LATEST NEWS |
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Stay up-to-date with the National Construction Code 2012!
The NCC 2012 Series is due for online release on 1 February, with hard copy deliveries commencing late February/early March. You can order the NCC through the ABCB's online shop at www.abcb.gov.au The ABCB will also be conducting the National Construction Code (NCC) Information Seminars in Melbourne on 26 & 27 March.The 2012 Seminars will address amendments to the Building Code of Australia (BCA) during the morning session, with the afternoon dedicated to the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA). The Seminars will help raise awareness of amendments scheduled for NCC 2012 and provide practitioners with an opportunity to see a presentation by Standards Australia on recently amended Australian Standards. Read more |
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Slab Heave
The Building Commission continues to investigate, and is working with the industry, to determine the extent and cause of the slab heave issues in isolated parts of the western suburbs of Melbourne. Read more
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Reforms further strengthen building permit system
The Building Commissioner, Tony Arnel, today welcomed the findings of a Victorian Auditor-General's Office review of Victoria's building permit system, which examined the roles of the Building Commission and local government. Read the Media Release
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The number of Registered Building Practitioners (RBPs) up 3 per cent!
At the end of October 2011 there were 20,805 RBPs, 3 per cent more than at the start of the calendar year. As some practitioners are registered in more than one class, the total number of registrations at the end of October was just over 25,000, an increase of 3 per cent. Read more
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Bushfire Regulation Information
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Building Amendment (Bushfire Construction) Regulations 2011
The Building Amendment (Bushfire Construction) Regulations 2011 came into effect on 8 September 2011. These ongoing Regulations replace the interim Regulations made in March 2010. Read more
Reaching BAL 12.5 - Costing Information
Under the new bushfire regulations all new houses and alterations/additions in bushfire prone areas must meet a minimum Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) of 12.5. The additional cost imposed on reaching BAL 12.5 is dependent on many factors. Read more
Seminar Presentation Now Available
The Building Commission conducted free seminars throughout October and November on the new Regulations, the seminar presenttaion is now available. Download here
New Fact Sheet - Victoria's Bushfire Mapping System
In line with the 2009 Victoria Bushfires Royal Commission (VBRC) recommendation, extensive state-wide mapping has been undertaken to designate bushfire prone areas for building homes. Download
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Continuing Professional Development Awards - Entries deadline extended to 31 December 2011!
The 2012 CPD Awards recognise and reward Registered Building Practitioners (RBP) who have contributed to the industry and excelled through further training and development. RBPs who have participated in the required level of CPD over the past 12 months are eligible to nominate (or be nominated) in the Awards' three individual award categories: 12-Point, 15-Point or Sustainability. A fourth category is for the CPD Provider of the Year. Entries for the awards are open until 31 December 2011. Read more
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FirstRate 5 Update
Sustainability Victoria (SV) has advised that the latest version of FirstRate5 (5.1.7) has been accredited by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE). SV has also advised that the new version meets the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) protocol version 2006.1 for House Energy Rating Software as referenced in the National Construction Code (NCC). The Building Commission can confirm that previous versions of FirstRate5 which comply with the ABCB protocol remain usable under the NCC 2011. As the new version (FirstRate5 5.1.7) also complies with the ABCB protocol this new version can also be used to design buildings. Designers will now have a choice of which version of FirstRate5 they use, provided they meet the ABCB protocol. This will remain the case provided no change is made to the NCC. Any such change would commence on the 1 May of the relevant year. Details on the new FirstRate 5 version 5.1.7 are available from Sustainability Victoria. |
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Polystyrene External Cladding Fact Sheet
In recent years, residential and commercial buildings in Australia have seen a dramatic increase in the use of innovative, external wall cladding products and/or systems which are not dealt with in the BCA as Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) building solutions. This Fact Sheet refers to the BCA Volumes One and Two and focuses on all buildings (Class 1 -10 buildings) with the purpose to promote weatherproof construction methods. Read more
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Australian standards structural plywood use
The Building Commission has been alerted to the possibility that some imported structural plywood products do not meet the requirements of the BCA. Read more
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