Engineered Stone Ban Commences July 1 2024

Engineered Stone - What is prohibited?

From 1 July 2024, work involving manufacturing, supply, processing or installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs will be banned except for some work on legacy stone.

Engineered stone includes an artificial product:

• Containing 1% or more crystalline silica, and

• Is created by combining natural stone with other chemicals like, resins, pigments or water, and

• Becomes hardened

Products that are not engineered stone include:

• Concrete or cement product;

• Brick, paver or other similar block;

• Ceramic wall or floor tile;

• Porcelain product that does not contain resin;

• Sintered stone product that does not contain resin;

• Roof tile;

• Grout, mortar or render; and

• Plasterboard

The ban also applies to performing an engineered stone process with benchtops, panels or slabs. An engineered stone process means any process that generates dust from these engineered stone products is banned.

Is work performed with engineered stone already installed, made or supplied exempt?

Yes. Any legacy engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs, installed before the ban can still be worked on for the limited purposes of:

• repairs, minor modifications, removal and

• disposal (i.e. after removal or disposal of uninstalled stock).

You will no longer need an engineered stone licence that was previously required for undertaking an engineered stone process.

What about finished engineered stone products?

There is no express exemption for finished prefabricated engineered stone products. Guidance from WorkSafe indicates that:

“The ban applies to working with engineered stone benchtops, slabs or panels. That means that work with engineered stone products that are not benchtops, slabs or panels (such as jewellery, garden ornaments, sculptures, kitchen sinks) will still be permitted.”

There may however be uncertainty with finished engineered stone products which could be described as panels or slabs. These terms are not defined.  HIA recommends that members check with suppliers of such products to determine whether they could be subject to the ban.

Working with crystalline silica

The existing Compliance Code:  Managing exposure to crystalline silica: Engineered Stone, will be revoked on 1 July 2024. However, working with legacy engineered stone after 1 July 2024 will still be subject to existing control requirements for high risk crystalline silica processes.

This means preparing a crystalline silica hazard control statement beforehand, and adhering to it, for identified high risk crystalline work. Also, by following mandatory measures to control the risk to health by ensuring that any power tool or mechanical plant is used with:

• an integrated water delivery system that complies with the regulations or:

  • an on-tool dust extraction system that is commercially available and is connected to—

    • a Dust Class H Vacuum; or

    • another system that captures any dust generated by the use of the power tool or mechanical plant; or

  • if it is not reasonably practicable to use the systems referred to above, local exhaust ventilation.

More information can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria dedicated page for preventing exposure to crystalline silica dust.

Further information about the engineered stone ban

You can access the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Engineered Stone Prohibition) Regulations 2024.

Work safe has a dedicated page with answers to all your questions here -

Air & Light - Windows & Doors - Inspiration

One of the easiest ways to improve and update the appearance and the Thermal performance of your home is to upgrade your windows. Homes need to respond comfortably with the climate and site and the daily needs of the people who live in them. They bring in air and light but keep Summer heat out and winter warmth in. One of our projects features in the Current Rylock Product brochure which you can download and view here

Inspiration from The Block 2022

Watching the Block in our house presents some challenges. As builders we have a real Love/hate relationship with the show. We on one hand like to see some of the finishes and products featured on the other the unrealistic speed at which the contestants and their trades are expected to complete an ‘A’ grade Finish is frustrating and at times downright infuriating!

One of the featured wall finishes that has been a real winner for us though and that is Grafico’s Wallpaper (Sticker). Its not your standard wallpaper install - we found that out when our talented Painter and Wallpaper Magician began to scratch his head and worry when he saw it was a pattern match wall sticker. But the finished product is really amazing. If you have a room that need a bit of character then give this a try.

Grafico Catalogue

Making your New home or Renovation Accessible and Sustainable

We know how confusing it is when designing with the sustainability and suitability of our homes for the future. The new National Building Code will incorporate new liveable housing provisions to ensure that homes are fit for long term ownership and the various stages of our lives. This will be great for resale of homes. Whether you are building a new home or renovating for the resale. Knowing what these requirements are will help grow your home as a valuable asset both financially and for your lifestyle.

The livable housing provisions will require the following key elements:

• A step free path of travel from the boundary to the front or entrance door, which can incorporate either an access path or ramps including step ramps. Both must satisfy minimum width gradient requirements

• A step free level entrance into the dwelling that can incorporate a step ramp or a threshold of a maximum height. A door sill can be used with restrictions on the height profile. A landing is also required at the entrance

• A minimum of 820 mm clear width of opening for the entrance door and doors to habitable rooms, sanitary compartment and laundry (where located) on that entrance level. The opening must be clear of the door leaf and door stops or rebates, but the door handle can encroach.

• Level thresholds or a maximum 5mm lip to internal doors that require the minimum 820mm clear width. Internal door thresholds can also incorporate a step ramp.

• Minimum clear width of corridors connecting doorways that require the minimum clear width opening. Items such as skirting boards and architraves and light switches/GPOs can encroach into the clear width

• A toilet on the ground or entrance level with minimum width of opposing walls either side of the pan and 1.2m clear space to door swing in front of the pan. The minimum width must be measured between wall linings but skirtings and architraves etc. can encroach

• One shower in the dwelling that is step free and hobless. This shower does not have to be located on the ground or entry level and ‘step free’ for the shower means, a maximum 5mm lip or rebate and a shower screen can still be used.

• Reinforcing to the framing surrounding the toilet, shower and bath, such as nogging or sheeting, to enable future installation of grab rails. There are concessions where there is insufficient space in the room, or an opening encroaches the area to be reinforced.

Each of these elements have detailed provisions that need to be followed that are quite prescriptive in nature and much more involved than they may seem at first glance at a headline level. 

As such careful consideration, understanding and application of the corresponding provisions is critical. Contact us to see how we can make your design and build desirable and sustainable for future generations.