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