Integrity of certifiers
There is a high level of accountability in your position as a certifier so it is important that you avoid situations that may cause a conflict of interest. Building certifiers must act in the public interest when performing building certifying functions.
Examples of building certifiers not acting in the public interest may include (but not limited to):
- seeking or accepting a benefit to themselves or others for acting against their statutory functions
- acting against their statutory functions
- falsely claiming to hold the appropriate licence needed to carry out building assessments of a particular type
- acting outside the scope of their legislated powers
- breaching the Code of conduct for building certifiers (PDF)
- acting in a grossly negligent or incompetent way.
A certifier's conduct can be reported to the QBCC.
Responsibilities
Building certifiers do
- carry out building assessment work relating to new, altered and existing building work
- give a Compliance Certificate stating building work complies with the building assessment provisions
- under a Building Development Approval, inspect the building work to decide whether to certify the work, including mandatory stages for class 1a single-detached buildings - as defined under section 44 of the Building Regulation
- may ask for any designs, inspections, certificates & documentation to determine the building work is compliant with the NCC and relevant planning laws and legislation
- give a certificate for a stage of the building work
- issue enforcement notices where required
- give a final inspection certificate for the final stage of building work for Class 1 and 10 buildings/structures and/or a certificate of occupancy for a building or structure of another class.
Building certifiers don't
- design the building or structure or carry out any of the building work
- ensure a builder is complying with their contract
- take responsibility for quality control and material finishes (e.g., quality of paintwork or finishes on a project, wrong coloured timber treads)
- supervise the job site
- enforce Workplace Health and Safety measures for building sites that is under the governance of the Workplace Health and Safety Act
- meet the cost of referral agency assessment and inspection fees (e.g., QFES, local government etc)
- ensure a subcontractor is complying with their contract with the owner.
Notification of a missed inspection
It is the responsibility of the builder to let the certifier know when the project is at a stage requiring an inspection.
Certifiers must let the QBCC know if they did not receive a notice for inspection from the builder. This can be done by completing the form:
Notification of missed inspection (PDF, 33KB)
Lodge it with us:
- by mail
- in person at a service centre
- on myQBCC via our feedback and enquiries form (Note: you must be logged in to upload a form).
Undertake continuing professional development
Keeping up to date with the latest building practices and legislation is an important part of your role. Continuing professional development requirements assist in maintaining your accreditation to meet licensing requirements.
Some of the areas where you may need to continue to increase your knowledge include:
- technical building practices and related engineering, design and construction practices
- building related law and the implications of those laws
- building codes and standards
- risk assessment and management principles relevant to the design and construction of buildings
- professional and ethical responsibilities and obligations
- effective communication techniques with designers, builders, building owners and the general community.
The QBCC's role in certification
- Certifier licensing.
- Investigating complaints against certifiers.
- Keeping a register of certifiers.
- Auditing certifiers' work.
- Demerit points for certifier offences
Certifier misconduct
Building certifiers must act in the public interest. Examples of certifiers not doing this include:
- seeking or accepting a benefit to themselves or others for acting against their statutory functions
- acting against their statutory functions
- falsely claiming to hold the appropriate licence needed to carry out building assessments of a particular type
- acting outside the scope of their legislated powers
- breaching the Code of conduct for building certifiers (PDF)
- acting in a grossly negligent or incompetent way.
A certifier's conduct can be reported to the QBCC.
Apply for a certifier licence
Check eligibility requirements and apply for a certifier licence.
