The NCC - It's Now Free
The new National Construction Code (NCC), incorporating the Building Code of Australia (BCA), was adopted on 1 May 2015. It is now accessible online for free, upon registration with the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).
Recent Articles
The Court's Interpretation - Are Project Managers and Supervisors Covered Under the Security of Payment Act?
SOPA applies to Architects, Engineers, Designers, Project Managers, Superintendents
There is often confusion amongst architects, engineers, designers and professionals who provide project management and contract management services about whether they can make a claim for payment under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) (SOPA).
Building Defects - Owner-Builder Work
In a Nutshell
Owner-builder work is presumed to have been completed within 18 months after an owner-builder permit is issued, or earlier if an occupation certificate is issued within that period.
Register Your Interest Under The Personal Property Securities Act 2009
In a Nutshell
Parties who loan or lease plant or equipment need to be aware of when to register a security interest under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (“PPSA”) to avoid unhappy scenarios such as that discussed below, where the owner of plant and equipment was ordered to hand vehicles over to a finance company that had loaned money to the tenant.
Insurance In Construction - Are You Really Covered?
Construction entails many risks to a builder by virtue of its occupation, control and/or ownership of the site. The risks include personal injury or death to persons and damage or destruction of property (including the contract works itself).
Making Completion Pay
It was the golfer Bobby Locke who coined the phrase “You drive for show, but putt for dough.” Like professional golfers, successful builders know how to finish. However, to reap the benefits of finishing it is important to get the contract admin right.
What Do I Do When a Subcontractor Doesn't Perform?
In a Nutshell
Builders need to manage both the “front-end” and “back-end” of works performed by subcontractors so that builders can take appropriate steps if a subcontractor performs defective work or fails to finish a job.
Alert - Home Building Act changes to Residential Building Contracts - effective from 1 March 2015
In a Nutshell
As a result of changes to the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) (“the Act”) residential building work contracts entered into from 1 March 2015 must be compliant with new requirements introduced from that date.
When the Home Warranty Insurers Come Knocking
Home warranty insurers in NSW have paid out over $400 million since 2002. Premiums would have been only a fraction of that. It is a small wonder that private insurers want out, and that for the foreseeable future consumer protection for residential building defects will have to be provided by the state government through its public insurance arm SICorp.
Variations to Contract Works
Often, during the course of construction work, circumstances arise which call for a change to the design, the scope of work, or the materials which the parties to the construction contract originally agreed to.
Commonly variations arise on account of unforeseen circumstances or requirements by third parties, in particular the relevant consent authorities. Otherwise, variations also arise when contract drawings are incorrect or incomplete, materials become difficult to obtain, and the owners request design changes.