How to comply with the new regulations for Class 3 and Class 9 buildings

1. The newly implemented Design and Building Practitioners Regulation of 2021 sets higher standards for projects involving apartments (Class 2), boarding houses (Class 3), and Residential Care buildings (Class 9c). 

2. To adhere to the new requirements, all consultants involved in the project must be registered with fair trading, and all project-related documents must be submitted through the NSW Planning Portal. For a comprehensive list of drawings that must be submitted and the corresponding consultants responsible for each, you can refer to the Regulated Design Guidance Material.

3. Among the critical aspects of the project, obtaining sign-off from the façade engineer proves to be particularly challenging. They necessitate shop drawings for windows and doors, which must be initiated as soon as practically possible for the smooth progress of their approval process.

4. Moreover, it is essential to fill out the project templates twelve months prior to the anticipated completion date. You can find these templates available for use here.

5. Lastly, the builder must also be registered, and a qualified individual, registered with fair trading, should be part of their team to oversee the project's compliance with the regulations.

6. Here is link to a guide to waterproofing to meet the commissioner's guidelines for best practice.

As an architect for specialist residential builds like boarding houses, we manage the balance of density, compliance and livability.