Mechdecks, rooftops, compliance — sorted
The questions HVAC contractors, consultants, architects and installers across Australia and New Zealand ask most often about mechdecks and the tool.
+What is a mechdeck?
A mechdeck is a raised structural steel platform on a roof, designed to carry HVAC plant — AHUs, condensers, fans — with screening, guardrails and access. In Australia and New Zealand it's the standard base for shopping-centre and commercial rooftop mechanical services.
+Does Fair Dinkum Mechdecks work in New Zealand?
Yes. The tool is AU + NZ ready. Guardrail and edge-protection rules follow AS/NZS standards, and materials (Zincalume + aluminium) are stocked on both sides of the Tasman.
+Do I need a CAD licence?
No. Fair Dinkum Mechdecks runs in the browser. Trace or draw the platform, set pitch and edges, place HVAC units, export a 3D preview, priced BOQ, cut list and draft shop drawings.
+Who is the tool for?
HVAC contractors, mechanical consultants and designers, architects working on shopping centres, and HVAC installers. Contractors, consultants and architects see full pricing; installers see the drawings and units without contractor commercials.
+How are guardrails handled?
Mandatory guardrail rules (AS/NZS 1657-aware) are applied automatically to the platform edges that require them, based on the platform height and edge treatment.
+What materials does it estimate in?
Lightweight structural Zincalume-coated steel + aluminium for non-structural framing and screens. Substrate-aware fixings (metal deck or concrete) are called out on the shop drawings and BOQ.
+Can I hand a job off to my installer inside the app?
Yes. Contractors push the job — model, BOQ, cut list, shop drawings — straight to the installer's dashboard. No email chains, no lost revisions.
+How much does it cost?
30-day free trial with no credit card. Pricing is shown to signed-in contractors, consultants and architects. Installers don't need a paid seat.
+Is it suitable for shopping-centre roofs?
Yes — shopping-centre rooftops are the primary use case. It handles multi-tenancy plantroom layouts, perimeter screens for landlord approval, and compliant guardrails per tenancy.
+What about compliance with Australian standards?
Guardrail and edge-protection logic follows AS/NZS 1657. Load-rated HVAC unit placement helps you spot where the deck needs primary structure underneath. The output is a compliant starting point, not a substitute for the engineer's sign-off.