High front guttering advisory committee report - NSW Fair Trading ...

Appendix A – Original terms of reference as per the Ministerial
appointment of the Committee.
REVIEW OF THE USE AND INSTALLATION OF HIGH FRONTED GUTTERING IN NEW
SOUTH WALES
1 Background
1.1 High fronted guttering systems have been supplied and fitted across Australia for
almost 20 years. The Building Code of Australia (BCA) and, more specifically, the
Australian Standard (AS3500) provides guidance to builders and roof plumbers on
the appropriate methods for installing guttering. The principal performance standard
set by the code and standard is that guttering is to be installed using methods
designed to ensure water overflow from gutters does not enter a building.
1.2 In 2008, claims were made that installation methods for high fronted guttering did not
meet Building Code of Australia requirements.
1.3 Concerns had been raised about the use of slots in the guttering as an overflow
provision. Slots in high fronted guttering is only one of a range of methods provided
for in the BCA and AS3500. The overflow system must be designed and installed in
compliance with the relevant codes and in a manner which is appropriate for the
area’s typical rainfall patterns.
1.4 As a result of the claims made in 2008, NSW Fair Trading convened a forum with all
major industry stakeholders, insurers, manufacturers and government agencies. The
forum concluded that there was no evidence to hand to suggest that high fronted
guttering was a systemic issue in NSW.
1.5 Notwithstanding, the forum did conclude that an amendment to the Building Code of
Australia (BCA) was required to remove a direct reference to “slotted guttering”. The
forum was of the view that direct reference to slotted guttering in the BCA may
mislead builders, roof plumbers and installers into believing that slotted gutters, on its
own, would satisfy the requirements of the Australian Standard (AS3500).
1.6 In addition to holding the forum NSW Fair Trading implemented the following
measures:
• in conjunction with the Master Plumbers Association of NSW produced a circular
to remind installers about the codes and standard for installing gutters;
• placed installation guidelines with diagrams on its website (Tab A1);
• write to over 150 councils across NSW to remind them of the need for council
certifiers to check guttering against the codes and standards;
• had the Building Professionals Board (Department of Planning) issue a circular to
all private circulars on this issue (Tab B1);
• invited councils to forward the details of any cases where it was believed that
property damage has occurred due to inadequate gutters;
• consulted with builders and tradespeople at trade seminars during 2008-2009;
• discussed the issue with regulators from States and Territories.
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