Congratulations Mat

We are proud to announce that Mat Homewood has completed his studies and obtained the required experience to become registered as a building inspector.  As a result of his hard work and commitment, Mat has joined the Inspection Team.  Mat will complement our growing inspection squad with his personable nature, willingness to help and sound practical experience.

Welcome to Mark and Milano

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Alcordo to our Tech Team.  Mark previously held a technical role with the Building Appeals Board. His experience and knowledge of the NCC/BCA and the Building Act will be of great benefit to our team.  Mark’s communication skills and quirky sense of humor add to DJM’s point of difference in providing great customer service to all our clients. 

We have recently appointed Milano to the position of administrative support to the Tech Team.  Milano will become the first point of contact for most permit coordinators & CLE’s.  This is a very important role and we know it will add to our service levels and to your experience as a client of DJM.  Milano is approachable and respectful, and will be happy to assist you through the permit process.

The past two years has brought many challenges to every business and 2022 will present a new and fresh set of challenges. This includes the introduction of a new National Construction Code (NCC) and Building Code of Australia (BCA).

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released a draft of the planned changes to the 2022 Version of the National Construction Code. 

The following is a link to Volume Two of the BCA and the Housing Provisions:

On 9th May 2022, these regulations will be available from the below link:

https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/

The BCA 2022 release is a two-part process:

• 9 May 2022 – Preview edition of the BCA released, excluding energy efficiency & condensation.
• 1 September 2022 – BCA 2022 adopted nationally.

The delay in the adoption of the code is due to changes around energy efficiency and condensation management which are yet to be finalised.

Some of the more significant changes that were in the draft versions of the NCC series (BCA Vol 1 & 2 and PCA) are:

• Adoption of the ABCB Housing Provisions Standard (This will result in a total change to all current clause numbers in the BCA Vol 2)
• Provisions relating to accessible housing which would introduce the ABCB Standard for liveable Housing Design
• Amendments concerning allowable lead levels for certain plumbing products that contact drinking water
• Egress for early childhood centres and primary schools
• Quantification of Performance Requirements, including Part A8
• Bushfire protection for non-residential buildings
• Stage 1 weatherproofing and waterproofing for commercial buildings
• A stringency increases in the thermal performance of homes from the current level, equivalent to 6-stars NatHERS, to the equivalent of 7 stars
• The introduction of whole-of-home annual energy use requirements (noting differences between Class 1 and 2 buildings)
• New Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions for Class 2 buildings 
• New provisions to allow easy retrofit of on-site renewables and electric vehicle charging equipment for Class 2 to 9 buildings
• Enhanced condensation management provisions, including additional ventilation and wall vapour permeability requirements.

Once this has been released, we will provide our clients with an informative overview of the main changes and catch any significant design issues that will require attention for compliance with the new code and standard. 

Please feel free to contact Andrew Steele if you have any questions.

Timber Supply Shortage

As you are all aware, timber supplies are now causing a massive problem within the building industry.  In particular, certain size beams nominated on the approved building permit documentation can no longer be sourced, resulting in alternatives being sought.

It is the role of the Building Surveyor and Building Inspector to ensure that the approved plans are identical to what has been constructed on site.  This includes when a replacement is larger than the originally approved member.

To assist in the processes required to amend any framing members, we offer the below as a guide:

Changes to framing members or fixings nominated within the engineering design

Any proposed change to a member size nominated on the engineer’s plans are to be presented back to the engineer for a full revision of the plans, computations and certification form.

Prefabricator offers an alternative with their own certified design

If the prefabricator offers an alternative with certification but the member is also stated within the engineering, then the engineer’s plans/design are required to be altered to include the design change or the framing member removed for the engineer’s design.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept two certified designs (one from the fabricator and one from the engineer) with differing members, all plans and documentation are required to be as constructed on site and consistent to enable the inspector to approve.  Note: An engineer’s designed member always takes precedence over any prefabricated design.

Cutting Guide or Prefab Framing Details are amended for a member not within the engineering

In this instance it is just required to re-submit the full revised cutting guide or prefab documentation for approval, no amendment required.

Email Justification

We cannot accept emails from manufacturers or engineers justifying a member or connection that’s different from the approved documentation.

With any member change that may affect the ceiling heights or wall heights, then full architectural plans must also be submitted as part of the amendment process.

In any of the instances nominated above, the documentation must be submitted to our office for an amended approval. Once this has been done then a frame or re-frame inspection can be booked and carried out. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions on the process

Wet Weather Policy

As we are approaching winter in Melbourne and seeing the terrible flooding in Queensland and New South Wales, it’s a timely reminder of how much weather can impact building sites.

Over the last few months, we’ve had a number of issues with sites being impacted by rain. Whilst we will do everything we can to work with all contractors we would like to remind everyone of the following obligations and legal requirements:

Site Drainage

• Ensure adequate drainage is provided to sites during the whole construction process. This is to make sure no damage occurs to your property or adjoining properties during your build.
• Soil grading away from foundations, temporary downpipes and retaining of loose soil are all integral areas that should be considered to achieve this.

Pre-Slab & Slab Steel Stages

• Bases must remain firm, dry and level. It is the builder’s responsibility to ensure that no damage has occurred to the base, in particular to the compactness of the soil, after the pre slab inspection, prior to continuing works.
• If there has been high rainfall event in or around the locality of the site post pre slab inspection, a representative of the builder must attend site to assess the state of the base and only continue if no damage has occurred.
• If, as a result of the site assessment, remedial works are required within the building footprint of the site, a re-inspection of the base must be called for.
• We believe it’s in everyone’s best interest to prevent a steel inspection failing due to the condition of the base changing, it causes unnecessary delays and extra work that could have been prevented, so please ensure that all sites are supervised and steel works are delayed where necessary.

As stated above, we will make every endeavour to work with builders and concreters to achieve results.  Please understand this policy is not implemented to delay any project.  It is in place to ensure that you have a slab fit for purpose, it is about adequate supervision and adherence to the intent of the BCA to prevent issues for you, as the builder, from structural defects.

Please feel free to contact Bre Cross or Shane Rowe if you have any questions.

Congratulations and Welcome!

Congratulations Brock
Big congratulations to Brock Hodgson on obtaining his registration as a building inspector. Brock joined DJM early 2020, doing surveying work in the Tech Team whilst completing his studies. In this time Brock built on his already extensive building knowledge, Brocks experience includes a background in carpentry and running his own business. We’re very excited for Brock to be heading out on the road as a registered inspector.
He’ll be covering all regions, but will primarily be based in the west and north for the next few months.

Welcome to Natalija and Anthony
We would like to welcome two new members to the Tech Team. Anthony Spence and Natalija Petrovic (Nat) joined DJM in January, many of you from the permits’ team would have already spoken to Anthony or Nat.
Anthony is a registered domestic builder with 17 years’ experience in the industry. He is a carpenter by trade and ran his own construction company. We are delighted to welcome Anthony; the depth of knowledge he will bring to the Tech Team will be invaluable.
Nat has a family history in the construction industry, she has worked with her father and uncle who are domestic builders. She is driven and intent on gaining the knowledge and experience to become a building inspector. Nat is a focused young individual who is determined on achieving results.
We’re excited to have Nat and Anthony on board with the DJM team and look forward to watching them grow in the company.