Certifying Authority & Critical Stage Inspections

For Dwellings, Secondary Dwellings, Dual Occupancies / Townhouses or similar, Garages / Carports, Swimming Pools or Retaining Structures (Class 1 & 10 buildings), CoCert acting as the certifying authority will need to undertake six (6) critical stage inspections as the building works progress. You will need to contact our office so we can undertake the inspections in line with the legislative framework, so the building works can progress after they are Satisfactory. They are as follows:

1. After excavation for, and prior to the placement of, any footings / piers. (The Footings/Piers Inspection)
2. Prior to pouring any in-situ reinforced concrete building element. (The Slab Inspection)
3. Prior to covering any stormwater drainage connections. (The Stormwater Inspection)
4. Prior to covering of the framework for any floor, wall, roof or other building element. (The Frame Inspection)
5. Prior to covering waterproofing in any wet areas. (The Waterproofing Inspection)
6. After the building work has been completed and prior to any occupation certificate being issued in relation to the building. (The Final Inspection)

Once the Final Inspection is passed as Satisfactory, application for the Occupation Certificate can be made to be issued so the Occupation Certificate can be approved and the building can be occupied.

For Multi Storey Unit Developments, Boarding Houses, Hostels/Backpacker accommodation, or a dwelling above a Class 5 – 9 in the building (Class 2, 3 & 4 buildings), CoCert acting as the certifying authority will need to undertake six (6) critical stage inspections as the building works progress. You will need to contact our office so we can undertake the inspections in line with the legislative framework, so the building works can progress after they are Satisfactory. They are as follow:

1. After the commencement of the excavation for, and before the placement of, the first footing. (The Footings/Piers Inspection)
2. Prior to covering of fire protection at service penetrations to building elements that are required to resist internal fire or smoke spread, inspection of a minimum of one of each type of protection method for each type of service, on each storey of the building comprising the building work. (The Fire Safety Inspection)
3. Prior to covering the junction of any internal fire-resisting construction bounding a sole-occupancy unit, and any other building element required to resist internal fire spread, inspection of a minimum of 30% of sole-occupancy units on each storey of the building containing sole-occupancy units. (The Fire Safety Inspection)
4. Prior to covering of waterproofing in any wet areas, for a minimum of 10% of rooms with wet areas within a building. (The Waterproofing Inspection)
5. Prior to covering any stormwater drainage connections. (The Stormwater Inspection)
6. After the building work has been completed and prior to any occupation certificate being issued in relation to the building. (The Final Inspection)

Once the Final Inspection is passed as Satisfactory, application for the Occupation Certificate can be made to be issued so the Occupation Certificate can be approved and the building can be occupied.

For Shops, restaurants/Cafes, Offices, Factories / Warehouses, Health Care Building, Schools, Age Care Facility, Hospitality, or Carparks (Class 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 buildings), CoCert acting as the certifying authority will need to undertake four (4) critical stage inspections as the building works progress. You will need to contact our office so we can undertake the inspections in line with the legislative framework, so the building works can progress after they are Satisfactory. They are as follow:

1. After the commencement of the excavation for, and before the placement of, the first footing. (The Footings/Piers Inspection)
2. Prior to covering any stormwater drainage connections. (The Stormwater Inspection)
3. In relation to a critical stage inspection of a class 9a and 9c building, as defined in the Building Code of Australia—prior to covering of fire protection at service penetrations to building elements that are required to resist internal fire or smoke spread, inspection of a minimum of one of each type of protection method for each type of service, on each storey of the building comprising the building work. (The Fire Safety Inspection)
4. After the building work has been completed and prior to any occupation certificate being issued in relation to the building. (The Final Inspection).

Once the Final Inspection is passed as Satisfactory, application for the Occupation Certificate can be made to be issued so the Occupation Certificate can be approved and the building can be occupied.

Where a Swimming Pool (Class 10b) is being constructed with any of the above classes of buildings, two (2) additional inspections will be required to be included as critical stage inspections:

1. Prior to pouring any in-situ reinforced concrete building element. (The Pool Steel Inspection)
2. In the case of a swimming pool, as soon as practicable after the barrier (if one is required under the Swimming Pools Act 1992) has been erected (The Pool Fence Inspection).