The National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 Amendment 1 was adopted on 1 July 2020 with certain transitional provisions in relation to Volume One and Two of the NCC (the Building Code). These transitional provisions end on 30 April 2021. This means that a building permit application lodged on or after 1 May 2021 needs to demonstrate compliance with the NCC 2019 Amendment 1 until such time that a future edition of the NCC comes into effect. It is recommended that NCC 2019 Amendment 1 is used for current and upcoming design proposals, particularly where there may be a chance that the building permit application cannot be made prior to 1 May 2021.

Every building services practitioner who intends to apply for or renew their registration must satisfy the Building Services Board (the BSB) that they are a fit and proper person. This is a legislative requirement, set out in section 17(1)(c) of the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 (the BSRA). The BSB has a policy that outlines how the fitness and propriety of a building services...

The objective of energy efficiency provisions in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and for a dwelling, this requires compliance with the minimum energy efficiency Performance Requirements that relate to the building envelope and its fixed domestic services. When applying these provisions for residential dwellings, building surveyors, designers and...

On 1 May 2020 amendments to the Strata Titles Act 1985 (STA) and consequential amendments to the Building Act 2011 (Building Act) and Building Regulations 2012 came into effect that streamline provisions of the Building Act dealing with strata proposals. A number of Building Act forms have also been discontinued to reduce duplication and additional costs. The discontinued forms are: BA11...