Our building has concrete cancer. Should a building superintendent oversee the remediation, and if so, who do we contact? At what stages should the building superintendent inspect?
Engage with an expert in the industry to give your strata company the confidence that the work has been completed well and you have received what you paid for.
An expert, such as a superintendent, should be included in this process. It is really important. Builders want to fix the issue. They don’t want to come back multiple times. Involving a superintendent is like having a second set of eyes on the project. Often, the remediation process can be a step-by-step process and having an independent expert intervene to double-check that process, particularly during preparation, will be helpful for the owner’s peace of mind that the remedial repairs have been done correctly, in accordance with the contract and most importantly in line with the National Construction Code (NCC) and Australian Standards.
Additionally, a superintendent ensures that progress claims and variation raised by the contractor are true and correct in terms of percentage claimed against works completed, the quality of those works and compliance with the NCC prior to funds being released for payment.
In terms of recommendations, many companies offer this service. I highly recommend engaging with an expert in the industry to give your strata company the confidence that the work has been completed well and you have received what you paid for.
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Bruce McKenzie is National Manager for Commercial Services and Major Projects at Sedgwick's Building Consulting Division, the largest claims management corporation in the world. With over 36 years' experience as a licenced building contractor, Bruce has received multiple state building excellence awards and a National Building Award through Master Builders Australia.
Since joining Sedgwick a decade ago, Bruce has led the growth of its Commercial Services Division, managing major building projects nationally across the insurance and private sectors — including property damage, catastrophe events and large-scale remediation. He has acted as expert witness on high-profile litigation matters, most notably the Lacrosse Tower combustible cladding case, and served as Program Director for Cladding Safety Victoria, overseeing the recladding of over 40 buildings as part of the Victorian Government's $600 million rectification program. In 2022 he commenced a secondment as Program Director for Project Intervene with the NSW Office of the Building Commissioner, addressing serious defects in recently constructed buildings.
Bruce is a licensed builder in NSW, QLD, VIC and ACT, and holds an Advanced Diploma in Building & Construction Management and a Diploma of Project Management.
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