Compliance Research 

Queensland Development Code

The purpose of the Queensland Development Code (QDC) is to establish building standards specific to Queensland in a single document. Because standards vary by state, it is helpful for building designers and other professionals to follow compliance standards specific to Queensland. It covers matters within Queensland that are not within the scope of the National Construction Code (NCC) (Queensland Government, 2020).

​

IDAS

IDAS stands for Integrated Development Assessment System. It involves a series of forms in which need to be filled out and lodged in a development application. It’s is to conduct development assessment within the PA 2016. All government authorities use IDAS (Queensland Government, 2017).

​

Material Change in Use

A Material Change in Use or MCU is the process of changing the way a property is used. For example, it may apply to clients who wish to place a corner store in what would typically be a residential rather than a business part of a suburb (Queensland Government, 2020). In a building project, an MCU will be required when a vacant block of land changes to having a dwelling on it, when a block changes from having a single dwelling house to a multiple dwelling house, at the start of a new use of a property, or the re-establishment on the property of a use that has been discarded (City of Gold Coast, 2020).

​

Levels of Assessment in an MCU

The first level of assessment is known as Self-Assessable. When a property is self-assessable, all relevant criteria from the council levels of assessment are met and construction and planning can commence. After self-assessable if Code Assessable. When a property is code assessable the MCU requires specific codes to be met in order for it to be approved. Lastly, Impact Assessable is the final level of assessment that needs to be met if neither of the previous levels are satisfied. When a property is Impact Assessable, the impact of the change of use of the property is more vital and needs to be considered before planning and construction can commence (Sunshine Coast Council, 2014).

​

NCC

There are three volumes of the National Construction Code or NCC. Volume 1 contains the requirements for multi-residential, commercial, industrial and public buildings and structures, Volume 2 contains the requirements for multi-residential, commercial, industrial and public buildings and structures, while Volume 3 contains the requirements for plumbing and drainage for all classes of buildings (ABCB, 2020).

​

Australian Standards

Australian Standards are published documents setting out specifications and procedures designed to ensure products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently perform the way they are intended to. They establish a minimum set of requirements which define quality and safety criteria. Australian Standards are voluntary documents that are developed by consensus. Many Australian Standards, because of their rigour, are adopted into legislation to become mandatory or referenced in contracts (Standards Australia).

​

Builders Licenses

Low Rise – Can work on a Class 1 or Class 10 Building, and work that consists of non-structural work on a building and can prepare plans and specs.

​

Medium Rise – Can work on a Class 1 or Class 10 Building, Work to a Max of 3 Storeys, Work that consists of non-structural work on a building and can prepare plans and specs.

​

Open – Can work on all classes of buildings, and can prepare plans and specs.

Project Management Services – Can provide admin services, advisory service and management services and can prepare plans and specs.

​

Restricted to Kitchen Bathroom and Laundry – Can install, refurbish, and repair a kitchen, bathroom or laundry in a class 1 or class 10 building and in class 2 and 9 if gross floor area is more than 50m2 and can prepare plans and specs.

Restricted to Shopfitting – Can work on internal fit outs of a shop or office, including shop fronts and can prepare plans and specs.

​

Restricted to Structural Landscaping – Can prepare, fabricate and erects carports, decking, fences, gates, gazebos, ornamental structures, pergolas, ponds, and water features, prefab sheds including associated concrete slabs that are no more than 10m2. Can construct artificial landform structures, prepare a site, install irrigation, erect and construct playground equipment, and can prepare plans and specs.

​

Restricted to Special Structures – Can construct, install, do maintenance and repair membrane shade structures including brackets, cables and structural members for the structures, can perform concreting work for footings for structures and can prepare plans and specs (QBCC, 2020).

​

Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 

Setbacks

Setback information can be found within the Sunshine Coast Council Regulations. Set back requirements vary by suburb and/or township. For example, the Sunshine Coast Council Business Uses and Centre Design Code (2014, Part 9, P. 2), a business building is to be set back from the street by 6 meters (especially if the building exceeds two storeys in height) and has their front entrance facing the street. When neighbouring premises are also not used for residential uses, the building is to be set back 0 meters if the building adjoins an existing blank wall or if the adjoining block is vacant land, and when the building joins an existing wall with opens on a neighbouring site, the set back is to be 3 meters.

​

Cars & Trucks 

The Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme includes relevant information for vehicles on the Sunshine Coast. When travelling to a site, heavy vehicles are to follow proposed transport routes to a site that include sealed roads and do not need heavy vehicles to travel through residential streets classed as collector or local streets. When development takes place on a site, it must ensure the layout, design and construction of access to the site is safe, convenient and readable for all users, that it does not interfere with scheduled transport network, provides sufficient distances in sight for safe operation, is appropriate different traffic volumes and different vehicle types and sizes, includes sufficient signage for safe and convenient use.

​

Landscape 

Landscape codes and criteria can be found within the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme Part 9.4.2, Page 2. Landscape design must contribute to and help make a high standard of quality landscape character to the specified site. The landscape design of site can do this by including sub-tropical plants, taking into account the site conditions, landforms, and characteristics of the landscape, as well as through protecting native vegetation and wildlife habitats.

​

Refuse Storage 

The Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme also has criteria in regards to refuse storage. Development must consider and allow for future service requirements, including refuse storage areas. It also states that driveways, manoeuvring areas and refuse collection facilities are constructed in accordance with standards found within the “planning scheme policy for the transport and parking code”. It also states that refuse collection from a site is done so in a forward gear of the collection vehicle.

​

Building Materials Influences 

Building Site 

The building site will have an array of different materials, depending on the stage of development the site is at. At times, it may only have concrete (slab and footings), steel (scaffolding, safety fence), timber (framing) and brickwork (external walls). Further throughout the building process it will have materials such as glass, stone, aluminium, and other metals as the development of the site progresses.

​

Client and End User 

The client and/or end user has a large impact on the variety of building materials found within a site or building. Typically, materials such as concrete, timber, brick, glass, alumiunium are found in most cases in buildings and sites. In other cases, there may be a need for specific materials. For example, most PWD access areas require stainless steel products. Another example is when a building is positioned close to the sea, where marine grade stainless steel is required for handrails, floor wastes, water grates, etc.

​

Context 

Context can influence the selection of building materials through the relationship a structure has to other buildings in the area or the spirit of the area. For example, in some cases buildings cannot be made too tall in comparison to neighbouring buildings so as not to cast too much shade onto those neighbouring properties.

​

Budget 

The budget is a large factor in what building materials are selected for the construction of a building. This can be seen when comparing steel and timber; steel is a much more expensive way of building framing of a structure, however it is more effective and a stronger material. Another example may be different types of windows/glass, types of bricks and cladding materials.

​

Time 

In some cases, the time frame of the project is a defining factor in terms of what materials are to be used. When there is no time frame chosen or when the planned time frame is expected to take over a year, some materials such as cob are used for the wall material. Cob is a traditional wall material and takes up to 9 months to fully harden. When the time frame is much shorter, materials that are easier to use will be chosen to minimise time spent on construction to get the client into the house/property quicker.

​

Design 

The overall design of a building has a large impact on what materials are to be used in the construction of the building. Some building designs are made to have a mostly timber exterior or for the building to have sustainable or eco-friendly materials.

​

Energy 

Some materials have a large amount of embodied energy compared to others. Concrete has the most embodied energy when compared to any other material in the way that it retains the heat of the day.

​

Approval 

When constructing a new structure, the plans must go to an engineer where the plans and details are approved for construction. In some cases, depending on the strength level or sterile level needed in certain materials, approval is stalled until the plans and details are successfully approved with the right materials.

​

Builder

When choosing a material for a building project, the builder must be aptly skilled and knowledgeable about the installation and use of said material, otherwise he may have to outsource someone who is more suited to the construction with that material.

​

Materials

All materials used throughout the building process should be accessible and suitable materials for the project. They should also comply with Volume 1 of the BCS Part A2.

​

Recycling 

When disassembly of a building is considered, all materials that can be recycled should be considered. These materials could include brick, glass, timber, steel, tiles, tapware and appliances.