The Building Services Board has found a Perth building surveying firm and its director engaged in misleading conduct while certifying a medical facility's design and construction.
The Board's caution against building surveying contractor Fast Track Approvals Pty Ltd (BSC117) and its nominated supervisor, Andre Marcel Gillot (BSP193), prompted Building and Energy to emphasise that certifications must be thorough and accurate, particularly when there are changes to a building's classification.
In 2022, Fast Track Approvals issued a certificate of design compliance (CDC) that was subsequently submitted to the City of Melville as part of the building permit application for a radiology clinic in Booragoon. A CDC declares that proposed building work will comply with applicable standards if it follows certain plans, specifications and technical documents.
The Board was told the City refused the permit application after discovering the forthcoming building work described in the CDC was actually nearly complete. The City later found the CDC described a Class 5 building, or medical facility, whereas corresponding site plans referred to a Class 6 building, or showroom.
Fast Track Approvals later issued a certificate of building compliance (CBC) as part of the occupancy permit application for the clinic. According to information presented to the Board, the CBC did not address the change in building classification or show how key parts of the work complied with applicable building standards.
The Board noted the company and Mr Gillot had no prior compliance issues with Building and Energy and had cooperated with the investigation. The City eventually issued an occupancy certificate for the building.
Building Commissioner Saj Abdoolakhan said registered building surveyors must be thorough and informed when certifying building plans and work, due to the potential impacts on future occupants.
"In this case, the building surveyors should have noticed and addressed obvious irregularities before issuing the certifications," Mr Abdoolakhan said.
"Key documents clearly showed a change in building classification, which required additional considerations to ensure compliance with applicable building standards.
"This matter is also a timely reminder that a classification change requires the building, or its reclassified part, to comply with current building standards. This may be a complex process, particularly for older buildings."
Building and Energy has published a Code of Conduct for building surveyors. A project is also underway to develop a Code of Practice.
