Builders with medium to large companies, particularly with insurance clients, have an opportunity to expand their services by becoming certified installers and providers of Stormseal™ – a new state-of-the-art, patented material that literally heat seals damaged roofs or exposed wall spaces, deeming them water and wind proof, doing away with bulky, blow-away tarpaulins and ropes.

Stormseal™ is a lightweight, strong material that is easy to install and can provide cover for up to two years while a house waits to be repaired or sections built, providing benefits to builders, insurance companies and householders.

Founder and Managing Director, Matthew Lennox, said the company is working with Pinnacle Safety and Training to offer Stormseal national accredited training programs, providing 16 continual professional development (CPD) points for builders  – With the yearly requirement of 12 points builders can secure their licence points in one day with the remaining 4 points carried forward to the following year.

“We believe Stormseal™ will revolutionise the way builders cover a house that is waiting for repair following a big storm or during construction, using a method that allows residents to stay in the house because it is a water and wind tight system, whilst providing protection from further damage if storms continue,” he said.

“By installing a product that guarantees property protection from further storm damage aids all parties, particularly the insurer which is in turn protected from having to pay out more if a tarpaulin flies away and further damage occurs.  Importantly it reduces trauma for the resident and aids the social network of a community post severe storm activity.

“Severe storms are becoming more frequent, damaging property, traumatising residents, stretching emergency resources and costing insurance companies billions. The 2007Australian storm which had hailstones as big as cricket balls hit Sydney, causing insured losses of A$486million,” he said.

Mr Lennox believes that the more builders trained to install Stormseal™, the better for everyone, especially in terms of cost savings.

“The insurers and builders who have witnessed the potential of our versatile product know that it will cut their costs significantly, while keeping policyholders property safe. Stormseal is an ideal solution for rapid response and cost-effective resilience in the face of natural disasters,” he said.

Other Stormseal™ benefits are that it weighs less than one-third as much and requires less than one-eighth of the storage space compared to tarpaulin. Also, heat curing changes the chemical structure of the Stormseal™ film, enhancing its strength.

Sydney Plumber of 1-Callplumbing, David Shapiro, was recently sent to a house following the June deluge to check out water leaks and damage for a builder.  He immediately saw it was not a job he could help with and the house needed covering as more rain was due, so he contacted Stormseal™.

“I had not seen the product before but was very impressed at how quickly it was installed and the fact that it is still protecting the house while it waits in line to get repaired and going through the insurance process,” he said.

The training course covers all aspects of understanding the Stormseal™ product, how to install it and related building skills required.

To qualify you must have completed a working safely at heights (RIIWHS204D) course before they apply and should put a day aside to conduct the training.  Once completed and certified, you receive a Statement of Attainment recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, which is nationally recognised. In addition you also receive a certificate and wallet card stating “Stormseal™ Accredited Installer” which can be shown to clients to prove you are fully trained.

Group company bookings are recommended with a minimum of six to eight people. For more information visit www.stormseal.com or call 1300 990 810.