Don’t Risk Non-Compliance – Know Your Balustrade Responsibilities

New guidelines clarify builder obligations for balustrade substrate preparation.

Responsibilities

Building legislation in Western Australia places responsibilities on registered building surveyors to determine and, on the relevant builder to ensure, compliance with the applicable building standards; generally being the Building Code, which is Volumes One and Two of the NCC. It is therefore important that building surveyors and builders understand their registration obligations and compliance responsibilities when applying the NCC, as well as procuring and supervising a barrier installation.

It is also the responsibility of those involved in the process of designing, procuring and installing barriers to understand their responsibilities in

obtaining and providing information to demonstrate compliant barriers. The responsibilities of all relevant parties contributing to the design and/or construction of a barrier are generally:

• Design responsibilities: To produce and collate design documents demonstrating that barriers comply with the NCC. Design documents may include plans and specifications as well as other technical documents that demonstrate evidence of suitability.

  Note: In circumstances where the supplier of the barrier is unknown at the design stage, the design team will need to otherwise demonstrate to the Building Surveyor that the design of the barrier(s) meets the Performance Requirements of the NCC.

• Construction responsibilities: To ensure that construction works achieve compliance with the NCC by being carried out in accordance with the plans and specifications as specified in the relevant certificate of design compliance, including the design detail and evidence of suitability provided for the barrier.

  Note: Where a barrier supplier is appointed post design stage, the barrier supplier will need to obtain relevant design details pertaining to the barrier produced by the design team to demonstrate a solution capable of being installed appropriately and provide evidence that the barrier supplied meets the NCC requirements.

Complying with the NCC

Compliance with the NCC is achieved by complying with the Governing Requirements of the NCC; and the Performance Requirements.

The rules for applying the NCC are provided in Section A, Governing Requirements of the NCC. Part A5 sets out the documentary evidence needed to show that the NCC requirements are met and that the solution is ‘fit for purpose’. The Australian Building Codes Board have produced a handbook to assist NCC users in understanding and applying the evidence of suitability provisions of the NCC.

Disclaimer – The information contained in this fact sheet is provided as general information and a guide only. It should not be relied upon as legal advice or as an accurate statement of the relevant legislation provisions. If you are uncertain as to your legal obligations, you should obtain independent legal advice.

Source (Industry Bulletin 150)
Building and Energy Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
Level 1 Mason Bird Building
303 Sevenoaks Street (entrance Grose Avenue)
Cannington Western Australia 6107
M: Locked Bag 100, East Perth WA 6892
W: www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/building-and-energy
E: be.info@dmirs.wa.gov.au