MEMBERS SIGNED A ‘STATEMENT OF INTENT’ IN RELATION TO BUILDING CODES Kristin Brookfield HIA Chief Executive – Industry Policy is the current Chair of the International Housing Association (IHA). HIA hosted the 2018 interim meeting at Old group a useful starting point to discuss key Despite some local concerns regarding how we Parliament House in Canberra. housing issues. manage our own building code arrangements in The IHA brings together leaders The IHA currently has working groups on housing Australia, it is important to recognise that globally of the housing sector from around affordability, social housing, energy efficiency, the ABCB framework gives Australian builders the world. The IHA allows the building codes, non-conforming building products, much greater certainty about technical building world’s housing industry leaders building information modelling and skills. standards than most other countries in the world. to explore and address common Also on day one, the group received a At the meeting members signed a new issues related to housing and home presentation on the Australian economy, 30 ‘Statement of Intent’ in relation to building codes. building. Globally significant priority years of continuous economic growth – good Norway and Australia combined the efforts of areas are identified by member luck or good management, which highlighted the the building information modelling (BIM) and the countries. The IHA often publishes four boom eras that have supported Australia’s non-conforming building products working groups, Statements of Intent on these economy over the past three decades, with the to present ideas about how BIM may be one way priorities, and shares information most recent being a housing-led cycle. to assist builders to keep track of their building and solutions related to them The housing affordability working group will focus product supply chain in the future. While BIM is through its working groups. its attention in the coming months on developing still in the early days for residential buildings, BIM a better understanding of how member countries product libraries may offer an international method measure affordability, along with publishing a white for describing and comparing building product paper on NIMBYs to assist members in responding conformance. to the ever increasing push against housing The meeting ended with a discussion about ways redevelopment projects. to improve trade skills and encourage young people The social housing working group discussed to enter the industry. Again this issue was common incentives available in Australia to move into home across every member country and members ownership. They will focus on this further in coming committed to sharing their local strategies and months seeking to share information about the approaches to promoting housing as a career of ways that member countries support households first choice. to move along the housing continuum from social While the spring weather disappeared for the housing to private housing options. last day of the visit, the group returned to the bus Day one finished with a presentation about and headed out to see housing projects across the emerging trends in energy efficiency and Canberra, visiting the award-winning display home environmentally responsible housing and a sharing by Classic Constructions in Narrabundah, south of of government responses that may lead to changes the city, and then touring the Hindmarsh retirement in building standards over the next decade. village. The tour was topped off with a visit to Day two commenced with a presentation from the Parliament House providing members with a better general manager of the Australian Building Codes insight into Australian democracy, and a bit more Board, Neil Savery, who shared the Australian model kangaroo spotting along the way. for building code development and adoption. While several member countries have similar approaches The IHA’s annual meeting will be held in February to writing and adopting a national building code it is in the US. For more information obvious that the collaboration in Australia between on the work of the IHA, visit federal and state governments is unique. www.internationalhousingassociation.org.au NOVEMBER 2018 HOUSING 41