautins of Tile Check will provide ASAA members with an exclusive 50% discount on the cost of any Slip Resistance testing of natural stone and ceramic tile products.

In addition, ASAA members will receive a 6% discount from the net value of floor space booked at the Full Frontal Tile & Stone Expo 2009 and free access to valuable Australian Bureau of Statistics reports on the value of stone imports and exports.

In recognition of the work and financial support the Australia Stone Advisory Association provided Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) in establishing GECA 40-2008 Hard Surfaces standard, GECA will provide ASAA members, who accept the challenge of working towards a more environmentally preferable future with the following special offer;

1. 50 % discount on GECA application fees; value $220 per application
2. 10 % discount on GECA verification fees; value will vary, but on average $300 – $500
3. 10 % discount on GECA events/forums

Several members are already working with GECA to obtain an eco-label for specific products. The new standard is based on the European Commissions ecological criteria for the award of an eco-label to hard surfacing materials (2002/272/EC).

Local producers of natural stone, and companies which import or sell natural stone and ceramic tile products resourced from suppliers which have existing ‘green’ credentials can seek certification for one or more of their products.

In addition to this unique financial benefit ASAA members receive a 6% discount from the net value of floor space booked at the Full Frontal Tile and Stone Expo. Members can also gain ‘free’ access to valuable Australian Bureau of Statistics reports on imports and exports.

Growing numbers of wholesalers and retailers are engaged in the supply and installation of natural stone products.

Join ASAA now and help your business grow.

Following a ballot of the members solicitors Rennick and Gaynor checked the postal votes received for election of members in both the Industry class (A) and the Professional class (B).

In accordance with the revisions made to the constitution the two directors that polled the most votes in 2007, Ian Lamble (Melocco Stone) and Gary Hargreaves (Gosford Quarries) retained their positions on the board.

Richard Mackenzie of Ocean + Merchant was the outright winner of the third seat on the board in class A.

Jim Mann ( Stone Initiatives and Materials Testing) retained his seat as the boards representative for the professional class.

In accordance with the constitution the board determined that additional directors were appointed to meet specific requirements. Anthony Stock remains as CEO, Rolf Offerhaus (Ardex Australia) was reelected and Robert Frazier was added to the board to provide specific advice on relation to ecolabelling of stone. Robert is also a director of Good Environmental Choice. ASAA recently contributed the majority of the funding required to develop Australia’s first Hard Surfacing Standard CECA 2008.

Ian Lamble was appointed as Chairman and the board were sworn in at the AGM at Holmsglen Tafe in Victoria on Thursday September 18.

In response to spurious claims made about radiation levels in granite, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) have acted quickly to challenge assertions made by members of the Solid Surfaces sector, by publishing The Truth About Granite & Radon/Radiation.

This document delivers a firm rebuttal of claims made by individuals and organizations which have made misleading statements about granite, radon and radioactivity. Members of industry who wish to download the MIA publication on the subject can do so by clicking on the following link : www.marble-institute.com

Suffice to say that the publication of unsubstantiated material which casts granite in a bad light is viewed by the ASAA Board as highly inappropriate. Similar claims could be made about man-made or manufactured surfaces. Supporters of wholly natural materials could argue that ‘the insignificant but natural radon emission from natural stone probably presents a lower risk than reactivation of resin volatiles in man-made or manufactured surfaces.

It is more likely that food prepared on a manufactured surface will absorb such loose resin volatiles than it is that food prepared on a natural stone bench top will be affected by anything related to that material’s properties or characteristics.

It should be remembered that with man-made products we are talking about a binder (that is used to hold together the natural stone pieces) that has safety restrictions on its use by humans in relation to breathing and contact.

Natural stone has been used by mankind for thousands of years and is part of the natural environment, whereas polyester resins are a fairly recent man-made product and who knows what long term issues may develop as a result of their current use.’

On 2 September, MIA published a new statement, ‘Consensus building among state health and environmental officials nationwide: Granite counter tops do not pose a health risk to consumers’ which features statements by various health departments and environmental agencies which have gone on record to reassure the public that no corroborated scientific research suggests that granite counter tops pose any significant health threat.

Many Australian suppliers and processors of stone market or process natural and engineered stone products. At the end of the day consumers make their purchasing decision based on the information provided by sales staff and materials they discover in various publications and on the internet.

ASAA cannot object to the existence of engineered stone or anyone’s right to buy this material in preference to natural stone. Clearly engineered stone is not going to vanish overnight, however ASAA is determined to raise its voice in protest over the publication of material which unfairly, in ASAA’s opinion, vilifies granite or any other natural stone product.

The MIA have initiated a fighting fund to contest the claims made by segments of the Solid Surface sector. ASAA are contributing $500 to the cause.

Following discussions which took place at the Full Frontal Tile & Stone expo the Australian Stone Advisory Association (ASAA) has become an international member of the Marble Institute of America (MIA). With permission from the MIA the ASAA will reproduce a number of MIA documents, modified for local consumption, which are related to the successful selection, installation, maintenance and cleaning of natural stone.

While this material will bear the ASAA logo, it will be clearly identified as the intellectual property of the MIA. While much of the material will feature on the ASAA website, some items will be printed as ASAA guides. All materials modified for the Australian market will be approved by the MIA prior to release.

ASAA will also have an opportunity to use the Genuine Stone logo in accordance with guidelines published by the Natural Stone Council.