Building Surveying
Not all building problems require a fire-engineered solution. Sometimes the answer can be found in the Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) provisions of the Building Code of Australia (BCA), even though the Approval Authority or your building consultant has advised that your building solution does not comply with the DTS provisions. Although one of the goals of the Australian Building Codes Board was for the BCA to be easily understood, the document is nevertheless complex and differences of interpretation amongst building surveyors and other building consultants can occur. The problem may be resolved by applying the DTS provisions correctly. We provide the following building surveying services: BCA COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENT We assess your building project against the DTS provisions of the Building Code of Australia related to fire and life safety. We provide you with a written report listing any non-compliance and give you advice how best to resolve the non-compliances. CHANGE OF USE ASSESSMENT The Building Regulations 1989 state that the use of a building shall not be changed from that of one Class to that of another Class unless the building complies with the requirements of the Building Code applicable to the new Class, and the change of use has been approved by the local government (Approval Authority). We assess your existing building against the DTS provisions of the Building Code of Australia related to fire and life safety. We provide you with a written report listing the fire and life safety provisions that need to be provided to the building for it to comply with the new Class. We will give you advice how best to comply with the requirements for the new Class, whether by complying with the DTS provisions or a fire engineered solution. EXPERT ADVICE We provide you expert building surveying advice to resolve a building problem that has resulted in the misinterpretation of a BCA DTS provision by a local government. We can either provide you with a written report or attend a meeting with the local government on your behalf to resolve the problem. APPEALS TO THE MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT Any building related decision a local government makes about your building proposal could be appealed to the Minister for Local Government through the Department of Local Government and Regional Development. This includes the refusal to issue a building licence or the attachment of building licence conditions. We provide supplementary information to be submitted with the Notice of Appeal to support your appeal to the Minister for Local Government.
