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In our fifth installment of our retaining walls feature, Nick Liefting takes us through the complexities of Gravity Retaining Walls.

In the article, I would like to explain the types of Gravity Wall, also known as Mass Walls, and their respective applications.

Different Types:

1. Masonry Block Wall
2. Mass Block Wall
3. Gabion Wall
4. Segmental Wall
5. Crib Wall
6. Mechanically Stabilised Earth Wall (MSE)
7. Cast-in-situ Concrete Wall

Applications:

• Where drilling holes is not easily achievable, e.g., rock
• Where ground conditions are showing high KPA (ground strength) readings
• Aesthetic reasons
• Able to achieve heights higher than cantilever walls

1 – Masonry Block Wall

This wall construction is based on your standard hollow core masonry concrete blocks, which come in 100, 150, 200, and 250 series, which applies to the thickness. The length is always 400mm, as is the height, 200mm. Retaining walls are mostly constructed using series 200 and/or 250, which is the thickness in mm.

Masonry Block retaining walls are the most common wall used in conjunction with buildings, e.g. split level. This is due to various factors:

• It is the only retaining wall that is built plumb
• It has the ability, if tanked well, to have zero moisture egress
• It has a smooth and appealing face to facilitate painting

But it is also the only gravity wall with the lowest design height, due to the vertical retaining bars anchored into a concrete footing.

The specifications for constructing block walls are that the height and relative surcharge, if any, is directly related to the size of the footing. A 1.0m high wall specifications, depending on ground KPA and surcharge could be:

• Footing – 1.00m wide by 200mm thick with a 200×300 key under the front of footing
• Reinforcing:
  – HD12 at 300 spacing lengthways along the footing
  – HD12 at 600 spacing across footing bent to go up into block
  – HD12 at 400 spacing horizontally in blocks with the top course having a reinforcing bar
• Block fill – All blocks filled with block fill grout into 200 series blocks
• A 2.0m high wall specifications, depending on ground KPA and surcharge could be:
• Footing – 2.20m wide by 300mm thick with a 300×200 key under the front of footing
• Reinforcing:
  – Two layers HD20 at 200 spacing each way
  – HD20 cross reinforcing bars on the top layer to bend up into blocks at 400 spacing, to be placed 30mm back from the back of 250 series blocks
  – Horizontal wall reinforcing HD16 at 400 spacing with the top course having a reinforcing bar
• Block fill – All blocks filled with block fill grout

For walls that can be higher and/or with a surcharge, the specifications can be increased, e.g. the vertical HD20 reinforcing bars in the blocks can be closed up to 200mm centres. At 600mm centres the block is at 90° to the wall, and two reinforcing bars are placed in this column. It starts to become a block layers nightmare. The vertical bars only need to be 1.0m above the concrete footing, and once blocks are placed, the lap bars are installed.

A handy hint – reinforcing steel lapping distance is 50D, which is fifty times the steel diameter.

These vertical bars must be tied to the base of the starter bars coming out of the concrete footing. To enable this to be done, washouts need to be cut in the bottom course. It is also a good practice to do exactly what these cut-outs say, and that the inside of the blocks can be washed out of any debris prior to block filling. These washouts can be blocked off with timber and well braced, as the two metre plus concrete lift, applies an incredible force.

A couple of handy things to remember: a masonry block is basically a veneer and, on its own, is very weak, as it is made up of pumice sand and cement, and relies on the block fill to give the strength. Make sure the block fill grout is really flowable and makes its way to the bottom course, as if there is large steel closely placed, there can be restrictions.

NEVER use a pencil vibrator on block fill – maybe use a length of rebar or timber to help persuade the fill to move.

I know an Engineer who insisted that the contractor vibrate the block fill, which he did whilst watching, and the side of the blocks blew out!

It is also a good idea to have these walls designed by a Structural Engineer.

Finishing the top of a block wall on grade to follow the ground line is quite simple. Simply mark the line and cut the top course, then mortar on the caps. In situations like this, I do not like to see them stepped. There are also cases when a fence needs to be installed at the top of the wall. The easiest way is to grout 75mm or thereabouts, PVC pipes at the desired spacing into the blocks when grout filling.

Backfilling – Backfilling masonry block walls is a very important procedure, as there should be zero moisture passing through to the front of the wall. There are valid reasons for that:

• The wall can often be inside a building with moisture causing dampness, mould, health issues
• Also, if outside, the moisture can often create mould etc.

The procedure is as follows:

• Make sure that when constructing the wall footing, the top is at least 100mm below any finished front level
• Paint a generous coating of a tar-type product, e.g., Flintkote or Mulseal, to the back of the wall
• Once sufficiently dry, place sheets of Harditex or similar over the Flintkote
• Now place the perforated drain coil at the base and fill with drainage material, e.g. 50/20 or similar. Make sure it has no fines. The idea of the Harditex sheets is to protect the Flintkote from being scratched and therefore creating areas of little protection. A product better than Flintkote is Bituthene, which comes in a 1.00m wide roll and is adhesive. When backfilling and using a plate compactor, the vibrate should be disengaged within half a metre of the wall, so as not to add unnecessary load to the wall.

2 – Mass Block Walls

These walls have become ever more popular in recent years and are now manufactured in various forms and shapes. The main ones are:

• Massbloc
• Stonebloc
• Interbloc
• Magnum Stone

The nature of these blocks is that they are of various sizes and weights, ranging from an 800x400x200 weighing 150kg capping block to a 1800x600x600 standard wall block weighing 1500kg. As you can well imagine, an excavator capable of lifting these blocks is a very important part of the kit.

The construction principles for different types of blocs remain very much the same.

• Footing – I have found when constructing these walls that the time spent on the accuracy of the footing is paramount.
  – Install boxing 150mm either side of the designated width of the base of the wall, and have the footing a minimum of 100mm compacted hardfill on firm ground. I have always found that applying a thin layer of GAP7 or fines over the hardfill and accurately screeding it, makes the bloc installation hassle free. The straightness of the boxing is irrelevant, whereas the level is paramount
• Bloc’s – Set up a string line, say 100mm offset close to the base, and start placing the blocks with the relevant sized excavator.
  – As with all segmental walls, the base course is always the slowest. Once this course is placed and true to line, the next courses simply fall into place as the blocks generally are joined with cast-in-pigots. Always make sure to brush the blocks before the next one is lowered on.
  – Most manufacturers have a range of block shapes and sizes in stock, however, prior to construction, I would give them the plans and they will give you all the required blocks, complete with a detailed plan of what goes where. If at all possible, you don’t want to have to cut the blocks.
  – There is also a range of different bloc face textures to meet the clients’ preferences.

• Wall Height – As with most segmental walls, reasonable heights can be achieved.
  – The bloc suppliers/manufacturers often have their own engineers and can design the wall for you.
  – What is common is the base bloc’s will be placed across the wall giving a 1200mm wide base, which could continue further up and decrease, depending on wall height.
  – These bloc’s are like a Meccano set and lock in every which way – very convenient.
  – For extra high walls and/or with high surcharges, short lengths of geogrids can be cast into the block when cast, which can then be connected to the required length of geogrid by means of bodkins.
• Back-fill – Once again, just as important as with any retaining wall.
  – Megaflo or drain-coil at the base with drainage metal above.

As far as mass walls are concerned, I prefer these, as they are reasonably quick to construct, and a lot easier on one’s back.

Article provided by Nick Liefting
nlcontractors.co.nz

Published in the Training & Events section in WIRED Issue 69 / June 2023 by Fencing Contractors NZ

 

Read the other articles here:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7

This year history will be made at the 55th National Fieldays® in Hamilton, with offshore competitors lining up against the Kiwis. UK Tornado Fencing competition winners Mark Evans and Nic Quan will compete in the Fieldays® Silver Spades™ Doubles championship, as part of the prize package they won in July last year. Up to now, Silver Spades™ has only ever had resident New Zealanders competing. 

They are coming with a reasonable amount of competition success under their respective belts, having won the last five competitions entered. All I can say is Wow, come on Kiwis, start sharpening those spades and augers.

They arrive on June 5th and will stay in South Auckland for the first few days, to get familiar with the tools that New Zealand Fencing Competitions (NZFC) members will be supplying, and will go to our training camp for hands-on practice.

Both Mark and Nic, ages 42 and 35 respectively, have their own businesses. Mark lives in rural Herefordshire, West Midlands, and Nic lives further west in Hereford, not far from Wales.

They both use Tracked Protech Post Drivers, with drills and encounter varying ground conditions, e.g., soft clay, very hard limestone, chalk, sandstone, etc. They predominantly do farm fencing for farmers, lifestyle blocks, estates (like our stations), and National Trust.

Mark is married with two children and is bringing his 13-year-old son, Will, with him, whereas Nic lives with his fiancé and two-year-old daughter and is tying the knot this coming August – we wish them all the best.

For all three of them, it is their first time in New Zealand and they are keen to see our beautiful countryside and meet the guys and gals that fence it.

It is very much a whirlwind trip, with them leaving on June 26th. During their stay, we arranged for them to work on the fence lines with various contractors, which is what they requested.

When you see them at the Fieldays, certainly introduce yourselves, and if their terminology is baffling you somewhat, this might help:

KIWI	ENGLISH
Angle Post	Turning Post
Ground	Floor
Paddock	Field
Post Driver	Knocker
Workers	Lads (pronounced Luds)
Stay	Strut
Truck	Lorry
Manually working	Grafting

 

Published in the Training & Events Feature in WIRED Issue 69 / June 2023 by Fencing Contractors NZ. © Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)

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What is a hazardous substance? 

What do you do to ensure safety when using the products in your work vehicle?

Do you understand the hazardous side of items you carry and the 

harm that may occur when exposed to them over time? Are they correctly labelled?  

What if there is a spill?

Do I have a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?

Do I have an Emergency Plan?

These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself. We deal with hazardous substances every day in our job, from the diesel you put in your tractor to the staple gun gas you use. Most contractors carry approximately 6 hazardous substances to work. (You just went out to count, didn’t you?)

Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 

General Requirements

• You must manage the risks caused by hazardous substances in the workplace 
• You must keep an inventory of all hazardous substances used, handled, manufactured or stored in your workplace. This includes hazardous waste.
• You need a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for every hazardous substance supplied to your workplace. The SDS (or a condensed version of its key information, such as a product safety card) needs to be accessible to everyone who could be exposed to the substance in your workplace. 
• Every container of hazardous substances in your workplace needs to be labelled. This includes containers of hazardous substances you produce in your workplace and hazardous substances you remove from their original containers.
• Every hazardous substance in your workplace needs to be properly packaged. This includes hazardous substances in their original containers and hazardous substances that you repackage in your workplace.
• Some substances and locations have new signage requirements. You need to maintain your signs and keep them up to date.
• There are additional items on the emergency response plan to: cover any emergency that could happen in your workplace, list any training needed by people with responsibilities in an emergency and provide an inventory and a site plan.
• Fire extinguishers must be clearly visible and readily accessible and have a rating of at least 30B.
• Ensure every worker who handles hazardous substances receives the information, training, instruction and supervision that they need.

The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act is there to protect:

• The environment.
• The health and safety of communities and people.
• To control, manage and prevent adverse effect of the hazardous substance and new organism.

Under the Act a Hazardous Substance is any substance that may exceed levels defined in the regulation for: 

• Flammability
• Corrosiveness
• Chronic or acute toxicity
• Eco toxicity
• Explosive 
• Integration with air or water to cause a hazard/risks substance

Compliance

To comply with the Act persons shall.

• Store chemicals or hazard substance appropriately in correct containers and facilities.
• Have current Safety Data Sheets available (SDS) for any chemicals or hazardous substances  on site.
• Have a register that is updated regularly for current and held Hazardous substances on site.
• List approximate quantities of Hazardous Substances on site.
• Have in place an emergency procedure for Hazardous substances accidents or incidents.
• Have an approved handler if so required to use and manage Hazardous substances used.
• Have approved PPE equipment – glasses, respirator, gloves, overalls and hazard/risk control (spill kit), and fire extinguisher.
• Approved method of discard or disposal.

Safety Data Sheet 

The SDS for items carried in your vehicle should be no more than five years old and be held in the front door or pocket of the driver’s seat. It should contain valuable information about storage, transportation, and medical advice what harm the product can have.

You can use the online calculator from https://www.hazardoussubstances.govt.nz/calculator  to get valuable information. The register should outline what you use and carry and be kept in an easily accessible place. You can update and it will tell you the controls required.

Have you ever actually read one to see the information it holds? 

You may change the way you use the product or swap it out for a more friendly one if you did.

Have you got the right signage? 

Signage is important to communicate what substance and how much of it you are carrying. The contents and quantities must be labelled on the container. The information is not only labelling the content but also in the event of an accident, it gives emergency services an idea of what they may be dealing with, and how to respond to a spill or fire 

NEVER store any substance in a drink type bottle. Many children have died from ingesting hazardous substances thinking it was water. Substandard labelling and storage can also lead to an incorrect substance being used, causing an explosion. 

List of HSNO Classification Codes

These are the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act classification codes. 

• Physical Hazards (Classes 1-5)
• Health Hazards (Classes 6-8)
• Environmental Hazards (Classes 9)

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES REGISTER EXAMPLE Location: Utility box Signed: DR                Date 1/2/23                    Review Date 1/2/24 QTY = Quantity                SDS = Safety Data Sheet              PPE = Personal Protective Equipment

Product Name Solid Liquid Gas QTY Kg / L held  Size of container  SDS held Y / N Location & special storage requirement PPE req Y / N HSNO approval number and name of group, standard UN class and packing group  HSNO classification (if available) Aegis Super Tractor Oil Universal Liquid 60 20 Y  Store in a well-ventilated place away from ignition sources and strong oxidizing agents Y Approval Number: HSR002605  6.4A Paslode – Stockade Fuel Cells Liquefied Gas 2 .50 Y Extremely flammable gas. Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated. Keep away from heat / sparks / open flames / hot surfaces. Protect from sunlight. Store in a well-ventilated place. Y Lubricants (Low Hazard) Group Standard 2006  2.1.1A

Site Plans

 

You may need a site plan depending on the job you’re doing. 

Your emergency response plan needs to include a site plan. Make sure the plan is accurate and drawn to scale so that 

 

anyone who needs to use it can identify the distances involved and any other relevant information about the location.

The plan could show, depending on the nature of your operation, the following items:

• a north point
• all hazardous substance locations and tanks or processing equipment for hazardous substances
• all buildings, entry and exit points to buildings, and any stairs or lifts
• the location of the fire alarm panel on your building
• the main electrical switchboard
• the main structures, roads, and landmarks on your site
• access points for emergency vehicles and any barriers or height limitations for vehicles entering the site
• the location of the nearest water supply, such as tanks or hydrants
• if you have water tanks on site, the size of the tanks
• if the nearest hydrant is not visible on the plan, place an arrow on the plan (where the plan shows the road outside your site) to indicate its direction
• the emergency evacuation meeting points
• access and shut-off points for gas, water and electricity mains
• any major electrical transformers, generators, or other potentially hazardous plant
• shut-off valves for any piped gas or chemical processing systems
• any specialised fire safety systems, such as mist or drencher systems
• the location or direction of any high-risk neighbours such as:
  • schools or public meeting places
  • retirement homes or hospitals
  • petrol stations or neighbours that store large volumes of chemicals.

Other useful information to include on your site plan:

• drains, marking the direction of flow, and any storm water grates on your site or on the road outside it
• the location of spill kits, first aid kits, fire extinguishers and any other emergency equipment
• the location of your SDS, inventory, and of the site plan.
• Attach a copy of your site plan to your job documents

Have you got your spill plan items and card ready to go and do your staff know what to do?

Hazardous Substances Training Worksheet

Training to handle substances is vital, ensure you learn about the substances you use and what safe handling looks like: 

Training Topic	Yes/No	Comments/ Assistance required
Is the employee aware of the harm that can be caused from each hazardous substance they use at work?
Does the worker Know which substance are incompatible and need to be stored separately?
Does the worker understand how to do the jobs required that involve hazardous substances?
Does the employee understand what control measures are in place at the workplace to reduce exposure and keep safe and healthy?
Does the employee know where the SDS (Safety Data Sheets) are kept, understand how to use them, and have access to them?
Is the employee aware of how to safely store, use or dispose of each substance they use?
Does the employee understand the pictogram symbols on hazardous substances containers?
Has the employee been provided with the correct safety equipment and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)?
Has the employee been trained to use the safety equipment and PPE?
Does PPE fit correctly and is it in good repair?
Has the employee been trained to use the first aid equipment to deal with splashes and other incidents?
Does the employee know what to do in an emergency involving the substances they use?
Does the employee understand the importance of asking their supervisor questions if they are unsure about how to safely use or store a hazardous substance?

Personal Protective Equipment 

PPE for handling substances: Gloves, Eye protection, Respirator, and Protective clothing. 

Look at what you carry and see if you have the right items. Most importantly, use them!

How many of you wear a glove when pouring fuels? Did you know a lot of diesel handling makes your beer go flat? (Is it an old wives tail or will you try this out next time you’re holding the beer glass?) There are many more rules to comply with so ensure you check out what is required from the items on the back of your Ute to the shed stored ones or the tanker trailer you tow.

You are responsible to ensure all things safety about this area. Look for guides at WorkSafe to help grow your knowledge or ask a friend they may know a specialist that could help

Keep safe out there teams.  

Article supplied by RuralSafe

www.ruralsafe.co.nz

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© Fencing Contractors Association NZ (FCANZ)

Business coach Daniel Fitzpatrick from Next Level Tradie looks at how you can use Key Performance Indicators to stay in control.

There’s never been a more important time to use KPIs. Because doing business is hard right now. Material and wage costs are increasing. Construction costs for new homes have risen by 9.6% over the last 12 months according to RNZ.

Disruption of schedules, jobs being shifted around all the time, downturn in the market in areas, a shortage of good staff, your existing team having more time off, and expecting more leniency.

All these things add pressure to your profits, cashflow, and day-to-day running of the business. 

KPIs give you the ability to keep a firm handle on all important aspects of your business. Without having to be involved in every detail. 

Truth is, tracking your performance numbers and your progress is the only way to make sure all your hard work will be worth it. 

Let’s jump in:

1. Use KPIs to make difficult conversations with staff easier

Ever had a team member who wasn’t performing, had a bad attitude, or was making too many mistakes? It’s easy for these issues to get kicked down the road. But the longer it goes on, the worse it gets. 

The best thing about KPIs is… It’s not personal. It’s just about what the business needs to be successful. When standards have been set, everyone knows what’s expected. And it’s clear if they are meeting the mark – or not.

For example, I once worked with a building company that needed more jobs. The sales rep was not getting the results. It was awkward, there were lots of excuses and the owners were almost resigned to accepting poor performance even though it was hurting their business.

We worked together on putting KPIs in place. Suddenly it was much easier to have those sales conversations. Combined with the right support, the focus shifted to meeting targets. Tracking how many new enquiries this week, how many quotes completed, followed up.

Conversion rates increased from 22% to 35% which everyone was happy about – including the rep who was on commission.

2. Use KPI’s to get staff into an accountability mindset – and fix underperforming

How to get your team to perform at their best? It’s one of the hardest things about being in business. Unfortunately, if you don’t provide the right structure and direction, even your star players won’t be able to deliver.

Does your team know if they are winning or losing each week? Is their definition of success the same as yours? Developing KPIs with your team will get everyone on the same page.

The trick is: KPIs only work if your team owns them. 

To get buy-in it’s most effective to get your staff to come up with their own performance goals. 

A drainlayer I have been working with recently had a lot of issues in his team of 7. Jobs were taking too long, gear was being forgotten, a lack of accountability when things went wrong.

He’d tried motivating them before without success so was skeptical about KPIs. But he brought it up at the next team meeting and gave each guy the responsibility of coming up with their own KPIs (with a little guidance). 

KPIs ranged from the apprentice turning up on time through to the foremen committing to finishing jobs on schedule. Results were starting to happen. Then one day he overheard his guys comparing their individual targets and how they were going to go about achieving them. That was when he knew it was really working.

Remember to only measure your staff on stuff they have influence over!

3. Don’t overcomplicate your KPIs – only use the ones you really need

I’m a fan of Xero and job-tracking software. I’ll tell you what though. All of those complicated reports aren’t going to help you much. 

KPIs are most effective when they are kept simple.  In each part of your business you should only have a few key things to focus on. 

For example, if you want to improve cashflow, then the main KPI to watch is how much cash you have in the bank after all bills are paid. 

The numbers you’re tracking must be identifiable. So you can use them to make smarter decisions. If not, what’s the point?

When I work with tradies to improve their profits, I put all their most important KPIs into one dashboard. Then it only takes around 20-30 minutes a month to see how we’re tracking. And gives them laser focus on where to concentrate to get the best results. 

This dashboard is a quick check. All the numbers are in one place. The last thing you need is to be hunting out info all the time!

One company I’ve been working with for the last 8 months has gone from significant losses to now making 10k-20k every single month. This success is mainly down to using the dashboard. Consistency is key.

4. Never base your KPIs off what others are doing 

A word of caution: Don’t look at what others are doing and think you should be doing the same. And definitely don’t measure success by how big your team is compared to theirs. Take it from me: A bigger team does not automatically mean a bigger profit. 

KPIs will vary depending on what stage you are at in your business. 

When deciding your sales target this will depend on where your break-even point is, your gross margins, and how much money you want to make for the year. It’s individual to you and always will be. 

If you’re a builder you won’t be getting the same margins as an electrician. If you complete high-end work your margins should also be higher than others in the same industry. It’s important to get crystal clear on where your margin should be specifically for your business. 

Wouldn’t you rather base your pricing and margins off concrete numbers that are right for you and your overheads. So you know that you’re making money on every job and know exactly where you’re winning and losing? 

5. Use KPIs to avoid expensive mistakes

By now you’ll have realised that not having really solid KPIs is costing you more than you thought. Lost margins, lost profitability, lost focus.

Knowing exactly what you are aiming for will help you avoid mistakes (or at least see things in time to make adjustments when needed).

You can avoid pricing incorrectly (usually this happens if you don’t know where your target margin should be) and avoid leaking profits by tracking jobs well throughout.

You can avoid booking too many jobs (if you haven’t worked out exactly how much work is optimal for your team). This also means no burning out your team (and reputation) with too much work and crazy deadlines.

You can avoid constantly not having money in the bank when you need it and sleepless nights with cashflow worries because you haven’t created a cash buffer or know what that should be.

These mistakes all cost you time, stress, and money. 

Bottom line?

Running a business without tracking your performance is like being the captain of a ship in the dark of night during a storm. Trying to avoid the rocks. Without a lighthouse to guide the way.  

 

Article written by Daniel Fitzpatrick
Next Level Tradie
www.nextleveltradie.co.nz

 

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Moving on from stays, NZFC committee member and competition judge Wayne Newdick runs you through how he does tie backs. 

In summary, a breast plate is used for 2 or 3 reasons as opposed to a stay.

(1) The deflection in the fence is so slight a stay is not required

(2) The stay may interfere with or limit access for stock or vehicles

(3) There is no room and practically impossible to use a stay or conventional breast plate.

The method I am going to explain, I have used for over 15 years using various types of cables and wire.

I now use an 8mm galvanized rod which I make with eyes at each end.

One bit of advice I would give: If you are unsure when to use a stay or breast plate I always measure the deflection early on the fence construction, this is done by simply measuring 4mtrs past the angle in a straight line of the fence then measure back to the actual line (Figure 1).

• 2 feet between the lines with a 2.1 angle and half a 1.8 half round will hold in all but wet ground.
• 3-4 feet will hold in good ground.
• To go beyond 4ft both angle and breast plate should be increased in size and length.
• I would not go past 6ft with this method as there is simply too much loading.

Tie back

There are situations when you have little choice – especially on tracks where a conventional breast plate or stay will not work.

The method that I have found very successful is a tie back under the ground. A brief explanation as to how it works: 

A 1.8 post driven into the ground, 1.6mtrs in most soil types will require 1-2 tonnes to lift out, but 500kg applied horizontally to the top would move, bend or even break the post.

My method simply uses vertical lift (i.e.) 1-2 tonne and convert this to horizontal pull.

Photo 1: shows tie back in place and 450mm of half round in place and 1.8 Q2

Photo 2: is a look from above

Photo 3: is everything dug in place

Photo 4: shows the way this works. The 1.8 must be angled and the top leant to the angle

Photo 5: post driven down to the bottom of the mast

Photo 6: I use this device to drive the post up to 500mm underground.

Photo 7: this shows a gate type staple driven in 200 from the top.

Photo 8: this shows the top of the 1.8 driven 300-400mm below the ground.

I simply keep driving until I get 50-70mm of layback on the angle.

Summary

• If the ground is soft simply increase the size of the 1.8 to 2.4-2.7 and the half round to 900 or so, angle 2.1-2.4 etc.
• This system can be done with 4mm or 4.5mm wire or stainless with a minimum of two wraps and crimped (use two crimps because of the stock loading).
• Don’t drive the angle with layback because this is obtained with relative ease when driving the tie back.
• This system requires minimal digging, takes advantage of a postdriver and holds better than a conventional breastplate.
• Give this a go you may be surprised.

Written by Wayne Newdick
Wayne Newdick is a notable top fencer, widely recognised in the industry for his high standards and ingenuity.

Published in the Training & Events Feature in WIRED Issue 68 / March 2023 by Fencing Contractors NZ

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In the fourth instalment of our Retaining Walls feature, Nick Liefting takes us through the complexities of Cantilever wall specifications.

In this article I would like to portray the specifications for Cantilever walls – showing:

• Height
• Embedment
• Surcharge
• Pole size
• Footing size
• Spacing
• Railing thickness

Designs are based on firm clay material of 100KPa, with Poles to be founded in undisturbed or certified fill.

There are other factors that will alter the said specifications, e.g.:

• Toe slope
• Ground strength

I have given specifications going well beyond the non-consented height of up to 1.50m.  This is for a very good reason – I have often been asked for an indicative price for walls higher than 1.50m, so the client knows whether to pursue the job or has some idea of how much funding is required.

Fill

It is common to excavate for retaining walls, however, there are times when filling is required, due to undulations, or there may be a dip along the line.  Filling is carried out and then track rolled in to give a nice smooth line.  It must be mentioned here, that track rolled fill is not engineered/certified fill, which has been compacted with a sheepsfoot roller and tested.  So, the wall specifications must be calculated disregarding the fill depth.

Another handy piece of advice, is when a retaining wall that is, for example, 1.80m high, what is commonly done at the face of the wall is to build the ground up by 300mm creating, in effect, a toe slope.

A common area that is overlooked, or more so, misunderstood is the wall specifications when there is a toe slope involved.  With walls up to 1.50m high not requiring consent (unless surcharged), we (the contractor) become the designer.  I have seen some disasters in this area to the expense of complete wall replacement.

Toe Slope

We recently took over a job from a contractor and one of his walls (with a toe slope) had moved forward off plumb. (See diagram)

My simple instructions on how to calculate with toe slope in mind:

1. Toe Slope at 1:1
2. Visible retained height 1.20m
3. 1.0m added retained height due to toe slope. This can increase or decrease as the toe slope changes.
4. Effective retained height 2.20m
5. Embedment as per table of specifications for 2.20m retaining.Equals 2.0m plus 1.0m (c) = 3.0m
6. Footing diameter 500mm as per specifications for 2.20m retaining
7. Pole – The size of the pole is 150 SED which is for 1.20m retaining as per specs.

The strength, in this case, is the added concrete encasement (C) whereby, the pole is acting as the reinforcement.

Retaining Wall Summary for Bored Concrete Foundations at 1.2m Pole Centres

Retaining Wall Summary for Driven Timber Poles at 0.9m Centres 

 

Article provided by: 

Nick Liefting 

Nick Liefting Contractors Ltd

nlcontractors.co.nz

Published in the Training & Events Feature in WIRED Issue 68 / March 2023 by Fencing Contractors NZ

 

Read the other articles here:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7

The New Zealand Government announced in February that the adult minimum wage would increase to $22.70 per hour from 1 April 2023. 

This is an increase of $1.50 per hour from the current hourly rate of $21.20 and aligns with the 7.2% rate of Consumer Price Index Inflation in the year ended December 2022. 

The upcoming minimum wage increase only legally applies to the minimum rate of pay – there’s no requirement that every single employee receives a $1.50 wage increase.

However, you may have some workers who are already earning $22.70 an hour.  These employees will fall into the minimum pay rate bracket following the increase on 1 April. Despite there being no legal requirement to provide a pay rise here, this can raise issues about how more adept employees are paid compared to less qualified or experienced workers.

For example, an employee already earning $22.70, who suddenly makes the same income as a less skilled colleague, may feel resentful or frustrated that your company isn’t recognising their seniority or capability. Employees in this situation may be keen to negotiate a pay increase to maintain the relative pay difference.

In determining a strategy for managing pay relativity, it’s essential to manage affordability, properly understand workforce expectations, and manage them proactively.

Again, there’s no legal obligation to increase the pay rate for anyone earning at least $22.70 an hour already. But, with an eye on employee morale and workplace dynamics, you could consider the following if pay relativity comes up:

• Increasing an employee’s $22.70 an hour wage by $1.50 an hour (to maintain the relative difference between their salaries and the minimum wage).
• Increase an employee’s rate by an amount that keeps a differential rate and is reflective of individual ability and performance. You’d need to substantiate this increase through a performance review.
• If remuneration increases are not affordable for your business at this time, are there other non-cash benefits you can offer your more experienced workers, such as mentoring or training and development opportunities?

All minimum pay changes must appear in the next pay slip after 1 April 2023. It’s possible to delay the increase; for example, if the administrative load makes it impossible to meet the deadline. But you’d still be required to backpay affected employees to 1 April as soon as possible. You should proactively communicate this to your staff if you find yourself in this situation.

As an employer, you’ll need to keep up to date with the latest minimum pay changes and pay all your employees at least the minimum wage. This year’s pay increases may introduce significantly greater wage costs to your business. In this case, you may also want to think about pricing strategies and budget forecasting to account for your higher wage and holiday pay obligations.  

Adult Minimum Wage $22.70 per hour	This wage is the most commonly used by Kiwi businesses and applies to all employees who are 16 years of age or older, provided they do not qualify for the starting out or training wages.
Starting-Out Wage $18.16 per hour	Workers aged 16-19 who are entering the workforce for the first time. this only applies to 16 and 17 year olds during the first 6 months of their employment. Or 18 or 19 year olds who have been on a benefit for 6 months or more prior to their employment and only for their first 6 months of continuous employment following them being on a benefit it also applies to 16 – 19 year olds if they are doing at least 40 credits in a training programme just like the training minimum wage
Training Minimum Wage $18.16 Per Hour	This category of wage applies to employees aged 20 years or over who are completing recognised/accepted industry training involving at least 60 credits in order to become qualified.

 

Published in Business, Health & Safety, Environment in WIRED Issue 68 / March 2023 by Fencing Contractors NZ

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All the financial experts are talking about that dreaded word ‘recession’. 

I am no economist, but I’ve been around long enough to recognise that we are heading into difficult times. Between supply shortages, rising inflation, increasing interest rates, and an unstable housing market. 

So how do you protect your business and come through this in good shape?

Before we dive into that it’s important to get some perspective first. Recessions will crop up eventually, a boom is always followed by a bust, spring always follows winter, they are both parts of the economic cycle. 

Trades will always be needed in any part of the cycle, but in a recession there will obviously be less demand. However, the top 20% will always have enough work even when it’s quiet.

So how do you make sure you’re in the top 20%?

Here are 7 things you should know, and be working into your plan now, to be in that top 20%. 

So let’s get started:

1. Downturns weed out the crop

I was talking with a seasoned tradie about this the other day. His strategy: “Don’t waste a good recession.”

Sure, it’s harder to get work when times are slow. However, everyone is in the same boat.

Your competitors who are doing a poor job, pricing too cheap, taking the quick buck and burning their reputation? These types of competitors will disappear and we are now seeing early signs of this. 

Ultimately leaving more room for you.

The top tradies always have work. In any industry, the best are always in demand, regardless of what the market is doing.

Now is the perfect chance for you to get better, more efficient, become leaner and more resilient. Systemise your operations. Sharpen yourself up for the next phase.

When things bounce back, you’ll be ready to dominate, and have less competition.

2. Those who are slow to react are the worst hit

Listen up, because this one is important: You MUST be proactive with decision-making.

Watch the numbers closely. Look for the early signs so you’re not surprised.

Don’t rely on your backlog of work. Make sure you are doing all you can to keep the work flowing in.

If your efforts aren’t reflecting, and you need to cut overheads and possibly staff, as painful as it is, do it early. Not after you haemorrhage a heap of cash first.

Identify options ahead of time. Have a Plan B for all scenarios. Such as a higher overdraft facility or cash buffer in the bank.

3. Some of your customers will go broke

Have you ever been stung by a large bad debt? Most tradies have. That’s in the good times. It’s likely to happen much more in a downturn.

I often see tradies rely too much on one or two big clients. It’s risky. As a rule of thumb your biggest client ideally wouldn’t be more than 30%-40% of your business.

Assess now: If your biggest client disappeared, would you still be ok? We’ve all seen bigger companies fold and little guys get hurt.

Don’t let it happen to you: Make sure you aren’t carrying late payers, and have solid terms of trade.

4. Never stop marketing

Why should you market if you have more work than you can handle? In a downturn, things can change quickly.

Assess: Is your work coming from just one source currently? It’s not a good idea to rely on only one stream to feed you jobs through.

What if your biggest customer had their work dry up? Or went broke, and you had to deal with the receiver who didn’t want to pay you?

What if they changed owners? Or their project manager (that dishes out the work) decided he was going to use your competition instead? This can happen (and does).

Especially if word of mouth is the only way you get leads, build a larger number of sources. There are so many different and effective ways for tradies to market their services. Then even if some dry up, you will still have other streams of work.

In slow times, you can also diversify (into other types of jobs you can make money on). As well as specialising in what you are really good at. Do both! Spread your risk.

5. Cut the fat

I mean, this is something you should be doing at least once a year anyway.

I have recently taken all my clients through this. A smaller client of mine saved $17,000 from just a few tweaks. Not bad for a few hours of work.

Cash is king, and you want as much of it available as you can. Reduce overheads. Work on becoming more efficient.

Reduce debt as much as possible. In a recession, banks tighten up lending and overdrafts. Be aware of interest rate trends and your ability to pay back current debt.

6. Under-pricing leads to problems later

On some jobs, to keep the work, you might have to sharpen your pencil. Be. Very. Careful!

Don’t make the mistake of assuming if you have steady work, all will be okay. You must know at exactly what point the job is not worth doing.

In hard times, lots of tradies will do anything to get (or keep) the work. They are the ones that get into trouble first.

Know your margins. Quote too cheap and you will feel it down the line with tight cashflow and higher debt. That’s not sustainable.

There are better ways to win work and keep your margins strong. Even when things are quiet. Even when competitors are under-cutting you.

7. The strongest asset in your business is you

Have you noticed that some people always seem to get ahead no matter how big the obstacles are? 

In sport, the best teams don’t always have the best players, but they consistently win anyway. The difference is superior coaching, strategy and mindset. 

It is the same in business, the business is always a reflection of the owner. 

So what are you doing to prepare mentally going into this new season?

Who is your mentor you can talk with on those hard days when it seems everything is falling apart? What books are you reading? What new strategies are you working on to improve? 

The more you grow the better your business will perform.

One of the things that I love doing with clients is celebrating their successes or looking back with them and comparing where they are now to where they started.

The theme is always the same, the things they struggled with in the beginning they now have sorted. They slayed the dragon and recognised how to beat the next one. Every challenge is slightly different but as they start getting small wins, they accumulate and it’s not long before the battle is also won. .

You can’t control the environment, the economy, or that crazy client that is not happy no matter what you do. 

But how you react will have the biggest effect on the outcome. Now is the time to get prepared and get the tools to deal with whatever happens next.

Let’s sum up.

We can’t stop the recession. But we can prepare wisely.

Carving out time for strategic thinking is key. Because when the economy changes, your approach must also change.

Remember, in a recession, there are always opportunities. But most are too busy scrambling or freaking out, to see them.

Trying to do this on your own won’t work. So build stronger connections with your network, your staff, customers, suppliers, and bank. You are going to need them.

A recession will absolutely affect your business. At times you won’t have all the answers, that’s normal. So make sure you also have a mentor (someone who understands business) to talk to regularly, and work through the issues.

If you already have a mentor – great.

If you need one, then it’s time we had a chat.  

 

Article supplied by Daniel Fitzpatrick
www.nextleveltradie.co.nz/nextstep

Published in the Business, Health & Safety, Environment Feature in WIRED Issue 67 / December 2022 by Fencing Contractors NZ

Well believe it, Summer is coming and if the weather patterns are anything to go by to date, our very wet winter may mean a very hot dry summer. 

Heat is a silent killer in the workplace and on the job site, preparing for the heat starts before the workday begins

I’ve even noticed a little sun burn about the odd warm day. While the sun is a welcome sight after a terribly wet winter for some it comes with danger also.

Fencing Contractors are out in the elements and usually the heat of the day gets to you at some stage. So how are you protecting your team and yourself from this environmental risk?

Why protect yourself and team? 

It’s good business to make sure the team can work safely and talk about how this can be achieved when it’s getting hot. 

Productivity can be greatly reduced in the heat of the day so talk about early starts and coming back later when cool.

Fatigue can be a danger that comes from excess heat exposure also, what’s your plan to manage this?

Melanomas

Due to the nature of the work increased chances of Melanoma due to the sun exposure is high for New Zealand. Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and the fourth most common cancer in New Zealand. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world – each year approximately 2,500 people are diagnosed with the condition and over 300 die from it.
Melanomas can occur at any stage in life, though it is rare for melanomas to occur in children and teenagers. The chances of developing a melanoma increase with age. You should regularly get a skin check or mole mapping to monitor any changes in your skin. Always be aware of the signs to look for – early detection may save your life. 

Heat is a silent killer in the workplace and on the job site, preparing for the heat starts before the workday begins.

Staying hydrated with water, not too many energy drinks that doesn’t help with rehydration. Wearing the right clothing can go a long way in protecting workers from heat stress. However, you may need to change the times you work as temperatures peak. A long lunch may be required.

The Importance of Clothing

Clothing and personal protection equipment (PPE) play a major role in minimising heat related illness on the job site. Many workers adapt to the hazards or discomfort of the work by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, but this can make cooling difficult. 

PPE can trap heat and become the risk, even when the equipment is designed for hot weather use. It may be necessary to use more workers on shorter shifts to give everyone more breaks from wearing PPE as they rotate in and out of the work area.

Some manufacturers are designing clothing such as cooling vests that hold ice packs to alleviate the heat. 

Employer Protective Measures

Employers need to make sure that their workers can keep hydrated easily and can protect their skin from UV radiation damage. There are a range of protective measures as follows:

• If possible, plan outdoor work in sunny weather to limit duration and intensity of employee exposure to direct sunlight (11am to 3pm sun rays are most intense)
• Limit duration of exposure, if possible, when UV index is high (3 or above), do indoor work if possible
• Provide shade if possible, or if that is not possible, there should be shade for breaks
• Give information to employees about dangers of sun exposure
• Ensure workers have easy access to safe drinking water. Workers should have enough time to hydrate – as the outdoor temperature rises the frequency of water breaks should go up
• Inform employees about the Sun Smart code
• Educate and encourage employees to self-check skin for signs of skin cancer
• Check UV index, if 3 or above greater risk www.met.ie/uv-index
• Ensure breaks are taken out of direct sunlight
• Encourage employees to cover up, keep clothing on with sleeves down, collars up and wear clothing with high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), 15 or more, wear wide-brimmed hat
• Ensure employees do not strip off clothing when it is sunny
• Provide sunscreen, SPF of at least 30+ with a high UVA protection and water resistance. Reapply regularly. Check your sunscreen is correct for the required use and is supported by the Cancer foundation – some aren’t as good as you think.
• Provide sunglasses, wraparound are the best.

Sun Smart Code

Please make it easy for workers to follow the SunSmart code messages – 5 Ss:

• Slip on clothing that covers your skin, such as long sleeves, collared t-shirts.
• Slop on sunscreen on exposed areas. Use sunscreen SPF minimum 30 or higher. Apply 20 minutes before going outside and re-apply every two hours – more often if perspiring.
• Slap on a wide-brimmed hat.
• Seek shade – especially if outdoors between 11am and 3pm when UV rays are at their strongest. If possible, schedule outdoor work before 11am or after 3pm.
• Slide on wrap around sunglasses to protect your eyes

Symptoms and first aid treatment options

Below shows symptoms and treatment options for common heat-related illnesses. If you notice signs of heat-related illness or injury in yourself or a workmate, stop work and tell your supervisor.

Condition	Symptoms	Treatment
Heat rash	Small, red, itchy bumps on skin	Move to a cooler, less humid environment Keep the affected skin dry
Heat cramps	Muscular pains and spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs See a doctor or nurse if you: have a heart condition, or are on a low-sodium diet	Drink water or electrolyte replacement solutions. Rest in a cool environment and do not return to strenuous activity until a few hours after the cramps have ended. See a doctor or nurse if cramps do not go away within one hour
Heat Exhaustion	Heavy sweating Paleness Muscle cramps Tiredness/weakness Dizziness Vomiting Headache Fast and weak pulse Shallow breathing	Stop work immediately. Move to a cool place, out of the sun and away from any other heat sources. Drink water or electrolyte replacement solutions. Take action to cool down (remove clothes, sponge with cold water, apply wet towels). See a doctor or nurse if symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour.
Heat Stroke – high body temperature (39.4°C+)	Confusion Disorientation Unconsciousness Red hot dry skin (no sweating) Throbbing headache Nausea Rapid, strong pulse	Call 111 – for immediate medical assistance. Then: move to a cool place with circulating air remove or loosen unnecessary clothing cool down – for example, by:  splashing room temperature water on skin, or sponging skin using a fan to direct a gentle airflow over your body applying cold packs or wrapped ice to your neck, groin, and armpits Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until body temperature drops below 38.5°C If fully conscious, sit up and drink cool, but not cold, fluid, such as water or an electrolyte solution

 Look for guidelines about health and the sunshine at: www.healthify.nz/hauora-wellbeing/s/sun-safety-topics

There are numerous resources available on sun safety and Melanoma. Get familiar with this summer time risk and do what you can to mitigate the damage that may occur.

MOST IMPORTANT: TALK TO THE TEAM BEFORE IT’S UPON YOU.
And then go swimming. Nothing like a quick dip in the water trough!

Don’t let heat stress become a silent danger on your work site. With a generous supply of water, a steady source of electrolytes, and a place to get out of the heat, work can safely continue through the summer.

Keep safe out there and keep checking you’re all ok.   

Article supplied by Deb and team
RuralSafe
www.ruralsafe.co.nz 

Published in the Business, Health & Safety, Environment Feature in WIRED Issue 67 / December 2022 by Fencing Contractors NZ

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