A Guide On The Work Of Building Certifiers

Posted on: 9 March 2022

If you plan to put up a home or commercial property, your contractor could have advised you to consider the services of a building certifier. If you are green in the construction industry, you might not know much about the work or benefits of building certifiers. Below is an extensive excerpt on building certifiers. 

Who Are Building Certifiers? 

Building certifiers are professionals employed or licenced by the local council to approve construction blueprints, inspect buildings under construction, confirm that they are safe for occupation and validate renovation works on existing buildings. The primary role of certifiers is to ensure developers and contractors comply with the building code, local land ordinances and zoning regulations. Additionally, they ensure that buildings are safe for occupants. If you plan to renovate a building, the certifier ratifies the improvement works to ensure that they do not affect the structural integrity of the existing building. 

What Are The Benefits Of Building Certifiers? 

Certifiers are a critical element in the construction industry. Building codes and zoning regulations are created after thorough assessments. These laws ensure controlled development and guarantee the safety of buildings in a particular area. For instance, if an area floods during the rainy season, the local council could compel residents to use specific foundations to prevent structural damages during floods. If one person fails to comply with these regulations, their building could collapse, damaging other structures and property. Therefore, certifiers ensure that all buildings meet the required standard, thus guaranteeing the safety of current and future occupants. 

Building certifiers also ensure that property owners get value for their money as they put up buildings. Typically, most property owners do not have any expertise in design and construction works. Therefore, it is challenging to tell whether the construction work meets the recommended standard. The certifier inspects the construction works and stops further construction if the builder flouts the building code. If the works meet the required standards, the certifier issues a compliance certificate. In most cases, buyers will ask for these certificates when purchasing the property. It is a guarantee that they will not face legal issues due to poorly built buildings. 

How To Hire A Building Certifier

The general principle when hiring a certifier is ensuring they are approved to inspect what you intend to build. For example, some certifiers specialise in commercial buildings, while others deal with residential dwellings or swimming pools. It would be worthwhile to examine the certifier's reputation from previous clients. Additionally, they should not have a conflict of interest. Simply put, the certifier should not have any affiliations with the contractor at the site or the owner of the building. 

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Colin's Construction Tips

Hello, my name is Colin and this is my construction blog. I am not a construction professional but I do take a keen interest in how to design and build different aspects of a residential home. My interest was sparked when I decided to install an extension on the back of my home in Sydney, Australia. I called in a couple of expert contractors who guided me through the entire process. I learnt so much that after the work was complete, I continued to read and research things. I decided to start this blog to help out others who are interested in construction.

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