Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 13, 2015 11:19 am Please excuse my total ignorance but we are both new to this country and new to building. Have been told its really up to the 'certifier as to whether we can build 50% + 10% but have no idea what one of these is? Is a visit to the council in order? Re: What is A Certifier? 2Feb 13, 2015 5:30 pm Good question! My council wrote to me to tell me that they have granted us 'development plan consent' but not 'building rules consent'. My builder said the 'certifier' will now do that. ... Me: "um, sure, okay" (while scratching head wondering what that meant). Re: What is A Certifier? 3Feb 13, 2015 5:39 pm When rules need to be met, under certain circumstances a certifier is used. To generalise, they're an expert who's allowed to approve things. I can't be more specific with respect to your situation, 1st-timers, because I barely know how it works in NSW let alone Queensland! But in our case, we were building according to state-level rules, and our builder had a "private certifier" approve everything which needed approving (eg. that floor-space ratio was correct), and then that "private certifier" lodges all required paperwork with the council. I have no idea, but maybe councils in Queensland hire certifiers? If it were me, I'd be talking to the council first, and surely they could then tell you if the developer selling the land had any other rules on top of council ones? Re: What is A Certifier? 4Feb 13, 2015 9:35 pm Basically my understanding is, the certifier acts for the council, the council has deemed them competent to sign off on there behalf approval of plans etc. Something that would take the council months takes a certifier weeks, but you pay. Re: What is A Certifier? 5Feb 13, 2015 10:14 pm The state and local governments have decided to offload their responsibilities regarding building a house , reno etc after the plans have been approved to a PCA - Principal Certifying Authority ( commonly just called a certifier ) who looks after all the documentation etc while the house is being built. They do inspections at critical stages and make sure it is being built according to the approved plans, to the BCA ( Building Code of Australia ) now called the NCC ( National Construction Code ) and to AS ( Australian Standards ). There is some more info in my blurb here... viewtopic.php?f=1&t=75671 about seven posts down Note : this differs from state to state. Stewie Hi, does anyone have a clue how the Brisbane Development website work in terms of how uptodate the dates on it are (developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au). I transfered… 0 4637 Hi, I contracted a Builder to do a Garage to Bedroom + ensuite conversion (Class 1a), the Builder engaged the Certifier and Engineer and received BDA from the Certifier… 0 5015 |