In this article, we share our insights on building compliance in the hope that a little background knowledge and theory will enable you to drive the design processes rather than simply apply standards. Using the recent changes to the BCA 2015 we illustrate how the building codes and standards work and explore ways you can use this knowledge in practice to promote greater efficiency through the architectural design and construction cycle.
BCA 2015
ACCEPTANCE: understanding agreeing with the law
The BCA 2015 is for the first time free to download and print. Remember ‘WANTED’ posters nailed to trees? I’m not that old, but it was one way of proclaiming the law or explaining new laws to a broad audience. The aim of making law is to influence or shape societies and economies towards an intended goal. logically, laws that have a high level of uptake and acceptance within the community have the greatest chance of influencing an outcome than laws that are unknown, obscure or unworkable.
Making the LAW free is the first step in building ‘acceptance’. Enough said. You’d think. But over the last decade the BCA and Australian Standards have become increasingly out-of-reach, expensive and withdrawn from local libraries due to copyright restrictions. A free version of the BCA is a welcome reversal of this trend.
Which parts of the BCA are mandatory?
Paul Keating famously announced his tax cut pledge as ‘L-A-W law’ and it’s just as important that the BCA spell-out for architects and builders what is or is not L-A-W. In 2015, the ABCB will publish the BCA performance requirements as a standalone document along with neat infographics explaining the law and how to achieve compliance. here
Source: ABCB infographics for QA 2014
Alternative Solutions Report
CAPACITY: having the resources to achieve our vision.
Pattern books, Australian Standards and tick-the-box solutions are good news for developers with green field sites and deep pockets, yet for developers in existing buildings, the capacity to comply would be reduced if not for the BCA Alternative-Solution pathway which is given a renewed rigour within BCA 2015.
The emphasis away from compliance using the sub-clauses or Deemed-to-Satisfy and referenced Australian Standards towards the Alternative-Solution pathway is a much-welcomed measure to improve acceptance of the law and improve our clients capacity to comply.
INSTITUTIONS: fostering quality architecture
The BCA Performance Requirements are made law by reference in Environmental Protection Acts in each state and Territory. Environmental Protection Authorities, Building Surveyors or Principal Certifying Authorities (PCA) are tasked with enforcing the BCA ‘Performance requirements’. The PCA must be satisfied that the Performance Requirements are met at each stage of the approvals process.
As access consultants, Our role in the approvals process is to formulate performance solutions that comply with the Performance Requirements of the BCA. The process requires project stakeholders to collaborate and develop an agreed pathway for the design process to follow, in order to produce an acceptable outcome.
In formulating alternative solutions, we build the client’s capacity to comply through practical and economical solutions. In developing design solutions, we remove the compliance gridlock and open new creative opportunities for mutual gain. In the process of making the law workable, the law becomes far more acceptable, agreeable and attainable for the development team. Removing the legal roadblocks gets people working together and designing solutions and compliance logically follows.
In this article, we outlined three key influences in building compliance; acceptance of the law, our capacity to comply and the institutions that regulate the implementation of the law. Keeping these theoretical concepts in mind, you will be in a better position to break the regulatory bubble and move into a new creative arena.
Thanks for reading and for questions arising or more info please visit our contact page.
BCA 2015 is available via online registration with the ABCB here: http://services.abcb.gov.au/NCCOnline