This Practice Note provides guidance on buildings above or below certain public facilities for compliance with the Building Act 1993 (the Act) and the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), and:

• Buildings above or below certain public facilities
• Report and consent requirements
• Other projection related regulations

This Practice Note provides guidance to building practitioners about the protection work process under Part 7 of the Building Act 1993 (the Act) and Division 1 of Part 7 of the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), and:

• Protection work - introduction
• Distinction between protection work and building work
• Entry on adjoining property
• Responsibilities of the RBS in relation to protection work
• Protection work notices
• Independence of the RBS
• Notice of determination under section 87 of the Act - Form 9
• Requiring protection work after work has commenced
• Other administrative responsibilities of the RBS
• Dispute resolution relating to protection work

This Practice Note provides guidance to building practitioners on public protection requirements under the Building Act 1993 (the Act) and the Building Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), and:

• Protection of the public
• When are precautions required?
• Relevant building surveyor’s responsibilities
• What documentation should be provided to the RBS
• Report and consent of council
• Precautions where the building work is in an existing building
• When do precautions need to be inspected
• Administrative requirements for RBS

This Practice Note defines the requirements for residential fire safety systems referenced in the Victoria Appendix (clause Vic H103.1) to the Building Code of Australia (BCA) Volume One 2016 – Amendment 1.

This Practice Note defines the requirements for emergency communication systems which may be used in Class 3 residential care buildings instead of a sound system and intercom system for emergency purposes (SSIS) complying with E4.9 of the Building Code of Australia (BCA). The requirements of Vic H103.1 of the BCA must still be met. The system must also be designed to operate in conjunction with an alarm panel installed.

This Practice Note explains the correlation of Regulation 71 and siting requirements of Part 5 of the Building Regulations 2018.

The context below provides guidance on:

• Approved building envelope and Part 5 of the Regulations
• What is an ‘approved building envelope’
• Existing building envelopes
• Assessing a building permit application where there is an approved building envelope
• Adjoining allotments not part of the same agreement or plan of subdivision
• What if the application complies with the Regulations but not the approved building envelope?

This Practice Note provides guidance on complying with the stormwater drainage requirements under the Building Act 1993 and the Building Regulations 2018.

The content below provides guidance on:

• General requirements
• Design compliance
• Other related matters

Swimming pool standards and safety requirements which must be adhered to ensure public safety, and provides guidance on:

• Building standards
• Swimming pool barrier requirements
• Building permit requirements
• Inspection of building works and testing requirements

Swimming pool standards and safety requirements must be adhered to ensure public safety, and provides guidance on:

• Buildings forming part of a barrier
• Barrier design considerations
• Outdoor swimming pools
• Energy efficiency
• Plumbing work
• Electrical considerations

This guide is for municipal councils and practitioners to clarify their responsibilities under the building legislation in relation to swimming pool and spa safety. It is not a substitute for the relevant legislation.

Amendments to the Building Act 1993 which commenced on 1 December 2019 have introduced requirements for councils to establish and maintain a register of swimming pools and spas in their municipality and be the gatekeeper for compliance of safety barriers. Following amendments introduced by the Building Amendment (Swimming Pool and Spa) Regulations 2019, the Building Regulations 2018 now includes Part 9A which consolidates swimming pool and spa safety requirements (swimming pools built before 8 April 1991, maintenance and operation of barriers, registration, inspection and certification requirements).

Last updated January 2021