Building Inspector V Building Certifier: 4 Important Comparisons

Building Inspector V Building Certifier: A detailed comparison between a Private Building Inspector and a Building Certifier in Australia.

Contents

Private Building Inspector
- Role of a Building Inspector
Building Certifier
- Role of a Building Certifier
Key Differences
Licensed Building Inspector
- Related posts:

Private Building Inspector

A Private Building Inspector is a certified professional who conducts inspections on properties to check for any defects, structural failures, or finish quality. This inspection is done prior to the purchase of a home, after its renovation, or immediately after the completion of a construction project.

Role of a Building Inspector

Regulatory Control: They have full authority to control any construction in line with building and construction regulations.
Inspection: They inspect an ongoing project and check its progress.
Plan Examination: They examine building plans, specifications, architectural sheets submitted to them for approval.
Regulatory Advice: They provide clients with regulatory advice to ensure the forwarded building permits comply with the Building Code of Australia.

Building Certifier

A Building Certifier, also known as a Building Surveyor in some regions, is a licensed professional who ensures that construction projects comply with local building codes, standards, and regulations. They play a crucial role in the construction process, acting as a gatekeeper of sorts for building safety and legality.

Role of a Building Certifier

Review Building Plans: They review building plans to ensure they meet local building codes and standards.
Inspect Construction: They inspect various stages of construction to confirm compliance.
Issue Certificates: They issue the necessary certificates or permits for construction or occupancy.
Advisory Role: They also play an advisory role, providing guidance to owner builders on how to meet the necessary requirements.

READ HIA Building Inspection General Requirements

Key Differences

While both roles are crucial in the construction process, their responsibilities differ:

A Building Inspector focuses on ensuring that homes meet all relevant building code requirements.
A Building Certifier plays a more broad role in overseeing construction projects from start to finish.
Building inspectors are not authorized to issue certificates or be appointed as the principal certifier.
After a developer has been flagged off by an inspector, a certifier provides them with a certificate allowing commencement of building activities.

here’s a comparison table between a Private Building Inspector and a Building Certifier:

Table

	Private Building Inspector	Building Certifier
Definition	A certified professional who conducts inspections on properties to check for any defects, structural failures, or finish quality.	A licensed professional who ensures that construction projects comply with local building codes, standards, and regulations.
Role	Regulatory Control, Inspection, Plan Examination, Regulatory Advice.	Review Building Plans, Inspect Construction, Issue Certificates, Advisory Role.
Authority	They have full authority to control any construction in line with building and construction regulations.	They review building plans to ensure they meet local building codes and standards.
Inspection	They inspect an ongoing project and check its progress.	They inspect various stages of construction to confirm compliance.
Certificates	They do not issue certificates.	They issue the necessary certificates or permits for construction or occupancy.
Advisory Role	They provide clients with regulatory advice to ensure the forwarded building permits comply with the Building Code of Australia.	They also play an advisory role, providing guidance to owner builders on how to meet the necessary requirements.

Building Inspector V Building Certifier

Licensed Building Inspector

In Australia, the requirements for a private building inspector to be licensed vary by state:

Queensland is the only state where building inspections must be undertaken by a licensed builder who also holds a building inspection licence¹.
In New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (VIC), Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Tasmania (TAS), South Australia (SA), Northern Territory (NT), and Western Australia (WA), you do not need any specific building qualifications to start conducting building inspections. However, it is preferred that you have some experience within the building trade¹.

READ The Critical Role of Private Building Inspectors in Home Construction

Please note that while there are no set regulations that apply to these regions within the building inspection industry¹, it is very beneficial to complete a building inspection course¹. Each state and territory in Australia has different building inspection regulations¹. It’s always a good idea to check with local authorities for the most current information.

Learn more

1australianinspectortraining.com.au
2abcb.gov.au
3abc.net.au
4resicert.com.au

I hope this table helps you understand the differences between a Private Building Inspector and a Building Certifier. If you need more information, feel free to ask!