Maintenance of Essential Safety Measures

Essential Safety Measures (ESMs) are the safety features required in a building to protect occupants in the event of a fire. ESMs may include fire detection and alarm systems, fire doors, emergency lighting, and fire hydrants. Owners Corporations are…

October 22, 2019

Toughened Glass Product Safety Recall

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a product safety recall for a specific type of glass supplied by Landson. The recall covers batches of 4mm clear toughened glass sold between 21 June and 2 August 2019 in Victoria, New…

October 22, 2019

NCC 2019 “Out of Cycle” Amendment

An out of cycle amendment to the 2019 National Construction Code, to be known as NCC 2019 Amendment 1, proposes to introduce enhanced fire safety measures for early childhood centres in high-rise buildings and address recommendations identified in…

October 22, 2019

$600 Million Towards Cladding Repairs

Recently the Victorian Government committed $600 million to fix buildings with combustible cladding. Following the Federal Government's rejection to contribute to the fund, it is now proposed that developers will fund $300 million of the funds via…

July 30, 2019

Timber Framing Concession – Advisory Note

In recent weeks the VBA and the ABCB have issued industry alerts and advisory notes to provide further clarification on the interpretation of the concessional clauses; Specification C1.1, Clauses 3.10(a) and 4.3(a) of NCC Volume One; which outlines…

July 30, 2019

Professional Indemnity Concessions

The most recent Ministerial Order released on 11 July will come into effect on 12 August 2019. Ministerial Order No. S 293 Thursday 11 July 2019. The 'Order' will now enable the VBA to accept policies with cladding exclusions. Previously, the…

July 29, 2019

Cladding Safety Victoria

Cladding Safety Victoria has been established by the Victorian Government to provide support and guidance to building owners and occupants of buildings with combustible cladding. This newly developed team will provide advice on how to reduce fire…

July 29, 2019

Building Permit Application Changes

Commencing 1 July 2019, Registered Building Surveyors (RBS) must submit an application to the VBA for a building permit number (currently issued within the RBS office). Mandatory project information is to be submitted by the RBS to the VBA in order…

May 29, 2019

$46.4M Cladding Budget

The Victorian state budget has $46.4 million set aside in 2019-20 to address an issue that has put the safety of apartment dwellers at risk and lowered the value of landlords’ investments. The funds are provided for risk assessments of private…

May 29, 2019

When is a Building Permit Required?

There is not much that does not require a building permit. Additions and alterations that modify the shape or structure of a building, including but not limited to demolishing or installing new internal walls, adding new door openings or windows all…

April 30, 2019