Kick start your building construction project

Thinking of starting a building construction project in Australia or in New Zealand? Have a chat to the team at Abstel-Glyde. We have completed numerous building construction projects throughout New Zealand and Australia, including some prime examples in Sydney, Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. Call us today to get started and find out more about how we can help you with your building construction projects!

Buildings and structure - previous experience

  • Hotel/Motel

    Building Services

    HVAC, Electrical, Fire system, Lift specifications and security design and specifications. Jobs have included Tourist resort with 40 units, swimming pools, conference centre, restaurant.

  • Pharmaceuticals

    Administration Office

    Office additions and alterations including structural and architectural detailing, Building services and HVAC. Specialty - Building Value Valuation of a specialist viral remedy production building with specialist biological controlled HVAC

  • Manufacturing facilities

    Office additions and full refurbishment design of central office and warehousing including; layouts, data transport, electrical, drainage, sprinklers, fire systems, HVAC, lighting, electrical distribution and Civil/Structural detailing.

  • Oil facilities

    Site Office

    Full construction including structural and architectural detailing, Building services and HVAC for new site office

  • Leaseback Development

    Administration

    Full construction detailing and 'Leaseback' proposals for plant administration building including structural and architectural detailing, Building services and HVAC

  • City Offices

    Office refurbishment

    Upgrade, HVAC and fire protection requirements for head office for fifty staff including meeting, reception and other areas.

  • Apartment

    Structural upgrade

    Structural upgrade and service detailing for the alteration of office building into luxury apartments.

  • Film Industry

    Building relocation

    Structural detailing and rapid land use consent applications for the relocation of two storey building suitable for the filming of Enid Blyton series for BBC within New Zealand

  • Building Services

    Building services

    Full detailing and design of handling systems for many commercial industrial and residential buildings

  • Commercial developments

    Structural/service detailing

    Service detailing for drainage, plumbing, electrical, structural and building consents for a variety of developments

  • Engineering Surveys

    Engineering surveys

    A variety of engineering surveys for existing office, accommodation and industrial buildings to ensure compliance with Building Codes and statutory requirements

  • Warehousing

    Warehouse

    Detailing of proposed upgrades to various warehouse facilities including Chemicals, Tyres, HP Gases, Airways Distribution, Museum storage, Retail and Wholesale warehousing

  • Restaurants 

    Commercial premises

    Full detailing and design of HVAC systems, Firewall detailing and general layouts of a variety of restaurants including Kebabaholic and Homeland cafe

  • Energy Audits

    Energy Audits

    Energy audits and preliminary energy cost saving design recommendations on behalf of electricity providers and users across a variety of sectors including chemical, food, gas, horticulture, wool, meat and electricity supply companies

  • Hazardous substance facilities

    HSNO Compliance

    HSNO audits and hazardous area design to meet requirement of Hazardous Substances legislation and international standards.

  • Call Centre facilities

    Call Centre

    Full detailing and design of HVAC systems, Telecommunications and electrical, Firewall detailing and general layouts of large scale Call-centre operations suitable for large Commercial supplier

The Statutory Gambit

One of the most common areas of concern to manufacturing managers is the tiptoe through the statutory minefield. For a particular item of work, what laws are relevant, which standards appropriate, how do the local authorities fit in and when are permits necessary. This article endeavours to be a simple summary of the statutes and requirements that most frequently effect the manufacturing operation. Items of law and practice that effect business and engineering alterations are as follows: Statutes (laws), Professional Standards, International standards, Local body ordinances, Codes of Practice with the typical impact of each of these as follows:

Statutes

The Government has at various times passed statutes and laws that directly affect the manufacturing operation. It is the responsibility of all corporate citizens to comply with these laws with the main statutes that effect the Manufacturing operation as follows:

The Building Act(Compliance with this is required for any changes to civil/structural or building alterations to Plant and Buildings, main compliance in form of Building codes). Building permits are issued and required under this Act.

Health, Safety at Work ActEmployers are responsible for the Health and Safety of Employees within the workplace. This was one of the first introductions of “Strict Liability” concepts into law as opposed to the onus on the complainant to prove “negligence” on behalf of the employer, i.e.: Employers are typically strictly liable with significant penalties in the cases of blatant contravention of the Act. Strict liability is common in United States law)

Resource Management ActMany uses of resources including land, air, water and waste require a Resource Management consent. Changes to existing consents may sometimes be gained directly through the local authority. However, if the Resource consent needs to be notified this can cause a significant delay to the manufacturer. With the above being main statutes that impact all business the Electricity Regulations 1993, the Dangerous Goods regulations, Agriculture & Fisheries regulations, Health and Food regulations and many other statutes also impact specific sectors of industry.

Local Body Ordinances

Under the Local Government Acts the local authorities are able to issue specific requirements in addition to the national statutory requirements. These requirements typically concern items such as allowable noise, glare, carparks, fence heights, etc. These differ between local authorities and also need to be considered where capital alterations are evident.

Standards

There are a large number of international and local standards available of differing degrees of use and local acceptances. The Building Act and its accompanying Code mentions standards that are acceptable when constructing or altering business premises. In general standards are developed by the Standards body and a team of ‘industry experts’ to define a consistent and proven methodology to solving specific tasks. Most business and engineering tasks are well advised to follow accepted standards unless some a real benefit is perceived by a new design method. Items that require local authority permits typically insist on compliance with recognised standards. Standard Authorities that are commonly used within include: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Standards Australia, New Zealand Standards, British Standards, Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE), etc.

Codes of Practice

A variety of Industry Authorities have developed a range of Codes of Practice that need to be adhered to for particular industries and functions. Specific Codes that are found in New Zealand Industry include:

  • Electrical: Electrical Code of Practice (ECP) and Regulations
  • Agriculture and Fisheries
  • Dairy: CP for Dairy premises and equipment
  • ASHRAE: American Heating and Ventilation Codes of Practice
  • Hazardous Substances: EPA and Worksafe Co