Project Intervene is a program to resolve serious defects in the common property of buildings that are up to ten years old. So what is the definition of a serious defect?
A serious defect is a failure to comply with the performance of the Building Code of Australia.
A serious defect is a failure to comply with the performance of the Building Code of Australia. This may include defective design or faulty workmanship relating to five elements:
- Waterproofing: mould, water ingress, membrane failure. Examples - often seen in planter boxes, rooftop balconies or roofs.
- Structure: Internal and external load bearing components of a building that are essential for the stability of the building or part of it. Examples - cracks in concrete over three millimetres and where movement is evident, seepage from cracking, and honeycombing.
- Fire Safety Systems: fire safety systems for a building within the meaning of the Building Code. Example - obstructed sprinklers.
- Enclosure: Separates the interior from the exterior, including windows, doors, walls, roof and cladding. Examples - water ingress around cavity flashing, leaking windows, cracking facades, combustible cladding and shattered balustrades.
- Services: mechanical, plumbing and electrical services. Examples - incorrect height of fire hydrants, obstruction to fire safety equipment, missing fire safety equipment, inadequate ventilation systems, and non-compliant switchboards.
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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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