This Practice Note provides guidance for the Municipal Building Surveyor and Private Building Surveyor when assessing the appropriateness of temporary occupation of pre-existing buildings used as shelters for short-term emergency accommodation. It clarifies the legislative requirements and conditions that may be imposed to ensure the existing buildings, when used for short term emergency accommodation, are safe for occupants, and:

• Legislative requirements
• Fire, health, safety and access requirements
• Change of use of a building

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to EA 01 Temporary accommodation-existing buildings

• Superseded 24 April 2023 (PDF, 746.69 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance on the BCA energy efficiency requirements using Verification Method JV3 as an alternative assessment method for Class 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and common areas of Class 2 buildings, and:

• Verification Method JV3
• Building energy analysis software modelling method
• Energy analysis report
• Energy assessor - qualifications and experience required
• Role of the Relevant Building Surveyor
• Information to be provided when applying for a building permit
• Testing and Quality Assurance

This Practice Note describes the application of BCA Section J energy efficiency measures for alterations to existing Class 2 - 9 buildings, excluding Class 2 SOUs and Class 4 parts of a building, and provides guidance on:

• Requirements for Class 2-9 buildings
• Partial compliance - regulation 233
• Energy Efficiency: Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions
• Air-conditioning and ventilation systems
• Artificial light and power
• Access for maintenance

This Practice Note provides guidance on the energy efficiency requirements for new residential buildings and compliance with the Building Act 1993, the Building Regulations 2018, and the National Construction Code 2019.

• Class 1 building compliance requirements
• Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions for Class 1 buildings
• Performance Solutions for Class 1 buildings
• Compliance requirements for Class 2 and Class 4 part of a building
• Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) compliance pathway
• Domestic services
• Building permit application requirements
• Construction requirements
• Occupancy Permit

This Practice Note provides guidance on the energy efficiency requirements for alterations to an existing Class 1 building and compliance with the Building Act 1993, the Building Regulations 2018 and the National Construction Code 2019.

• Compliance requirements for alterations to existing buildings
• Alterations and extensions to existing buildings
• Using NatHERS software to assess a proposed alteration to an existing dwelling
• Applying Elemental Provisions to a proposed alteration to an existing building
• Relocated and prefabricated homes

This Practice Note provides guidance on the NCC 2022 energy efficiency requirements and on using Verification Method J1V3 as an alternative assessment method for Class 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and common areas of Class 2 buildings, and:\

• Energy Efficiency Requirements for building classes 2, 3 and class 5 – 9.
• Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
• DtS Provisions for EV readiness.
• DtS Provisions for solar PV and battery systems.
• Verification methods Building energy analysis software Energy analysis report.
• Energy assessors – qualifications and the experience required.
• Role of the Relevant Building Surveyor (RBS).
• Information to be provided when applying for a building permit.
• Testing and quality assurance.

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to EE 01-2022 | Energy efficiency requirements and building analysis for building classes 2, 3 and 5-9:

• Superseded 7 August 2023 (PDF, 896.38 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance on the application of the NCC part J1 energy efficiency measures for alterations to existing Class 2 to 9 buildings, excluding Class 2 SOUs and Class 4 parts of a building, and:

• Requirements for Class 2 to 9 buildings
• Partial compliance
• Energy Efficiency: Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions
• Air-conditioning and ventilation systems
• Artificial light and power
• Access for maintenance

This Practice Note provides guidance on the energy efficiency requirements for new residential buildings and compliance with the Building Act 1993, the Building Regulations 2018 and the National Construction Code 2022.

• Class 1 building compliance requirements
• Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions for Class 1 buildings
• Performance solutions for Class 1 buildings
• Compliance requirements for Class 2 Sole Occupancy Units and Class 4 part of a building
• Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) compliance pathway
• Thermal Performance Assessors (TPAs)
• Domestic services
• Building permit application requirements
• Construction requirements
• Occupancy Permit

This Practice Note provides guidance on the energy efficiency requirements for alterations to an existing Class 1 building and compliance with the Building Act 1993, the Building Regulations 2018 and the National Construction Code 2019.

• Compliance requirements for alterations to existing buildings
• Alterations and extensions to existing buildings
• Using NatHERS software to assess a proposed alteration to an existing dwelling
• Applying Elemental Provisions to a proposed alteration to an existing building, and
• Relocated and prefabricated homes.

This Practice Note provides guidance on the application of the NCC energy efficiency measures and rainwater tank requirements during the transition from NCC 2019 to the NCC 2022 version.

The content below provides guidance on:

• Transitional arrangements for adoption of NCC 2022
• Application of Victoria’s variation to energy efficiency requirements (including rainwater tank requirements) in NCC 2019 during the transition period for NCC 2022
• VBA Practice Notes for energy efficiency during the transition period
• Application of new building regulations to building work
• Documentation of substantial progress

The purpose of this Practice Note is to provide guidance on Part 9 - Fire Safety Requirements of the Building Regulations 2018, and:

• Fire Safety Systems and Legislation
• Management plans
• Responsibilities of the Owner

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to ESM 01 Fire safety systems for residential care buildings or shared accommodation buildings (used for residential care)

• Superseded July 2023 (PDF, 813.01 KB)
• Superseded April 2023 (PDF, 863.75 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance on maintenance of essential safety measures, and provides guidance on:

• What are essential safety measures
• Maintenance Determinations
• Maintenance Schedules
• Reporting and records

This Practice Note provides guidance on the automatic smoke detection and alarm systems concession for certain Classes of buildings built before 1 August 1997, and:

• Building Interim Regulations 2017 requirements
• Power Supply
• Location of Smoke Alarms
• Maintaining Smoke Alarms
• False Alarms
• Should Smoke Alarms be interconnected

This Practice Note provides guidance on the process required to remove a lay flat fire hydrant hose from BCA Class 2 to 9 buildings built before 8 April 1991, and:

• Regulatory requirements
• Building permit requirements
• Dangerous goods

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to ESM 04 Removing a Fire Hydrant Hose from Buildings built before 1991

• Superseded 30 March 2023 (PDF, 741.84 KB)

This Practice Note provides clarity on the testing and maintenance of fire hydrant installations, and:

• Required hydrant system performance
• Commissioning and testing – New installations
• Commissioning and testing – Alterations to existing installations
• Maintenance

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to ESM 05 Fire Hydrant System Testing:

• Superseded July 2023 (PDF, 812.59 KB)
• Superseded April 2023 (PDF, 754.5 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance on alterations to the monitoring of fire alarm systems.

The content below provides guidance on:

• Fire alarm monitoring systems
• Building permit requirements
• Building inspection requirements

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to ESM 06 Fire alarm monitoring systems

• Superseded 18 April 2023 (PDF, 715.88 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance on the requirement to provide details to the chief officer of a fire sprinkler performance solution, and:

• Sending of details to the chief officer
• Consultation with the chief officer before issue of building permit

Determinations of the Building Appeals Board

This Practice Note provides guidance on the regulatory requirements and water saving options available when testing fire safety system, and:

• Water use for maintenance of fire safety systems
• Regulatory Requirements
• Water Saving Options
• Australian Standard for routine servicing of fire protection systems and equipment
• Design options for water saving

This Practice Note provides guidance on the NCC 2022 (1 May 2023 commencement date) compliance changes and legislative requirements that relate to the installation of smoke alarm, evacuation lighting and detection systems in residential buildings.

The content within this Practice Note provides clarity on the:

• Legislative requirements
• Location of smoke alarms, smoke detection systems and evacuation lighting
• Building Permit requirements
• Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to ESM 09 | Residential Smoke Alarm, Detection and Evacuation System Requirement

• Superseded March 2023 (PDF, 843.41 KB)

This Practice Note provides guidance on the options available to achieve compliance with the NCC Part A2.

The context below provides guidance for:

• Compliance Options
• Performance Solution
• Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution, or
• Combination of Solutions.

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to ESM 10 | Methods of demonstrating compliance with the National Construction Code 2022 (NCC)

• Superseded 18 April 2023 (PDF, 776.34 KB)

The purpose of this Practice Note is to provide guidance on building in a flood hazard area.

The content below provides guidance on:

• Identifying an area liable to flooding
• Report & consent
• NCC & Regulations
• ABCB Standard

Superseded documents

These are Superseded Practice notes relating to FH 01 Building in flood hazard area

• Superseded 18 April 2023 (PDF, 765.88 KB)