Building certification industry: forms and resources

Go to the Building Appeals Board website for the:

• application for modification of siting regulations - also known as building setbacks
• applications for alternative solution decision applications - also known as disability access decisions
• notices of appeal - decision of a building practitioner or the director of building control.

Read below to find out about building policies and guidelines.

Building Advisory Committee

Go to the Building Advisory Committee website for their policies on:

• shade structures
• roller doors and blinds
• air-conditioners
• water heaters
• installation of photovoltaic panels.

Building certification moratorium and travel subsidy

The NT Government placed a moratorium on enforcement action for non-compliance under the Building Act 1993, including a subsidy for building certifiers travelling to regional and remote Tier 2 building control areas.

The moratorium was in place from 28 April 2009 to 30 June 2016. The travel subsidy scheme also ended on 30 June 2016.

Claims for the travel subsidy are no longer being accepted.

Building notes

Building notes are published by the director of building control.

They give information about the start of and changes to regulatory requirements, help to interpret legislation, and specific aspects of legislation and policy.

See the list of building notes.

Building policies and guidelines

Policies and guidelines are published by the director of building control.

Occupancy certification guidelines

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance to building certifiers, other building practitioners, owners and owners’ agents about the three different levels of occupancy certification in the NT building certification system.

The focus of the guidelines is in relation to the assessment of certificates of substantial compliance and certificates of existence.

For more information, read the occupancy certification guidelines PDF (269.0 KB).

A presentation was delivered to industry and public groups during April and May 2016.

The presentation:

• explains the three different levels of occupancy certification and includes references to different building work scenarios
• explains some additional obligations that have been placed on building certifiers and owners agents relating to the provision of information about the different levels of compliance
• discusses the impact of the reforms on the building certification system.

Read about the occupancy certification system post moratorium reforms on the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics website.

In all material respects policy

Building certifiers must be satisfied that all the important aspects of the building work are in place in all material respects at the time of inspection and are in accordance with the building permit and approved plans.

Get the:

• policy document regarding the term 'in all material respects' PDF (924.9 KB)
• guidelines for inspecting class 1 to class 10 buildings or structures PDF (125.6 KB).

Read below to find out about building information and resources you can get online.

Australian Building Codes Board

The Australian Building Codes Board is responsible for publishing the National Construction Code (NCC).

Go to the Australian Building Codes Board website to read about national seminars and to access tools and calculators for building practitioners.

National Construction Code

To view the National Construction Code that incorporates all building and plumbing requirements into a single code for Australia, go to the Australian Building Codes Board website.

Australian Standards

To purchase and download copies of Australian Standards, go to the SAI Global InfoStore website.

Plumbing and Drainage Set - AS/NZS 3500

This standard complements the Plumbing Code of Australia.

This standard is mainly for use by the general plumbing industry to help interpret plumbing and drainage standards.

It covers water supply from the reticulation main into the premises, including:

• hot-water service systems
• sanitary fixtures
• drainage and their associated water and waste fittings,
• pipe systems and associated components.

To purchase and download AS/NZS 3500 - Plumbing and Drainage Set, go to the SAI Global InfoStore website.

Building Approvals Online system

Building Approvals Online is an NT Government system for certain practitioners to perform a range of functions online.

Building certifiers can use it to:

• reserve permit numbers
• lodge documentation
• lodge time extensions for registered permits
• cancel building permits.

Certifying plumbers and drainers can use it to lodge mandatory notifications.

When you apply for or renew your registration as a building certifier or certifying plumber and drainer, you'll get a user name and password for the system.

Log in to Building Approvals Online.

For more information on using the system, get the:

• building certifiers - Building Approvals Online user guide PDF (2.3 MB)
• certifying plumbers and drainers - Building Approvals Online user guide PDF (2.5 MB).

Building control areas

There are requirements for building in areas of the NT that are declared building control areas.

Use the NT Government's online tool to check if land is in a building control area.

Building practitioner registration check

To check the registration details of a practitioner or to locate practitioners in your area, go to the Building Practitioners Board website.

For information about a practitioner that is not listed in the register, call the registrar of the Building Practitioners Board on 08 8936 4082.

Deemed to comply manual

The NT deemed to comply manual is referenced in the National Construction Code, Volume 2, Part 3.10.1 as an acceptable construction manual for high-wind areas.

The manual contains products or systems which have been assessed for structural adequacy for cyclonic wind loads and approved by the NT Building Advisory Committee.

The approved drawings in the manual meet the structural requirements of the NT Building Act 1993 and are accepted by architects, builders, building certifiers, designers, engineers and other building professionals.

For more information, get the application of the NT deemed to comply manual building note PDF (2.0 MB).

To search for products in the deemed to comply manual, go to the Building Advisory Committee website.

Energy efficiency peer review system - building codes Queensland

You can get a guide to assessing energy efficiency in sustainable housing using a peer review process.

To access it, go to the Queensland Government's Business Queensland website.

Planning and development assessment

For information about policy on land use and development, read the NT Planning Scheme.

A self-certifier is someone who can install an approved building type without the need to engage a building certifier for full certification.

They are exempt from obtaining a building permit and occupancy certification (section 55 and 56 of the Building Act 1993) if all of the following conditions are met:

• the building type has been approved for self-certification by the director of building control
• the construction or installation is carried out by the approved self-certifier
• the self-certifier complies with the policies, procedures and instructions issued by the director of building control.

This may include garden sheds, carports, fences or shade structures on a standalone single dwelling of a domestic or residential nature and not anything located at a property that has:

• flats or units
• duplex or triplex
• townhouses
• commercial, public or industrial buildings
• shopping centres
• schools
• child care centres.

Read more about building a garden shed, carport, fence or shade structure.

Self-certification information guide

This guide provides information and guidance on the legal and administrative requirements for self-certifiers and has been approved as a formal guideline under the Act.

Read the self-certification information guide PDF (334.9 KB).

Approved self-certifiers

See list of approved self-certifiers in the NT below.

Forms

The forms below are for the use of self-certifiers or people wanting to become a self-certifier.

If you're a self-certifier, you can also get the following forms by calling Building Advisory Services on 08 8999 8985 or emailing them at bas@nt.gov.au:

• certificate of completion
• terms of self-certification.

You can find current and historic legislation on the NT legislation database. This includes the following legislation that is often referred to in relation to building certification:

• Building Act 1993
• Building Regulations 1993
• Building (RBI and Fidelity Fund Schemes) Regulations 2012
• Building (Resolution Of Residential Building Work Disputes) Regulations 2012
• Planning Act 1999
• Planning Regulations 2000.

Historic legislation

Historic acts, ordinances and regulations are listed below to help people who are reviewing and investigating historical compliance requirements.

The list does not cover all building-related legislation. You should make sure that the information below is relevant and accurate for your requirements.