Design Practitioners’ Handbook

November 2022 Edition

Published by

Better Regulation Division

Department of Customer Service
www.customerservice.nsw.gov.au

Disclaimer

This publication avoids the use of legal language, with information about the law summarised or expressed in general
statements. The information in this document should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal advice.

For access to legislation in force in NSW go to the official NSW Government website for online publication of legislation
at www.legislation.nsw.gov.au

Copyright Information
© State of New South Wales through Department of Customer Service 2022

You may copy, distribute, display, download and otherwise freely deal with this information provided you attribute NSW
Fair Trading as the owner. However, you must obtain permission from NSW Fair Trading if you wish to 1) modify, 2)
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For full details, see NSW Fair Trading’s copyright policy at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/copyright or
email [email protected]

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1. Glossary of terms ....................................................................................................................... 4

2. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 6

3. Regulated designs ..................................................................................................................... 7

3.1 What is a regulated design? ............................................................................................ 7

3.2 Building Work ................................................................................................................... 7

3.3 Class 2 Buildings and buildings with a class 2 part ....................................................... 8

3.4 Exclusions to regulated design ....................................................................................... 8

3.5 Performance solutions ................................................................................................... 10

3.6 Designs............................................................................................................................ 10

3.7 Integration of designs .................................................................................................... 11

4. Special requirements ............................................................................................................... 12

4.1 Regulated designs involving performance solutions................................................... 12

4.2 Regulated designs involving fire resisting building elements .................................... 12

4.3 Regulated designs integrating vertical transportation products................................. 13

5. Other Design Obligations ......................................................................................................... 14

5.1 Relationship with other design obligations .................................................................. 14

5.2 Fire safety system performance solutions.................................................................... 14

6. Ministerial Order ...................................................................................................................... 15

6.1 Additional particulars required of certain designs in Order ........................................ 15

7. Design Compliance Declarations ............................................................................................. 16

7.1 What is a Design Compliance Declaration? .................................................................. 16

7.2 What is to be declared? .................................................................................................. 16

7.3 At what stage does a regulated design need to be declared? ..................................... 17

7.4 Regulated Designs and Design Compliance Declaration for Building Certificates.... 18

7.5 Form of Design Compliance Declaration? .................................................................... 18

7.6 Who can make a Design Compliance Declaration? ...................................................... 19

7.7 Scope of Authority for Declaring Designs .................................................................... 20

7.8 Do all regulated designs need to be declared? ............................................................ 26

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 7.9 Offences related to Design Compliance Declaration.................................................... 27

8. Variations................................................................................................................................. 29

8.1 What is a Variation to a Regulated Design?.................................................................. 29

8.2 Who can vary a Regulated Design?............................................................................... 29

8.3 Variation of a Regulated Design not connected to a building element or performance

solution ...................................................................................................................................... 29

9. Title Block ................................................................................................................................ 30

9.1 What is a Title Block? ..................................................................................................... 30

9.2 How to complete the Title Block? .................................................................................. 31

10. Appendix 1 – Regulated Designs Guidelines ........................................................................ 32

11. Appendix 2 – Design Compliance Declaration Forms and Guidance .................................... 33

12. Appendix 3 – Ministerial Order ............................................................................................. 35

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 1. Glossary of terms
Words and expressions used in this handbook have the same meaning as they have in the Design
and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (the Act) and the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation
2021 (the Regulation) unless otherwise specified.

BCA Building Code of Australia – contained within the National

Construction Code and provides the minimum
necessary requirements for safety, health, amenity and
sustainability in the design and construction of new buildings (and
new building work in existing buildings).

Building Compliance The declaration a Building Practitioner is required to make

Declaration declaring matters such as whether the building works comply with
the Building Code of Australia, whether building work was built in
accordance with the regulated design for that work and whether
a registered Principal Design Practitioner was appointed (s 8(3) of
the Act sets out the matters to be declared in full).
Building Confidence Report ‘Building Confidence: Improving the effectiveness of compliance
and enforcement systems for the building and construction
industry across Australia’ report by Professor Peter Shergold AC
and Ms Bronwyn Weir, commissioned by the Building Ministers’
Forum in 2017.
Building Practitioner The principal contractor for the building work.

Class 2 building Class 2 buildings are apartment buildings. They are typically
multi-unit residential buildings where people live above and below
each other. Class 2 buildings may also be single storey attached
dwellings where there is a common space below. For example,
two dwellings above a common basement or carpark.
A building with a class 2 part is a building of multiple
classifications that has a class 2 as well as another class, making
it a “mixed class” (for example, a class 2 with a class 5 which are
office buildings used for professional or commercial purposes or a
class 6, which are typically shops, restaurants and cafés).

Construction issued A regulated design which has been declared and contains
regulated design the detail needed for the Building Practitioner to carry out the
work and build in compliance with the Building Code of
Australia (the Dictionary at the end of the Regulation sets out the
definition in full).

Design Compliance The declaration a Design Practitioner is required to make

Declaration declaring matters such as whether the design complies with
the Building Code of Australia, whether the design integrates
other relevant designs, whether other standards, codes or
requirements have been applied in preparing the design (s 8(1) of

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 the Act (cl 8 & 9 of the Regulation sets out the matters to be
declared in full).

EP&A Act Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

EP&A Reg Environmental Planning & Assessment Regulation 2000.

Guidelines Regulated Design Guidelines for Design Practitioners

NCC National Construction Code – a performance-based code

containing all performance requirements for the construction of
buildings.
NSW Planning Portal The digital portal where documents such as regulated designs
and compliance declarations will be lodged.

OBC Office of the NSW Building Commissioner sitting within the

Department of Customer Service.

OC Occupation Certificate – authorises the occupation and use of a

new building or building section.

Registration means registration granted under the Design and Building

Practitioners Act 2020.

Regulated design A design that is prepared for a building element for building work,
or a performance solution for building work (including a building
element).
SEPP 65 State Environmental Planning Policy No 65—Design Quality of
Residential Apartment Development

The Act Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.

The Regulation Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021.

The Regulator NSW Fair Trading/Office of the NSW Building Commissioner.

Variation statement A record of building work that is varied from a regulated design for
the work after the commencement of the work but does not
involve a building element or performance solution (see cl 27 of
the Regulation for complete requirements).

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 2. Introduction

The Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and Design and Building Practitioners Regulation
2021 (the DBP legislation) were established to raise the standards of building design and building
work.

This handbook will assist Design Practitioners to identify and meet their obligations in relation to
preparing and declaring Regulated Designs under the DBP legislation. The obligations under the
DBP legislation are in addition to design requirements under other legislation, including the
Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Home Building Act 1989 and Gas and Electricity
(Consumer Safety) Act 2017.

This handbook explains important information regarding Regulated Designs and Design Compliance
Declarations.

The handbook also annexes other important information for preparation of regulated designs such
as the Design and Building Practitioners —Particulars for Regulated Designs Order 2022 and the
Design Practitioners Regulated Designs Guidelines and the various Design Compliance Declaration
forms.

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 3. Regulated designs

3.1 What is a regulated design?

A ‘regulated design’ is a design, including a plan, specification or a report detailing a design, that
is prepared for a building element, or for a performance solution, for building work.

The Act (s. 6(1)) defines building element to mean any of the following:

a. the fire safety systems for a building within the meaning of the Building Code of Australia,

b. waterproofing,

c. an internal or external load-bearing component of a building that is essential to the stability of

the building, or a part of it (including but not limited to in-ground and other foundations and
footings, floors, walls, roofs, columns and beams),

d. a component of a building that is part of the building enclosure,

e. those aspects of the mechanical, plumbing and electrical services for a building that are
required to achieve compliance with the Building Code of Australia.

Designs for building elements are considered important as they are likely to have a greater impact
on the safety and quality of construction in a building.
There are also requirements for a ‘regulated design’ in the DBP Ministerial Order for shoring and
ground anchors (see 6.1 of these Guidelines).

3.2 Building Work

To be a regulated design, the design must be for ‘building work’.

The Act (s 4(1)) sets out that building work means work involved in:

a. the construction of a building (class 2 or related mixed use),

b. the making of alterations or additions to a building (class 2 or related mixed use),

c. the repair, renovation or protective treatment of a building (class 2 or related mixed use).

The work that is deemed to be ‘building work’ is important, as a design is only a ‘regulated design’ if
it is for ‘building work’. The Regulation excludes certain work from being considered ‘building
work’. This has the effect of narrowing the designs that are ‘regulated designs’ and would otherwise
require registered Design Practitioners to provide a compliance declaration.

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3.3 Class 2 Buildings and buildings with a class 2 part
The Design and Building Practitioners legislation applies to class 2 buildings or buildings with a
class 2 part. This means that if a building has a class 2 part as well as other classes, all parts of the
building, not just the class 2 part, are subject to the reforms.

In the example below, where a class 6, class 2 and class 5 part are above a class 7 common
carpark, the reforms apply to the class 6, 2, 5 and 7 parts. This means that before building work can
commence, construction issued regulated designs containing the necessary detail to produce
building work that would achieve compliance with the BCA are required for all building parts.

Mixed-use building with a class 2 part

Class 6 – Class 2 – Class 5 –

retail/cafes residential commercial
tower office tower

Class 7 – basement car park, shared

3.4 Regulated design exclusions

The Regulation excludes certain work from being building work under the Act. Regulated designs
are only required for building work, so if an exemption applies, regulated designs and declarations
are not required. Clause 13 of the Regulation sets out the exemptions, which are summarised
below:
Note: If the building work is remedial work, refer to more information in the ‘guidance on remedial
work’ and ‘guidance on emergency remedial work’ on the NSW Fair Trading website.

Exempt development
Work that is carried out as exempt development under the Environmental Planning and Assessment
Act 1979 (except waterproofing).

Waterproofing for a single unit

Work that is waterproofing, if the work is carried out as a result of alterations to a bathroom, kitchen,
laundry or toilet, and the alterations are carried out as exempt development. This exclusion only
applies if the work, including the agreement to carry out the work, relates only to a single dwelling.

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 For example: If waterproofing was required in the bathroom of a single unit of a building and was
deemed exempt development, this would not be ‘building work’ for the purposes of the Act.
However, if an agreement was entered into by a building owner to rectify waterproofing issues in
the bathrooms of several units in the building, this exclusion would not apply, and the
waterproofing work would require regulated designs and declarations.

Local Government Order

Work that is carried out in compliance with an order given by a council under s 124 of the Local
Government Act 1993. However, this exclusion does not apply if the ordered work is for the
purposes of repairing, rectifying or replacing the external cladding of a building.

Development Control Order

Work that is carried out in compliance with a development control order under the Environmental
Planning and Assessment Act 1979. However, this exclusion does not apply if the ordered work is
for the purposes of repairing, rectifying or replacing the external cladding of a building.

Work exempt from the BCA

Work that is exempt from complying with the BCA under cl 74, 111 or 117, of the Environmental
Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021.

Certain maintenance of a fire safety system

Work that is the repair, renovation or protective treatment of a fire safety system for the purposes of
maintaining a component of the fire safety system, except a load-bearing component that is
essential to the stability of a building. However, this exclusion does not apply if the maintenance is
carried out on a component of a fire safety system (as defined in the BCA) and the maintenance
comprises the replacement of the component, and that component is an entire system.

For example: If a fire safety system is comprised of components, including a fire sprinkler
system and fire rated doors, the replacement of the fire sprinkler system component is not
excluded from being building work because that work would constitute the replacement of a
component that is an entire system. However, the exemption would allow the replacement of
broken sprinkler heads without being ‘building work’.

Maintenance of services
Work that is the repair, renovation or protective treatment of building involving a mechanical,
plumbing or electrical service, for the purposes of maintaining a component of a system in the
building.

For example: If a component of an air-conditioning unit required repair, this would be excluded
as building work.

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Non-residential work
Work that is excluded from being residential building work in the Home Building Act 1989, Schedule
1, cl 2(3)(a).

HomeBuilder Grant scheme

Work that is carried out under a contract for which a party to the contract received a grant under the
HomeBuilder Grant scheme for the work.

Certain electrical and plumbing performance solutions

Electrical or plumbing work that is a performance solution for building work but is not for a building
element is excluded as being a regulated design.

Fit-out of office or retail spaces

Work for the fit-out of a class 5 (office) or class 6 (retail) part of a building subject to a separate
development consent for the fit-out. However, any structural works for the fit-out are not exempt and
will require a registered design practitioner to prepare regulated designs and make a declaration.

3.5 Performance solutions

A performance solution is one of two pathways of achieving compliance with the BCA. While the
bespoke nature of a performance solution enables flexibility and innovation, it also requires careful
and detailed assessment so that the building solution can meet the performance requirements of the
BCA. Extending the operation of the reforms to designs for performance solutions ensures they are
properly documented and are a reliable method of compliance.

If a design is prepared for a performance solution for building work, it is a regulated design.

The EP&A Reg sets out who is authorised to prepare Performance Solution Reports for certain fire
safety systems. These existing requirements will still need to be met in addition to the obligations
under the new obligations in the Act and Regulation (see Chapter 6).

There are also additional requirements for Performance Solution Reports to ensure that they comply
with the requirements in BCA, Vol. 1, Part A2.2 (see 5.1 of these Guidelines).

3.6 Designs
Designs aren’t limited to drawings but include plans, specifications and reports detailing a design.
Therefore, a report, for example, prepared by a fire safety engineer or geotechnical engineer may be
a regulated design. The specifications that accompany plans may also be a regulated design.

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Exemptions to building work under clause 13 of the Regulation, exclude the work from requiring
regulated designs or declarations.

3.7 Integration of designs

Designs prepared by Design Practitioners to construct a building need to be harmonised and
integrate with related designs. It is essential that Design Practitioners engaged to prepare designs
do not operate in silos. The integration of designs is essential for better designed buildings. Design
Practitioners have a positive obligation to integrate details of related building work and other
regulated designs. This requirement for integration also applies to designs prepared as part of a
staged construction certificate (CC). Designs at each stage must be sufficiently integrated with
relevant building elements which may be in subsequent CCs. For example, a modern façade system
may include architectural, structural and mechanical elements. The respective designers would
therefore collaborate in the development of the façade system. Each design practitioner would make
a design compliance declaration for their work and note on the declaration that they have integrated
their design with the relevant designs.

Likewise, the architectural plans should coordinate the designs for services that are required to
penetrate, in particular, walls, ceilings and floors that are fire rated. Consideration should be
provided up front for these services and the respective plans should reflect that. This will minimise
the need for variations once building work commences.

Example, in the context of a staged CC, such as ‘structural only’, ‘basement only’, ‘shoring only’,
‘ground anchor only’ etc, the ‘regulated design’ of those staged CC should not be lodged as a
regulated design in a silo. A ‘regulated design’ by the structural engineer must be integrated with a

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‘regulated design’ by ‘architectural’ or ‘building design’ and ‘fire safety engineer’. There is an
example of documents required for staged CC (see 7.3 of these Guidelines).

4. Special requirements

4.1 Regulated designs involving performance solutions

The Regulation specifies additional requirements for certain regulated designs.

A regulated design that is prepared for a performance solution for building work, including a building
element, must be in the form of a report that includes the following—

(a) relevant plans that show, or specifications that describe, the physical elements of the
performance solution, if any,

(b) a description and justification of the performance solution, including—

(i) the acceptance criteria and parameters on which the justification is based, and

(ii) a description of the physical elements of the performance solution, and

(iii) restrictions or conditions of the performance solution, and

(iv) a copy of the brief on which the justification of the performance solution is based,

(c) a statement that the performance solution complies with the relevant performance
requirements of the Building Code of Australia,

(d) information that identifies the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the Building Code of
Australia being varied, where relevant.

A report for a regulated design that is prepared for a performance solution must comply with the
applicable evidence requirements for the design specified in the Building Code of Australia, Volume
1, Part A2.2.

4.2 Regulated designs involving fire resisting building elements

A regulated design that includes a building element that is required to have a fire-resistance level
under the Building Code of Australia, or a floor or ceiling that is required to have resistance to the
incipient spread of fire under the Building Code of Australia must include information that explains
how a fire-resistance level will be achieved and maintained in circumstances where a penetration to
a building element occurs—

(a) during the installation or maintenance of services in relation to building work, or

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 (b) at another time during the building work.

The information may be written or in the form of a drawing.

4.3 Regulated designs integrating vertical transportation products

A regulated design for building work relating to the integration of a vertical transportation product
must include the registration number of the product.

This requirement is in addition to existing obligations associated with the authorisation of vertical
transportation products as required under section 42 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and
the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017.

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5. Other Design Obligations

5.1 Relationship with other design obligations

Design Practitioners may have existing requirements in relation to certain designs. For example,
architects may have obligations under State Environmental Planning Policies and fire system
designers may have obligations under the EP&A legislation. The DBP legislation does not override
or remove those obligations. Practitioners are required to comply with all other relevant legislative
requirements in addition to the obligations under the DBP legislation.

5.2 Fire safety system performance solutions

Where the EP&A Reg requires a performance solution report to be prepared by a person who holds
a particular qualification,1 the Design Practitioner must satisfy obligations under both statutory
regimes. Therefore, a Fire Safety Engineer who prepares a Performance Solution Report involving
certain fire safety systems may require registration under both the Building and Development
Certifiers Act 2018 as well as the DBP legislation.

1
Clauses 130 and 144A of the EP&A Regulation

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6. Ministerial Order

6.1 Additional particulars required of certain designs in Order

Section 5(3) of the Act provides that the Minister may, by order, specify particulars that are
additional to those prescribed by the Regulation for regulated designs.

Design Practitioners need to be aware of Ministerial Orders that specify requirements for regulated
designs and ensure they comply with the Order if they are preparing a relevant design.

The Design and Building Practitioners —Particulars for Regulated Designs Order 2022 (Ministerial
Order), published on the NSW Fair Trading website, sets out requirements for Design Practitioners
who prepare certain regulated designs. The requirement for declared regulated designs to have a
Title Block is within the Ministerial Order. The Ministerial Order also contains requirements for
regulated designs involving shoring and ground anchors.

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7. Design Compliance Declarations

7.1 What is a Design Compliance Declaration?

The Act requires a registered Design Practitioner to provide a ‘Design Compliance Declaration’ to a
person where they provide that person with a regulated design in a form suitable for use in
connection with building work.

A Design Compliance Declaration signals to a Building Practitioner that the Design Practitioner has
the qualifications, skills, knowledge, competence and experience to prepare the design and it is in a
form and contains the level of detail required to be relied upon to be built. The Design Compliance
Declaration informs the Building Practitioner that the Design Practitioner has given consideration to
the matters within the declaration.

A Design Compliance Declaration must be provided for all building elements and performance
solutions before construction can begin.

7.2 What is to be declared?

A Design Compliance Declaration is a declaration by a registered Design Practitioner that the design
meets the requirements under the Act and Regulation. The Design Compliance Declaration covers
the following:

1. whether or not a regulated design prepared for building work complies with the requirements
of the Building Code of Australia,

2. whether or not the design complies with other applicable requirements prescribed by the
regulations,

3. whether or not other standards, codes or requirements have been applied in preparing the
design,

4. designs must, as far as is reasonably practicable, integrate details of the following—

a. other aspects of building work to which the design relates,

b. other regulated designs for the work, including designs prepared by other registered
design practitioners for building work.

5. whether or not any building product referred to in the design would, if used in a way that is
consistent with the design, achieve compliance with the Building Code of Australia,

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 6. whether or not the design to which the compliance declaration relates involves a
performance solution,

7. whether or not the design accords with these Guidelines,

8. whether or not specialist advice was sought and considered in preparing the design,

Design Compliance Declarations for registered design practitioners in the class of design
practitioner—vertical transportation must declare the additional matters:

1. whether or not the design appropriately integrates a vertical transportation product in

accordance with the product’s authorisation under section 42 of the Work Health and
Safety Act 2011, and

2. if the design does not appropriately integrate the vertical transportation product—whether
or not the practitioner has advised the designer of the product, within the meaning of the
Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 22, of that fact, and

3. whether or not the integration of the vertical transportation product in the design for
building work achieves compliance with the requirements of AS 1735, Lifts, Escalators,
and Moving Walks, as in force from time to time.

7.3 At what stage does a regulated design need to be declared?

The regulated design needs to be declared when it is in a form suitable for use for building work.
Therefore, early drafts or concept designs prepared by a registered Design Practitioner do not need
to be declared.

By declaring a regulated design, a Design Practitioner is signalling that the design is in a form and
contains the level of detail to support the building work. Design Practitioners should not declare
regulated designs unless they are confident that their designs could be reliably used to support
building work that would comply with the BCA.

Building work cannot commence until the Building Practitioner (or their nominee) has lodged the
construction issued regulated designs. This set of designs must contain the necessary detail to
produce building work that would achieve compliance with the BCA, including detail specifying the
proposed dimensions of the completed building, the characteristics and materials comprising the
proposed building and the location of the building elements and systems proposed to be built.
Remember, where the building is a mixed class, the construction issued regulated designs must be
for all parts of the building, not just the class 2 part. The designs must in a form that they are able to

17
be used by a building practitioner to carry out the work in accordance with the regulated design and
the BCA.

Design Practitioners must assume that when they provide a declared regulated design, it may form
part of the set of construction issued regulated designs.

Regulated designs and declarations are also to be provided to the certifier for those designs
required by the certifier to issue the CDC or CC.

The regulated design in the context of a staged CC also needs to be in a form suitable for use for
building work. The regulated design for staged CC should not be lodged as a design in a silo.

For example: If a staged CC is ‘structural only’, ‘basement only’, ‘shoring only’, ‘ground anchor
only’ etc, the associated ‘regulated design’ to this CC is required to be integrated sufficiently. The
regulated design declared for this CC in relation to the load-bearing building element is required
from both the design practitioner – structural, as well as design practitioner – architectural /
building design. This can be in the form of “architectural / building design general” document
consisting of concrete profile / setout drawings. The concrete profile / setout drawings from the
design practitioner – architectural / building design, is required to integrate the falls (gradients) in
the concrete slabs, services penetrations, fire safety engineer’s performance solution, etc.

Note: “architectural / building design general” documents are the general documents by the design
practitioner in the class of registration ‘architectural’ or ‘building design’ with the design categories in
the Regulated Design Guidance Material as follows:
• General arrangement plans
• General elevations
• General sections
• General details

7.4 Regulated Designs and Design Compliance Declaration for Building

Certificates
For Construction Certificate or a Complying Development Certificates applied for after 1 July 2021,
the certifier must be provided with Design Compliance Declarations and the accompanying
regulated designs for building work required to issue the certificate. The certifier is unable to issue
the certificate unless these have been provided.

7.5 Form of Design Compliance Declaration?

The Design Compliance Declaration forms are in Appendix 2 of these Guidelines and are available
for download on the NSW Fair Trading website.

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The Design Compliance Declaration form must be completed by a Design Practitioner and can only
cover a single regulated design. This form will allow the Design Practitioner to include information
specific to a single design for a single building element or performance solution for building work.

As regulated designs for vertical transportation cover matters that relate only to those designs, there
is a specific Design Compliance Declaration form for Vertical Transportation designs.

There are also forms for:

• a declaration by a Principal Design Practitioner, where one is appointed; and

• a Design Practitioner to certify that a design prepared before 1 July 2021 by another
designer complies with the Building Code of Australia.

7.6 Who can make a Design Compliance Declaration?

Registered Design Practitioners must ensure that the designs they are declaring are within their
scope of registration. This is in addition to general requirements upon Design Practitioners under the
Code of Practice to work within their competence and expertise. There are offences and penalties
for making Declarations that a practitioner is not authorised to make or for breaching the Code of
Practice.

To make a Design Compliance Declaration for a design, the person making the Declaration must
have prepared the design or variation themselves or coordinated or supervised the preparation or
variation of the design.

If a registered Design Practitioner makes a Design Compliance Declaration for a regulated design
they have coordinated or supervised, they must have a registration that allows them to prepare that
design and the Design Practitioner must take responsibility for the matters in the Declaration relating
to that design.

The Design Practitioner must declare whether their regulated design integrates details of other
aspects of building work to which the design relates, as well as other regulated designs for the work.

If a Design Practitioner has integrated other designs, they are then required to provide details about
the other regulated designs that have been integrated into the regulated design for which
this Design Compliance Declaration is being made. The requirement to consider other designs is to
reflect that in practice, the numerous designs required to construct a building need to be harmonised
and integrate with related designs. The intention is to eliminate the preparation of siloed
designs which should reduce the need for variations after building commences. If a Design
Practitioner declares that their design has not considered another relevant design, the Building

19
Practitioner will be alerted to this and can then provide the Design Practitioner with the relevant
designs to integrate.

The declaration covers whether a building product referred to in the regulated design would, if used
in a manner consistent with the design, achieve compliance with the BCA. This has been included to
ensure that all materials are suitable for their designated purpose and to cover the emergence of
new products and materials that may not have been considered by the BCA.

The declaration also covers whether other standards, codes or requirements have been applied in
preparing the design. This only requires the designer to include standards, codes or requirements
that are not referenced as the applicable standard for that work in the BCA. For example, if a
fire sprinkler system has been designed in accordance with Australian Standard 2118 as
referenced in the BCA, the Design Practitioner would not need to reference this standard in the
declaration.

7.7 Scope of Authority for Declaring Designs

A Design Practitioner may only declare designs that are within the scope of their class of
registration. There are instances where certain designs may be prepared by multiple classes of
Design Practitioner. For example, a regulated design for a building façade may be prepared by
Design Practitioners in the class of architectural, building design (low rise), building design (medium
rise)2, façade or structural. If a design is permitted to be declared in several classes, a design
practitioner need only hold registration in one of those classes to declare the regulated design.
In certain classes of Design Practitioner, the scope of designs a practitioner can declare specifically
prohibits designs within the scope of other classes. This is to ensure practitioners who are preparing
and declaring specialised designs, have the skills, knowledge and experience and that specific area.
For example: an architect only needs to hold registration in the class of Design Practitioner –
architectural to declare a regulated design for a building façade.

A mechanical or electrical engineer must hold registration in the class of Design Practitioner –
vertical transportation to declare a regulated design for a vertical transportation system as this is
specifically prohibited under the scope of Design Practitioner – mechanical engineer and Design
Practitioner – electrical engineer.

Schedule 1 of the Regulation sets out the scope of each Design Practitioner, summarised below:
Design practitioner—architectural
A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—architectural class of registration is
authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation to an
architectural service.

2
The two classes of Design practitioners – building design may only declare façade designs for certain
buildings.

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Architectural service means a service provided in connection with the design, planning or
construction of buildings that is ordinarily provided by architects.

Only the person who will declare or lodge designs will need to register.

Design practitioner—body corporate

A registered body corporate that holds a design practitioner—body corporate class of registration is
authorised to do anything that a registered design practitioner who holds any other class of
registration can do, but only by way of an individual who is an employee of the body corporate and
who holds that class of registration.

The individual practitioner must make the compliance declaration and lodge the regulated designs.

Design practitioner—building design (low rise)

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—building design (low rise) class of
registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation
to the design of a low rise building (subject to the requirements in the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Regulation 2000, relating to the design of a residential apartment development).

Low rise building means a class 2 building or a building containing a class 2 part that has a
maximum gross floor area of no more than 2,000m2, but does not include a building that is Type A
or Type B construction. For further information on how to determine the Type A and Type B of
construction of a building refer to Part C1 and C2 of the Building Code of Australia Volume 1.
Specification C1.1 of the Building Code of Australia.

Some designs are excluded from the class of registration, design practitioner—building design (low
rise). Excluded designs include:
• a design that would constitute the provision of an architectural service
• a design that would constitute the carrying out professional engineering work
• a design that may be prepared or varied by a design practitioner in the class of:
o design practitioner—fire systems (detection and alarm systems)
o design practitioner—fire systems (fire hydrant and fire hose reel) or
o design practitioner—fire systems (fire sprinkler)
o design practitioner—fire systems (mechanic smoke control).

21
Design practitioner—building design (medium rise)

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—building design (medium rise)
class of registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in
relation to the design of a medium rise building (subject to the requirements in the Environmental
Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000, relating to the design of a residential apartment
development).

Medium rise building means a class 2 building or a building containing a class 2 part, limited to:
• a maximum of 3 storeys; or
• a maximum of 4 storeys (where the ground level or first storey is classified as a class 7a
building (carpark))

Medium rise building does not include Type A construction for class 4, 5, 6, 7a, 7b and 8. For further
information on how to determine the type of construction of a building refer to Part C1 and C2 of the
Building Code of Australia Volume 1.

Some designs are excluded from the class of registration, design practitioner—building design
(medium rise). Excluded designs include:
• a design that would constitute the provision of an architectural service
• a design that would constitute the carrying out of professional engineering work
• a design that may be prepared or varied by a design practitioner in the class of:
o design practitioner—fire systems (detection and alarm systems)
o design practitioner—fire systems (fire sprinkler)
o design practitioner—fire systems (fire hydrant and fire hose reel) or
o design practitioner—fire systems (mechanic smoke control)

Design practitioner—civil engineering

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—civil engineering class of

registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation
to an area of civil engineering.

Area of civil engineering means an area of engineering that involves the research, design,
construction and maintenance of the built environment.

Some designs are excluded from this class of registration, including designs relating to the façade of
a building, an area of geotechnical engineering, and the integration of a vertical transportation
product in a building.

22
Design practitioner—drainage

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—drainage class of registration is

authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation to stormwater
drainage and roof drainage systems for a building with a rise in any number of storeys.

Design practitioner—drainage (restricted)

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—drainage (restricted) class of

registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation
to stormwater drainage and roof drainage systems for a building that has a rise in storeys of no
more than 6.

Design practitioner—electrical engineering

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—electrical engineering class of

registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation
to an area of electrical engineering, including electrical components or systems, or electrical
services, of a building, other than those covered by the class of Design Practitioner – Vertical
Transportation.

Area of electrical engineering means an area of engineering that involves equipment, devices,
plant and systems that use electricity, electronics and electromagnetism.

Some designs are excluded from this class of registration, including designs in relation to the
integration of a vertical transportation product in a building.

Design practitioner—facade

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—facade class of registration is

authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation to the façade
of a building.

Design practitioner—fire safety engineering

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—fire safety engineering class of
registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation
to an area of fire safety engineering.

An area of fire safety engineering means an area of engineering that involves the application of
engineering principles and rules, including:
• the fire performance of a material, structure or building.

23
 • the selection of a fire system suitable for a particular building, including components of the
systems.
• the safety and behaviour of a person in the event of a fire.
• the prevention, detection and suppression of fire.

Design practitioner—fire systems (detection and alarm systems)

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—fire systems (detection and alarm
systems) class of registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance
declarations in relation to a fire detection and alarm system or an emergency and
intercommunication system for a building.

Design practitioner—fire systems (fire hydrant and fire hose reel)

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—fire systems (fire hydrant and fire
hose reel) class of registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance
declarations in relation to a fire hydrant or fire hose reel system for a building, including a portable
fire extinguisher system.

Design practitioner—fire systems (fire sprinkler)

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—fire systems (fire sprinkler) class of
registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation
to a fire sprinkler system for a building.

Design practitioner—fire systems (mechanical smoke control)

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—fire systems (mechanical smoke
control) class of registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance
declarations in relation to a mechanical fire control system or mechanical smoke control system for a
building.

Design practitioner—geotechnical engineering

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—geotechnical engineering class of

registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation
to an area of geotechnical engineering.

Area of geotechnical engineering means an area of engineering that involves the mechanics of
soil and rock and the application of the mechanics to the design and construction of foundations,
retaining structures, shoring excavations and ground bearing structures for buildings and other
systems constructed of, or supported by, soil or rock, but does not include activities involving only
geology or earth science.

24
Design practitioner—mechanical engineering

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—mechanical engineering class of

registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation
to an area of mechanical engineering, and the mechanical systems of a building and the relevant
energy efficient provisions of the Building Code of Australia that relate to the systems.

Area of mechanical engineering means an area of engineering that involves work carried out in
relation to devices, machines, structures, processes and systems involving mechanical elements.

Mechanical systems include systems to facilitate the safe occupation and use of a building
associated with heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and air distribution, smoke control and exhaust
and stairwell pressurisation.

Some designs are excluded from this class of registration, including designs in relation to the
integration of a vertical transportation product in a building.

Design practitioner—structural engineering

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—structural engineering class of

registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation
to an area of structural engineering.

Area of structural engineering means an area of engineering that involves the understanding,
prediction and calculation of:

• the stability, strength and rigidity of built structures, and

• how structures and buildings resist and transfer natural and other forces.

Design practitioner—vertical transportation

A registered design practitioner who holds a design practitioner—vertical transportation class of

registration is authorised to prepare regulated designs and make compliance declarations in relation
to the integration of a vertical transportation product in a building, including a design that relates to
how the vertical transportation product will integrate with an applicable building element of the
building to achieve compliance with the Building Code of Australia.

Vertical transportation product means a lift, escalator or moving walkway.

25
7.8 Do all regulated designs need to be declared?
No. It is recognised that regulated designs will at times be prepared by design practitioners from
disciplines who are not required to be registered under the scheme. The scheme does not require all
regulated designs to be declared. The requirement is for the Building Practitioner to have declared
regulated designs to rely upon to carry out the building work. Therefore, the scheme has not sought
to register every discipline involved in designing a building.

Registered design practitioners may engage other specialist design practitioners to prepare
regulated designs. For example, an architect may engage an acoustic consultant to provide advice
on the acoustic aspects of the building design. Acoustic consultants are not a class of design
practitioner eligible for registration. The design prepared by the acoustic consultant may be a
regulated design if it relates to a building element or performance solution. The acoustic consultant
cannot declare the regulated design. The acoustic consultant will provide the advice to the architect,
who will incorporate the acoustic consultant’s advice into their plans and specifications. The
architect will then declare the regulated design that they have prepared, which will be based on
advice from the acoustic consultant. The Building Practitioner will be provided with the architect’s
declared regulated designs. The Design Compliance Declaration accounts for this process by
allowing a registered Design Practitioner to specify that their design incorporates specialist advice.

The Building Practitioner must be in possession of declared regulated designs for any building work
involving a building element or performance solution. It is completely acceptable if those declared
regulated designs incorporate specialist advice, in the form of regulated designs from disciplines
where a practitioner is unable to be registered.

Example: An architect may require a performance solution report for disability access
requirements. Performance solutions for building work are regulated designs but the disability
access consultant engaged to prepare the performance solution report is not a class of design
practitioner able to be registered.

The disability access consultant will provide the Performance Solution Report (the undeclared
regulated design) to the architect. The architect will incorporate the specialist advice from the
report into their regulated design which the architect will need to declare. The architect’s Design
Compliance Declaration will note that the design involves a performance solution and that
specialist advice was received for the performance solution.

The Building Practitioner will be provided with the declared regulated design in order to be able to
carry out the building work.

26
7.9 Offences related to Design Compliance Declaration
A registered Design Practitioner must provide a Design Compliance Declaration to a person if they
provide a regulated design they have prepared, coordinated or supervised and the design is in a
form suitable for use in connection with building work.

Maximum penalty—1,500 penalty units (in the case of a body corporate) or 500 penalty units (in any
other case).

There is an obligation upon the Building Practitioner to ensure building work relating to a building
element or performance solution for which a regulated design is to be used, is carried out in
accordance with the design that has been declared by a design practitioner who is authorised to
make the declaration.

If a registered Design Practitioner has previously provided a Design Compliance Declaration for a
regulated design and varies the regulated design, they must provide a further Design Compliance
Declaration before the building work is commenced.

Maximum penalty—1,500 penalty units (in the case of a body corporate) or 500 penalty units (in any
other case).

A registered Design Practitioner must provide a further design compliance declaration to a person if

(a) the practitioner or another practitioner has previously provided a design compliance
declaration for a regulated design prepared by either practitioner relating to a building
element or performance solution in connection with building work, and

(b) the practitioner provides the person with the regulated design as varied by the
practitioner in a form suitable for use relating to the building element or performance solution
after the building work is commenced.

Maximum penalty—1,500 penalty units (in the case of a body corporate) or 500 penalty units (in any
other case).

A registered Design Practitioner who is required by subsection (1), (2) or (3) to provide a Design
Compliance Declaration to a person must also provide a copy of the declaration to the registered
Principal Design Practitioner (if any) appointed in relation to the building work to which the
declaration relates.

Maximum penalty—1,500 penalty units (in the case of a body corporate) or 500 penalty units (in any
other case).

A person must not make a Design Compliance Declaration that the person knows to be false or
misleading in a material particular.

27
Maximum penalty—2,000 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years, or both.

Design Practitioners must comply with record keeping obligations under Part 7 of the Regulation.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units (in the case of a body corporate) or 100 penalty units for an
individual.

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8. Variations

8.1 What is a Variation to a Regulated Design?

The Act requires a registered Design Practitioner to provide a ‘Design Compliance Declaration’ to a
person where they provide that person with a regulated design in a form suitable for use in
connection with building work.

A variation may arise because a Design Practitioner updates their design or prepares a new design
for a building element or performance solution that is different from a previous design. Variations
may occur before or after building work commences.

Building Practitioners must carry out building work for building elements or performance solutions in
accordance with declared regulated designs. A variation to a regulated design is required when
building work cannot be carried out on the declared regulated design provided to the Building
Practitioner.

8.2 Who can vary a Regulated Design?

A regulated design can be varied by a registered Design Practitioner but does not have to be the
same Design Practitioner who prepared the original design. The Design Practitioner must be able to
declare the regulated design, so must be registered and the design must be of a type that the
practitioner’s registration authorises them to declare.

8.3 Variation of a Regulated Design not connected to a building

element or performance solution
A regulated design is a design for a building element or performance solution for building work.
However, a declared regulated design may also contain details that are unrelated to either a
performance solution or building element. If a variation of a regulated design is sought for building
work that is not related to a building element or performance solution, the Building Practitioner is
able to carry out the variation but must record it in a Variation Statement.

Example: An architectural drawing for a bathroom in a class 2 building specifies a wall mirror.
The design also includes waterproofing elements, making it a regulated design. The Building
Practitioner seeks to change the specified mirror for a slightly different size. The variation sought
by the Building Practitioner is unrelated to a building element or performance solution.

The Building Practitioner is able to make the variation to the building work without requiring a
varied regulated design and declaration of the Design Practitioner. The Building Practitioner is
required to record details of the variation in a Variation Statement that will need to be lodged on
the NSW Planning Portal before an application for an Occupation Certificate is made.
29
9. Title Block

9.1 What is a Title Block?

The Act requires a registered Design Practitioner to provide a ‘Design Compliance Declaration’ to a
person where they provide that person with a regulated design in a form suitable for use in
connection with building work.

Each regulated design that is to be declared by a registered design practitioner must have a title
block on the design. A title block is a table of information containing details about the design and the
building the design is for. The title block will be used by the NSW Planning Portal to extract data
relating to the design. The title block must be included in the top left-hand corner of each design.

The title block is available for download on the NSW Fair Trading website in .dwg format. The cells
may be manipulated to fit on the page so long as the order of the information does not change.

Project address: The address of the project for the designed building works.
Project Title: The project name.
The Construction Certificate or Complying Development number. If there is no CC or CDC (ie
Consent No Crown building work, the Development Application). Will need to be prefixed with either DA or
CC or CDC.
Body Corp Reg If the design has been prepared and declared on behalf of a registered body corporate design
No practitioner, the registration number of the body corporate.
Must correspond with the drawing title referenced in the Design Compliance Declaration. The
Drawing Title drawing title must remain the same for variations of the same drawing. If the design is not a
drawing, the Report name.
Must be a unique number to identify it from other regulated designs by the Design Practitioner
Drawing No for the building. Must correspond with the drawing number referenced in the Design
Compliance Declaration.

30
 The version of the design. The original will be 1 or A. The first variation will be 2 or B, which
may be regulated or non-regulated. If the variation affects a building element or a performance
solution then the variation is regulated. Details of the variation will be shown in the cells and
details of the previous versions of the design will be shown in the cells above. If the variation
Rev.
does not affect a building element or a performance solution then the variation is non-
regulated. To show this is a non-regulated variation, you will need to cover the regulated title
block with a ‘non-regulated issue’ stamp, a watermark or simply delete the title block,. When
the rows are full, information from the earliest design will need to be removed.
This date should be the same as the corresponding Design Compliance Declaration for the
Date
design. The date must be completed in the dd.mm.yy format.
Description Description of the design/variation.
This is the name of the individual design practitioner who has prepared the design and must be
DP Full Name the same individual who made the declaration for the design (including where the declaration
has been made on behalf of a body corporate)
Reg No The registration number of the individual design practitioner referred to in the previous cell.

9.2 How to complete the Title Block?

The title block must be placed in the top left-hand side of each regulated design. For regulated
designs that are in the form of a report, the title block should be placed on the top left-hand side of
the cover sheet of the report.

The title block should be completed in Arial font, in a size no smaller than 8pt.

The date must be in dd.mm.yy format.

The drawing title needs to remain unchanged for variations of the same design.

The title block has been designed to capture up to eight versions of a design. When more than eight
versions are prepared of the same regulated design, details from the oldest version should be
removed so that the details from the eight most recent remain.

31
10. Appendix 1 – Regulated Designs Guidelines

32
 Regulated Design Guidance Material
This Regulated Design Guidance Material is approved by the Secretary of the Department of
Customer Service (the Secretary), under clause 9(1)(c) of the Design and Building Practitioners
Regulation 2021.

1
Introduction
Under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, registered design practitioners are
required to provide design compliance declarations when they provide a person with a
regulated design prepared by the practitioner and the design is in a form suitable for use by that
person or another person in connection with building work.

Regulated designs are designs prepared for a building element or a performance solution for
building work. Please refer to the Design Practitioners Handbook for more information on how to
determine whether a design is a regulated design, including building elements and building work.

A design compliance declaration is a declaration regarding a number of matters. One of those

is, under clause 9(1)(c) of the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021, whether the
design accords with relevant elements of this Regulated Design Guidance Material.

Persons preparing regulated designs must therefore ensure that the designs accord with
relevant elements of this Regulated Design Guidance Material.

Structure of this Guidance Material

This Guidance material is comprised of a table identifying a number of classes of designs.

• Architectural / building design

• Structural
• Façade
• Geotechnical
• Vertical transportation
• Mechanical
• Mechanical or fire systems – mechanical smoke control
• Fire safety engineer
• Fire safety systems
• Drainage
• Electrical

Note: It is up to the design practitioner to determine whether the design they are preparing is a
regulated design. The Design Practitioners Handbook provides further guidance on how to
determine this.

Each row of the table is a category of design within that class. The table then identifies, in
relation to each category, the:

1) Minimum scale of design for that category;

2) “design aspects and details” for that category, noting not all designs will be relevant for a
particular project; and
3) Minimum requirements for that category.

2
Class of design: architectural / building design

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Architectural/Building Design (prepared by a registered design practitioner in the class of architectural/building design, with support from
specialised consultants)

1:100 General Arrangement Plans The General Arrangement Plan set should consist of: Minimum requirements for design
[Architectural / General] category: all designs must at a
− A cover page that identifies the drawings in the set and
minimum include a site plan, floor
includes the site and building details. plans for each level, elevations of
− A site plan that shows the building in the context of the each aspect, and appropriate sections
site, such as location from boundaries and fire source and details, which are appropriately
features and reduced levels. scaled, dimensioned and suitable for
− A site setout plan appropriately dimensioned with grids construction.
and survey points.
Location of all expansion, movement
− Floor plans for each floor of the building, including and control joints when they are
roofs and basements, with the detail listed below. located in an element of the building
− Elevations of each aspect of the building, with the which is exposed to rainwater,
detail listed below. groundwater, shower water or garden
− Appropriate dimensioned sections and details watering device. Joint to be shown as
commensurate to the building design. red dotted line on architectural
drawings. Joint to have predicted 10
The General Arrangement Plans should: year movement marked
− demonstrate coordination with services and structural
documentation.
− show relevant elements of performance solutions as
necessary.
− Include appropriate notes, annotations, legends and
the like specific to the plans set and design
− Include references, tags, and callouts to relevant
sections, details, schedules and specifications.
Where matters are unable to be shown these can be detailed
in specifications or schedules.

3
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

1:100 General floor plans Floor plans should include the general layout and elements of Minimum requirements for design
[Architectural / General] each floor of the building to show compliance with the category: floor plans are provided for
regulated building elements. Floor plans are also critical for each level of the building including
coordinating other regulated designs. roofs and basements.
Floor plans should include: Floor plans must be suitable for
construction and sufficiently detailed
− The layout of each floor plate, including location of
and dimensioned.
walls, columns, doors, windows and the like
− The dimensions of elements and rooms of the floor
plate
− The layout and location of all shafts (e.g. stair and lift
shafts), service risers and the like
− Floor levels e.g. finished floor levels, slab levels
− Reference to integrated designs, setout plans, service
designs
− Each room name/use on the floor plate
− The layout and location of exits e.g. stairways,
passageways, ramps, doors
Layout and location of areas/rooms required to be fire
separated e.g. fire services, plant rooms, substations

1:100 (or 1:200 if General elevations Elevations will show the external appearance and elements of Minimum requirements for design
detailed Facade [Architectural / General] the building. category: elevations are provided for
Documentation is each external aspect of the building.
Elevations should include:
provided)
Elevations must be suitable for
− Proposed external materials and finishes, with
construction and sufficiently detailed
particular consideration for BCA requirements e.g. fire and dimensioned with grids.
protection, weatherproofing and energy efficiency
requirements.
− Locations and sizes of window and door openings,
balconies and other external features.
− Heights of floor levels dimensioned
Overall heights e.g. ground levels and roof levels.

4
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

1:100 (or 1:200 if General sections Sections should include at least two intersecting sections Minimum requirements for design
details are [Architectural / General] through the building. category: at least two intersecting
provided) sections should be provided for each
Sections should include:
building.
− Grid lines, key dimensions e.g. floor/ceilings heights,
Sections must be suitable for
ground levels etc. construction, sufficiently detailed,
− Room names/uses dimensioned, and integrate
Callouts to detailed drawings (coordinate) other relevant designs.

1:20, General details Details should be provided for all construction methods that Minimum requirements for design
[Architectural / General] cannot be shown on the plans, elevations and sections. category: details must be suitable for
(for some design,
construction and sufficiently
1:10, 1:5 will be Details should include:
comprehensive and dimensioned.
appropriate)
− Junctions and interfaces between and within key parts
of the building e.g. external wall interface with floor
slabs
− Strip wall details for differing external wall construction
Egress system design:
− Riser and going dimensions, stairway widths, landing
location and sizes, head clearance
− Ramp gradients
− Barriers and handrails
− Doorway details e.g. direction of swing, door hardware,
hold open devices etc.
Door hardware schedule and door schedule

Reflected ceiling plans Showing emergency lighting and exit signs.

[Architectural / Fire safety system]

Specific regulated designs There are specific building elements that are required to
[Other / Other] demonstrate compliance with the BCA. The plans can be
incorporated into the general architectural plans or as separate
sets.

5
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

1:100, (for some Passive fire safety The passive fire safety designs must show all elements that Minimum requirements for design
designs 1:50, [Architectural / Fire safety relate to fire safety systems such as to restrict the spread of category: The passive fire safety
1:20 or 1:10 will system] fire. designs must be suitable for
be required to construction.
Passive fire includes, but not limited to:
present the detail
required) − Fire-resisting elements (FRL), incipient spread ceilings,
non-combustibility (i.e. external), concrete/masonry.
− Compartmentation fire and smoke, bounding
construction.
− Shafts – fire isolated exits, lifts, services.
− Fire separation e.g. spandrels, substations, equipment
etc.
− Openings in fire resisting and bounding construction
e.g. doors, windows, shaft openings.
− Protection of penetrations through fire resisting
construction.
− Finishes and linings.
The passive fire safety set should include:
Plans that show:
− the location and layout of fire-resisting walls, columns,
shafts, risers etc.
− the minimum fire-resistance levels to be achieved for
construction
− walls that are required be non-combustible, concrete or
masonry
− fire/smoke compartments and bounding construction
− location and types of openings e.g. doors, windows
− that reference wall construction e.g. wall type drawings
Sections that show:
− horizontal elements e.g. floor slabs, ceilings etc.
− through fire-resisting construction e.g. walls, shafts,
scissor stair fire separation etc
6
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]
− junctions between fire resisting construction
Details that show:
− junctions between fire resisting construction
− protection of penetrations (fire stopping) through fire-
resisting construction
− minimum fire-resistance levels to be achieved for wall,
floors, columns etc.
− openings in fire-resisting construction
− Construction of fire-resting doorsets
Schedule that:
− Detail each proposed wall type and how the passive
fire safety requirements are to be met.
− Identifies where services are to be protected within a
shaft or at the floor.
− Identifies doorset types including details of fire/smoke
resistance etc.
Specifications/schedules
− detailing the methods of protecting each type of
penetration through fire-resisting elements.
Information that explains how an FRL will be achieved and
maintained where a penetration occurs e.g. a fire matrix,
reference to specifications, details.

7
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

1:50 (for some Waterproofing Internal wet areas – bathrooms/laundries Minimum requirements for design
designs 1:20, [Architectural / Waterproofing] category: details must be suitable for
Plans that:
1:10 or 1:5 will be construction.
appropriate) − Identify areas that require waterproofing
− Specify floor gradients
− Locations of floor wastes
Elevations/Sections/Details that show:
− Floor and wall construction/substrates
− Waterproofing membrane/system and extent of
coverage
− Location and type of water stops
− Intersection of wall/floors e.g. bond breakers
− Shower screen types e.g. enclosed/unenclosed
− Detail of waterproofing fixtures
− Detail of termination of membrane into floor wastes
− Details of bathtubs e.g. intersection of wall/bathtub
External waterproofing - balconies/roofs/planters
Plans that:
− Identify areas that require a waterproofing membrane
e.g. balconies, roofs, planter boxes
− Specify balcony/roof gradients
− Location of floor wastes/overflow
Elevations/Sections/Details that show:
− Extent of waterproofing membrane to
balcony/roof/planter box
− Termination of waterproofing membrane
− Overflow details
− Podiums - Expansion joint - section
− Podiums – Planter box - section
Waterproofing membrane around fixtures

8
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Building enclosure Components of the building enclosure include external walls, Minimum requirements for design
[Architectural / Building roofs, and basement construction category: design must be suitable for
enclosure] construction.
Plans that show:
− Construction methods/materials of external
walls/systems
− Construction methods and materials of roofs
− Details of basement wall construction
− Water stop details of basement walls/piling
− Tanking/waterproofing required to basement walls
− References to wall schedule/details
− Cladding
− Slab edge details e.g. where façade is supported
− Weatherproofing of external walls
− Details of insulation, sarking, weepholes etc.
− Details external window weatherproofing, e.g. head,
jamb and sill flashings, weepholes.
− Details of external door weatherproofing, e.g. flashings,
sill heights
− Details of external flashing
− Details of external wall and floor/balcony interface
− Details of interface between different external wall
building materials
− Parapet and eave details
Building sealing, energy efficiency

Back to top

9
Class of design: structural

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Structural (prepared by a registered design practitioner in the class of structural engineering)

1:200 Structural concept plans − Structural systems

[Structural / Load bearing and − Typical foundation, column grid and framing systems
shoring] − Proprietary/subcontracted floor/wall systems (including
PT and precast)

1:100 Structural design plans and Detailed load drawings outlining the design loads adopted for Minimum requirement for design
details each floor and roof area, as well as formwork and propping category: detailed structural drawings
[Structural / Load bearing and stripping assumptions, including for: are required to show location, section,
shoring] and detail of all structural and
− foundation plans (including any piles and temporary or
loadbearing members, components
permanent shoring) and connections, plus a construction
− flooring plans and structure, including walling plans and specification to clearly articulate
framing plan material and testing requirements for
− roof plans and structure construction.
− prestressed detailed design drawings
Location of all expansion, movement
− balustrade structural design (including load category and control joints when they are
considered and nominated concrete fastenings) located in an element of the building
− support and lateral resisting structure plans which is exposed to rainwater,
− seismic restraints for all building elements and services groundwater, shower water or garden
with actions determined in B1.2 watering device. Joint to be shown as
− provision for lightning protection interfaces, if required., red dotted line on architectural
with finials, down conductors, ties to the reo etc drawings. Joint to have predicted 10
year movement marked
1:100 Structural design sections Detailed section drawings outlining the following: Minimum requirements for design
[Structural / Load bearing and category: design must be suitable for
− Reinforcement detailing
shoring] construction.
− Relationship to external building elements such as
Facade cladding
− Post Tensioning details
− Structural connections for Balustrades and other critical
elements

10
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

1:100 Structural elevations Detailed elevation drawings outlining the following: Minimum requirements for design
[Structural / Load bearing and category: all elevations must include
− Reinforcement detailing
shoring] the geographical orientation for the
− Relationship to external building elements such as Project. All elevations should include a
Facade cladding ‘mini’ block plan to cross-reference the
location of elevations on plan.
Elevations must also show the
aesthetic qualities of the proposed
design and must be sufficiently
annotated and/or coloured to
communicate the external materials
and finishes.
They must also have the movement
joints and control joints marked.
Structural engineer to provide a
movement report which includes but
not limited to horizontal and vertical
movement of building elements,
including any differential movements
over the life of the building.

1:100 Design loads − Detailed load drawings outlining the design loads Minimum requirements for design
[Structural / Load bearing and adopted for each floor and roof area, as well as category: details must be suitable for
shoring] formwork and propping stripping assumptions construction.
− Earthquake, snow, wind and cyclone resilience designs
− Movement report
− Wind report/ air pressurisation details
− Environmental Exposure category
− Design Life

11
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

1:100 Flood hazard area designs − Flood resistance requirements including reference to
[Structural / Load bearing and Authority overland flow contours
shoring]

1:100 Design fire ratings − Structural adequacy of each Fire Rating Level
[Structural / Load bearing and − Designs specifying compliance with bushfire
shoring] requirements in the BCA

1:50 Penetration plans coordinated − Services penetrations, shafts and horizontal reticulation Minimum requirements for design
with services category:
[Structural / Load bearing and
All penetrations requiring fire safety
shoring]
considerations be documented and
declared accordingly.

Should include corridor ceiling zones

showing structural fixings for services
and penetrations with fire collars etc

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12
Class of design: facade

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Façade

Weatherproofing plans − Clarification whether the façade is a pressure Minimum requirements for design
[Facade / Waterproofing] equalised system or a face sealed system. category: design must be suitable for
− must account for the wind, roof/wall junctions, façade construction.
types including interfaces, eaves width, envelope
complexity, decks, porches and balconies
− Must account for all junctions between systems (where
testing does not occur)
− Wind report
− Design life
− Service life
− Warranties
− Maintenance
− Cyclone and level of importance requirements
− Durability of façade and façade components
− Provision for lightning protection interfaces, if required.,
with finials, down conductors and earthing pits, etc
− External drenchers through the façade
− Signage details

Elevations and sections − Coordination with relevant designs such as Minimum requirements for design
[Facade / General] Architectural, Mechanical, Structural, Electrical, category: all elevations must include
Drainage and Fire Safety Engineer the geographical orientation for the
− Details of all external façade types. Elevation and Project. All elevations should include a
sections ‘mini’ block plan to cross-reference the
location of elevations on plan.
Elevations must also show the
aesthetic qualities of the proposed
design and must be sufficiently
annotated and/or coloured to
communicate the external materials
and finishes. All façade types to be
13
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]
clearly labelled and coordinated with
the Architect.
They must also have the movement
joints and control joints marked. Each
joint should be labelled with the
expected 10-year movement
(expansion or contraction),
with overflow for external balconies
specified.
All elevations should show façade
types and include detail of all
interfaces between systems

1:100 Design fire ratings − Fire rated structural elements

[Facade / Fire safety systems] − Designs specifying compliance with bushfire
requirements in the BCA

1:100 Structural designs − External wall and façade details, including showing sun Minimum requirements for design
[Facade / Load bearing] protection and external glazing. Needs to include detail category: design must be suitable for
of interface between elements for waterproofing construction.
− Membrane systems, junctions and bond breaker
compatibility
− Façade framing elements including non-load bearing
walls and glazing
− external loadbearing components, including walls,
columns, beams and the like.
− flooring plans and structure, including walling plans and
framing plan relevant to the external façade
− roof plans and structure
− balustrade structural design (including load category
considered and nominated concrete fastenings)
− Confirmation of design for building movement in
accordance with the structural engineer’s movement
report (aiming to ensure all projections / screens /

14
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]
operable elements are designed for building
movement)

1:5 Detailed drawings for Facade Minimum requirements for design

waterproofing/weatherproofing category: Weatherproofing to be
− All façade types
[Facade / General] assessed between façade systems
− Interface details between façade types and façade
types with superstructure.
− Joint design
− Facade/ balcony junction section – including setdowns
− Facade podium junction
Balconies and external floor-to-wall details:
− External wall to floor detail at glazing - Section
− External wall to floor detail at solid wall - Section
− Door threshold detail - Section
− Balcony edge + overflow detail – Section
− Courtyard drainage details
− Interface between all façade systems / types
Podiums
− Main facade junction with podium section
Roof
Parapet/perimeter detail junction to roof - Section

Provide thermal targets

Thermal Compliance Minimum requirements for design
[Facade / Building enclosure] category: Statement confirming
facades meet the thermal
requirements of the NCC / minimum
requirements in Basix / NatHERS.

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15
Class of design: geotechnical

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Geotechnical (prepared by a registered design practitioner in the class of structural engineering with geotechnical expertise and/or by a class of
geotechnical engineering)

N/A Overall development design The structural engineering report must detail an accurate
[Geotechnical / Load bearing and geometry of the retention scheme, load and design assumptions,
shoring] load cases, structural section properties / material parameters
including analysis output (such as moment and shear envelopes
and deflections). Cross sections at critical sections of the
proposed excavation showing the geotechnical model used for
design must be clearly indicated. The geotechnical report on
which the design is based must be provided with the design
documentation. The design report must include both temporary
and permanent structures where applicable

Shoring design (relating to the N/A Minimum requirements for design

‘below grade wall’ element) category:
[Geotechnical / Load bearing and
Compliance with requirements set out
shoring]
in Ministerial Order regarding section
drawing, showing shoring design,
boundary and neighbouring footings

Ground anchor design The prediction of vertical and horizontal deflections of the Minimum requirements for design
[Geotechnical / Load bearing and proposed retaining structure for each stage of construction and category:
shoring] in the long term
Compliance with requirements set out
in Ministerial Order relating to
verification of easements

Earthworks design [Geotechnical

/ Load bearing and shoring]

Geological assumptions
[Geotechnical / Load bearing and
shoring]
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16
Class of design: vertical transportation

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Vertical Transportation (prepared by a registered design practitioner in the class of vertical transportation)
Design report identifying the end user’s requirements,
1:500 Services masterplans N/A
[Vertical transportation / Building and the scope and details of the vertical transportation
services] services to be provided to meet the requirements.
Details to include number of lifts, speed, size of lift car
and type of loads expected to be transported in lifts,
including furniture sizes, material access for repairs
and maintenance to building plant.
Minimum requirements for design
1:50 Vertical transportation (i.e. lifts) − Details of lift car numbers, types, speed and car sizes
category: Design details must include
[Vertical transportation / Building (to align with 1:200 and 1:500 architectural plans), lift reference to earthquake forces, and
services] shaft, lift pits, overruns, levels served, machinery address building specific fire safety
access and lift travel distance. engineering requirements, including
− Lift car interior finishes with compliant fire indices, those for emergency evacuation for
lighting and passenger signalling equipment ambulant and non-ambulant people.
− Emergency lifts and Stretcher lifts
− Provide access to building plant levels where possible Access for plant and material to
for building maintenance personal and materials. include safe lifting points, hatches, lift
− Redundancy during maintenance or repair outage. car loading and size to suit building
− Provisions for accessibility including lift cars, landings, plant items required to be transported.
operating and safety facilities
Maximum blind shaft travel 11.0m
− Lift pit access / egress doors (where lift over run pits
are 2.5 m or deeper)
− Lift pits that do not extend to solid earth
− Lift blind shaft emergency egress doors
− Access and egress to and from lift entrance landings,
lift machine rooms and plant rooms to emergency
egress stairs
− Access for persons and materials for maintenance and
or repair of Lift plant
− Design that integrates products in accordance with their
authorisation under s.42 Work Health and Safety Act
17
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]
− Permanent means of Emergency communication
systems and WIP

Escalators, Moving Walkways − Design report identifying the end user’s requirements, Design details must include reference
and service hoists and the scope and details of the vertical transportation to earthquake forces, and address
[Vertical transportation / Building services to be provided to meet the requirements. building specific fire safety
services] Details to include number of Escalator, Moving engineering requirements
Walkways, speed, transition type,
− Establish fall protection system adjacent to escalator
and or Moving Walkways including intersection to
building balustrades with minimum height of 1.4m
− Details for Commissioning and project completion
documentation

1:50 Service hoists, Car Storage − Design specification to identifying the end user’s Minimum requirements for design
Systems (Stackers). requirements, and the scope and details of the vehicle category: Design details must include
[Vertical transportation / Building movement demand, number of cars to be stored. reference to earthquake forces, and
services] − Method of entry and exist of the system to be address building specific fire safety
documented setting out emergency retrieval of engineering requirements,
vehicles. Vehicle lift capable of carrying
− Details of car numbers, types, and car sizes (to align passengers must include safety
with 1:200 and 1:500 architectural plans), shaft, pits, systems in accordance with AS1735
overruns, levels served, machinery access and travel
distance.
− Design of automated parking systems to be treated as
registrable Plant.
− Entrance doors to be integrated in to the storage
system safety monitoring system and be of a robust
design.
− Integration to other services and operation for Security,
BAS and emergency power (if provided)
Details for Commissioning and project completion
documentation
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18
Class of design: mechanical

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Mechanical (prepared by a registered design practitioner in the class of mechanical engineering)

1:500 Services masterplans − Routes of pipework, pits and cabling on the site
[Mechanical / Building services] − Identify those services that are unable to be concealed
− All distribution methods and arrangements for Utilities
required for compliance with the BCA
− Controls to emergency management systems (EMS)
items, including fire and life safety and mechanical

1:100 Mechanical Ventilation plans Details demonstrating compliance with mechanical ventilation Minimum requirements for design
[Mechanical / Building services] in accordance with F4.5, F4.11 and F4.12 category: design must be suitable for
construction.
− Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) plans
for all systems, including:
o Bathroom, laundry and rangehood exhaust and
make-up air solutions
o Outdoor air ventilation solutions
o Corridor and lobby ventilation solutions
o Car park ventilation solutions
o Plant and utility room ventilation solutions
o Any commercial kitchen ventilation provisions for
associated retail spaces
o Ducted and non-ducted air conditioning systems
o Filtration provisions, including the requirements of
AS 1668.2 and the NSW Public Health Regulation.
o Refrigerant, heating water and chilled water
pipework systems serving the air conditioning,
including details of all insulation requirements.
o Coordinated condensate drainage provisions
o Coordinated intake, exhaust and make-up openings
through the façade
o Provisions for maintenance access, balancing and
commissioning

19
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]
o Coordinated details and finishes of non-mechanical
building elements used as shafts and plenums to
convey air
o Occupant control interfaces
− Schematic representation of air-side, water-side and
refrigeration systems, (but only) where necessary to
convey the requirements of the design.
− any provisions for supplementary tenancy services,
including future board/meeting rooms heat loads and
air pressurisation systems
− Scaled elevations, sections and details where
necessary to convey the requirements of the design.
− Mechanical services switchboard schedules, single line
diagrams and interfaces for coordination
− Heating water and chilled water layouts, equipment
and infrastructure, including:
− chilled water pipes supply and return from plant rooms
to relevant floor take-offs
o domestic hot water generation (if not provided
under the plumbing trade)
− Details of equipment supports, including seismic
restraints required by AS 1170.4
− Functional Control Description
Operating instructions for occupants, including
identification of design assumptions and expectations
relating to their use of the space.

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20
Class of design: mechanical engineering or fire systems-mechanical smoke control

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Mechanical (prepared by a registered design practitioner in the class of mechanical engineering or fire systems -mechanical smoke control)

1:100 Fire and Smoke Control Systems − Methods of protecting penetrations in elements Minimum requirements for design
(Mechanical Services) required to have an FRL, including fire dampers, category: design must be suitable for
[Mechanical / Fire safety subducts and enclosed ductwork construction, all construction.
systems] coordinated with associated trades
− Details of all smoke hazard management systems in
accordance with E2, including all required fire and
smoke control systems in accordance BCA
Specifications and AS 1668.1 including:
o Stair pressurisation and relief
o Shutdown systems
o Miscellaneous ventilation systems
o Carpark ventilation control
o Any commercial kitchen ventilation provisions for
associated retail spaces
o Coordinated interfaces with fire safety design
including a Fire Matrix
− Details of all fire and smoke control systems required
by a Performance Solution applicable to the
development
− Baseline Data design documentation in accordance
with AS 1668.1

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21
Class of design: fire safety engineer

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Fire Safety Engineer

N/A Fire Safety Engineering Report Report prepared in accordance with NCC A2.2, the ABCB Minimum requirements for design
[Fire Safety Engineer / Report] NCC Guidance Document; Performance Solutions Process, category: Elements requested in the
and the International Fire Engineering Guidelines (IFEG) (soon FER must be integrated with relevant
to be replaced by the AFEG). designs such as the architectural,
structural and engineering services
plans.

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22
Class of design: fire safety systems

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Fire safety systems (prepared by a registered design practitioner in the relevant class of fire safety system design)

1:500 Fire Safety Services masterplans − For hydraulic fire systems: System block plans and Minimum requirements for design
[Fire Safety / Fire safety systems] system schematics showing water supplies, pumps, category: design must be suitable for
booster connections and other arrangements to the construction.
satisfaction of the Water Authority, the Fire Brigade
and BCA.
− For detection and alarm systems: system block plans
− Fire systems control matrix

1:100 Water supply for fire systems, Minimum requirements for design
including reduced pressure zone category: design must be suitable for
devices (RPZs) construction.
[Fire Safety / Fire safety systems]
Minimum requirements for design
1:100 Fire safety systems generally − Plans
category: This covers the systems
[Fire Safety / Fire safety systems] − Scaled sections and elevations listed in detail below including
− Specifications extinguishers, hydrants, hose reels,
− Controls and single line diagrams sprinklers, tanks and pumps, detection
− Baseline data & alarm systems, BOWS and interface
to BMS and other systems controlled
by the detection system, mechanical
services, duct dampers, magnetic hold
open devices, lifts and any other
essential fire safety measure listed in
Clause 166 of the EP&A Reg.
1:100 Portable fire extinguishers − Locations, specifications, Warning and operational Minimum requirements for design
[Fire Safety / Fire safety systems] signs category: design must be suitable for
construction.

1:100 Fire hydrant system plans and − Fire hose reel systems Minimum requirements for design
hose reel and hydrant coverage − Fire hydrant systems category: design must be suitable for
[Fire Safety / Fire safety systems] construction.

23
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]
− For combined systems: Completed hydrant and
sprinkler pipework layout internal plans, including fire
hydrant, fire hydrant head locations, hose reel and
sprinkler pipes’ risers supply and return from intake
valves or plant rooms to relevant floor take-offs and
associated isolation valves for fire sprinklers, hydrants
and hose reels, boosters, as required
Warning and operational signs

1:100 Sprinkler system plans − For combined systems: Completed hydrant and Minimum requirements for design
[Fire Safety / Fire safety systems] sprinkler pipework layout internal plans, including fire category: design must be suitable for
hydrant, hose reel and sprinkler pipes’ risers supply construction.
and return from intake valves or plant rooms to relevant
floor take-offs and associated isolation valves for fire
sprinklers, hydrants and hose reels, as required
Scaled sprinkler valve rooms, including risers supply
and return from intake valves or plant rooms to relevant
floor take-offs and associated isolation valves for fire
water, and fire sprinkler control valves, isolation valves
and drain down points, including water capture and
recycling
Pump rooms and infrastructure
1:50 or 1:20 Fire water supply tanks and
pumps
[Fire Safety / Fire safety systems]

1:100 Fire detection, alarm and The following items may form part of the overall system, Minimum requirements for design
evacuation systems depending on the detail of the design, the requirements of the category: design must be suitable for
[Fire Safety / Fire safety systems] Building Code of Australia and the local fire brigade: construction.
− Smoke and heat detection
− Emergency Warning and Intercommunication System
or Building Occupant Warning (BOWs) speakers or
alarm sounders
− Strobes

24
 Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]
− Fire brigade intercoms
− Master Emergency Control Panel, fire fan control
panel, location of fire control rooms and sprinkler
control room/valves and manual call points
− Fire brigade/warden intercoms points
− Magnetic hold open devices for smoke and fire doors
plans
− Warning and operational signs
− Smoke alarm systems if provided in lieu of AS1670
installation

1:100 Automatic smoke-and-heat vents − Automatic smoke exhaust system or automatic smoke Minimum requirements for design
[Fire Safety / Fire safety systems] and heat vents category: design must be suitable for
− fire compartments construction.
− Fire and smoke damper locations

Special hazards plans Minimum requirements for design

[Fire Safety / Fire safety systems] category: design must be suitable for
construction.

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25
Class of design: drainage

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Drainage (prepared by a registered design practitioner in the class of drainage design)

1:500 Services masterplans − Routes of pipework, pits and cabling on the site
[Drainage / Building services] − Identify those services that are unable to be concealed
− All distribution methods and arrangements for the
Utilities

1:100 Stormwater systems designs − Downpipes Minimum requirements for design

[Drainage / Building services] − Rainwater harvesting category: design must be suitable for
− Stormwater connection (prepared by a civil engineer) construction.
− Designs to demonstrate compliance with any special
planning permit conditions
− Single line diagrams for rainwater and stormwater
infrastructure mains plans and building servicing
− stormwater drainage stacks dropping to points of
discharge
− stormwater overflow path

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26
Class of design: electrical

Design category
Minimum requirements for design
Min scale [NSW Planning Portal Folder / Design aspects and details
category
Document Type]

Class of design: Electrical (prepared by a registered design practitioner in the class of electrical engineering)

1:500 Services masterplans − Routes of pipework, pits and cabling on the site for
[Electrical / Building services] electrical services required for compliance with the
BCA
− Identify those services that are unable to be concealed
− All distribution methods and arrangements for the
Utilities

1:50 Electrical services − Layout plans of all major electrical plant/equipment Minimum requirements for design
[Electrical / Building services] including for major equipment served such as category: design must be suitable for
automated vehicle storage systems, loading dock construction.
lifters, lifts, fire safety equipment, security systems and
other engineering services equipment required for
compliance with the BCA

1:100 Emergency and exit lighting − Emergency lighting systems and lightning protection Minimum requirements for design
layouts and emergency warning system (if required) category: design must be suitable for
systems − Smoke alarm system construction.
[Electrical / Fire safety system] − Smoke detection system Designs should specify lightning
− Building Occupant warning system protection on parapets
− Emergency warning and intercom system
− Exit signs

1:100 Controls systems for emergency − Power supplies and controls to relevant fire safety Minimum requirements for design
management systems (EMS) system) items, including fire and life safety, lifts and category: design must be suitable for
[Electrical / Building services] mechanical construction.
− Standby generation plant details (if required)

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27
11. Appendix 2 – Design Compliance Declaration Forms
and Guidance

33
Fair Trading

Design compliance declaration - single regulated design

This form relates to obligations under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and supporting Regulation.
This form is approved under clause 11(1) of the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021.

Instructions for completing this form

You must complete all parts of this form.
Please note that under s77 of the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, Fair Trading has the power to
request additional information or records from registered practitioners for an authorised purpose, such as an
audit or investigation. You may therefore be requested to provide further information or records to support any
declaration made on this form.
Where this form indicates that material must be attached to the form, you must number each attachment
sequentially and identify the number of that attachment in the relevant answer.
The plan/drawing/specification/report title, number and revision should correspond with the detail in the title
block for each design to which this declaration relates.

Part 1. Details
Please insert the building project address to which this declaration relates

For registered body corporates, give full names of registered individuals and the corporation on behalf of which
the declaration is made.
Design practitioner name

Registration number of design practitioner

Class of registration (applicable to this declaration)

Body corporate name (if applicable)

Registration number of body corporate (if applicable)

Email address

Contact number

ABN/ACN

Design compliance declaration - single regulated design - November 2022 1 of 5

Part 1. Details (continued)
Q1. Is this a regulated design prepared for a P performance solution for building work?
Yes, (also includes a building element, proceed to Question 2)
Yes, (only for a performance solution, proceed to Question 4)
No, (proceed to Question 2)

Q2. Is this a regulated design prepared for a building element for building work? If yes, please select one
F Fire safety systems
W Waterproofing

L Load-bearing
B Building enclosure
S (Building) services

Q3. The design compliance declaration (DCD) number is made up of two parts:
a) the number (starting at DCD-001) is the number of DCD made. Subsequent numbers are DCD-002, DCD-003,
etc.
b) the letter denotes what type of design the declaration relates to. Use one of the letters from above (P, F, W, L,
B, S) e.g. DCD-001W

DCD- (this is the DCD number)

Q4. Is this a regulated design prepared for an ‘architectural / building design general’ document by the design
practitioner class of architectural for the building element of ‘load-bearing’ or ‘building services?
Refer to Design Practitioners Handbook for explanation of ‘architectural / building design general’ design
document.
Yes
No

Design compliance declaration - single regulated design - November 2022 2 of 5

Part 1. Details (continued)
Please group each type of document (e.g. plans/drawings/specifications/reports) together. Note that the
information provided in the table should match the title block information.
If you have more than 30 items, please provide on a separate attachment using the same headings in the
table below.
Plan/drawing/specification/report title which is Plan/drawing/specification/ Revision
part of the “regulated design” being declared report reference number number

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.
9.
10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

Number of attachments to the declaration (if applicable)

Design compliance declaration - single regulated design - November 2022 3 of 5

Part 2. Declaration matters
I,
Insert full name acting on behalf of

Insert registered body corporate name (if relevant) Insert class of registration

have prepared the attached regulated design.

Declare:
1. The regulated design for which this design compliance declaration is being made complies with the
requirements of the Building Code of Australia.
Yes
No

There are no applicable Building Code of Australia requirements

If there are no applicable requirements BCA, please provide further details below

2. The regulated design for which this design compliance declaration is being made integrates details of
other aspects of building work to which the design relates, and other regulated designs for the work, as
far as is reasonably practicable.
Yes
No

If yes, by providing a brief description, please list the other aspects of building work and the other
regulated designs that have been integrated into the regulated design for which this design compliance
declaration is being made.

3. Standards, codes and requirements (other than the requirements referenced in the Building Code of
Australia) have been applied in preparing the regulated design for which this design compliance declaration is
being made. E.g. a requirement under a development consent.
Yes
No

If yes, please list or attach information about the standards, codes or requirements that have been applied.

4. Any building product referred to in preparing the regulated design or which this design compliance
declaration is being made would, if used in a manner consistent with the design, achieve compliance with the
Building Code of Australia.
Yes
No
Design compliance declaration - single regulated design - November 2022 4 of 5
Part 2. Declaration matters (continued)
5. I have sought and considered specialist advice in preparing the regulated design.
Yes
No

If yes, please provide a brief explanation of the parts of the regulated design which have been based on
the specialist advice from another person other than the person making this declaration.

6. The regulated design involves a performance solution.

Yes
No

If yes, and the performance solution is not itself the regulated design identified in part 1 of this form,
please provide a brief description of the performance solution, the performance solution report
identifier (reference number, date and version), and the name and contact details of the person who
prepared the performance solution report.

7. The regulated design accords with the Regulated Design Guidance Material relevant to the design, as
per clause 9(1(c)) of the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021.
Yes
No

Part 3. Signature
Signature

Date

This form relates to obligations under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and supporting Regulation.
For more information visit NSW Fair Trading

Design compliance declaration - single regulated design - November 2022 5 of 5

Fair Trading

Certificate of Design Compliance with Building Code of Australia

This form relates to obligations under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and supporting
Regulation. This form is approved under Schedule 1 - s4(2)(b) of the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.

Instructions for completing this form

You must complete all parts of this form.
This form is for use when a registered Design Practitioner is certifying that a design prepared before
1 July 2021 by another designer complies with the with the Building Code of Australia.
The registered design practitioner does not have to have prepared, supervised or coordinated the
preparation of the design to which this certificate relates.
This form cannot be used for a design prepared on or after 1 July 2021. A design compliance declaration
must be used for such design and the registered Design Practitioner must have prepared, supervised or
coordinated the design to make a design compliance declaration.
This form is for a single design and cannot be used to certify multiple designs.

Part 1. Details
Please insert the building project address to which this certificate relates

For registered body corporates, give full names of registered individuals and the corporation on behalf of which
the certificate is made.
Design Practitioner name

Registration number of Design Practitioner

Class of Registration (applicable to this certificate)

Body corporate name (if applicable)

Registration number of body corporate (if applicable)

Email address

Contact number

ABN/ACN

Certificate of Design Compliance with Building Code of Australia December 2022 1 of 4

Part 1. Details (continued)
Q1. Is this a regulated design prepared for a P Performance Solution for building work?
Yes, (also includes a building element, proceed to Question 2)
Yes, (only for a performance solution, proceed to Question 3)
No, (proceed to Question 2)

Q2. Is this a regulated design prepared for a building element for building work? If yes, please select one
F Fire Safety Systems
W Waterproofing

L Load-bearing
B Building Enclosure
S (Building) Services

Q3. The Certificate of Design Compliance (CoDC) number is made up of two parts:
a) the number (starting at CoDC-001) is the number of CoDC made. Subsequent numbers are CoDC-002, CoDC-
003, etc.
b) the letter denotes what type of design the certificate relates to. Use one of the letters from above (P, F, W, L,
B, S) e.g. CoDC-001W

CoDC-___ (this is the CoDC number)

Q4. Is this a regulated design prepared for an ‘Architectural / Building Design General’ document by the design
practitioner class of architectural for the building element of ‘load-bearing’ or ‘building services’?
Refer to Design Practitioners Handbook for explanation of ‘Architectural / Building Design General’ design
document.
Yes
No

Certificate of Design Compliance with Building Code of Australia December 2022 2 of 4

Part 1. Details (continued)
Please group each type of document (e.g. plans/drawings/specifications/reports) together. Note that the
information provided in the table should match the title block information.
If you have more than 30 items, please provide on a separate attachment using the same headings in the
table below.
Plan/drawing/specification/report title which is Plan/drawing/specification/ Revision
part of the “regulated design” being declared report reference number number

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.
9.
10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

Number of attachments to the certificate (if applicable)

Certificate of Design Compliance with Building Code of Australia December 2022 3 of 4

Part 2. Certification matters
I,
Insert full name
acting on behalf of

Insert registered body corporate name (if relevant) Insert class of registration

have examined the attached design prepared by

Name

Job Title acting on behalf of Body Corporate Name (if applicable)

“I certify:
1. The design complies with the requirements of the Building Code of Australia.
Yes
No

Part 3. Signature
Signature

Date

Certificate of Design Compliance with Building Code of Australia December 2022 4 of 4

Fair Trading

Design compliance declaration vertical transportation

This form relates to obligations under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and supporting Regulation.
This form is approved under clause 11(1) of the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021.

Use this form if the regulated design is declared by a registered design practitioner in the class of design
practitioner - vertical transportation.

Instructions for completing this form

You must complete all parts of this form.
Please note that under s77 of the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, Fair Trading has the power to
request additional information or records from registered practitioners for an authorised purpose, such as an
audit or investigation. You may therefore be requested to provide further information or records to support any
declaration made on this form.
Where this form indicates that material must be attached to the form, you must number each attachment
sequentially and identify the number of that attachment in the relevant answer.
The plan/drawing/specification/report title, number revision should correspond with the detail in the title block
for each design to which this declaration relates.

Part 1. Details
Please insert the building project address to which this declaration relates

For registered body corporates, give full names of registered individuals and the corporation on behalf of which
the declaration is made.
Design practitioner name

Registration number of design practitioner

Class of registration (applicable to this declaration)

Body corporate name (if applicable)

Registration number of body corporate (if applicable)

Email address

Contact number

ABN/ACN

Design compliance declaration vertical transportation - November 2022 1 of 6

Part 1. Details (continued)
Q1. Is this a regulated design prepared for a P performance solution for building work?
Yes, (also includes a building element, proceed to Question 2)
Yes, (only for a performance solution, proceed to Question 3)
No, (proceed to Question 2)

Q2. Is this regulated design prepared for a building element for building work?
If yes, please select one building element
No
S (Building) services

Q3. The design compliance declaration (DCD) number is made up of two parts:
a) the number (starting at DCD-001) is the number of DCD made. Subsequent numbers are DCD-002, DCD-003,
etc.
b) the letter denotes what type of design the declaration relates to. Use one of the letters from above (P, S)
e.g. DCD-001S

DCD- ___ (this is the DCD number)

Design compliance declaration vertical transportation - November 2022 2 of 6

Part 1. Details (continued)
Please group each type of document (e.g. plans/drawings/specifications/reports) together. Note that the
information provided in the table should match the title block information.
If you have more than 30 items, please provide on a separate attachment using the same headings in the
table below.
Plan/drawing/specification/report title which is Plan/drawing/specification/ Revision
part of the “regulated design” being declared report reference number number

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.
9.
10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

Number of attachments to the declaration (if applicable)

Design compliance declaration vertical transportation - November 2022 3 of 6

Part 2. Declaration matters
I,
Insert full name
acting on behalf of

Insert registered body corporate name (if relevant) Insert class of registration

have prepared the attached regulated design.

I declare:
1. The regulated design for which this design compliance declaration is being made complies with the
requirements of the Building Code of Australia.
Yes
No

There are no applicable Building Code of Australia requirements

If there are no applicable requirements BCA, please provide further details below

2. The regulated design for which this design compliance declaration is being made integrates details of
other aspects of building work to which the design relates, and other regulated designs for the work, as
far as is reasonably practicable.
Yes
No

If yes, by providing a brief description, please list the other aspects of building work and the other
regulated designs that have been integrated into the regulated design for which this design compliance
declaration is being made.

3. Standards, codes and requirements (other than the requirements referenced in the Building Code of
Australia) have been applied in preparing the regulated design for which this design compliance declaration is
being made. E.g. a requirement under a development consent.
Yes
No

If yes, please list or attach information about the standards, codes or requirements that have been applied.

4. Any building product referred to in the regulated design or which this design compliance declaration is being
made would, if used in a manner consistent with the design, achieve compliance with the Building Code of
Australia.
Yes
No

Design compliance declaration vertical transportation - November 2022 4 of 6

Part 2. Declaration matters (continued)
5. I have sought and considered specialist advice in preparing the regulated design.
Yes
No

If yes, please provide a brief explanation of the parts of the regulated design for which this design compliance
declaration is being made which have been based on the specialist advice from another person other than the
person making this declaration.

6. The regulated design involves a performance solution.

Yes
No

If yes, and the performance solution is not itself the regulated design identified in part 1 of this form, please
provide a brief description of the performance solution, the performance solution report identifier (reference
number, date and version), and the name and contact details of the person who prepared the performance
solution report.

7. The regulated design for which this design compliance declaration is being made accords with the Regulated
Design Guidance Material relevant to the design, as per clause 9(1(c)) of the Design and Building Practitioners
Regulation 2021.

Yes
No

8. The regulated design for which this design compliance declaration is being made appropriately integrates
a vertical transportation product in accordance with the product’s authorisation under the Work Health and
Safety Act 2011, section 42.

Yes
No

Not applicable

9. If the answer to 8 is No, have you notified the designer of the product, within the meaning of the Work
Health and Safety Act 2011, section 22, of that fact?
Yes
No, not applicable

Design compliance declaration vertical transportation - November 2022 5 of 6

10. Does the integration of the vertical transportation product in the regulated design comply with AS-1735
Lifts, Escalators, and Moving Walks?
Yes
No, not applicable

If yes, please nominate the relevant compliance pathway(s) included in the regulated design.

Part 3. Signature
Signature

Date

This form relates to obligations under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and supporting Regulation.
For more information visit NSW Fair Trading

Design compliance declaration vertical transportation - November 2022 6 of 6

Fair Trading

Principal compliance declaration - principal design practitioner

This form relates to obligations under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and supporting Regulation.
This form is approved under clause 11(2) of the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021.

Instructions for completing this form

You must complete all parts of this form.
You must provide this form to the registered building practitioner for the building work before the date
specified in the notice given by the registered building practitioner.
This form must be uploaded to the NSW Planning Portal.
Please note that under s77 of the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, Fair Trading has the power
to request additional information or records from registered practitioners for an authorised purpose, such
as an audit or investigation. You may therefore be requested to provide further information or records to
support any declaration made on this form.

Part 1. Details
Please insert the building address to which this declaration relates

For registered body corporates, give full names of registered individuals and the corporation on behalf of which
the declaration is made.

Principal design practitioner name

Registration number of principal design practitioner

Body corporate name (if applicable)

Registration number of body corporate (if applicable)

Email address

Contact number

ABN/ACN

The principal compliance declaration (PCD) number starts at PCD-001 for the first PCD made. Subsequent
numbers are PCD-002, PCD-003, etc.

PCD- ___ (this is the PCD number)

Principal compliance declaration - principal design practitioner - November 2022 1 of 2

Part 2. Declaration matters
I,
Insert full name
acting on behalf of

Insert registered body corporate name (if relevant) Insert class of registration

Declare:
A design compliance declaration has been provided in accordance with this Act for each regulated design
prepared for the building work
Please list each regulated design for which a compliance declaration has been provided

A design compliance declaration has been provided by a registered design practitioner whose registration
authorises the practitioner to provide a declaration as to the matters to which the declaration relates.
No, please provide further information.

2. Has each design compliance declaration been provided by a registered design practitioner whose
registration authorises the practitioner to provide a declaration as to the matters to which the
declaration relates?
Yes
No

If ‘No’, please provide further information

Part 3. Signature
Signature

Title

Date

This form relates to obligations under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and supporting Regulation.
For more information visit NSW Fair Trading
Principal compliance declaration - principal design practitioner - November 2022 2 of 2
12. Appendix 3 – Ministerial Order

35
 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE – 4 September 2020

Government Gazette
of the State of
New South Wales
Number 78–Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police
Wednesday, 2 March 2022

The New South Wales Government Gazette is the permanent public record of official NSW Government notices.
It also contains local council, non-government and other notices.

Each notice in the Government Gazette has a unique reference number that appears in parentheses at the end of the
notice and can be used as a reference for that notice (for example, (n2019-14)).

The Gazette is compiled by the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office and published on the NSW legislation website
(www.legislation.nsw.gov.au) under the authority of the NSW Government. The website contains a permanent
archive of past Gazettes.

To submit a notice for gazettal, see the Gazette page.

By Authority
ISSN 2201-7534 Government Printer

NSW Government Gazette No 78 of 2 March 2022

 New South Wales

Design and Building Practitioners —

Particulars for Regulated Designs Order
2022
under the
Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020

I, the Honourable Eleni Petinos MP, Minister for Fair Trading, make the following Order under
section 5(3) of the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.

Dated, this 24 day of February 2022.

ELENI PETINOS, MP
Minister for Fair Trading

Published _________________________

[n2022-0337] NSW Government Gazette 2 March 2022

 Design and Building Practitioners —Particulars for Regulated Designs Order 2021 [NSW]
Contents

Contents
Page

1 Name of Order 3
2 Commencement 3
3 Repeal of previous order 3
4 Particulars 3
5 Title block 3

Schedule 1 Particulars for regulated designs – shoring 4

Schedule 2 Particulars for regulated designs – ground anchors 6

Page 2 Published ________________

NSW Government Gazette 2 March 2022

Design and Building Practitioners —Particulars for Regulated Designs Order 2022 [NSW]
Schedule 1 Particulars for regulated designs - shoring

Design and Building Practitioners — Particulars for Regulated

Designs Order 2022
under the

Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020

1 Name of Order
This Order is the Design and Building Practitioners —Particulars for Regulated
Designs Order 2022.
2 Commencement
This Order commences on 2 March 2022 and is required to be published in the
Gazette.
3 Repeal of previous order
This Order repeals and replaces the Design and Building Practitioners —
Particulars for Regulated Designs Order 2021 dated 10 June 2021.
4 Particulars
The particulars set out in clause 5, Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 are specified for the
purposes of section 5(3) of the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.
5 Title block

All regulated designs for which a compliance declaration is made or is to be made,

must include the following particulars:
a. a north point and the orientation of the design, unless the design is a
report or specification,
b. a scale, unless the design is a report or specification; and
c. a completed title block published in the top left-hand side of the design
document.
Note. The Title Block can be downloaded from the departmental website.

Title Block

Page 3 Published ________________

NSW Government Gazette 2 March 2022

Design and Building Practitioners —Particulars for Regulated Designs Order 2022 [NSW]
Schedule 1 Particulars for regulated designs - shoring

Schedule 1 Particulars for regulated designs – shoring

and underpinning
clause 3

1 Application of Schedule
This Schedule applies to regulated designs prepared for shoring where the
boundary of a neighbouring property is within the zone of influence of a designed
excavation.

2 Definitions
(1) In this Schedule—
the Act means the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and includes the
regulations made under the Act.
Note. The Act and the Interpretation Act 1987 contain definitions and other provisions that
affect the interpretation and application of this Schedule.
designed excavation means the excavation of soil and rock required on a site to
construct the design including the design bulk earthworks level and any local or
detailed excavations.
services means underground services for the supply of gas, water, sewerage,
telecommunications, electricity, chemicals, fuel or refrigerant in pipes or lines.
(2) Words used in this Schedule that are defined in the Act have the same meanings as
they have in the Act.
3 Specified particulars
The following particulars must be included in a regulated design to which this
Schedule applies:
(a) evidence that all reasonable steps have been taken to verify:
(i) the footings of all structures within the zone of influence of the
designed excavation, including (for example only):
A. the results of a Government Information (Public Access) Act
request to the relevant local council or other relevant
authority; and
B. evidence of investigations undertaken on the neighbouring
property to verify the nature and extent of any footing system
present, or evidence that permission for such investigations
to be carried out was sought from and denied by the
neighbouring property owner or occupier, and
(ii) the plan location and depth of any services, and
(b) a plan at a minimum scale of 1:100 identifying the:
(i) site boundaries,
(ii) shoring and/or underpinning location,
(iii) top of shoring levels and the extent of any underpinning,
(iv) location and use of existing structures on the neighbouring property
within the zone of influence of the designed excavation, including
surface and roof levels, and
(v) locations where any on-site exploratory works were undertaken, and

Page 4 Published ________________

NSW Government Gazette 2 March 2022

Design and Building Practitioners —Particulars for Regulated Designs Order 2022 [NSW]
Schedule 1 Particulars for regulated designs - shoring

(c) Cross-section drawings at a minimum scale of 1:100 identifying the:

(i) shoring and underpinning system,
(ii) site boundary,
(iii) offsets to the shoring system from the boundary, including the
construction tolerance,
(iv) neighbouring site’s surface level within the zone of influence of the
proposed excavation,
(v) details (including size and levels) of any structures on the
neighbouring property including, without limitation, footing systems,
retaining walls and services,
(vi) surcharge pressure assumed to be applied to the ground by the
footing system(s) of any neighbouring structures,
(vii) any levels of construction stages or inspection points in the
excavation process for any props or anchors included in the design,
and
(viii) assumed geological profile of the ground material surrounding the
shoring and underpinning system, and
(d) elevation drawings of the shoring system at a minimum scale of 1:100
identifying the:
(i) shoring and underpinning system, including levels of the base and
top of the shoring system and, for underpinning, the extent (depth) of
works
(ii) design bulk earthworks level,
(iii) level of excavation for any footing beams or localised excavations
within the passive ‘zone of influence’ on the excavation side of the
shoring system, including for any footing edge beam, lift or
stormwater drainage pit or services excavation,
(iv) location, extent and reduced levels of any footing systems including
underpinning within the zone of influence of the excavation on the
neighbouring property,
(v) any levels of construction stages or inspection points in the
excavation process for any props or anchors included in the design,
and
(vi) location and extent of any services within the zone of influence of
the excavation on the neighbouring property.

Page 5 Published ________________

NSW Government Gazette 2 March 2022

Design and Building Practitioners —Particulars for Regulated Designs Order 2022 [NSW]
Schedule 2 Particulars for regulated designs – ground anchors

Schedule 2 Particulars for regulated designs – ground

anchors
clause 3
1 Application of Schedule
This Schedule applies to regulated designs prepared for building work involving a
ground anchor if any part of the ground anchor will extend onto a neighbouring
property.
2 Definitions
(1) In this Schedule—
the Act means the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 and includes the
regulations made under the Act.
Note. The Act and the Interpretation Act 1987 contain definitions and other provisions that
affect the interpretation and application of this Schedule.
services means underground services for the supply of gas, water, sewerage,
telecommunications, electricity, chemicals, fuel or refrigerant in pipes or lines.
(2) Words used in this Schedule that are defined in the Act have the same meanings as
they have in the Act.
3 Specified particulars
The following particulars must be included in a regulated design to which this
Schedule applies:
(a) a specification of the ground anchor including all the requirements contained
in AS 4678 Clauses B4.4, B4.5 & B4.6,
(b) a plan at a minimum scale of 1:100 identifying:
(i) the site boundaries,
(ii) the location of all ground anchors, including their full installed
length, and
(iii) the construction tolerance on the location of all ground anchors,
including their full installed length, and
(c) a cross section of the anchors at a minimum scale of 1:200 showing:
(i) the anchor (without break lines over the anchor length),
(ii) the boundary location,
(iii) any associated shoring or retaining wall system,
(iv) excavation level for hold points prior to anchor installation,
(v) anchor installation angles to the horizontal,
(vi) the neighbouring site’s surface level within the zone of influence of
the proposed excavation and the anchorage zone of the ground
anchor,
(vii) the details (including size and levels) of any structures on the
neighbouring property including, without limitation, footing systems,
retaining walls and services, and
(viii) the assumed geological profile of the ground materials around each
ground anchor, and

Page 6 Published ________________

NSW Government Gazette 2 March 2022

Design and Building Practitioners —Particulars for Regulated Designs Order 2022 [NSW]
Schedule 2 Particulars for regulated designs – ground anchors

(d) elevation drawings of the anchor system at a minimum scale of 1:200

identifying:
(i) the anchor locations,
(ii) the design bulk earthworks level,
(iii) excavation level for hold points prior to anchor installation,
(iv) the location, extent and reduced levels of any footing systems within
the zone of influence of the excavation on the neighbouring property,
(v) the location and extent of any services within the zone of influence
of the excavation and the anchorage zone of the ground anchor on
the neighbouring property, and
(e) detail drawings at a minimum scale of 1:20 of the structural connection
between the anchor system and any wall or shoring system.

Page 7 Published ________________

NSW Government Gazette 2 March 2022