How to comply with the new regulations for Class 2 buildings

NSW Class 2 Apartment Projects: What You Need to Know Under the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021

If you're planning to develop apartments in NSW, your project must now comply with the Design and Building Practitioners Regulation 2021. This regulation sets stricter standards for Class 2 buildings (such as multi-storey apartment buildings), and it affects both design and construction phases. 

Whether you're delivering 4 or 40 dwellings, we act as a reliable apartment project architect who knows how to navigate Class 2 obligations. We’re also an experienced architect for build-to-rent housing, designing for longevity, ease of maintenance, and community. 

Key Requirements for Class 2 Apartment Projects

• All consultants (architects, engineers, designers) must be registered with NSW Fair Trading.

• All regulated designs must be uploaded to the NSW Planning Portal before construction begins.

• A full list of required drawings and the consultants responsible for each can be found in the official Regulated Design Guidance Material.

Critical Path Consideration: Façade Engineer Sign-Off

The façade engineer is often the most difficult consultant to obtain sign-off from. They require shop drawings for windows and doors before signing off on their design. This means window and door shop drawings must be initiated early, well before construction.

Project Timeline Obligations

• Regulated Design Templates must be completed 12 months before the expected completion date. These templates are available here.

• The builder must also be registered, and must appoint a qualified practitioner who is listed with Fair Trading.

Waterproofing Compliance

To meet the NSW Building Commissioner’s expectations for best practice, your waterproofing must follow these waterproofing guidelines. Here is link to a guide to waterproofing to meet the commissioner's guidelines for best practice.

As an experienced architect for apartment projects, we stay across new construction code updates so you don’t have to. Good Architect has a Class 2 Licence, contact us for a free site assessment.