The Building Code of Australia (BCA) is supported by ‘referenced documents’ including Australian Standards.  In simple terms, the BCA specifies 'what' is required and the Australian Standards specify 'how' something is to be done. The Australian Standards form an integral part of the deemed to satisfy provisions of the BCA.  Australian Standards set out specifications and procedures designed to ensure products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently perform the way they were intended to. They could cover a range of matters including a: 

1. material, for example, concrete, steel, or timber; 
2. product, e.g. roof tiles or fibre-cement sheets; 
3. system, e.g. water service; or 
4. design methodology or testing or measuring procedure. 

There are other Australian Standards which may not be referenced in the BCA and not required for the purpose of compliance with the deemed to satisfy provisions, however, they may provide guidance in areas not covered by the BCA.

The BCA and its referenced Australian Standards generally do not cover workmanship issues in respect to paving, tiling, cabinet works etc. When not covered by the BCA or Australian Standards, these aspects may be subject to requirements under the building contract or manufacturers’ recommendations.

Copies of Australian Standards are available to view free of charge in the reserve section of the State Library of Western Australia. 

Go to the State Library of Western Australia websitewww.slwa.wa.gov.au

Purchasing Australian Standards

Reader Room is an initiative by Standards Australia which provides limited, no-fee access to many Australian Standards for non-commercial purposes.

Go to the Standards Australia Reader Room website:

https://readerroom.standards.org.au/

Copies of Australian Standards can be purchased and/or accessed via paid subscription from Intertek Inform (formerly SAI Global Standards), Techstreet Store and Standards Australia.

Go to Standards Australia website:

Buy Standards | Standards Australia

Go to Intertek Inform website:

Intertek Inform | Faster to Market

Go to Techstreet Store website:

Techstreet Store Australia