Industry News & Updates
Attention Queensland companies - Building Newsflash
Adoption of Australian Standard 3959-2009 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas
Queensland is proposing to adopt Australian Standard 3959-2009 before the next version of the BCA commences on 1 May 2010. A new Queensland Development Code, (QDC) Part MP 2.4-Buildings in bushfire-prone areas, will be published on the department's website, with a proposed commencement date of 1 October 2009.
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Queensland's Aim to Reduce its BCA Variations
The intergovernmental agreement between the States, Territories and the Commonwealth for building regulation reform was signed by Ministers in 2006. It places a strong emphasis on increasing national consistency in building codes across Australia and decreasing State and Territory variations. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has endorsed this initiative. In line with these objectives, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is undertaking a project in conjunction with the States and Territories aimed at achieving zero State and Territory variations in the BCA by 2011.
As part of Queensland's aim to continue reducing its BCA variations where appropriate, they have recently advised that two variations have been identified as being supported for removal in BCA 2009, effective 1 May 2009:
- Sound transmission and insulation (BCA Volume 1 and 2)
- Windows in cyclonic areas (BCA Volume 2)
Proposals to remove Queensland's energy efficiency variation in BCA Volume 2 and to change Queensland's variation for swimming pool access to adopt the revised 2007 edition of the Australian Standard by modifying Queensland's variation in BCA Volumes 1 and 2 are also being considered.
Notice to Victorian Window Companies
For general information regarding building in Victoria after the bushfires, download the Building and Plumbing Commission brochues What you need to know about temporary homes and buildings in bushfire affected areas at www.buildingcommission.com.au