The BPC Building Technical Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter that provides Victorian building practitioners with up-to-date information about legislative and regulatory changes, education opportunities and industry trends, with a focus on the technical aspects of their trades.
Each newsletter is sent to building practitioners, industry bodies, engineers and subscribers.
A new regulator with new powers
On Tuesday 1 July, the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) launched, heralding a new era of stronger building regulation.
The BPC brings key functions related to building and plumbing regulation together under one roof, including registration, inspection and compliance, practitioner discipline, dispute resolution and domestic building insurance.
The BPC will soon be given new powers to address gaps in the regulatory system – these new powers will significantly improve consumer protection. I look forward to working with industry and sharing more details with you as we get closer to their introduction, which is expected to be later this year.
Mutual recognition for building surveyors
I've received several enquiries from industry asking how mutual recognition for building surveyors applies in Victoria.
In recent years, Victoria has seen an increase in the number of building surveyors registered in Western Australia who have applied for mutual recognition in Victoria. This is permitted under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (the Mutual Recognition Act). Most practitioners registered by the BPC under mutual recognition have conditions on their registration.
The Mutual Recognition Act permits people holding a registration or licence to carry out building work in another Australian state or territory. The assessment of equivalency under the Mutual Recognition Act considers the broader activities undertaken by the occupation, even when there are legislative differences between states and territories.
When practitioners apply for mutual recognition in Victoria, the registration they hold in their home state is directly matched, where possible, to the Victorian registration categories and classes.
When there is not a match, the BPC places conditions on Victorian registrations to ensure the work a practitioner undertakes in their home state is reflected in their Victorian registration.
Mutual recognition in Victoria does not assess the applicant's experience, even if the home state or territory registration may not assess 'experience' to the same degree or as outlined in the Australian Building Codes Board's (ABCB) ' Evidence of experience for building surveyor registration '.
The applicant must make themselves aware of and exercise the rules outlined in the Code of Conduct for Building Surveyors under section 177D of the Building Act 1993 (Vic) (the Building Act).
Rule 3 of the Code of Conduct, 'Perform competently and within the required level of expertise and experience', expresses an expectation that the work/appointment accepted is within the skillset and experience of the responsible building surveyor, unless the work is done under the direct supervision of another building surveyor who holds the required expertise.
Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action under section 179(1)(b) of the Building Act.
The BPC is working with states and territories, including Western Australia, to enhance their verification processes. I have spoken to the Western Australian regulator who confirmed they are revising their registration policies for building surveyors.
To learn more about mutual recognition, visit our Mutual Recognition for building practitioners web page.
Regards,
Steven Baxas
State Building Surveyor
Office of the State Building Surveyor
In this edition...
Waterproofing of shower areas
We have published a new guidance page about the compliant waterproofing of wet areas. In this Bulletin, we are focusing on shower areas and have produced a helpful video to guide you through the compliant waterproofing of shower areas.
Documentation requirements for pliable building membranes
Condensation within the building envelope can contribute to mould growth, structural deterioration and poor indoor air quality. Accurate specification of pliable building membranes ensures these risks are appropriately managed at the design stage.
New lead-free plumbing product requirements commencing on 1 May 2026
From 1 May 2026, all plumbing products containing copper alloy that are in contact with drinking water must comply with new lead-free requirements.
This article outlines what these changes mean for the building industry and highlights key actions required to ensure projects remain compliant, particularly regarding the specification and procurement of plumbing products during design and documentation stages.
Protection work required for excavation work within 'zone of influence'
Where there is a risk of significant damage to an adjoining property from building work, the adjoining owner must be consulted about the proposed work and the actions to protect their property.
We continue to receive complaints from adjoining property owners regarding cases when a relevant building surveyor has determined protection work is not necessary, despite excavations on or near a boundary placing the adjoining land at risk of significant damage.
