Compliance & Certification

Professional Building Code & Standards Verification

City Wide Building Consultants provides expert compliance verification services across all major Australian construction standards and building codes.

With extensive tribunal experience spanning over a decade, we deliver authoritative assessments that courts, tribunals, and regulatory bodies rely upon.

Building Code of Australia (BCA) / National Construction Code (NCC) Compliance

We provide comprehensive assessments of building work against current BCA/NCC requirements, including:

Performance Requirements Assessment

  • Verification that construction meets mandatory Performance Requirements
  • Assessment of Performance Solutions against BCA Sections 1.0.0, 1.0.2, 1.0.3, and 1.0.5
  • Expert reporting including necessary test results for Performance Solutions
  • Evaluation of structural stability requirements (Performance Requirement P2.1.1)

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

  • Verification of compliance with prescriptive requirements
  • Identification of technical breaches and practical implications
  • Assessment of variation compliance with approved Building Code standards

Major Defect Determination

  • Assessment under s18E of the Home Building Act 1989
  • Evaluation of defects affecting structural performance requirements
  • Expert opinions on building habitability and safety

Our assessments have been relied upon in numerous NCAT and District Court proceedings, with particular expertise in identifying the difference between technical non-compliance and defects with practical consequences.

Australian Standards Compliance Verification

We verify compliance with the full suite of Australian Standards applicable to residential, commercial, and industrial construction.

Structural Standards

AS2870 – Residential Slabs and Footings

  • Foundation design verification
  • Settlement crack assessment and classification
  • Distinction between permissible movement and structural defects
  • Footing depth and specification compliance

AS3700 – Masonry Structures

  • Weephole installation and spacing (Clause 4.7.2)
  • Expansion joint requirements (Clause 4.8.3.1)
  • Control joint specification and placement
  • Brick growth and movement accommodation
  • Unreinforced masonry performance verification

Other Critical Standards

  • Surface treatment and coating applications
  • Floor finish fall requirements
  • Wet area construction standards (excluding waterproofing membrane installation)

Building Services Standards

AS/NZS 3500 – Plumbing and Drainage

  • Water service pipe installation depth verification (Clauses 5.9, 5.10, 5.11)
  • Stormwater system compliance
  • Drainage fall requirements and performance
  • Floor waste positioning and grading compliance

AS/NZS 5601 – Gas Installations

  • Gas service pipe depth compliance (minimum 300mm per Clause 5.4.3)
  • Backfill material quality verification (Clause 5.4.4)
  • Consumer gas piping installation standards
  • Service protection and danger tape requirements

AS/NZS 2589 – Gypsum Linings

  • Installation specification compliance
  • Finishing standards verification

Design Document Review

Architectural Plans & Specifications Analysis

  • Pre-construction document review for code compliance
  • Identification of specification conflicts or ambiguities
  • Verification that construction matches approved plans
  • Assessment of design compliance with Performance Requirements

Construction Certificate Compliance

  • Verification of as-built work against Construction Certificate conditions
  • Identification of variations requiring amended approvals
  • Assessment of work completion against approved documentation

Structural & Engineering Design Review

  • Review of structural calculations and design assumptions
  • Verification of engineering specifications
  • Compliance with relevant design standards
  • Load-bearing capacity assessments

Contractual Specification Compliance

  • Comparison of executed work against contract specifications
  • Identification of departures from contractual requirements
  • Assessment of variation documentation adequacy
  • Expert opinions on workmanship standards vs contractual obligations

Why Our Compliance Assessments Are Trusted

Tribunal-Tested Expertise

Our compliance assessments have been accepted and relied upon in:

  • NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) proceedings since 2014
  • District Court of NSW building disputes
  • Appeal Panel matters
  • Fair Trading disciplinary proceedings

We understand the evidentiary requirements for compliance reporting and the distinction between technical breaches and defects requiring remediation.

Comprehensive Standards Knowledge

We maintain current knowledge of:

  • Building Code of Australia (BCA) and National Construction Code (NCC) requirements
  • All major Australian Standards applicable to construction
  • Performance Solution assessment methodologies
  • Regulatory interpretation and application

Practical Application Focus

Our compliance assessments consider:

  • Whether non-compliance creates practical defects or risks
  • The distinction between aesthetic issues and code violations
  • Cost-effective remediation approaches
  • Future performance implications of non-compliance

Common Compliance Issues We Identify

  • Structural Compliance Failures

    • Missing or inadequate expansion joints in masonry
    • Weephole omissions or incorrect spacing
    • Control joint placement errors
    • Settlement vs non-settlement related cracking
    • Foundation specification departures

  • Building Services Non-Compliance

    • Gas and water pipe installation depth violations
    • Inadequate drainage falls
    • Stormwater system deficiencies
    • Service protection failures

  • Performance Requirement Breaches

    • Structural stability concerns
    • Building element durability issues
    • Safety and habitability impacts
    • Moisture control and building envelope performance

  • Design Specification Departures

    • As-built variations from approved plans
    • Dimension and specification errors
    • Material substitutions without approval
    • Construction methodology changes

Who Engages Our Compliance Services

Building Owners & Developers

  • Pre-purchase building compliance audits
  • Verification of builder compliance with contract specifications
  • Assessment of defect rectification adequacy
  • Development approval compliance verification

Solicitors & Legal Representatives

  • Expert compliance evidence for building disputes
  • Home Building Act s18B warranty breach assessment
  • Construction contract compliance verification
  • Expert determination compliance reports

Certifiers & Building Surveyors

  • Independent verification of compliance issues
  • Second opinions on complex code interpretations
  • Performance Solution assessment and validation

Insurance Companies & Loss Assessors

  • Compliance failure assessment for insurance claims
  • Defect causation and code breach analysis
  • Remediation cost verification

Our Compliance Assessment Process

1. Documentation Review

  • Analysis of approved plans, specifications, and Construction Certificates
  • Review of relevant Australian Standards and BCA provisions
  • Identification of applicable Performance Requirements

2. Site Inspection & Measurement

  • Detailed inspection of construction elements
  • Precise measurements against specified requirements
  • Photographic documentation of compliance issues
  • Testing where required (e.g. drainage falls, structural dimensions)

3. Standards Analysis

  • Comparison of as-built work against specific code provisions
  • Assessment of technical compliance vs practical performance
  • Evaluation of any Performance Solutions proposed

4. Expert Reporting

  • Detailed compliance report identifying specific code sections
  • Clear explanation of compliance failures and their implications
  • Remediation recommendations with cost implications
  • Expert opinions suitable for tribunal or court proceedings

Compliance Reporting Standards

Specific Code References

  • Exact section and clause citations from BCA/NCC and Australian Standards
  • Performance Requirement identification where applicable
  • Clear linkage between requirements and observed work

Photographic Evidence

  • Comprehensive photographic documentation
  • Annotated images showing specific compliance failures
  • Comparative images where beneficial

Measurement Data

  • Precise measurements of non-compliant elements
  • Comparison to required specifications
  • Testing results where applicable

Expert Opinions

  • Clear statements on compliance status
  • Assessment of practical implications
  • Remediation recommendations with alternatives where appropriate

Cost Implications

  • Rectification cost estimates based on industry standards
  • Rawlinson’s Construction Cost Guide references where applicable
  • Allowances for margin, contingencies, and GST

Compliance vs Performance

Technical Breaches

  • Non-compliance without practical consequences
  • Minor variations with negligible performance impact
  • Issues addressable through Performance Solutions

Performance-Affecting Defects

  • Non-compliance creating structural risks
  • Code violations affecting building durability
  • Breaches impacting safety or habitability
  • Issues likely to worsen over time

This nuanced approach ensures our compliance assessments focus on genuine defects while identifying technical matters that may require regulatory attention but not necessarily remediation.

National Service Delivery

Major Metropolitan Areas

  • Sydney, NSW
  • Melbourne, Victoria
  • Brisbane, Queensland
  • Canberra, ACT
  • Adelaide, South Australia
  • Perth, Western Australia
  • Hobart, Tasmania

Our Australia-wide service delivery means we can provide consistent compliance assessment standards regardless of project location, with understanding of state-specific regulatory variations.

Get Expert Compliance Assessment

Whether you require BCA/NCC compliance verification, Australian Standards assessment, or design document review, City Wide Building Consultants delivers authoritative expert opinions backed by over a decade of tribunal experience.

  • Citywide Building Consultants

    10 Plymouth Street, Enfield  NSW 2136

  • Telephone

    0412 675 270

  • Email

    info@citywidebuilding.com.au

  • Urgent Matters

    We prioritise urgent instructions where tribunal or court deadlines require expedited reports

Australian Standards We Regularly Reference

Structural

  • AS2870 Residential Slabs and Footings
  • AS3700 Masonry Structures
  • AS1170 Structural Design Actions
  • AS3600 Concrete Structures
  • AS4055 Wind Loads for Housing

Building Services

  • AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 1–5) Plumbing and Drainage
  • AS/NZS 5601 Gas Installations
  • AS/NZS 2589 Gypsum Linings

Construction Methods

  • AS4654 Waterproofing for Wet Areas (design review only)
  • AS2047 Windows and External Glazed Doors
  • AS4654.1 Waterproofing of External Above-ground Walls