A new code of conduct for cold store construction will take effect on December 1, JC Consulting says
By Rob McKay | August 30, 2010
A cold store construction code of conduct will be effective from December 1, JC Consulting Director John Clampett told the Refrigerated Warehouse and Transport Association national conference today.
JC Consulting had been tasked by peak body Expanded Polystyrene Australia (EPSA) with developing the code, research for which included an investigation into conflicting claims of fire retardancy performance by panel manufacturers.
Pressure from Australian and New Zealand firefighting departments had spurred the effort, as firefighters often had no way to gauge the intensity of cold store fires or their likely behaviour.
Clampett described the code as a “certifications scheme for best practice” that would be flexible rather than represent a standard or regulation but that would represent business self regulation in the eyes of government.
The code is expected to be made public in October, having been launched within the industry in March. It will be administered by EPSA. Insurance industry discussions are ongoing.
“I’m not going to say they’ll lower their rates but the reaction’s been positive,” Clampett says.