A 5.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch on 14th February 2016, almost five years to the day since the 6.3 magnitude jolt that killed 185, served as a stark reminder of the need for us to feel safe at work, home and play. It was also a reminder that a building needs to have a current Building Warrant of Fitness, not for its own sake, but for its inhabitants.

Of course, not every danger that a building should to be equipped for is a force of nature; all to often we take for granted other measures that should be in place to protect the people that reside in our buildings. This means that maintenance and checks of a building’s systems can sometimes be overlooked, leaving its inhabitants with: 

• Faulty lifts, (as this article illustrates)
• Fire alarms that have not been tested
• Sprinklers that lack water pressure
• Emergency lights that are not connected

These are the things that people need in an emergency, and yet they could be the very things that don't work because no one has maintained them or checked them. American architect and real estate developer, John Portman, once said, “Buildings should serve people, not the other way around.” I couldn’t agree more and that’s why I like to connect people with information so they can make informed decisions about buying or leasing property. If you are a commercial building owner or facility manager, I'd like to talk to you, so I can inform, educate and inspire you with real stories about real people who reside in New Zealand’s buildings. I’ll let you in on some secrets too!

Within my training courses I always aim to bring people to the forefront. It’s human nature that we’re more likely to remember something if it resonates with us on a personal level. So you’ll find that I don’t stand at the front of a seminar spouting boring old stuffy Building Law.

Did you know the rules around Building Warrants of Fitness have changed? If you want to know how, but more importantly want to know why… I can help. 

Register for my BWOF Rules for Building Owners and Property Managers in Auckland or in Christchurch  this informative session will give you the latest information on your role as the owner as well as furnishing you with a clear understanding about the role of the Council. 
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I can’t wait to see you there and find out more about you!

Have you considered e-Learning as part of your training budget for 2016?
I’ve been in the education game, specifically for the building industry for over twenty years, and as you can imagine, I’ve seen a few changes throughout my career. Not just in building regulations, but also in the way that information and courses are delivered.
I firmly believe that e-Learning has been an imminently sensible development over the past few years… Here’s why…

1. You/your organisation saves money! In the fast paced world we live in, the old adage “time is money” has never been truer.

E-learning saves you time because you don’t need to travel to take part… It also saves the ever-increasing costs that are associated with travel. It’s a #winwin situation!

1. e-Learning has been proven to increase information retention. Building Networks’ e-learning courses combine many elements to reinforce the delivered content, including video, audio, quizzes, and more. You can also revisit or replay sections of the training if you need to.
2. E-Learning is delivered when you want it. Train when you want to, not when you have to. Train from your office or home, Building Networks’ e-learning courses are available 24/7.

So, now we’ve worked out why e-Learning is such an effective method of training with great benefits for you and your organisation. I want to share three ways you can get yourself in the mood… Mind back on track folks, I’m talking about e-learning here and nothing more!

1. Make a plan. Whilst one of the benefits of e-Learning is being able to fit your study in when you want to. You’ll still need to schedule some time and stick to it. It’s all too easy to fall behind on a course without a plan in place, so creating a schedule will help you stay on track and ready to attack!
2. Sit back and relax. Make your learning environment comfortable. If you’re too hot or too cold you won’t be able to concentrate. You’ll need some peace and quiet too, so if you’re learning at home make sure it’s in a quiet part of the house if other family members are home. The same applies at work; take yourself off to a private office or meeting room away from distraction and casual conversation.
3. Limit other online distractions. Don’t go near your email account, because before you know it you’ll have spent fifteen minutes looking through your inbox. If you’re learning online, let that be the only thing you’re doing online.

 
Building Networks NZ Ltd now offers you a range of online training courses, most importantly you will also learn your skills maintenance and CPD points.
Courses include:

• Skills Maintenance for Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs)
• CPD for Building Control Staff
• CPD for Building Professionals
• IQP Refresher E-Learning Package