Accredited Building Certifiers

For all of your professional building consultant and certifier services, you can't go past the team here at Accredited Building Certifiers Pty Ltd.

Not only can we provide a wide range of certificates and reports, but we can also consult you on your next build and discuss your sustainablility options. Below is some more information about our most popular building consultant and certifiers services.

CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATE

What is a Construction Certificate?

A construction certificate is an approval that certifies that the proposed building or subdivision work will comply with technical requirements such as the Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards. The construction certificate also certifies that any relevant conditions of development consent have been satisfied.

A construction certificate cannot be issued unless:

• The design and construction of the building (as shown in the construction certificate application and plans) is consistent with the development consent;
  
• The proposed building will comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA);
  
• The relevant conditions of the development consent have been complied with (i.e. provision of security deposits, payment of monetary contributions, compliance with conditions requiring modifications to the development or compliance with matters to be submitted to the council for assessment and determination); and
  
• A number of other relevant legislative provisions have been met

Conditions of consent cannot be imposed on a construction certificate. Therefore, plans and specifications must be fully detailed. These plans and specifications must comply with the development consent and they must show compliance with the relevant provisions of the Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards.

Upon issue a copy of the certificate, associated plans and specifications are forwarded to the relevant council.

Council MUST be given 2 days notice BEFORE any works can commence.

COMPLYING DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE

What is a Complying Development Certificate?

Complying Development is development, which must comply with a set of standards set by Council. With this type of Development a Complying Development Certificate application needs to be submitted to Council or an Accredited Certifier for approval.

If a Complying Development Certificate is obtained, the applicant does not have to go through the Development Application process and does not have to apply for a Construction Certificate. The Complying Development Certificate serves as both

What is required for a Complying Development Application?

• Complying Development Certificate Application form completed and signed by all owners of the development
  
• Service Agreement completed and signed by the owner/s, applicant/s and the builder.
  
• Notice to Commence Building Work form completed and signed by the owner/s of the development
  
• Three (3) copies of construction drawings, a site plan, floor plan, plans showing elevations and section through the building and specifications of building materials and construction techniques
  
• Payment of Long Service Levy should the building work be valued at $25,000 or over. Long Service Levy is a Government Fund and levy payable is calculated at 0.35% of the estimated cost of the building work
  
• Home Owners Warranty Insurance if they have allocated a builder and the estimated cost of the building work is over $12,000 or an Owner Builders Permit (should the estimated cost of building work be over $5,000) and they are doing the work themselves

APPOINTING A PRINCIPAL CERTIFIYING AUTHORITY

It is a requirement of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act that for all building work a Principal Certifying Authority (PCA) is appointed to carry out inspections and issue the Occupation Certificate at the completion of the Building work.

It is the owners responsibility to appoint the PCA. The PCA can be a Private Certifier or Council.

We offer our service as PCA and should you be satisfied as to costs and service offered you are required to sign and complete a nomination form which forms part of the Construction Certificate Application forms which can be downloaded from this site.

OCCUPATION CERTIFICATE

What is an Interim/Final Occupation Certificate?

An occupation certificate certifies that the building or nominated part of the building is suitable and safe to be occupied. The occupation certificate must be obtained from the principal certifying authority (PCA) prior to the occupation of a new building or part of a building and also prior to commencing any change in the building’s use.

Prior to issuing an occupation certificate, the PCA must be satisfied that the construction works satisfy certain legislative requirements, such as the Building Code of Australia and that the building or nominated part of the building is suitable for occupation. Key considerations are structural adequacy, fire safety and the health, safety and amenity of future occupants of the building.

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

Compliance Certificates are certificates that are issued for particular parts of building work. For instance, a Compliance Certificate can be issued by an accredited engineer on footing construction to the effect that the footings are structurally adequate.

Compliance Certificates can also be issued certifying that conditions of consent have been complied with.

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REPORTS

Bushfire Reports

Bushfire reports are required by Councils to be submitted for any building work proposed to be carried out in a designated bushfire area. Designated bushfire areas are identified by Councils in mapping held at the Council and can be confirmed by inquiry or application for a Section 149 (Planning Certificate) which will indicate whether the site is within a designated bushfire area.

Where the site is within a bushfire area Councils require the submission of a bushfire report with an application for Development Consent.

The bushfire report will identify the level of the fire hazard and make recommendations as to construction standards and site clearing that may need to be undertaken to protect the buildings and occupants from the effects of a bushfire.

ABC can provide bushfire reports which have been accredited by Councils.

To undertake a bushfire report we will need contact details and a copy of the plans of the proposed building work.

The report can take from 7 – 10 days from receipt to complete.


BCA Assessment

ABC are experts in Building Code matters. We have provided reports on existing buildings to advise of any upgrade works they may be required to enable the building to comply with current requirements.

Remember that many buildings constructed more than ten (10) years ago may not comply with current requirements.

We also provide Building Code assessments of proposed building work and would be pleased to provide a quote.


Fire Safety Audit

Fire safety audits can be carried out of existing buildings to determine the level of compliance of a building with fire safety requirements.

A confidential report can be issued highlighting areas of non compliance.

We also provide a range of other services including:

• A range of building inspection services - commercial

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Give us a call today for a friendly discussion about your next building certifier, consultant or inspection project!