In 2019, the Building Professionals Board, as part of NSW Fair Trading, commenced audits of the certification activities of accredited certifiers.
Key objectives of the audit program are to:
- promote compliance with regulatory requirements
- identify areas of certification practice that require attention
- capture data to inform industry education programs
- improve practices and procedures.
Key audit findings of 2019
In some cases, the certifying authority:
- failed to ensure that a builder had the appropriate licence
- issued a construction certificate (CC) where there was a significant discrepancy in the development’s estimated cost on the CC application form and the home warranty insurance certificate
- included a fire safety schedule with the CC where the schedule failed to comply with the EP&A Regulation, i.e. did not list current fire safety measures installed in the building
- accepted final fire safety certificates that contained additional measures not detailed in the fire safety schedule for the development
- issued a CC or complying development certificate where endorsed drawings did not show any fire safety measures
- accepted CC and occupation certificate (OC) application forms that did not contain a list of documents accompanying the application
- made an incorrect reference to the EP&A Regulation on a record of inspection
- issued a CC where the plans and specifications for the building did not depict such matters as the BASIX certificate required i.e. plans did not indicate required eaves
- issued an OC that was inconsistent with the development consent
- did not keep adequate records, for the purpose of clause 8(1)(g) of the Building Professionals Regulation, in relation to specifying the classification of the building and recording the Lot/DP numbers.
The audit program is ongoing and we will update this page as it progresses.
Contact the Board if you have any enquiries.
/Public Release. View in full here.
