ARK Kitchen Installation Policy

This Policy governs on-site cabinetry installation, site protection, access, other-trade interfaces, concealed conditions and installation records.

1. Purpose
This Policy explains how ARK manages on-site kitchen cabinetry installation, site protection, access, coordination, concealed conditions, inspection and completion records.

2. Application
This Policy applies to installation expressly included in an ARK Kitchen or applicable kitchen-led renovation Scope.
It does not automatically apply to:
self-installation;
installation by a Client-appointed contractor;
standalone non-kitchen cabinetry;
supply-only goods.

3. Related documents
This Policy must be read with the applicable:
ARK Standard Kitchen Project Terms;
Project Contract Schedule;
Accepted Quotation;
Approved Drawings;
Material and Hardware Schedule;
Appliance and Client-Supplied Product Schedule;
Delivery Policy;
Site Readiness Requirements;
On-Site Standards;
Workmanship & Defect Assessment Standard;
Variations & Change Control Policy;
Handover & Completion Policy;
applicable Warranty Policy and Schedules.

4. Installation Scope
Depending on the Accepted Project Documents, installation may include:
site protection appropriate to ARK's work area;
unloading ARK-supplied cabinetry;
positioning, levelling and fixing cabinets;
installing doors, drawers, shelves, panels, fillers, scribes and plinths;
installing ARK-supplied hardware, handles and profiles;
ordinary adjustment;
installing a benchtop where included and suitable for ARK installation;
coordinating an ARK-appointed specialist fabricator;
completing applicable installation checks;
reasonable cleanup of ARK-generated installation debris.

5. Kitchen Cabinets & Benchtop and Kitchen Renovation distinction
Kitchen Cabinets & Benchtop
This service normally assumes that the site has been prepared for ARK's accepted cabinetry, benchtop and installation Scope. Demolition, wall preparation, plumbing, electrical, flooring, tiling, painting and other trade work are excluded unless expressly included.
Kitchen Renovation
This service may include removal, site protection, licensed trade coordination, making-good or other renovation work only to the extent expressly recorded in the Accepted Quotation and Project Contract Schedule.
The service label does not override the accepted Scope. Each included trade, responsibility and exclusion must still be identified in the project documents.

6. Work normally excluded
Unless expressly included, ARK installation does not include:
demolition or disposal;
plumbing, drainage, gasfitting or prescribed electrical work;
appliance connection;
structural work;
wall repair, plastering or painting;
flooring or tiling;
waterproofing;
asbestos or hazardous-material work;
consent or engineering services;
correction of pre-existing building defects.
Regulated work must be carried out by appropriately authorised persons.

7. Site readiness
Before installation, the Client must ensure, unless ARK has accepted responsibility otherwise:
the installation area is cleared;
demolition is complete;
wet work is complete and sufficiently dry;
walls and floors are reasonably ready;
required services are in approved positions;
safe power and lighting are available;
access is clear;
other trades will not obstruct ARK;
pets, children and occupants can be kept away from active work areas;
required approvals are available.

8. Site readiness confirmation
ARK may request written readiness confirmation, photographs or a site check before mobilisation.
Readiness confirmation does not make ARK responsible for concealed conditions that could not reasonably be identified.

9. Access and working hours
The Client must provide lawful access during the agreed working window and notify ARK of:
alarms;
keys or codes;
parking restrictions;
body-corporate rules;
security procedures;
occupant restrictions;
restricted work hours.
ARK's public appointment hours do not guarantee that all installation work will occur only within those hours. Project-specific attendance will be confirmed through the Schedule or myARK.

10. Site protection
ARK will apply reasonable protection appropriate to the accepted Scope and known site conditions.
For Kitchen Cabinets & Benchtop, this normally begins before delivery and installation in the immediate work route and work area.
For Kitchen Renovation, the record may include:
initial site protection;
removal or demolition where included;
renewed or continuing protection after removal;
installation-stage protection;
close-out and removal of ARK protection.
Site protection reduces foreseeable risk but does not make every surface immune from dust, vibration or accidental damage. Existing damage, fragile finishes and unusual access conditions should be identified before work begins.

11. Existing property condition
Before or during work, ARK may photograph:
access routes;
walls and floors;
the installation area;
existing damage;
service locations;
unusual conditions.
The Client should identify fragile or valuable finishes and pre-existing damage before work begins.

12. Occupants, children and pets
The Client is responsible for keeping children, pets and unauthorised persons away from tools, materials and active work areas.
ARK may pause work if site control is insufficient to work safely.

13. Health and safety
ARK may stop, refuse or postpone work where:
the site is unsafe;
access is dangerous;
hazardous material is suspected;
services are unsafe;
another contractor creates material risk;
the requested method would breach law or reasonable safety practice.
Urgent safety action and resulting changes are governed by the Contract and Variation Policy.

14. Asbestos and hazardous materials
The Client must disclose known or suspected asbestos, mould, contamination or other hazardous material.
ARK is not authorised to disturb suspected asbestos unless the work is legally and expressly arranged through an appropriate specialist.
ARK may stop affected work until assessment and remediation are complete.

15. Measurement and approved information
Installation proceeds from the latest approved:
drawings;
dimensions;
material schedule;
appliance information;
Variations.
The Client must not request site installers to work from an earlier drawing or unapproved change.

16. Concealed and unexpected conditions
ARK may pause affected work where it discovers:
concealed services;
wall or floor conditions materially outside expectation;
moisture or decay;
structural concern;
hidden damage;
inaccurate Client-supplied information;
another trade's incompatible work.
ARK will record the condition and may propose a Variation or require another trade to correct it.

17. Walls, floors and building geometry
Existing buildings may not be perfectly level, straight, square or plumb.
ARK will use reasonable installation techniques, including levelling, fillers, scribes and adjustment, to achieve a functional and visually reasonable result.
ARK is not required to reconstruct the building unless expressly included.
Applicable workmanship assessment must consider the existing site and disclosed tolerances.

18. Cabinet fixing
ARK will select reasonable cabinet fixing methods for the known substrate and accepted design.
The Client must disclose known unusual wall construction or concealed services.
Where the substrate cannot safely support the accepted cabinetry, ARK may require strengthening or an alternative design.

19. Appliances and client-supplied products
The Client must provide confirmed brand, exact model and official technical information by the required date.
ARK is responsible for cabinetry and installation work it expressly accepts. ARK does not provide a product warranty for a Client-supplied appliance, sink, tap, handle or accessory.
A changed or incompatible product may require a Variation, delay or separate Project Record if it forms part of a later independently activated project.

20. Coordination with other trades
ARK may coordinate trades expressly included in its Scope.
Client-appointed trades remain the Client's responsibility. They must not alter ARK cabinetry, support, benchtop openings or services without coordination.
ARK may photograph interfaces and record responsibility boundaries.

21. Direct instructions to installers
The Client must not direct installers or subcontractors to change Scope, price, material or design outside ARK's authorised process.
Installers may accept ordinary access and sequencing instructions that do not alter the Contract.

22. Variations during installation
A site change may be required because of:
Client request;
changed appliance;
concealed condition;
inaccurate supplied information;
other-trade work;
safety or authority requirement.
Material changes must be managed under the Variations & Change Control Policy.

23. Workmanship and tolerances
ARK installation is assessed using:
Accepted Project Documents;
On-Site Standards;
Workmanship & Defect Assessment Standard;
applicable manufacturer information;
normal function;
normal viewing conditions;
existing site geometry.
Minor visual variation or an adjustable difference is not automatically a defect.
ARK must not invent an undisclosed tolerance after a dispute arises.

24. Benchtop stage
Where a custom benchtop is included:
Cabinetry Installation Completion must first be recorded;
ARK may complete final measurement or templating;
the 45% Cabinetry Installation Completion Progress Payment must be received in Cleared Funds before ARK is required to authorise or release custom benchtop manufacture;
manufacture and installation then follow the recorded schedule;
after the included benchtop has been installed, ARK completes the applicable final inspection and determines whether Practical Completion and Handover can be recorded; and
the 5% Final Completion Balance becomes claimable only after Practical Completion and Handover have been recorded.
The Final Completion Balance is not a condition for benchtop manufacture, dispatch or installation.
The kitchen may remain temporarily without its final benchtop, sink connection or complete use during the benchtop stage. Cabinetry Installation Completion is not Practical Completion or Handover.

25. Damage during installation
ARK will take reasonable care of the property and ARK-supplied work.
Damage caused by ARK's failure to use reasonable care will be assessed and remedied appropriately.
ARK is not responsible for:
pre-existing damage;
damage caused by another person;
damage caused by unsafe or undisclosed conditions;
loss not caused by ARK.

26. Cleanup
ARK will remove ordinary ARK-generated installation debris and leave the immediate work area reasonably tidy.
Unless expressly included, ARK does not provide:
whole-house cleaning;
specialist dust cleaning;
disposal of Client waste;
removal of unrelated demolition waste;
cleaning caused by another trade.

27. Installation records
ARK may update the same Project Record throughout the on-site process, including:
site readiness and access;
initial site protection;
removal where included;
renewed or continuing protection;
delivery;
cabinet installation;
levelling and fixing;
benchtop measurement and installation;
trade interfaces;
exceptions and corrective action;
photographs;
completion checks.
The ARKCode identifies that independent project record. A later separate project at the same property normally has its own Project Record and ARKCode.

28. Client absence
ARK may continue agreed installation without the Client present where lawful access and instructions have been provided.
The Client's absence does not prevent ARK from recording work, Practical Completion or Handover where the applicable requirements are met.

29. Installation completion
Cabinet installation completion is not necessarily Project Handover.
Where custom benchtop, trade reconnection, adjustment or another included stage remains, the Project Record will show the current phase and outstanding work.

30. Reported installation concern
A concern should identify:
ARKCode;
exact location;
component;
condition;
date noticed;
photographs or video.
ARK must receive a reasonable opportunity to inspect and remedy an issue for which it may be responsible.

31. Consumer and statutory rights
ARK must perform services with reasonable care and skill. Applicable residential building protections and other non-excludable rights continue according to law.