Q. Can you describe exactly what you do?
My job title is building technologist, which translates to project manager for those outside BRANZ. In short, I project manage BRANZ Appraisals from start to finish and coordinate ongoing quality assessments and quality management.
Q. What’s your background? How has it prepared you for this role?
I worked as an analytical environmental chemist and divisional manager for a testing laboratory before moving to New Zealand. Opportunity brought me to Aotearoa, and I ended up in an environmental consultancy. I was looking for other opportunities and applied for a laboratory role in the Materials Team at BRANZ. My project management background stood out and my CV was passed on to the Assurance Services Team, which looks after Appraisals.
I have a degree in chemistry and mathematics, but project management is what I really enjoy doing. I’ll also be starting studies towards a master’s in project management in the new year.
Q. Tell us a bit more about BRANZ Appraisals. What are they and how do they benefit the industry?
A BRANZ Appraisal is an independent evaluation of how a building product or system performs against the relevant parts of the New Zealand Building Code or the Australian National Construction Code. BRANZ Appraisals provide an authoritative opinion that a product or system complies so the client, or their customer, has an easier pathway through consenting or specification.
The Appraisal process for a new application begins with the prospective client completing an application form and returning that to us along with supporting information about their product or system. We then contract a pre-assessment where we’ll look at what was submitted and determine a compliance pathway. This is summarised in a report where we explain exactly how we’re going to evaluate the product – including any additional testing that will need to be done and any opinions that need to be written. Where existing criteria are known and supporting evidence can be easily assessed against them, we may also decide to proceed directly to Appraisal.
The time an Appraisal takes can vary greatly depending on the nature and use of the product or system and the testing required – for example, UV exposure can take up to 36 months.
With testing successfully completed, the Appraisal can be issued and the client can use it to support their product in the market. BRANZ Appraisals have been around for over 50 years and are a trusted and respected mark of compliance and quality. They’re a real marketing edge — especially now with the industry under so much pressure.
The relationship between BRANZ and Appraisal holders is also an ongoing one. There are annual assessments covering a range of factors from manufacturing quality to materials handling and installation evaluations to ensure ongoing quality and to confirm that what was Appraised remains unchanged.
Q. So it’s not a ‘one and done’ relationship?
Definitely not! When you hold a BRANZ Appraisal, you have an ongoing relationship with a project manager. That gives you continuing access to BRANZ’s expertise. If you have a question, your project manager will either have an answer or get you one. The project manager is a constant and here to support customers every step of the journey.
Q. What sort of skillset is required to do that job well?
Knowledge of the New Zealand Building Code and the Australian National Construction Code is critical, as around 60 of our 500 active Appraisals are for products marketed in Australia. You also need knowledge of Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods to determine how to prove compliance to them.
There’s lots of liaising and coordination internally with our BRANZ experts and externally with clients. Most of all, it’s about making sure things get done, keeping clients fully informed and helping them in whatever way we can.
Q. What are some of the challenges?
Most of the challenges relate to the time it takes to complete some of the testing, so we work with our customers to define requirements clearly upfront. It’s about taking the time at the start to gather as much information as possible, understand exactly what needs to be done and then making sure that plan gets executed.
Q. How have recent signals from the government to allow more overseas manufactured products into the country to accelerate and reduce the cost of building affected your work?
Our work has not yet been impacted by the proposed changes as we are still awaiting details, but BRANZ fully supports initiatives to reduce costs and streamline the building process. We do, however, believe it’s essential to maintain quality to avoid unintended consequences, and testing products against New Zealand’s unique climatic and seismic challenged remains critical.
Changes to the Act include exempting BCAs from liability for these products, and it remains to be seen whether there is an appetite for others to assume these liabilities given the existing supply of CodeMarked and Appraised products in the market. While we expect some low-risk product categories to be impacted, we anticipate that consumers and specifiers will continue to favour assured products, and BRANZ fully intends to adjust our offerings to embrace the changes once they are made.
Q. What does André do outside of work?
Well, over this last winter, he goes home and avoids the cold! I’m in the gym most days and have started running too. I also like to spend time with friends and do a bit of mountain biking or hiking if the weather allows. It depends on the mood really. Studies will be a major priority over the next 3 years or so.