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CETEC RiskeNews - Issue 29, November 2009
On 26 October, CETEC held an informative and fully booked Materials and Healthy Environment Seminar in Brisbane. The event was specifically targeted for material suppliers, providing facts and opinions, plus valuable insight relating to compliance requirements for material emissions and the management of Indoor Environment Quality.
With growth in Brisbane outstripping all other major cities in Australia, plus the leadership shown by the Queensland Department of Public Works and industry in the field of both managing indoor environment quality and reducing building product emissions, the location of this inaugural seminar in Brisbane was no accident!
The event was kicked off by Michael Ball (QLD Department of Public Works) on a case study on Seamless Flooring in Queensland. Michael explained the events, the investigations and the lessons learnt from the flooring installations and subsequent emissions that arose in North Queensland schools in the early 1990s. He also provided key points for the audience on future Queensland Government product evaluations.
Next was Dr Robert Schiller (CETEC) on Chemical Emissions and material selection for green buildings. Robert's key messages included:
In Australia voluntary schemes exist that are pro-actively driving awareness and product improvement.
A review of the Australian and international guidelines for the selection of low-emitting materials for the Built Environment
The schemes cover a broad spectrum of building products used in construction, fittings and furnishings.
Australian manufacturers of materials are meeting material emission requirements. (typical results were also provided)
The focus on material emission has been beneficial to improving the indoor environment.
The third speaker was Dr Vyt Garnys (CETEC) on Managing Indoor Environment Quality and productivity assessments. This included practical applications of IEQ, Facility Ecology, Pre and post occupancy IEQ and information regarding the productivity assessments.
After the seminar most of the attendees remained for a drink and the opportunity to network and catch up with some familiar faces from various government departments and industry groups plus to listen to the following selected speakers at CETEC's Futures Forum.
The speakers, outlining their vision of the future were Mr. Tony Gillett of Baulderstone, Mr. Dale Gilbert (former Director of Built Environment Research Unit at Dept of Public Works) and Mr. Greg Tenbrink of the Dept. of Transport and Main Roads with their wise and witty insights.
