VBA Building Technical Bulletin – June 2022
I'm excited to be writing to you in this, the first edition of the VBA Building Technical Bulletin.
These emails are an opportunity for the VBA to communicate everything from practice notes and guidance material, to upcoming webinars and education opportunities.
NCC 2022
Last month, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) published the first stage of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 edition. This ‘Preview’ gives us a sneak peak of the new Code before it comes into effect on 1 September 2022.
This will be the most significant amendment to the NCC since its inception in 1996, there's no doubt these revisions will have a major impact on our industry.
It's critical that not only the VBA be prepared to support you to adjust to the changes, but you as practitioners, and industry groups alike need to proactively prepare too.
Normally the code would be previewed in February and published formally in May, but with the challenges COVID has posed over the past two years, the publication date has been delayed by a few months to allow preview in May and publication in September. This is allowing industry more time to get familiar with and prepare for the changes.
The structure of the Code continues to be refined to improve readability. As part of this, the provision of the code will be renumbered, which will take a bit of getting used to.
To support the more immediate need to get ready for NCC 2022, we now have the dates for the national seminar series that will feature speakers explaining the changes. The Melbourne seminar and webinar registration links are available under 'Upcoming webinars' at the bottom of this email.
I hope you find the VBA Technical Bulletin useful. We will keep refining it as we go and we welcome your feedback, which can we sent to communications@vba.vic.gov.au.
Andrew Cialini,
VBA State Building Surveyor
In this edition...
Complaints: Exhaust fan discharge
Recently, there has been an increase in the numbers of complaints the VBA has received in relation to the non-compliant discharge of exhaust fans.
Ending the appointment of a private building surveyor
When all three parties agree to the transfer of function of a private building surveyor (PBS), an application for the VBA consent to terminate is not required.
Industry Alert: Concerning increase in license lending
The VBA has seen an increase in complaints where it appears that the builder nominated on a building permit did not arrange, carry out or manage the building work authorised by that permit.
Reminder: Building surveyor obligations to council
This is a reminder of a building surveyor’s obligations to council in relation to Sections 80, 80A and 30 of the Building Act 1993.