Experts in insulation

Making sure you have a professional that’s qualified and competent to do the insulation work you need is the minimum you should expect out of an installer.

Basic questions for your insulation installer:

• Are you a member of IAONZ?
• What training has the installer completed?
• How many projects have you completed?

When you have a retrofitter or industry professional that’s a member of the Insulation Association of New Zealand (IAONZ), you can have peace of mind that the job will be done the right way that will insulate your home for years to come.

IAONZ was founded in 2009 to provide industry professionals an advocate for quality installation, training and product, specifically established for the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart retrofit programme.

IAONZ works with the Government and the industry toward an agreed standard of quality; it’s proud to offer training courses that are in accordance with the most up-todate Standards in the NZ Building Code and the AS/NZ Standards for installing insulation.

Having a trained expert with industry experience and qualifications, as well as uptodate knowledge of current legislation and code, ensures that your investment into your health and home is the highest quality.

Having an asbestos management plan Due to the nature of work insulation installers partake in, going into buildings and homes they are not familiar with, it is a must to have an asbestos management plan.

Not only that, but every insulation company must have an asbestos management plan in place to comply with Health and Safety regulations. There is no excuse – it is the law.

The Health and Safety at Work Asbestos Regulations 2016 place a duty of care on businesses, requiring asbestos management plans in place where asbestos is likely to be found.

Questions to ask before starting work at a new site:

• Has the property I am working on had any changes made to the roof over time?
• Was the property re-roofed, partially damaged, etc?
• If so, what was the roof product replaced?

If you don’t know what the roofing product is – especially if residue has been left on the insulation being replaced – get it tested before starting work.

The two main areas of concern are:

1. Some blow-in types of insulation used in NZ in the past have contained asbestos.
2. Asbestos contamination from roofing such as super six and super eight sheeting.

If there is any unknown blow-in type of insulation, it should be tested. If there is any uncertainty around the product, it should also be tested.

IAONZ is aware of a blow-in product imported from Australia containing amosite asbestos – asbestos has also been found in old vermiculite blown insulation.

Asbestos was contained in a lot of roofing material, as well as some exterior cladding material. Installers should never work in a ceiling with super six or super eight roofing. It’s shaped like corrugated iron, but it’s thicker and made fibrolite.

The safety of you and your workers is absolutely vital. Ensuring you have the proper plan for if and when you encounter asbestos is important for everyone’s health and to stay compliant with the law.

Different paths to determine if there’s asbestos in your workplace

• Follow guidance in the WorkSafe Approved Code of Practice
• Train your staff to identify asbestos
• Employ a surveyor to assess your building and produce your plan
• Assume that your building or workplace contains asbestos and write your plan accordingly.

Note: If your building was built prior to 1 January 2000, it is more likely to contain asbestos containing material.

Check the WorkSafe approved code of practice and how to manage and work with asbestos at www.worksafe.govt.nz.

The Insulation Association of New Zealand is committed to ensuring the industry and its members install insulation correctly as it has a major impact on houses and buildings.

With over 4,000 people working for our members, IAONZ is also proud to have trained over 2,000 insulation installers through our training courses.

About IAONZ:

• Works with Government and industry toward agreed standards
• Offers different levels of membership depending on level of experience, training and work previously completed
• Provides uptake and technical information to MBIE and EECA from its members
• Has trained over 2,000 insulation experts through its training courses
• Represents over 90 percent of the industry.

Insulation Association of New Zealand (IAONZ)
PO Box 45-098, Lower Hutt, Wellington
(027) 288 3770 | membership@iaonz.co.nz | www.iaonz.co.nz