Western Australian builders do not have a strong grasp of roof plumbing details.

Architects need to thoroughly understand different roof products with respect to their weather performance.   For example flat slate roof tiles are significantly less weather resistant than those with deep profiles. Flat tiles are not as strong as deep profiled ones.

Roof plumbing details not otherwise covered by acceptable solutions in the Australian National Construction Code should be specifically detailed within design documents.

An example is a valley gutter between roofs of different slopes as with dormers projecting out a main roof.  Where no special details are provided the builder builds as if it were a standard valley gutter. It is likely to overflow into the flatter sloped roof space.

There are buildings that use secret gutters along parapets wall/roof edges without aprons.   Secret gutters are not suitable as a single barrier to protect internal living spaces.

Are the current standards for treatment of public swimming pools in Australia appropriate?

What happens to chloroamines when they are absorbed through the skin?

Viruses are sterilized and bacteria are filtered but what else remains concentrated in solution?

Empirically speaking there appears to be more sickness from swimming in a treated pool than in the sea.

A full scientific review of the current methodology used for public swimming pool treatment should be undertaken.

MKM – This site will be used to discuss issues of engineering and public interest.  Please feel free to add your comments.