NSW Building specification requirements

Guidance for certifiers and other industry professionals.

The NSW Government have stated in the August–September 2023 issue of CertAlert [1] that contract specifications and generic specifications should not be used to support the approval of a Construction Certificate (CC). This means that a custom specification is required to support the approval of a CC and must only include the requirements relevant to the development.

Contract specifications include references to a contract or include a statement that the specification is intended to be read in conjunction with contract documents. They are a contractual agreement between the owner and the builder, and do not necessarily outline how the development will comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA). It is not recommended to use contract specifications outside of their intended purpose as a contractual document. Certifiers intending to rely on a contract specification to support the approval of a CC should review all contract documents and seek legal advice.

Generic specifications include all requirements, even those that are not relevant to the development. In NSW, certifiers must adhere to the Practice Standard – For Registered Certifiers, Volume Two – Class 1a buildings [2] which states that specifications must “be specific to the subject building”.

Custom specifications include only the requirements relevant to the development. Building Specifications Australia allows customers to create custom building specifications that satisfy the requirements prescribed by the NSW Government. Our specifications are designed to be certifier friendly for quick and easy approval.

Please share this article with your certifier or industry professional to ensure they are informed of the current requirements in NSW.

References:

[1] CertAlert, August–September 2023 [PDF]

[2] Practice Standard – For Registered Certifiers, Volume Two – Class 1a buildings (pg. 30), October 2022 [Website | PDF]