CPCCBS8008
Conduct and manage the completion of building inspections and audits


Application

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required by senior building surveyors to manage the delivery of building surveying services associated with the construction phase of projects or with auditing the compliance of existing buildings.

The unit supports the work of private or municipal building surveyors who manage and conduct inspection and certification processes at critical stages of construction according to the requirements of building control legislation and the statutory authority, and who manage and conduct building audits to assess the compliance of existing buildings.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit in some States. Relevant state and territory regulatory authorities should be consulted to confirm those requirements.


Elements and Performance Criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions.

1.

Prepare for auditing and inspection.

1.1.

Private practice service agreement is negotiated and agreed, or council policy statement on service provision is agreed, with clients.

1.2.

Duty of care responsibilities of building surveyors for audits, inspections and certification of buildings, and individual and organisational liabilities are determined and risk management strategies developed and applied.

1.3.

Documentation required for inspections is obtained from client and specialist consultants and analysed.

1.4.

Building Code of Australia (BCA) classifications and types of buildings to be audited or inspected and applicable compliance requirements are determined.

2.

Conduct critical stage inspections of complex buildings.

2.1.

Own inspection tasks are identified and supplementary inspection support tasks are allocated to team members, as required.

2.2.

National Construction Code (NCC) deemed-to-satisfy provisions are analysed and applied to critical stage inspections.

2.3.

NCC performance requirements for alternative solutions are researched and applied to critical stage inspections.

2.4.

Non-compliance issues are identified and discussed with building or services contractors, and notices or orders are issued as required.

2.5.

Reports detailing work to be completed are prepared and explained to client and stakeholders as required.

3.

Manage critical stage inspections of construction projects.

3.1.

Documentation required for the project is obtained from client and specialist consultants and analysed.

3.2.

Project management strategies are implemented to plan and manage inspections required at different stages of project and to ensure completion within specified timeframes.

3.3.

Tasks are allocated within department or practice, according to expertise and availability of personnel, and specialist consultants are engaged and briefed as required.

3.4.

Inspections are monitored and managed and staff reports detailing work to be completed are reviewed and approved.

3.5.

Inspections are conducted, as required, and reports detailing work to be completed are prepared and explained to and negotiated with client and stakeholders as required.

3.6.

Notices of non-compliance and stop work notices are issued as required, and conflict-resolution strategies are implemented to anticipate and manage stakeholder objections.

4.

Conduct audits of existing buildings.

4.1.

Classifications of buildings and applicable compliance requirements are determined.

4.2.

Relevant documentation relating to building structure, services and management over lifecycle are obtained and analysed.

4.3.

Audits are scheduled and conducted and reports detailing building condition, compliance issues and work to be completed are prepared and explained to client and stakeholders as required.

5.

Manage audits of existing buildings.

5.1.

Nature and scope of audit are determined and appropriate internal or external personnel are allocated to project.

5.2.

Audits are scheduled, monitored and managed and staff reports detailing works to be completed are reviewed and approved.

5.3.

Conflict-resolution strategies are implemented as required to anticipate and manage stakeholder objections to contents of reports on work required.

5.4.

Audit processes are reviewed and opportunities for improving efficiency and effectiveness are identified and implemented.

Foundation Skills

This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria.

Skill

Performance feature

Learning skills to:

employ systematic approaches to planning and managing sustained activities, recognising the need for flexibility to cover contingencies.

Numeracy skills to:

critically review mathematics used in compliance specifications to identify the real-world implications

extract and analyse a range of mathematical information embedded in complex texts related to the construction industry and gather additional mathematical information from other sources.

Oral communication skills to:

understand and use specialised construction industry vocabulary in a variety of situations, for example explanations, descriptions and discussions with specialist construction industry personnel.

Reading skills to:

use specialised background knowledge to support interpretation of highly complex texts specific to the construction industry

use structures, layout, features and conventions of complex legal and regulatory texts to locate specific information.

Writing skills to:

use accurately-spelled specialised construction industry vocabulary in emails, letters and reports to clients and specialist construction industry personnel.

Planning and organising skills to:

lead work groups or teams facilitating the achievement of outcomes through highly developed interpersonal, planning and time-management skills and leadership.


Range Statement

This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below.

Documentation must include:

architectural drawings:

as-built drawings

detailed drawings

working drawings

building permits and attached conditions or approved variations to compliance requirements

reports from specialist experts

evidence of compliance of materials, components, fixtures and fittings.

Types of buildings must include:

Type A buildings as defined in the BCA, including buildings that are:

3 storeys or more in classes 2, 3 and 9

4 storeys or more in classes 5, 6, 7 and 8

Type B buildings as defined in the BCA

Type C buildings as defined in the BCA.

Compliance requirements must include:

Australian standards referenced by building control legislation and regulations and the NCC

building control legislation and regulations applicable to the jurisdiction of the construction project or building to be inspected or audited

NCC.


Sectors

Construction


Competency Field

Building surveying