Building classes and roles
What are the regulated building classes in the scheme?
Class 2, Class 3, Class 9c buildings.
What is the primary purpose of audits in the NSW building and construction industry?
Trust and confidence.
How many years must building practitioners keep their records for?
10 years.
How can customers withdraw an application?
1. write and sign a letter requesting the withdrawal of the application,
2. email the letter to dbpregistration@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.
Note: Only the applicant can withdraw an application.
What system is used to log all Design and building practitioner calls?
The Complaint Administration System (CAS).
What is a class 2 building?
This type of building is usually a multi-storey apartment building where people live above or below each other.
Who gets audited and why?
The NSW Building Commission choose who to audit based on their risk profile. They analyse complaints data and other intelligence about practitioner conduct to identify risks. They may also choose practitioners based on location and complexity of projects.
What section of the regulations contains the code of practice?
The code of practice is in Schedule 4.
What form do practitioners need to complete to have their details taken off the public register?
Practitioners can submit a request at Request to have personal information suppressed | NSW Government
Before disclosing registration information from AMANDA, what must you complete?
Proof of Identity check (POI)
What is the role of an appropriate practitioner?
An appropriate practitioner can lodge designs, documents, and design compliance declarations on behalf of a building practitioner. An ‘appropriate practitioner’ must be a registered design practitioner or principal design practitioner working on the same project.
An appropriate practitioner cannot make or lodge a building compliance declaration only a building practitioner can.
What is the 10 step audit process for design practitioners?
The step processes is:
1. notification of audit and identification of audit focus
2. obtain documentation and information
3. check if construction has commenced
4. confirm lodgement of declared design
5. check practitioners are registered
6. examine if insurance requirements have been met
7. examine engagement contracts
8. examine declarations and related design documentation and conduct
9. audit outcomes
10. ongoing requirements.
Building practitioners without a home building licence need to complete how many CPD points and hours?
12 CPD points and 3 hours for each year of registration.
What is the process to help a customer with technical issues with an application form?
If a customer has a technical issue with their MyServiceNSW Account or online application:
1. perform basic troubleshooting using MyServiceNSW Account and digital services topic guide.
2. if unresolved, warm transfer to MyService team:
What is the best way to search for a practitioner's registration in AMANDA?
Using the registration number in the General folder.
What building work is excluded from obligations under the DBP scheme?
The following building work is excluded:
- Work carried out as exempt development, other than waterproofing.
- Waterproofing is excluded if carried out as a result of alterations to a bathroom, kitchen, laundry or toilet and the alterations are carried out as exempt development and the work, including the agreement to do the work, relates only to a single dwelling.
- Work carried out under a contract under the Homebuilder Grant.
- Fit out work of part of a building, but only:
* if the part of the building is a class 5, 6, 9a or 9b building part as a result of a change of building use connected with the work
* if the work is the subject of a development consent that primarily relates to the fit-out
* to the extent the work does not relate to a structural component of the building.
What are the audit objectives?
The objectives are to:
1. to determine the level of compliance with the legislation by registered practitioners; and
2. to identify any concerns relating to registered practitioner conduct.
How long must CPD records be kept?
Five years.
What is the refund process for applications?
Customers will only receive a partial refund if their application is refused or withdrawn. The processing fee, which goes to the administrative costs of processing an application, is non-refundable.
There are special circumstances where a full refund can be provided under clause 93A(1)(b) of the DBP Regulation. These are managed on a case-by-case basis. Special circumstances include a natural disaster or recovery from a natural disaster.
What do the registration acronyms BUP, DEP, PDP and PRE/PE represent?
What class 3 and class 1 buildings are exempt from the DBP scheme?
Hotels, motels and class 9a or 9b buildings that include minor accommodation facilities where the class 3 part is less than 10 per cent of the gross floor area.
What is the name of a possible outcome that requires non-compliant design work to cease immediately.
A stop work order.
What are the contact details for the NSW Planning Portal?
For questions related to lodging documents on the NSW Planning Portal:
What do you do if a practitioner is calling about audits or building work orders?
Only provide general information about building work audits and building work orders as found in the DBP and regulated buildings topic guide. Direct customers to their most recent correspondence from the regulator or the inspector handling their case for contact details.
What two actions must a body corporate take if it no longer employs any registered individual building practitioners?
The two actions are: