The Australian Technical Infrastructure Committee (ATIC, and formerly CCURG) is a technical group under the umbrella of the APCC, with endorsement from Austroads. ATIC continues the work of CCURG which is to co-ordinate an agenda of technical issues relevant to infrastructure procurement, including standard technical specifications and a cementitious materials registration scheme for concrete. These are prepared for use by government agencies across Australia, but are also available free-of-charge to the general public.
The suite of standard technical specifications being progressively developed for construction materials, is called ATIC-SPEC, and operates in parallel with the existing Water Services Specification (WS-SPEC). At a national level, ATIC-SPEC is intended to address a number of issues, including:
- the huge array of product now sourced from a global marketplace;
- the absence of normative compliance requirements in Australian Standards;
- alignment with Australia’s technical infrastructure, for international credibility and trade; and
- a national requirement to adopt International Standards wherever possible.
The first three sections of ATIC-SPEC posted on the APCC website, are:
- Section SP38 Metal Anchors for Use in Concrete
- Section SP39 Fasteners for Structural Purposes
- Section SP43 Cementitious Materials for Concrete (originally forming part of WS-SPEC)
These are considered priority products to ensure safety and longevity for public infrastructure.
SP43 includes product conformity and a requirement for pre-registration of cementitious materials. Conformity assessment is addressed by the second party Cementitious Materials Registration Scheme (CMRS), administered by the RTA Chemical & Materials Testing Laboratory, on behalf of ATIC. The CMRS includes a Registered Products List which will be updated monthly if required. Verification sample testing is also available, as is advice on taking cement samples.
The format and style of ATIC-SPEC, reflects current best practice, a range of industry sectors throughout the world having adopted this system, including NATSPEC, the national building and services specification. It is a Reference Specification, that allows the Project Specifics table to be copied and inserted in project specifications and/or purchase orders. Users select from, add to, or modify ATIC-SPEC to suit the project needs. WS-SPEC is a similar document, and as sections are up-dated and if appropriate, they will be re-badged and re-issued as part of ATIC-SPEC, retaining their section numbers and names.
ATIC-SPEC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ATIC-SPEC was developed by the Australian Technical Infrastructure Committee (ATIC), in consultation with industry generally.
The support of APCC, and the endorsement of Austroads, is acknowledged with thanks. Also special thanks are given to: Hunter Water Corp (HWC); NSW Public Works; Roads and Traffic Authority, NSW (RTA); Qld Dept of Transport & Main Roads (DTMR); Dept of Environment, Climate Change & Water (DECCW); VicRoads; Landcom; RailCorp.
Thanks are also given to the other participating ATIC members, including: Qld Dept of Public Works; Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB); Building Commission of Victoria; Main Roads WA (MRWA); SA Dept of Transport, Energy & Infrastructure (DTEI); NT Department of Planning & Infrastructure; Dept of Planning (DoP); ACT Planning & Land Authority; Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA); Institute of Public Works Engineering Aust (IPWEA); State Water Corp (SWC); Housing NSW; Sydney Water Corp (SWC); Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils Ltd (WSROC); Sydney Ports Corp (SPC); Dept of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development (DIIRD).
From industry and learned societies, special thanks are given to: Individuals, and individual manufacturers, too numerous to include; Ash Development Assoc of Australia (ADAA); Australasian Slag Assoc (ASA); Amorphous Silica Assoc of Australia (ASiAA); Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA); Concrete Institute of Australia (CIA); CSIRO, Cement & Concrete Technology (now closed); Engineers Australia; School of Civil & Environmental Engineering UNSW (BRC has now ceased operation).
DISCLAIMER
ATIC-SPEC and WS-SPEC (the SPECS) are published by NSW Public Works, a division of the Department of Services, Technology and Administration (DSTA) and previously known as the Department of Public Works and Services (DPWS) on the following basis:
- DSTA and each contributor each disclaim, to the extent permitted by law, all warranties, representations or endorsements, expressed or implied, with regard to ATIC-SPEC and WS-SPEC.
- DSTA and each contributor do not warrant, or accept liability in relation to the quality, suitability, adequacy, use or operation of the SPECS.
- The SPECS are made available on the conditions that DSTA, each contributor and the employees and agents of each of them, shall have no liability (including, but not limited to, liability by reason of negligence) to any user of the SPECS for any loss, damage, cost or expense, whether direct or indirect, consequential or special, incurred by, or arising by reason of any person using or relying on the SPECS, and whether caused by reason of any error, omission or misrepresentation in the SPECS or otherwise. The users of the SPECS will be responsible for making their own assessment of the SPECS and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements, information and currency of the SPECS with their own professional advisers or as appropriate.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright in ATIC-SPEC and WS-SPEC belongs to the Crown in the right of the State of New South Wales. Anyone proposing to reproduce ATIC-SPEC or WS-SPEC or any part thereof must obtain prior written approval from ATIC.