Please find attached details of the ‘free’ DesignBuild Tile + Stone seminars which commence on Sunday June 3

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We are delighted to welcome Mr. Sunil Bhavnani(Cinajus), Mr Richard McMillan(Phoenician Stone) and Ms Emina Micevski(RMS Marble) as our latest new members.

Standards Australia Committee BD-094, Slip resistance of flooring surfaces, had a most harmonious meeting in Melbourne on 2 April 2007.

The revision of AS/NZS 4586, Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials, was completed. This included the identification of new shoes for the oil wet ramp test. However, a new source is still required for the calibration boards for both the oil-wet and the wet barefoot ramp tests.

The revision of AS/NZS 4663, Slip resistance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces, was also completed, although the Committee was unable to resolve a negative vote from the Australian Institute for Non-Destructive Testing. Their representative, Gary Martin of ATTAR, was unable to attend the meeting, but remains adamant that the Standard should continue to include the existing interpretative material. The Committee considers that since the existing material is often misleading and is sometimes improperly used, there is a need to include more comprehensive guidance in HB 197. This matter will now be referred to the Standards Australia Building Sector Board for resolution.

The Australian Tile Council apologised to the Standards Australia Project Manager for bombarding him with emails, although their members retained the democratic right to lodge objections when Standards are open for public comment. It had been generally misunderstood that the meeting was principally being held to finalise the revision of AS/NZS 4586 and 4663. Since Handbooks are not subjected to public comment, I had taken the opportunity to include in the public comment documents a table giving pedestrian flooring selection guide for normal conditions – minimum pendulum or ramp recommendations for specific locations. We were certainly successful in eliciting some comment.

The Local Government and Shires Association of New South Wales had sought to include recommendations for residential bathrooms, ensuites, toilets, laundries and kitchens. Although these recommendations were added to the working draft in August 2004, it was evident that certain organisations would eventually object to this. The Property Council of Australia and the Housing Industry Association joined ASAA and the ATC in opposing the inclusion of slip resistance recommendations for residential locations. None of the submissions that ASAA and ATC members had prepared were considered: there had never been a real need for them.

The NSW LGSA tabled documents confirming that falls is the leading cause of injury hospitalisation in all but the 15-44 age group. Given that more such falls occur at home than in all other places combined, there is certainly an argument for increasing the slip resistance of residential floor coverings, even though the data for fall causation does not allow a precise determination of how many falls were initially due to a slip. Nevertheless, architects still require some guidance when it comes to specifying floor finishes for homes in order that they are not held liable for any slip-related accidents that may subsequently occur. I will be working with Nick Katris, the architect representing the NSW LGSA, in the preparation of some text that will assist architects. This will not be making any recommendations in terms of slip resistance classifications. As the author of HB 197, I will also be addressing the issue of the commercial building of multi-unit apartments within the text.

The Australian Resilient Flooring Association unsuccessfully sought to increase the dry area recommendations of shops and shopping centres to class R9. The Property Council of Australia were successful in having the recommendation for bathrooms, ensuites, toilets, kitchens and laundries within hotel and motel suites reduced to classes Y, A or R9. Architects seeking to use marble in hotel bathrooms will have to provide an alternative design solution, rather than following the recommendation. The Handbook will make it quite clear that this is an acceptable practice.

The revised HB 197 will be emphasising that the Table of recommendations should be seen as a starting point for the design process. The design principles that will be included in the text will provide far more valuable guidance than the Table, which could be considered as the lazy uninformed person’s one stop option.

HB 197 will be reaffirming the principle that it is not intended to outlaw products that have traditionally been successfully used in various locations. It will also be giving greater emphasis to pendulum results since the pendulum can be used throughout the life cycle of flooring products. Less emphasis will be placed on oil-wet ramp test classifications, particularly where a public location is involved and water contamination is most likely.

As for the future, Committee BD-094 will be considering the adoption of the pendulum for dry slip resistance testing, in line with several European standards. The difference between wet and dry pendulum results is in itself a useful indicator of the danger associated with products becoming wet. The Committee will also be placing greater emphasis on the likely long-term slip resistance characteristics of products, rather than the current focus on the initial slip resistance, which is sometimes quite illusory. The sustainability of slip resistance should be a critical consideration when products are being specified. The Committee will also be tightening the test procedure for wet barefoot ramp testing.

I hope to complete the writing of HB 197 by mid-May, whereupon a draft will be circulated to BD-094 Committee members for prompt comment. The Committee has tentatively set 1 June aside should it be necessary to convene a meeting. It is hoped that the revised Standards and the Handbook will be published in late June or early July. Their publication will be accompanied by a major educational drive, where I anticipate delivering seminars in all the States and Territories.

Richard Bowman
ASAA representative on BD-094
Chair of BD-094

3 April 2007

In conjunction with Tile Today and Discovering Stone magazines and the Australian Stone Advisory Association (ASAA), Designbuild will present a diverse range of seminars covering a wide range of topics, including key issues like slip resistance and the new tile installation standards.

Topics covered will include: Standards, Tolerances & Calcification; What’s new in the revised Tile Installation Standards; Developing an effective test program for Dimension Stone – Why, How, When and What for!

Plus an update on the vital subject of slip resistance as it pertains to use of tile and stone in residential environments.

We will also examine the Australian Stone Advisory Association’s drive to gain ‘green’ accreditation for Australian natural stones.

To view the complete program Click here

There will be nine presentations over three days – 3rd-5th June 2007 inclusive

We are delighted to welcome Mr. Bill Moisidis as our latest new member.