Changes to Western Australia’s building regulations have clarified restrictions on the types of buildings and incidental structures a building surveyor may sign a compliance certificate for under the Building Act 2011.

Recent amendments to the Building Regulations 2012 were primarily made to reduce confusion about the restrictions that apply to level 2 building surveying practitioners and building surveying practitioner technicians. 

Floor area and number of storey restrictions had previously applied to all types of buildings but now only apply to Class 2 to 9 buildings. The changes make it clear that the floor and storey restrictions do not apply to (and are not appropriate for) domestic structures such as retaining walls and swimming pools. This means:

• Level 2 building surveying practitioners may now certify any Class 1 or 10 building or incidental structure; or a Class 2 to 9 building or incidental structure with a floor area not exceeding 2000m² and that is no higher than three storeys.
• Building surveying practitioner technicians may now certify any Class 1 or 10 building or incidental structure; or a Class 2 to 9 building or incidental structure with a floor area not exceeding 500 m² and that is no higher than two storeys.

Level 1 building surveying practitioners may still certify any type of building or incidental structure.

The changes to the regulations, including a comparison of the previous and current wording, are detailed in Industry Bulletin 92 – Restrictions on building surveyors clarified, which is available on the Building Commission website www.commerce.wa.gov.au/publications/building-industry-bulletins-complete-list.

The fact that only a registered building surveying contractor at the appropriate level or a public authority can issue a compliance certificate remains unchanged.