Discussion paper: National Registration Framework for Building Practitioners - Australian Building Codes Board

Response 903139532

Personal Information

What is your name?

Ron Lochert

What is your organisation?

Self employed

Which best describes your industry sector?

Please select one item

Building Commercial

Building Residential

Building Commercial and Residential

Building and plumbing products

Building Certification/ Surveying

Architecture and design

Engineering

Plumbing

Compliance, testing and accreditation

Legal and Finance

Specialist - disability access

Specialist - energy efficiency

Specialist - fire safety

Specialist - health

Specialist - hydraulic/ plumbing

Student/ apprentices

Trades and other construction services

Education

Community and Non-Government organisations

Government

General Public

Other

Please select your State or Territory

Please select one item

ACT

NSW

Qld

Tas

Vic

On whose behalf are you making this submission?

Please select one item

(Required)

I am making this submission on my own behalf

I am making this submission on behalf of a business

I am making this submission on behalf of an industry body

I am making this submission on behalf of a government agency

General Questions

Does the proposed NRF deliver an appropriate and proportionate response to BCR Recommendations 1 and 2?

Please select one item

Yes

Unsure

If No, please provide reasons and suggestions.

I do not think the response covers the straight forward deemed to satisfy or the cases where there are minor performance decisions made on a small part of the project. It really has been designed around major projects with significant performance requirements and then some easing for the more straight forward developments that actually make up the vast majority in numbers of developments.

Will the NRF, if implemented, enhance confidence in the building industry by ensuring that key practitioners in the building process are registered?

Please select one item

Yes

Unsure

If No, please provide reasons and suggestions.

The issue to be considered is if the method of assessing a person really means that the person is a better performer. eg there have been several instances of poor performing engineers in Qld where there is a registration process. one particular case was a person working in Australia and new Zealand who was found after a number of years to be not qualified and a poor performer according to media reports.

Do you foresee any risks in implementing this proposal, noting that the states and territories are responsible for implementation of the NRF?

Please select one item

Yes

Unsure

Please explain your reasoning.

All states have different systems and people work across states so people will need to be registered in each state. In addition interpretation of relevant experience is likely to differ. Also education requirements for approving authority staff currently vary. SA has builders and contractors being licensed

Do you think the proposed NRF will improve compliance with the NCC?

Please select one item

Yes

Unsure

Please explain your reasoning.

At the moment too may professionals rely on the approving authority to explain what is required. If they have to have some training it should make better compliance.

NRF Discipline Specific Comments

Please provide your comments below.

Your comment relates to:

Please select one item

(Required)

Building design

Energy efficiency design

Disability access design

Geotechnical design

Structural design

Electrical design

Mechanical design

Hydraulic design

Plumbing design

Fire safety design

Fire systems design

Façade design

Building

Fire systems installation

Plumbing

Building surveying

Fire systems inspection

Project management

Registration levels

facades meeting the BCA deemed to satisfy should be able to be designed by anyone.

Experience requirements

I doubt there are many professionals who have 5 years experience in facades. It is an area where several professionals use their expertise to reach a design BUT they may only work on a facade occasionally

Any other comments for this discipline

The whole issue of facades needing specialists has been because of some light weight flamable facade materials. While weather tightness is another area of concern this is not really a separate profession and should not be included

Would you like to comment on another discipline?

Please select one item

(Required)

Yes

Other Comments

The ABCB is specifically interested in your comments on the registration levels for building surveyors. Do you agree with the criteria used to distinguish between with the two levels of registration for building surveyors and does it adequately accommodate the different levels of risk?

Please select one item

Yes

Unsure

Please provide your reasoning.

There is too much variation between states now to really know. The concept is right and works generally but it causes issue when there are minor non deemed to satisfy items in a lower risk development eg a house as people at the lower level do not have the skills to assess those items.