World Plumbing Day is an international event that was launched seven years ago by the World Plumbing Council, and is now held every year on 11 March. On this day, government, industry and the community come together to celebrate all things plumbing, and recognise the important role plumbers play in protecting public health and safety, as well as the environment. Plumbing is vital to global health...

The State Government has announced reforms for building in bushfire-prone areas of Western Australia. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has prepared a map which identifies the bushfire-prone areas across the State. A bushfire hazard assessment will be required for new homes in areas identified as bushfire-prone on the map. The assessment will determine the level of construction...

From 1 November 2015 Great Lakes Australia (GLA) commenced issuing Home Indemnity Insurance (HII) Policies via their agent Residential Builders Underwriting Agency (RBUA) with all Calliden HII Policies transferred over to GLA via a Scheme of Arrangement. All Western Australian HII policies are now issued by either RBUA or QBE Insurance. Further information on HII can be found on the Home...

A product safety recall has been issued for the 'Jumbuck' 6 burner solid hotplate barbecue, model number BG1507B6 Item number 3171031. Batch numbers are labelled on the side of the unit, numbers are 1516, 1518, 1522, 1525, 1529. The barbecues have been sold nationally at Bunnings Warehouses since June 2015 (Price: $299.00). In isolated cases, the burners may not align correctly with the gas...

The October 2015 edition of Painters' News contains the latest news for the painting industry from Western Australia's Building Commission. Painters' News edition 1/2015 – October 2015

The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) has told a recent Senate inquiry into non-conforming building products that a wide range of imported goods and materials used in the building industry has been found to contain asbestos. Last year, cement compound board imported into the Australian Capital Territory from China was found to contain chrysotile asbestos and in New South Wales an...

Information sessions on accreditation and training for Level 1 BAL Assessors are to be held on Friday 14 August 2015 in Perth and Bunbury.

Engineers Australia is hosting a free student night as part of Australian Engineering Week 2015.

Capital Works Constructions Pty Ltd trading as Freelife Homes went into voluntary administration on 7 May 2015. This has triggered an eligibility to claim on home indemnity insurance. The insurer for Freelife is QBE.

As a building service provider, you are required to renew your registration. The Building Commission’s registration renewal process ensures building service providers continue to meet the requirements of registration and also provides a mechanism for those no longer wishing to be registered to allow their registration to expire. If you wish to maintain your registration, you need to renew on time.

As previously advised the Minister for Commerce Michael Mischin MLC announced an increase to the Building Services Levy (BSL). The new BSL fees (outlined below) have now been gazetted and will come into effect on 1 July 2015 . Application types Building Services Levy Over $45,000 $45,000 or less Building permit or demolition permit 0.137% of the value of the work $61.65 Occupancy permit or...

On 15 April 2015, Benchmark Designer Homes Pty Ltd went into external administration, which meets the definition of insolvency under the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 and therefore will trigger home indemnity insurance for affected home owners.