Building and construction resources

Key resources

Document title	Description
Guidance material for certifiers	Outlining how to approach ‘staged building work’ and how to select the applicable edition of the Building Code of Australia (BCA)
Design and Building Practitioner Act resources	Including downloadable forms and guidance material to meet your new obligations.
Building Defects Library	Lists the most common building defects for certifiers, councils and other relevant industry members. By making these available in one place it will help quicken the drafting of formal communication to rectify defects.
Project Remediate Pattern Book	Contains a guidance document and technical drawings to help consultants replace combustible cladding.
Building certification work in NSW	Reporting on audits conducted in 2021 of local council and private certifier work in NSW. Includes practice advice for 13 areas where practices and procedures were found to be substandard.
Practice standard for registered certifiers - Volume 1 - New residential apartment buildings (PDF 2.03MB)	The Practice Standard for registered certifiers sets out the conduct expected of you when carrying out building certification work.
Practice standard for registered certifiers - Volume 2 - Class 1a Buildings (PDF 7.74MB)	The Practice Standard for registered certifiers sets out the conduct expected of you when carrying out building certification work.

Sample construction contracts

These sample construction contracts, also known as model clauses, support industry to adapt to their new declaration obligations under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.

They are provided as information only and not as legal advice, and they do not address contract matters other than the Design and Building Practitioners Act. Contracting parties should obtain legal advice about including the use of the model clauses in their construction contracts.

Document title	Description
Broken promises, blame games and balconies	An interim report about the defects experienced at the Otto 2 development in Rosebery, NSW.
Construct NSW - improving governance and contracts	A research report on contracts for the design and construction of large residential apartment buildings.
The house with no piers	Review of the issues relating to alleged defects in the construction of a home and the related complaints and dispute process.
Case study - Murrant vs Building Professionals Board (PDF 198.11KB)	A case study to help certifiers understand their duties as public officials, and the standards to which they are held.
Case study - Wang vs Building Professionals Board (PDF 198.16KB)	A case study to help certifiers understand their duties as public officials, and the standards to which they are held.

Document title	Publication date
Research on women in the construction industry	Jan 2024
Research on serious building defects in NSW strata communities	Dec 2023
Research on improving governance and contracts in NSW construction	Aug 2022
Research on consumer confidence to purchase apartments (McCrindle report)	May 2022
Improving fire safety in new and existing buildings: industry report	Oct 2021
Research report on serious defects in recently completed strata buildings across NSW (PDF 2.37MB)	Sep 2021
Research report into industry digitalisation with Western Sydney University	Aug 2021
Building Confidence report	Feb 2018

These guidance materials have been developed by industry groups with input from the Building Commission NSW.

Document title	Description
NATSPEC NSW Class 2 Reference Specification	Providing information on minimum standards for class 2 buildings, and supporting practitioners to identify the products and techniques that are fit for purpose
Guide for design practitioners and engineers	On the Design and Building Practitioners Act (developed by Consult Australia, Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects)
Class of building surveyor -unrestricted: knowledge, skills and experience guide	Describes the knowledge, skills & experience building surveyors must demonstrate to be registered in the class of building surveyor - unrestricted.
Class of building surveyor-restricted (all classes of building): knowledge, skills and experience guide	Describes the knowledge, skills & experience building surveyors must demonstrate to be registered in the class of building surveyor - restricted (all classes of buildings).
Class of building surveyor -restricted (class 1 and 10 buildings): knowledge, skills and experience guide	Describes the knowledge, skills & experience building surveyors must demonstrate to be registered in the class of building surveyor - restricted (class 1 and 10 buildings).
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Guidelines for Certifiers (PDF 296.98KB)	The Continuing Professional Development Guidelines for Certifiers issued under Schedule 4 Clause 1 of the Building and Development Certifiers Regulation 2020.