BCA BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS

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1 BCA BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS

2 Classification of Buildings Intent of classifications To categorise buildings of similar risk levels based on use, hazard and occupancy Classification is a process for understanding risks in a building or part, according to its use. It must be correctly undertaken to achieve BCA aims as appropriate to each building in each circumstance.

3 Classification of Buildings Class 1 buildings are covered in Volume Two of the BCA. Class 1a buildings are not located above or below another dwelling, or another class of building other than a private garage.

4 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS - Class 1a Attached dwellings can also be Class 1a buildings provided they are completely separated from each other by fire and sound resisting walls

5 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS - Class 1a buildings typically take the form of Townhouses; Terrace Houses; Row Houses etc. Separation between units must extend from slab to roof.

6 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS - Class 1b is a boarding house, guest house, hostel or the like. With a total floor area not exceeding 300m 2. Not more than 12 persons would ordinarily be resident. A class 1B building is not a single residence, however it is of a similar scale.

7 Class 1b 1. A Class 1b building is a small guesthouse, boarding house or the like. Guest, boarding, or lodging houses which do not meet the criteria for a Class 1b building are classifiable as Class 3 buildings (hotels/motels). 2. The Class 1b classification can attract concessions applicable to Class 3 buildings. These concessions allow people to rent out rooms in a house, or run a bed and breakfast, without having to comply with the more stringent Class 3 requirements. 3. The reasoning is that the smaller size of the building and its lower number of occupants represents reduced fire risks. 4. Apart from their use, the primary difference between Class 1a and Class 1b buildings is that the latter is required to have a greater number of smoke detectors.

8 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS - Class 2 are residential buildings containing 2 or more sole occupancy units typically flats, apartments and units, i.e. each being a separate dwelling.

9 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS - Class 2 A building is one which includes more than one dwelling, each of which is generally solely occupied by one or more people to the exclusion of others. Referred to as a Sole occupancy unit (SOU). Sole Occupancy Units (SOU) may share common roof or under floor space with vertical and horizontal separation, separating walls need not extend from ground to roof covering (as in class1).

10 Class 2 buildings can be single storey attached dwellings. Where there is any common space below such dwellings, they are Class 2 (and cannot be Class 1) irrespective of whether the space below is a storey or not

11 A Class 2 building is one which includes more than one dwelling, each of which is generally solely occupied by one or more people to the exclusion of others. Such buildings must not be otherwise classified as a Class 1 or Class 3 building or Class 4 part.

12 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS Class 3 buildings provide accommodation for unrelated people. The length of stay is unimportant. Some exceptions to this classification include: certain bed and breakfast accommodation, boarding houses, guest houses, hostels, or lodging houses and the like which fall within the concession provided for Class 1b buildings. Boarding house, guest house, hostel, hotel/motel, residential part of a school, health-care building that accommodates members of staff or the residential part of a detention centre.

13 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS - Class 4 Classification applies to some types of accommodation located within a Class 5-9 building. A Class 4 part cannot be located within a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 building. There can only be one Class 4 dwelling in a building. If there are two or more dwellings, they are Class 1, Class 2, or possibly Class 3. These Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 parts need not be attached to one another, nor be more than a single storey. Where a Class 4 part of a building is rented out for accommodation purposes, it retains its Class 4 classification. However, if any other part of the principal building is used for accommodation, for example, the attached shop is converted into an additional flat, both flats become classifiable as Class 2 or, depending on their use, possibly Class 3.

14 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS - Class 5 buildings include: professional chambers or suites lawyers' offices government offices advertising agencies and accountants' offices.

15 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS - Class 6 is a building where goods or services are directly sold or supplied to the public. Service stations are Class 6 buildings. These are outlets used for the servicing of cars and the selling of fuel or other goods. Shops including eating rooms, cafe, restaurants, dining part of Hotel etc.

16 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS class 7 There are three basic types of Class 7 building. The first is a car park as defined in the BCA. The second is a building used for storage, often referred to as a warehouse. The third is a building used for the display of goods or produce for sale by wholesale. Wholesale means sale to people in the trades or in the business of on-selling goods and services to another party (including the public).

17 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS - Class 8 The most common way to describe a Class 8 building is as a factory. However, this can give a simplistic impression of the types of building which can fall within this classification. For example: some laboratories, despite their often small size, have been included as Class 8 buildings principally because of their high fire hazard; buildings used for altering or repairing (except service stations, which are specifically included in Class 6 buildings); potteries; food manufacturers (but not restaurants); and buildings used for the packing of produce.

18 BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONS - Class 9 Class 9a - buildings are health-care buildings, including day-care surgeries or procedure units and the like. Class 9b - buildings are assembly buildings. These buildings can include: theatres, cinemas and halls, churches, schools, early childhood centres, kindergartens, preschools and child-minding centres; indoor cricket, tennis and basketball centres; snooker halls; bus and railway stations. Class 9c - buildings are aged care buildings which may contain residents who have various care level needs.

19 Class 10a - a non-habitable building Private garage, carport shed or similar Class 10b Shed, Fence, mast, Retaining or free-standing wall Swimming pool

20 Operation of the BCA

21 The Building Code of Australia BCA Volume One - Controls Classes 2 9 Industrial Commercial buildings Volume Two - Controls Classes 1 & 10 Housing Garages/Carports Misc. small structures

22 The Building Code of Australia BCA The BCA is a Performance Based Code. The BCA provides details of how a building must perform in order to comply with the code. These Performance provisions are given under headings such as Structure; Weatherproofing; Safe Movement & Access; Fire Safety;Health & Amenity; and Energy Efficiency. The Performance Requirements are preceded by Objectives and Functional Statements which help to explain the Performance Requirement. The BCA gives details of the types of Assessment Methods that can be used to determine if a Building Solution complies the Performance Requirements.

23 The Building Code of Australia BCA There are in fact a number of paths via which a building can be deemed to comply with the BCA. Follow the Acceptable Building Solutions as detailed in the BCA and Australian Standards.This is called following the Deemed to Satisfy Provisions, or Adopt an alternative Building Solution which meets the performance requirements of the BCA or A combination of both.

24 The BCA Hierarchy

25 Australian Standards Technical requirements for the design and construction of buildings are also contained in Australian Standards. Clauses of the BCA call up Australian Standards. Where these clauses apply, compliance with the Standard is required to achieve compliance with the BCA.

Common Australian Standards AS 1684.2 - Residential Timber Framing Code AS 2870 Residential slab & footing Construction AS 3660.

26 Common Australian Standards AS Residential Timber Framing Code AS 2870 Residential slab & footing Construction AS Termite Code AS Waterproofing of wet areas AS Domestic Plumbing Code AS 3600 Concrete Code AS 3700 Masonry Code All can be accessed through the internet, get the card from Reception office

27 Building Control Legislative Hierarchy To summarise: State Building Acts & Regulations: Call up the BCA and the QDC The BCA calls up Australian Standards.

29 Reference texts you should have knowledge of as a Builder Building Act 1975 (2006) Building Regulation (2007) Accessible free of charge: Building Code of Australia (Volume 2) Phone bca@abcb.gov.au Queensland Development Code Accessible free of charge:

30 References The following reading is recommended: BCA Vol. 1 Introduction Sections A3 BCA Vol. 2 Introduction Sections 1.0, 1.2, 1.3 & 1.4

C H Group Building Surveyors, BCA 9c and Age Care Certification Consultants

C H Group Building Surveyors, BCA 9c and Age Care Certification Consultants Agenda for Today s Presentation Introduction BCA Classifications BCA 9c Provisions Conversion of Class 3 to 9c Summary Introduction Prior to 1997 RCI Nursing Home funding PCAI Hostel funding Post 1997