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Proactive Inspections Program (PIP) Quarterly reports

The VBA’s Proactive Inspections Program helps ensure the safety of Victoria’s construction industry.

We have a team of expert building and plumbing inspectors that typically look at more than 1,000 sites each month. This work means we can identify potential faults earlier, when they are easier to fix, and that the burden of fixing them sits with the builder rather than the owner.

PIP also provides a level playing field for all builders and plumbers who produce high-quality work.

It’s all part of our goal to empower and educate both practitioners and consumers, supporting a robust and high-quality construction sector.

You can learn more about this program, and the issues most commonly found, in our latest quarterly report.

View the latest report (PDF, 3726.52 KB)

Scroll down for key data and insights from our latest inspections. Tap or hover over the graphics for details.

Where we are

Number of inspections

We’re more visible than ever, visiting more worksites and keeping Victorians safe. The Victorian Government expects us to inspect 10 per cent of new building permits received each year.

Discrepancies between projected and completed inspections may occur depending on unforeseen industry activity and resource allocation (eg COVID restrictions).

2022 - 23 Q2 total: 1939 inspections 855 building and 1084 plumbing)

2022 - 23 Q2 Compliance

Inspection locations

Our inspectors are working right across the state, creating a safer Victoria.

When selecting sites for inspection, we use building permit data and consider a range of risk factors. We sometimes target certain types of construction to manage risk and to ensure intervention at the earliest possible stage.

2022 - 23 Q2 - Number of Inspections at construction stage

Building inspections

Plumbing inspections

What we’re looking for

We inspect sites to keep workers and future occupiers safe. Here’s how we determine the seriousness of compliance risks.

  • Low risk (pass): Compliance risk not identified; any compliance risk likely to be resolved as work continues.
  • Low risk (low impact compliance risk): Unlikely that compliance risk left untreated would adversely impact safety, amenity, structural integrity.
  • Medium risk: Possible that compliance risk left untreated would cause an adverse impact on safety, amenity, structural integrity.
  • High risk: Almost certain that compliance risk, if left untreated, would cause an adverse impact on safety and amenity. Structural integrity would be significantly compromised and/or total loss of project value would be incurred.

See our full compliance risk rating matrix.

What we find

We discover a range of problems – from minor issues through to serious breaches requiring immediate action.

Find out more about compliance and enforcement.

Overview of building inspections 2022 - 23 Q2

Geographic Trends

  • The percentage of inspections with compliance risks were lower in Regional Victoria.
  • This trend in compliance risks is consistent with the previous quarters.

Total Building Inspections 855

Building - New Builds vs Alterations

  • The percentage of inspections with compliance risks were much higher in constructions of New buildings than buildings going under Alterations in domestic building sites.
  • This trend in compliance risk is consistent with the previous quarters.

Building - High Volume builders vs Other builders

  • The percentage of inspections with compliance risks are higher in sites managed by Large Volume Builders than buildings managed by Other Builders.
  • This is the first quarter where Large Volume Builders had the highest prevalence of compliance risks.

Common problem overview - building

The most prevalent categories where non-compliance risks are observed (medium and high risk).

Overview of plumbing inspections 2022 - 23 Q2

Geographic Trends

  • The percentage of plumbing inspections with compliance risks were lowest in Regional Victoria.
  • This trend is different to previous quarters where compliance risks were mostly consistent across all areas of Victoria.

Plumbing - New Builds vs Alterations

  • The percentage of plumbing inspections with compliance risks was lower in the construction of buildings undergoing Alteration compared New buildings in domestic sites.
  • This trend in compliance risk is the reverse of the previous quarter, where compliance risks was higher in buildings undergoing Alterations.

Plumbing - High Volume builders vs Other builders

  • The percentage of inspections with compliance risks were lower in sites managed by Large Volume builders than buildings managed by Other builders.
  • This trend in compliance risk is consistent with the previous quarter.

Common problem overview - plumbing

The most prevalent categories where non-compliance risks are observed (excluding low risk), remain consistent each quarter.

Prevalence of compliance risks in dual- and single-occupancy dwellings

The following percentages are based on all domestic (class 1) dwellings inspected during this time period. This graphic does not include low-risk (low impact compliance risk) data.

Oct – Dec 2022

Case studies

Waterproofing and Weatherproofing Inspections

Water damage has the potential to severely impact the amenity and structure of a building. This issue routinely tops the list of defects encountered in buildings and in complaints to the VBA, claims to the Victorian Managed Insurance Agency (VMIA) and disputes to the Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria (DBDRV). The Proactive Inspections Program targets buildings under construction, and waterproofing and weatherproofing elements are regularly assessed for compliance.

From July 2021 to December 2022, a total of 2592 properties (under construction) were inspected, where waterproofing and weatherproofing elements were assessed for compliance1. Of those inspections, 467 (17 per cent) identified at least one compliance risk related to preventing water damage to buildings from internal wet areas (bathrooms and laundries) and from external above ground membranes (balconies). These inspections were spread across 54 municipalities, 287 builders and 77 building surveyors.

The most common waterproofing and weatherproofing issues observed was the absence of water stops/ flashing from wet areas (41 per cent), such as bath hobs, beneath bath flanges, shower enclosures and door/floor junction of wet areas. The next most prevalent issues were incomplete waterproofing membrane over water stops and perimeter flashing (19 per cent), standard plasterboard installed at WC basin/laundry troughs (9 per cent) and balconies without drainage provisions (7 per cent).

The VBA deems the lack of in adequate waterproofing and weatherproofing as a serious risk and contacts the builder to rectify the work.

The builder is then required to provide the RBS or the VBA with proof that the work is rectified. The VBA also undertakes research and partnered with VMIA and Victoria University to examine indoor mould and moisture damage in Victorian residential buildings. The research identified improvement opportunities for building design, certification, construction, inspection and improved guidance for waterproofing. Further information on this research can be found on the VBA’s website. A Practitioner Education Series webinar, focused on Waterproofing of Wet Areas, was delivered on 23 March 2023. To watch this webinar, visit the VBA website.

Breakdown of non-compliant waterproofing and weatherproofing issues1 observed

Figure 3.2: This graph shows a breakdown of non-compliant waterproofing and weatherproofing issues observed in building inspections from July 2021 to December 2022

1 Compliance to 3.8.1 Wet Areas and External Waterproofing or Part F1 – Damp and Weatherproofing under the National Construction Code of Australia.

2 Issues in this category included defective taping, absence of waterproofing in WC, waterproofing of window frames incomplete, waterproofing applied after the installation of cabinetry and skirting boards installed before waterproofing membrane and perimeter flashing installations.

Full reports