Building a house or development is a complicated process with many different people involved and an immense number of rules to comply with. A professional private certifier is the key to a smooth and successful build and can provide invaluable insight into how a project can be completed to the exacting standards of Australian legislation.
A Building Certifier is responsible for ensuring that building work complies with government laws at local, state and national levels. This is accomplished through inspections during construction as well as examining plans before the start of construction and assessing the work that has been undertaken. They are also able to issue occupancy certificates at the end of construction, which allows the occupants to legally occupy a building.
In order to become a Building Certification Group, a person must complete a university course and obtain a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area. They are required to undergo regular training and keep abreast of new developments in their field to ensure that they remain up-to-date with any changes to laws or regulations that could affect the work they do.
When conducting a building inspection, a certifier looks at all aspects of the structure, from the foundations to the roof and everything in between. They will look for things like inadequate or inappropriate materials, omissions and non-structural works that are not in accordance with the building code. During the process, they will assess the quality of the workmanship and may require remedial action to be taken if they are not satisfied with the standard.
The most important role of a building certifier is to ensure that the work carried out by builders complies with regulations enforced by governments at all levels. They will also take disciplinary action against any certifier who is found guilty of professional misconduct.
While most private certifiers are based in Australia, there are some who operate internationally. They are required to have a minimum level of insurance, which includes professional indemnity cover for their activities. The type of policy required will depend on the level of work the certifier is authorised to carry out, and the size and complexity of any projects they are permitted to certify.
In addition to standard certifications, there are also a variety of specialty certifications that can be achieved for buildings. These include green certifications such as DGNB and LEED, which focus on ecological factors such as water management, energy efficiency, resource conservation and carbon reduction. These can help to reduce a building’s environmental footprint, and are particularly useful for large office spaces or hotels.
Having a building certified to an international standard also provides added value for the owner and occupants. Aside from the obvious environmental benefits, it can increase user productivity as it will be a more comfortable place to work. This is because the occupants will experience higher thermal comfort levels, which in turn will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool it.