Richard O'Donoghue: Blocks and Chips - Builder Urges Broader Rule
Richard O'Donoghue, speaking as a long-time building contractor, addressed the minister on proposed regulatory wording that limits coverage to block work. He argued that chip-size distinctions (references to 804 and 808) do not alter the material and urged the amendment to cover all stone products used in a house, not just blocks.
He told colleagues that the same stone is used throughout a building - in foundations, subfloors, finish floors and block work - and that a change in certified chip size does not make it a different material.
He contrasted regulations described as 804 and 808 and said the difference is only the size of the chip rather than the stone itself. He gave examples of 6mm, 10mm and 20mm chips and argued they are the same quarry stone, likening selecting a specific chip size to choosing a particular flour for a cake.
He criticised the amendment as drafted "block work only", insisting that the wording cannot be confined to a single product when the same stone is used across multiple building components. He urged a broader interpretation of the law so the regulation applies across the products used in houses.
Speaking from years of practical experience as a builder, he emphasised his familiarity with the materials and asked decision-makers to heed practitioners who understand the work. He used plain language and practical analogies to press his point and to challenge the narrow scope of the proposed change.
Main argument
He told colleagues that the same stone is used throughout a building - in foundations, subfloors, finish floors and block work - and that a change in certified chip size does not make it a different material.
Technical point on chip sizes
He contrasted regulations described as 804 and 808 and said the difference is only the size of the chip rather than the stone itself. He gave examples of 6mm, 10mm and 20mm chips and argued they are the same quarry stone, likening selecting a specific chip size to choosing a particular flour for a cake.
Amendment critique
He criticised the amendment as drafted "block work only", insisting that the wording cannot be confined to a single product when the same stone is used across multiple building components. He urged a broader interpretation of the law so the regulation applies across the products used in houses.
Appeal to experience
Speaking from years of practical experience as a builder, he emphasised his familiarity with the materials and asked decision-makers to heed practitioners who understand the work. He used plain language and practical analogies to press his point and to challenge the narrow scope of the proposed change.
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Transcript
Minister, following on from Deputy Warden, Deputy O'Brien and from where the regulation sits on it is based on block. As I said to you earlier, I have been building contractor all my life. The same grit that goes into block is a different size chip than goes into lintels. When you talk about 804 and now you have regulated to 808, even though it is the same material but it is just certified differently, it is just a different size chip. It is the same stone. So what goes into your foundations, goes into your subfloor and which goes into your finish floor, which then goes into your block work, is the same stone. So where you can see on particles that this covers the block only, it is like going to bake in a cake and they are using flour in the cake and you say, oh listen to me, I am going to put it down to that particular flour in that cake. It is the same. So from every building material that you have used in your house, it is the same stone. The only thing that is different is when you are plastering, it is a sandstone. That is the difference. So everything else would be based up on the different types of stones that are in your quarries. So what I am trying to say to you, the amendment here before you, and you have it down as the block work only, if you would interpret it through any law in the country, if a stone is 6mm chip, 10mm chip, 20mm chip, it is the same stone. If it looks like a duck and it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it is a duck. Simple science. Why not listen to people that understand exactly what they are talking about. These hands are rough enough for using it for many, many years. I understand it. So I am asking you to understand the same. You cannot put it down just to one product. You have got to put it down within the products of the houses that have been used. You have got to move. Thank you.