Working within the Strata Industry is not always dealing with angry residents, sometimes it provides us with much entertainment. From residents installing non waterproofed water fountains in living rooms that leak through a slab, or even residents demanding for their parking space to be industrially cleaned because someone walked through it leaving a dirty footprint. […]
One of the Grays Rescue Building Management’s expressions is: if people can reach it, they will touch it. Sliced fingers from low hanging booker rods are one of the more common resident injuries in common property as a result of careless tradesmanship. Both plumbers and electricians are usually the culprits for taking the quick option of […]
Today we are looking at 3D Strata Plans and all of their benefits. As someone who works within the parameters of investigative building management and forensic building management, I personally find 3D strata plans very useful and I am always on the lookout for the program that provides advanced capabilities for mapping and landmarking. In […]
With long overdue pressure on building management and fire contractors to achieve passive fire compliance, there are now consequences for the building management industry to professionally manage and maintain the documentation related to Fire Resistance Level (FRL). The passive fire industry’s overhaul has clearly raised the standards of AFSS and its compliance responsibilities, the building […]
Driving through Sydney, we are beginning to see a lot more wood grain finishes, usually pressure-treated wood on balcony areas as decorative finishes and acoustic and light reflection treatments, decks and fencing. Personally, I love the look of pressure-treated wood and applaud their use in what seems to be a never ending jungle of concrete, […]
thestratacommittee.com take a look at the changing face of residential strata maintenance and where it is headed. A number of strata management companies have dipped their toes into the water of strata maintenance only to be met with a frosty reception from their clients and some companies have flourished building a reputation as all in one […]
Although the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation (DBPR) of 2021 does not completely extend to the building management sector, the new regulations will indirectly majorly impact residential building management for class 2 strata buildings. In short, the building management role in its current state will be largely minimised during larger remediation works. Building managers will […]
So, you have renovated your apartment, laid timber flooring and your apartment fire door failed AFSS. This is common and the bad news is the lot owner is responsible and often a replacement the fire door is required. Many owners corporations are left to pay the cost for apartment doors that fail. Often this expense […]
Apart from it being just part of life that residents across all buildings don’t pay much attention until things go wrong or a levy is introduced, most residents are happy to be oblivious and keep away from the politics of strata living and get on with their lives. Most residents who join a committee usually […]
Air Admittance Valves have only become widely used over the last 20 years. This wasn’t the plumbing code of practise when Chris Gray was plumbing many years ago. Insufficient ventilation air flow causes the water seal in traps to be vacuumed back into the risers. The result is a sewer smell coming back out of […]
Stairways are fire escape routes, and for elderly residents, it is the safest place to be in a fire situation within a residential strata building, if you are unable to safely exit. This is the theory, but it is not always true. After recently discovering 2 separate stair pressurization fans (SPF) removing fresh air instead […]
Most residents and strata committees would not be aware that their insurance policy likely stipulates that only cars registered at the buildings address are insured beyond secondary gates. This is one of the reasons why visitor parking is usually before secondary gates. So what does this mean? One point is if a resident leases a […]
If your apartment floor waste admits sewer smells often, its likely your building has Air Admittance Valves and Grays Rescue Building Management are pleading for these valves (commonly referred to as a Durgo) to stop being used for large apartment blocks. As an ex plumber I understand the attraction of terminating vents in risers and […]
It’s part of life, when it comes to strata living, the best of building management & strata management companies can fall out of favour, it is what happens next that defines that company. For most of us, our ethics are everything and largely none of us would even consider proxy farming to retain a contract, […]
Being part of a strata committee is a thankless undertaking, and strata managers & building managers often find ourselves as mediators and it can get LOUD. A good rule to maintain a quality discussion is to treat group interactions like a debate. If everyone is provided a brief opportunity to voice their concerns, the tone […]
It doesn’t matter what building it is, it’s usually one of the same few common reasons why owners join a strata committee, either they are not happy with the decisions being made on their behalf or they hate the building manager or strata manager. As Grays Rescue Building Management are focused on buildings that require […]