Department of Public Works
CODE ASSESSMENT OF BUILDING WORKS
INFORMATION SHEET
Project Services Building Surveying Procedures
The Crown is bound to comply with the provisions of the Building Act 1975 – see s2.
(A)
PROJECTS REQUIRING ASSESSMENT
All “Building Works” carried out by or on behalf of the State or Public Sector Entity are “selfassessable” in accordance with the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (see Sustainable Planning
Regulation, Schedule 3, Part 2, Table 1, item 1). “Self Assessable” works must still comply with all
relevant codes – see SPA s236 & 574. “Self assessable” means the Crown is able to make its own
assessment, but the assessment must still be undertaken by officers qualified under the various Acts
and Codes to make that assessment. The Capital Works Management Framework requires all
building works to be assessed by a licensed Building Certifier to ensure full compliance.
[Note: All development on land designated by the Minister is exempt development under a planning
scheme. Code Assessment of Building Works is subsequent to the designation process.]
(B)
TYPICAL PROJECTS INVOLVED
The requirement for obtaining Code Assessment of Building Works applies to particular works that
the Building Act defines as Building Work (refer Section 5 of the Building Act). This definition is
wide-ranging and assessment will generally be necessary. Particular examples where this may not
be necessary will be limited to cases such as:
 repainting, reglazing, cupboards and joinery, civil road works, soft landscaping, fences less
than 2 metres high or retaining walls less than 1m high. Refer also to exempt development
defined in Section22 of the Building Act and described in Schedule 2 of the Building
Regulation 2006.
The definition of Building Work:
(1) Building work is (a) Building, repairing, altering, underpinning (whether by vertical or lateral support), moving or
demolishing a building or other structure; or
(b) Excavating or filling (i) for or incidental to the activities mentioned in paragraph (a); or
(ii) that may adversely affect the stability of a building or other structure whether on the land
on which the building or other structure is situated or on the adjoining land; or
(c) supporting (whether vertically or laterally) land for activities mentioned in paragraph (a);
(d) other work regulated under the building assessment provisions, other than IDAS.
(2) For subsection (1)(d), work includes a management procedure or other activity relating to a
building or structure even though the activity does not involve a structural change to the
building or structure.
Example: a management procedure under the fire safety standard relating to budget accommodation.
All enquires and submissions should be directed to:
Chief Building Surveyor
Level 4 B (Parliament House End)
80 George Street
G P O Box 2906
Telephone:
Brisbane Qld 4001
Facsimile:
(07) 3224 6286
(07) 3225 8110
BSP F304
01/2008
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 Level 4, 80 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000  GPO Box 2906, Brisbane Qld 4001  Telephone (07) 3224 4725  Facsimile (07) 3225 8110 

email: Karen.kuhn@projectservices.qld.gov.au 
(C)
WHAT DOES AN ASSESSMENT INVOLVE
Assessment consists of three major functions:
-
assessment: upon your submission, documents for your project will be assessed. If
sufficient information is NOT submitted, you will be asked for either clarification or
submission of further information. When the assessment is complete, you will receive a
written assessment letter (or memo) advising you of:
o Any non-compliances identified in your documentation,
o Procedures to be followed for the completion of the project, primarily these will
relate to inspection procedures.
For some projects, referral to other agencies is a necessary part of the process, and the
assessment cannot be completed until those “other agencies” have provided their
assessment to advice. When this occurs you will be required to provide additional
documents and pay an additional fee. The most common instance of this process
generally occurs with buildings over 500 m2 in area, in that case the assessment
process must include a referral to the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.
-
-
inspection: during construction, an officer from DPW (in the majority of cases, this
officer will be from the local Q-Build office) will undertake inspections to ensure work
proceeds in accordance with the assessed documents.
o In some cases, the builder will be required to arrange
 inspections by other parties – such as engineers, and/or
 certification by suppliers or subcontractors – eg termite treatment,
waterproofing etc
o in many case the builder will also need to arrange inspection by the Queensland
Fire and Rescue Service,
completion advice: formal confirmation of completion. This may be signified by one of
two documents:
o for minor work a “letter of substantial completion” or
o for more significant projects a “building code assessment summary”.
The building regulations relevant to a “Certificate of Classification” are not applicable to “selfassessable Crown building works”. Whilst it is not a statutory requirement for a “Certificate of
Classification” to be issued in order for lawful occupation to commence – the crown is bound to
comply with the requirements of the Building Act, and evidence must exist to demonstrate any Crown
building works comply with the Building Act through both an assessment and inspection procedure..
During an assessment, consideration will be given in respect of the following matters:
Administrative & Regulatory Provisions of Codes
-Transitional buildings, temporary
and special structures, classification and use.
Structural Adequacy
- including dead loads, live loads, wind loads and earthquake
loads, importance category.
Fire Resistance
- to ensure the building incorporates appropriate materials and
structural methods given the size, use and location of the building.
Egress
- referring to the provision of escapes in case of fire or emergency,
Access
- access and use for persons with disabilities: including mobility
impairment, vision impairment and hearing impairment.
Fire Services
- to ensure that a building is provided with services for fire-fighting
or control that are suitable for the size, use and location of the
building. In many cases this will also require an assessment by
the Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority.
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 Level 4, 80 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000  GPO Box 2906, Brisbane Qld 4001  Telephone (07) 3224 4725  Facsimile (07) 3225 8110 

email: Karen.kuhn@projectservices.qld.gov.au 
Health & Amenity
- minimum requirements are nominated with regard to matters such
as weather-proofing, sanitary facilities, light and ventilation.
Energy Efficiency
- ensuring that a building is constructed in a manner that ensures it
can be occupied and used in a manner that contributes to the
reduction of green-house gas generation. Generally this takes
into consideration: insulation, glazing, ventilation, lighting,
mechanical ventilation and air conditioning. Please not: this is to
minimum BCA standards only, not to best practice and/or Greenstar assessment standards
Sustainability
- consideration of matters such as water conservation and energy
efficiency matters as specified by the Queensland Development
Code – which are additional to those required by the national
building code – the Building Code of Australia.
Workplaces
- assessment is also made of various Workplace, Health and
Safety matters that affect the design of the building.
Performance Solutions- alternative solutions that must meet the performance
requirements, e.g. use of Fire Engineering Guidelines.
It should be noted that the assessment process will require input from the project design and
documentation team in respect of “certification” of various building elements. You should be aware
of this and ensure that the conditions of engagement for the project design teams have included this
requirement. This is in accordance with normal industry practice, and most building industry
professional are well aware of the requirement to issue “Form 15’s” in association with the building
code assessment process. Typically certification would be required for: all structural aspects, fire
fighting services, fire detection and alarm systems, air conditioning and ventilation systems, lighting
systems, and energy efficiency assessments.
(D)
WHAT ISSUES CAN I EXPECT WILL OCCUR WITH THE INSPECTION PHASE
As noted above, inspections will be undertaken by an officer nominated by DPW for that purpose.
There are a number of matters you should be aware of that commonly occur, and a number of
conditions that you will normally be required to comply with during the construction and inspection
phase.
Notification of the commencement of construction
When undertaking an assessment, it is rare that we are aware of the identity of the builder – in most
cases the builder has not yet been selected. Hence, we cannot advise the inspector we nominate of the
builders details. Similarly we do not usually know when the works will commence. It is an essential
requirement of this process that you have in place arrangements to advise the inspecting officer of the
identity of the builder, their contact details, and the construction commencement date – AS SOON AS
YOU KNOW THESE DETAILS.
Notification of inspections during the course of construction
It is an offence under the Building Act for the builder to proceed past a required inspection to the next
stage without first having an approved inspection of the current stage. The builder is required, by the
Building Act, to ensure that the nominated inspecting officer is notified that a stage is complete and
ready for inspection. The builder will be well aware of this requirement under the Building Act; however
there is often some confusion regarding the obligations on Crown projects. Please ensure that your
builder knows and understands that the Building Act does apply to this project – and inspections are
required as per normal construction industry practices.
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 Level 4, 80 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000  GPO Box 2906, Brisbane Qld 4001  Telephone (07) 3224 4725  Facsimile (07) 3225 8110 

email: Karen.kuhn@projectservices.qld.gov.au 
Where there are “other party” inspections – such as the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service – the
builder is responsible for advising those parties when the works are ready for inspection by those
parties. The DPW inspector should be notified at the same time.
Provision of certificates and other “evidence of suitability”
The inspecting officer cannot witness and verify all activities. In many cases the inspecting officer will
require verification documentation in the form of “certification” or “evidence of suitability” for various
aspects of the work. Normally these relate to specialist elements of the works – such as footing and
foundation inspections, roof trusses, windows, waterproofing etc. Certification of these elements by the
supplier or tradesperson responsible for them is in accordance with normal construction industry
practices, and the construction industry is well aware of the requirement for the issue of “Form 16’s”.
Our assessment correspondence will nominate the certificates required from the builder.
The fee scale has been set under the presumption that normal industry practices will apply, and these
certificates will be available upon request. Please ensure that your builder is aware this certification
requirement will apply to your project.
(E)
SUBMISSION CONDITIONS
In accordance with s24 of the Building Regulation 2006 certain information must be submitted for
assessment. The submission requirements are generally as set-out in the "Guide to Required
Documents & Certificates".
Application for Code Assessment of Building Works will be accepted on the basis of either:
-
Full documentation in one submission; or
By packages to suit “fast-track/preferred” construction methods (either by individual Trade
Packages, or in a group or other);
Pre-consultation with Building Surveying will ensure the assessment process does not hinder the
preferred procurement system and may help identify alternative solutions/performance issues
early.
-
Code Assessment of Building Works is on a "fee-for-service" basis and is related to the size and
complexity of the building. Fees are calculated on a “% of building cost” basis, and are on a sliding
scale (ie: the % reduces as the project cost increases), for this reason a fee scale is not readily
available. Please contact Building Surveying for fee advice and estimates.
Where appropriate, a separate fee will also be levied by Project Services assessment of
hydraulic/drainage design. Please note assessment of sanitary drainage Hydraulics is a separate
service and requires a separate submission, please contact Mr P. Vanderkamp - 3224 4950.
Other fees may be payable to
 other Referral Agencies, for example the Queensland Fire & Rescue Service or
 the inspection of drainage installations or
 assessment of compliance with Food and Hygiene Regulations or
 the geographic Local Government.
Project Services Building Surveying does not act as a fee collection agent to these “other parties”, and
you will need to make payment arrangements directly with those other parties when their services are
required in conjunction with the building code assessment process.
Project Services Building Surveying does not undertake the following assessments:
-
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (Referred to as a Referral Agency);
Sewerage and Water Supply Act;
Town Planning Issues;
Health Regulations.
BSP F304
01/2008
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 Level 4, 80 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000  GPO Box 2906, Brisbane Qld 4001  Telephone (07) 3224 4725  Facsimile (07) 3225 8110 

email: Karen.kuhn@projectservices.qld.gov.au 