Information for applicants

1. That does not meet one or more of the performance requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) or a Ministerial Building Standard:
   • a final report, commensurate with the complexity of the solution, that includes:
     • all Performance Requirements and/or Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions identified through A2.2(3) or A2.4(3) as applicable
     • identification of all Assessment Methods used
     • details of a performance based design brief, analysis using the assessment method, evaluation of analysis results
     • justification/explanation of how the Performance Requirement/s has not been met
     • details of conditions or limitations, if any exist, regarding the Performance Solution
     • detailed building plans, technical reports, certificates of independent technical experts, trade data, product samples and/or photographs.
2. That was referred to the fire authority who recommended that building rules consent not be granted, but the relevant authority seeks to grant building rules consent:
   • a final report, commensurate with the complexity of the assessment, that includes:
     • all Performance Requirements identified through A2.2(3) or A2.4(3) as applicable and/or Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
     • identification of any or all Assessment Methods used
     • details of any performance based design brief, analysis using the assessment method, evaluation of analysis of results or details of assessment and decision making process for the granting of building rules consent
     • explanation of how the Performance Requirement/s has been met via a performance solution or deemed-to-satisfy solution; and reasons for not supporting the recommendations of the fire authority
     • details of conditions or limitations, if any exist, of the building rules consent
     • detailed building plans, technical reports, certificates of independent technical experts, trade data, product samples and/or photographs.
3. That was referred to the fire authority who recommended that building rules consent be granted subject to conditions, but the relevant authority does not propose to impose the conditions, or seeks to vary the conditions:
   • a final report, commensurate with the complexity of the assessment, that includes:
     • all Performance Requirements identified through A2.2(3) or A2.4(3) as applicable or Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
     • identification of any or all Assessment Methods used
     • details of a performance based design brief, analysis using the assessment method, evaluation of analysis of results or details of assessment and decision making process for the granting of building rules consent
     • explanation of how the Performance Requirement/s has been met; and reasons for not supporting the recommendations of the fire authority
     • details of conditions or limitations, if any exist, of the building rules consent
     • detailed building plans, technical reports, certificates of independent technical experts, trade data, product samples and/or photographs.
4. That involves construction of a private bushfire shelter:
   • a final report, that includes:
     • all relevant Performance Requirements
     • identification of all Assessment Methods used
     • details of a performance based design brief, analysis using the assessment method, evaluation of analysis results, analysis and evaluation pursuant to the Private Bushfire Shelters Performance Standard (Australian Building Codes Board, 2014)
     • explanation of how the Performance Requirement/s has been met
     • details of conditions or limitations, if any exist, regarding the Performance Solution
     • detailed building plans, technical reports, certificates of independent technical experts, trade data, detailed assessment, product samples and/or photographs.

In relation to:

1. whether a proposed development will meet the performance requirements of the BCA or a Ministerial Building Standard:
   • a final report, commensurate with the complexity of the assessment, that includes:
     • all Performance Requirements and/or Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions identified through A2.2(3) or A2.4(3) as applicable
     • identification of any/all Assessment Methods used
     • details of a performance based design brief, analysis using the assessment method, evaluation of analysis results; or details of assessment pursuant to the deemed-to-satisfy provisions
     • an explanation/justification as to how the Performance Requirement has been met
     • details of conditions or limitations, if any exist, regarding the Performance Solution/ consent
     • detailed building plans, technical reports, certificates of independent technical experts, trade data, product samples and/or photographs.
2. where there is a case for exemption from the access provisions due to unjustifiable hardship under Regulation 80A of the Development Regulations 2008 (under the Development Act), or under Ministerial Building Standard 001 or Ministerial Building Standard 006 (under the PDI Act):
   • A statement of the exemption or issue with reference to, as appropriate, the Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards 2010, the supporting evidence, and detailed building plans, technical reports, certificates of independent technical experts, trade data, detailed assessment, product samples and/or photographs.
3. in relation to Crown development where the proposed building work would be at variance with the performance requirements of the BCA or a Ministerial Building Standard:
   • a final report, commensurate with the complexity of the solution, that includes:
     • all Performance Requirements and/or Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions identified through A2.2(3) or A2.4(3) as applicable
     • identification of all Assessment Methods used
     • details of a performance based design brief, analysis using the assessment method, evaluation of analysis results
     • justification/explanation of how the Performance Requirement/s has not been met
     • details of conditions or limitations, if any exist, regarding the Performance Solution
     • detailed building plans, technical reports, certificates of independent technical experts, trade data, product samples and/or photographs.

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has further resources available to assist practitioners with the development and approval of simple and complex Performance Solutions including a user friendly guide on how to document a performance based design brief (PBDB).

Matters are heard on an application-by-application basis. A date and time for a meeting to consider an application will be agreed through consultation with the applicant, the Chair and other Panel members. Unless otherwise agreed, meetings will be held at 50 Flinders Street, Adelaide. Meetings are held in private.

The Panel may request a site inspection to better understand a specific issue or particular circumstance in relation to the proposed development. Where this is required, an inspection will be arranged with the applicant and/or relevant authority at a mutually convenient time. It should be noted that a site visit is not a substitute for detailed documentation.

Panel members are not permitted to hear matters in which they have or it may be perceived that they have a conflict of interest.

The applicant (private certifier / council building surveyor) should attend the meeting to discuss their application. The Chair may agree that it is appropriate for others to attend a meeting on behalf of the applicant (eg fire engineer or other consultant), depending on the matter to be considered.

Electronic communication or other telecommunication devices may be considered an acceptable method for the purposes of hearing verbal representations from all parties relevant to the application. The utilisation of electronic communication or other telecommunication devices will be at the discretion of the Chair in consultation with the Department.

Meetings will commence on time, or as soon as a quorum is present. If a quorum is not present within thirty minutes of the commencement time, the Chair may adjourn the hearing to another date and time.

Rules of natural justice prevail – all parties involved in the application are given the opportunity to be heard and to respond to opposing views.

Meetings convened to hear an application will be conducted as follows:

• The Chair will outline the matter before the Panel and ensure that members understand the matter to be considered, before inviting the applicant to join the meeting.
• The applicant (and/or relevant authority) will present the case to the Panel and give reasons for seeking an opinion or concurrence from the Panel.
• Members of the Panel can then ask questions of the applicant to clarify matters pertaining to the case and the applicant may refer some of those questions to their adviser/s.
• The applicant and any other parties will then retire from the meeting.
• The Panel will then consider the matter and make its determination.

The Panel may, for the purposes of making a determination, request additional information or clarification during the course of the meeting.

Determinations are made based on the documentation before the Panel and on the basis of a majority decision of the Members present.

Where a request for additional information or clarification occurs, the determination will be deferred until such time as the additional information or clarification has been provided. A second meeting may be necessary to consider any additional information or a determination may be made out-of-session.

Minutes from the Committee meeting are confidential.

Applicants can generally expect to receive the Panel’s determination in writing within 5 (five) working days of the determination being made.

Where an application must be referred to the Building Technical Panel, the statutory time frame in which a decision must be made by the relevant authority is extended by two weeks in accordance with Regulation 41 of the Development Regulations 2008.

No appeal lies against determinations made by the Building Technical Panel in accordance with Section 36 of the Development Act 1993.