Mandurah building company fined after roof lifts off

MANDURAH Homes Pty Ltd and the company’s co-director and nominated supervisor Todd Andrew Green have each been fined $5000 by the Building Services Board for failing to manage and supervise a building service.

The findings related to a two-storey Halls Head property, built by Mandurah Homes between 2015 and 2016.

On a windy night in July 2017, a section of the home’s tin skillion roof lifted off and landed at a nearby property, damaging the roof of that house.

The Board found Mandurah Homes’ work on the skillion roof did not comply with applicable building standards and approved plans and specifications.

Areas of non-compliance included the roof’s front section failed below the site’s wind classification rating of up to 180km per hour as winds that night were recorded at 81km per hour, some tie-down straps were not installed, while others were spaced incorrectly, tie-down rods were not installed to the full height of the wall and tie-down straps, rods and dowels were made of galvanised steel, rather than stainless steel as required by the design certificate.

The Board also determined that Mr Green, as Mandurah Homes’ nominated supervisor, was responsible for properly managing and supervising the company’s building services and ensuring compliance with applicable building codes and standards.

The Board acknowledged Mandurah Homes’ cooperation, acceptance of liability, prompt remediation work and implementation of more robust procedures.

But it noted the company’s failure in this case was “significant” and that its conduct “resulted in a risk of injury to public health and a threat to public safety as flying roof debris had the potential to cause harm”.

Building Commissioner Ken Bowron said building services providers who failed to take their responsibilities seriously might face fines from the Building Services Board or the State Administrative Tribunal.

“We will continue to hold to account and name those who put the public interest and integrity of the building industry at risk,’’ he said.

At the 2017 HIA Perth Housing Awards, Mandurah Homes won the Custom Built Homes category for builds between $2.6 million and $4 million.