Working alongside key industry stakeholders, I'm pleased to share with you the Design Documentation Practice Guide for Class 2 residential buildings (PDF, 3207.61 KB).
This Practice Guide has long been considered and advocated for by industry and highlighted in both the Expert Panel Building System Review and the Building Confidence Report as a key area to address.
It has been found that poor building permit documentation can add 10 to 15 per cent to project costs and a lack of good documentation is responsible for 60 to 90 per cent of all variations.
Documentation that lacks the necessary detail and consistency can leave builders unsure about how to proceed on site and potentially make decisions and variations which may not be compliant with the National Construction Code (NCC). It can also result in hidden costs or allow builders and other trades to cut costs without owners being aware.
The Practice Guide initially focuses on Class 2 apartment buildings because these are considered complex projects and are aligned with and the VBA's focus on consumer protection.
Critical to the success of these projects is the coordination and collaboration between all parties involved, initiated with the building designers, building practitioners, along with other building service providers. It is vital that these relationships and interactions are strong to improve build quality, reduce construction defects and protect consumers.
