Red Tape Reforms Broaden the Scope of Who Can Be a Building Surveyor

This is somewhat akin to the current model in NSW, where a Construction Certificate (the NSW equivalent to a building permit) can be approved by an accredited certifier (ie a building surveyor) who need not be the accredited certifier with overall responsibility for the development (who is known as a Principal Certifying Authority).

A major departure is that corporations will soon also be able to act as a relevant building surveyor, rather than this role (at least in the private sphere) being restricted to natural person individuals. This will then entail the registration system through the VBA allowing companies to become registered as building surveyors rather than the registration being confined to individuals.

Again this development is not dissimilar from the NSW model, which allows a field of corporate accreditation, for companies to become accredited as certifiers in certain circumstances.

Amongst the 36 red tape reforms announced this month there are some others relevant to the construction industry. For example:

• Commercial builder insurance: currently commercial builders must have insurance against defective work as a condition of their registration, but this requirement is set to be removed in
  recognition that the Government considers that commercial builders can manage their own building risks;
• Small live music venues: for works to renovate or alter in order to host live music, the permit and approval requirements are based on the Building Code classification 9(b). Small venues
  wishing to carry out such works will get the benefit of simplified and reduced planning permit requirements.

These moves to reduce or in some cases eliminate ‘red tape’ have been hailed by some industry groups, such as the Master Builders Association of Victoria, who have said:

“This sensible package will help slash costs and delays in building projects and support housing affordability while upholding rigorous standards for site safety and building quality.” (CEO of MBAV, Radley de Silva).

Building Surveyors should not expect that cuts to red tape are about making life easier for their profession however.

The newly formed VBA has been carrying out audits of building permits recently and has also taken responsibility for many building permits issued by some building surveyors whose registrations have been cancelled.

The VBA has recently flagged they are particularly concerned about Alternative Solutions in regard to fire performance obligations under the Building Code. They are said to be concerned to ensure that such Alternative Solutions are undertaken only by registered fire safety engineers and are independently checked and certified by another registered fire engineer or an independent registered building surveyor.

Given that Alternative Solutions are considered to be design work, the VBA has emphasised that the RBS must be independent from the design and cannot be involved in the creation or preparation of an Alternative Solution where they are going to be involved in certifying the same.

If in any doubt of your responsibilities or the risks in this area, you should seek prompt legal advice from construction lawyer experts in the field.