Construction & Contractors Blog
Do you have an upcoming project that entails building work? Whether it's a new build or an addition, alteration or demolition of an existing building, you may need a building approval. Generally, the terminology surrounding building approvals may vary across states and territories. However, you must obtain one before you start any building work. The role of building approvals is to determine whether the proposed building work is up to the required standard. Therefore, they check whether it complies with the building code for the region and all building laws, safety levels and structural integrity, energy efficiency levels, fire resistance and so on. Obtaining a building approval can be quite challenging. Therefore, knowing a thing or two about the approvals goes a long way in making the process less stressful. Here's all you need to know.
The Certifier
Building certification entails assessing your building work to ascertain its compliance with the relevant design guidelines and building codes. Depending on where you are in the country, you may need a commencement notice from a certifier before your building work starts. A licensed building surveyor can act as your certifier. You may also choose to work with government or private certifiers. In addition, you may also submit your building work plans and other crucial details about it to your local council to serve as your certifier.
Components Of the Plan
It's crucial to understand what you need to include in your building work's plans and designs before submitting them to your certifier. First, you must include details regarding how the building work will be conducted. For instance, if you are building a home, include details on how it will be done in terms of materials used, equipment required and other factors. You will also need to include details on all the building code requirements that your building work will meet.
Exemptions
Building approvals are vital and may be required for most building projects. However, depending on risk level and location, you may not need to obtain one for your building work. For instance, you may not need a building approval based on your location in the country, usually a remote area. The specific building task you have may also determine whether you need a building approval or not. For example, small projects like small retaining walls, temporary sheds and some fences may not require an approval. However, it would be best to check with your local council and other permit authorities to determine whether such exemptions apply to you. Also, even with such exemptions, it's your responsibility to ensure that your building work complies with all applicable building standards.
Share17 August 2021
Hello, my name is Colin and this is my construction blog. When people think of the construction industry, they often just imagine guys in hard hats building brick walls. While this is a popular image of the industry, it doesn't reflect the true diversity of different contractors and tradesmen who are involved in a construction project. Lasy year, my wife and I decided to construct our dream home. I had to arrange visits of plumbers, roofers, electricians, surveyors and home builders in order to get the job done. I learnt a lot during that experience, so I decided to start this blog.