Discussion begins on building manuals

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has developed a discussion paper about the potential for building manuals to address long-standing problems with inaccurate and incomplete building information.

Issues with building documentation were highlighted in the Building Confidence Report, published in 2018. It recommended that each state and territory require a comprehensive building manual to be given to building owners and passed to subsequent owners.

The report further recommended that information be provided digitally and include:

• As-built documentation
• Fire safety system details and maintenance requirements
• Assumptions made in any Performance Solution (for example, occupant characteristics)
• Building product information, including certificates and details of maintenance or safety requirements
• Conditions of use such as occupant numbers, loads and replacement of products after certain periods.

The ABCB discussion paper explores the nature of the problem, how a building manual could be created and used by building practitioners and owners, and the type of data that should be included.

It proposes and seeks views on:

• How common terms, related to building manuals, should be defined
• The information that should be collected in building manuals
• Possible processes to create building manuals
• The types of buildings that should require a building manual.

Comments are open until 11.59pm (AEST) on Monday, May 17. Only comments submitted using the online form will be considered.

To read the discussion paper and provide feedback, click here.