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WHY DO I NEED A BUILDING CERTIFIER?

WHY DO I NEED A BUILDING CERTIFIER?

 

Building certifiers are able to provide council approval for construction projects and renovations on the behalf of local government. Without a building certifier, your project will not be able to be approved, nor will you be legally able to make use of the structure once it has been finished.

You are legally required to engage a Building certifier before your project begins its construction. Should construction take place before your project is approved, and it is not compliant, construction costs will skyrocket for your project as in most cases, the structure will need to be destroyed and started over in order to make the necessary changes.

 

WHAT DOES A BUILDING CERTIFIER DO?

 

It is the responsibility of a building certifier to carry out inspections and ensure that building projects are compliant by assessing building plans against the relevant building codes and standards in line with legislation. If compliant, building certifiers can approve these building projects. A certifier will begin by inspecting the plans of your building project and, if they are found to be compliant, issue with a building approval. Once the approval has been received, the project can be started by the builder. Once the builder has completed the project, the certifier will return for a final inspection in order to ensure the project was completed according to the approved plans. Should there be any elements of the build that varied and need correcting, the certifier is able to provide advice on what your builder must do to make the build compliant.

Specific projects, such as class 1a single detached buildings, will require several additional inspections by a certifier. The first inspection is of excavation and foundational work, which is to be completed prior to footings being poured. Then, an inspection of the slab, prior to concrete being poured. Third, is an inspection of the frame, this must take place before lining or cladding has been fixed to the frame and or before masonry work begins. Lastly, the final inspection takes place once the project has been completed.

It is not the responsibility of the building certifier to manage the building project. A building certifier is to judge whether a builder has carried out the project in line with the approved plans upon completion of the project, not to ensure that the builder is actively complying during the construction process. Quality control and supervision of the building project are also not expected of a building certifier.