15612 Building Regulation

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Description

This subject is a core subject in the Graduate Certificate in Development Assessment (C11204) and can also be taken as a short course.

Extensive changes to planning and building law, particularly the move to integrated assessment of development proposals, mean that a wider range of professionals now require skills in building regulation. This subject provides up-to-date advice in interpreting and applying the regulatory requirements for dwellings (Class 1) and outbuildings (Class 10) as contained in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

This subject is of value to a range of professionals and others whose work requires knowledge and skills in interpreting and applying building regulations. This could include planners, architects, building surveyors and development engineers.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

• Ability to reflect on personal views and values, debrief on practice and articulate the impact of these actions on professional judgement and practice (A.2)
• Understanding of sources of conflict and ability to apply conflict negotiation strategies appropriately (C.2)
• Ability to question, challenge and develop new perspectives for achieving built environment objectives beyond traditional methods (I.1)
• Understanding of how the role of urban planning, development assessment and building regulation evolved in response to social, cultural, economic and political forces (P.1)
• Ability to locate and understand the legislation and regulation relevant to the built and natural environment (P.2)
• Ability to use evidence-based research to support and develop coherent and logically structured arguments that underpin decisions. (R.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject comprises intensive workshops run in block mode with two blocks over five days in total. Face-to-face classes incorporate a range of teaching and learning strategies including lectures and peer-to-peer learning through in-class groups to encourage collegial discussion, interactive presentations, relevant and complex cases studies, expert guest practitioners, scenarios and facilitated workshops with ongoing formative feedback. The sessions are designed to increase knowledge building, provoke participatory discussions and encourage critical thinking. Pre-reading links and materials will be posted online prior to the course. The evaluative summative assessments enable the teaching staff to make administrative decisions about the effectiveness of the teaching sessions and the ability for students to achieve the learning outcomes. All assessed work is published along with grades at Canvas.

Coursework

The course has two written assessment tasks to support the learning objectives of this subject:.

Assessment 1 requires students to answer questions relating to concepts covered in the first five study modules.

Assessment Task 2 requires students to complete a Construction Certificate Assessment on a proposed new dwelling. Students will develop their own standard format for this assessment and submit an assessment report. Students will also respond to an ethical issue that follows from the Construction Certificate.

Content (topics)

Over the five days the course will cover:

Module 1 - The Regulation of Buildings:

1. The interaction between the Environmental Planning Legislation Amendment Act 2006 and EP&AA (Miscellaneous) Regulation 2007 and the BCA;
2. Changes to legislation which have resulted in a single approval system under the EP&AA;
3. The various classes of buildings in accordance with the BCA;
4. An overview of the main topic areas in the BCA.

Module 2 - Overview of BCA and IP&AA:

1. The format, language and clause structure of the Housing Provisions
2. The difference between Sections, Parts, Clauses and Specifications in the Housing Provisions
3. The difference between objectives, functional statements, performance requirements, verification methods and deemed-to satisfy (DTS) provisions (also known as acceptable construction) in BCA Volume 2.

Module 3 - BCA General Provisions:

1. The BCA classification system.
2. Section 1 of the Housing Provisions, in particular, definitions outlined in 1.1.1, the adoption of referenced standards and the application of the provisions.
3. The requirements for the acceptance of design and construction of buildings in accordance with the Housing Provisions.

Module 4 - The BCA and Performance:

1. The main performance requirements for structure, damp and weatherproofing, fire safety, health and amenity and safe access and movement as contained in the Housing Provisions
2. The difference between a performance requirement and a DTS provision
3. The process to be followed to determine that a performance solution satisfies a performance requirement.

Module 5 - Acceptable Construction:

1. Section 3 of the Housing Provisions which provides acceptable construction manuals and construction practice in order to satisfy the performance requirements for Class 1 and 10 buildings.
2. The difference between “acceptable construction manuals” and “acceptable construction practice”.
3. Acceptable construction practice for Class 1 and 10 buildings for earthworks (3.1.1), fire safety (3.7.1), facilities required (3.8.3), room heights (3.8.2), light and ventilation (3.8.4 and 3.8.5) and energy efficiency (3.12);
4. BASIX requirements.

Module 6 - Acceptable Construction II:

1. Section 3 of the Housing Provisions covering acceptable construction manuals and acceptable construction practice
2. Acceptable construction practice for Class 1 and 10 buildings for site preparation, footings and slabs, masonry, framing, roof and wall cladding, glazing, barriers, wet area waterproofing, sound insulation and swimming pool access.

Module 7 - Acceptable Construction III:

1. Section 3 of the Housing Provisions covering acceptable construction manuals and acceptable construction practice
2. Acceptable construction practice for smoke alarms, heating appliances, high wind areas, bushfire areas, alpine areas and earthquake areas.

Module 8 - Certification:

1. General Development Consent (DC) process
2. The certification system
3. BCA matters for consideration in the DC process for Class 1a and 10 buildings
4. Requirements for a CC
5. The role of a PCA.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Short answer questions on course modules 1-5

Assessment task 2: Report: Construction Certificate Assessment and variation request

Minimum requirements

Students must meet attendance requirements and overall must obtain at least 50% of the total marks.