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

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 for compliance with the Building Act 1993, Building Regulations 2018, and the National Construction Code 2019, and:

• Class 1 building compliance requirements
• Class 2 and Class 4 part of a building compliance requirements
• Thermal insulation requirements
• Building sealing requirements
• Artificial lighting requirements
• Condensation considerations
• Building permit application requirements
• National House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) Compliance Pathway
• Thermal Performance Assessors (TPA)

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

• Compliance requirements for alterations to existing buildings
• Alterations and extensions/additions to existing buildings
• Using NatHERS software to assess a proposed alteration to an existing dwelling
• Required overall star rating - Formula
• Applying BCA Volume Two Part 3.12 to a proposed alteration to an existing building
• 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

Current Practice Note

This Practice Note provides guidance on Part 9 Fire Safety Requirements of the Building Regulations 2018.

The content below provides guidance for:

• Fire safety requirements for residential care buildings and shared accommodation buildings built before 1 August 1997
• Management plans
• Owner responsibilities

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

This Practice Note provides guidance 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

This Practice Note provides guidance on alterations to monitoring of fire alarm systems, and:

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

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 to practitioners and owners on the requirements for the installation of smoke detection and alarm systems in existing residential buildings, and:

• Requirements for residential buildings constructed before June 2018
• Requirements for residential buildings from June 2018
• Location of smoke alarms in Class 1 buildings
• Building permit requirements for installation of a smoke alarm or detection system
• Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021

This Practice Note provides guidance on Part A2 of the NCC which sets out how compliance with the NCC is achieved and focuses on the Assessment Methods.

The context below provides guidance for:

• Difference between a Performance Solution and a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution
• Assessment Methods

This Practice Note provides guidance on building in a flood hazard area.

The content below provides guidance on:

• Identifying an area liable to flooding
• Relevant Victorian variations
• Compliance requirements for building in area liable to flooding