Task

For this task, you are to imagine that you are a Building Surveying Consultant who has been engaged by Council to review a proposed Performance Solution for the use of Make Believe Aluminium Composite (ACP) as external cladding on the external wall of a Class 10 garage.

The Council has a recently received Building Permit/CC application but unfortunately they do not have an experienced Building Surveyor who is qualified or registered to assess a Performance Solution that involves Fire Safety. They have therefore engaged you as the Consultant to carry out the assessment on their behalf.

The proposed development is for a Class 10a garage to be constructed between the existing Class Ia dwelling and the boundary ( as indicated in the plans provided).

The Council has advised that the property is located in a remote area, and that the owners have indicated that they cannot find bricklayers who are willing to complete the work. Council also indicated that the Architect representing the owners has suggested that they propose to use Make Believe ACP external cladding as it is reasonably priced, easy to install thus making it suitable for their project.

It is assumed that you have already carried out a NCC assessment which revealed that all of the DTS requirements except for the following had been complied with:

• H3D2 - Fire hazard properties and non-combustible building elements
• H3D3 - Fire separation of external walls for the construction of garage
• Part 9.2.1 - External walls of Class 1 buildings (ABCB Housing Provisions)
• Part 9.2.2 - Measurement of distances (ABCB Housing Provisions)
• Part 9.2.3 - Construction of external walls (ABCB Housing Provisions)
• Part 9.2.4 - Class 10 buildings (ACBC Housing Provisions)
• Part 9.2.5 - Protection of Class 1 buildings - Class 10a between Class 1 and the allotment boundary (ABCB Hosing Provisions).

The existing dwelling has openings that will lead into the proposed garage and therefore a 6o/60/60 fire rated wall will not be provided as required by the Housing Previsions.

The architect representing the owner has prepared a Performance Solution (as attached).The Performance Solution is accompanied by a CodeMark Certificate.

The architect has presented the argument that the CodeMark certificate addresses the requirements of A 2.2 (a) which requires:

The architect has presented the argument that the CodeMArk Certificate addresses the requirements of A2.2 (a) which requires:

A Performance Solution must be shown to comply with the relevant Performance Requirements through one or a combination of the following assessment methods

a) Evidence of suitability in accordance with Part A5 that shows the use of a material, product, plumbing and drainage product, form of construction or design that meets the relevant Performance Requirements

The architect also argues that as a CodeMark certificate has been produced, the requirements of A 5.2(1) - Evidence of suitability have also been addressed. This part requires:

Subject to A5.4, A5.5, and A5.6, evidence to support that the use of material, product, form of construction or design meets a Performance Requirement or a Deemed to Satisfy Provision may be in the form of any one or any combination of the following:

a) A current CodeMark Australia or a CodeMark Certificate of Conformity

Task 1

You are to assume the role of the Building Surveying Consultant assessing this application for the purposes of making a recommendation to Council in relation to the issuing of the Building Permit/CC.

Your task is to assess the Performance Solution and to establish whether or not tit meets the Performance Requirements relevant to Fire Safety.

You are required to present a report to Council in the appropriate format detailing your assessment process, findings and recommendations.

Your report should include but not be limited to the following:

1. Your role as the Building Surveyor assessing the Performance Solution
2. The requirements that relate to the development of a Performance Solution as specified under the provisions of Part A2G2(2) and A2G2(3) of the NCC
3. The steps that must be undertaken in the development of a performance Solution under the provisions of A2GE(4) and whether they have been addressed in this case
4. The Assessment Method that could be considered most applicable in this case. (Refer to A2G2(2) of the NCC)
5. The Performance Requirements relevant to the scenario as presented
6. Whether the architect is suitably qualified to prepare a performance Solution of this nature under the provisions of the NCC, provide reasons for your answer
7. The key elements of the Performance Solution that you are focusing on to establish compliance (for example, key words and phrases)
8. Whether the Performance Requirement is qualitative, or quantitative?
9. Your analysis of the Performance Solution
10. The findings of your assessment
11. Whether you consider it to be acceptable or not (that is, does the Performance Solution address the Performance Requirement?) with reasons as to who or why not.
12. Your final determination, with a recommendation.

Task 2

Prepare a letter for the owner notifying them of the outcome of your assessment. Your letter should indicate your findings with reasons, and recommendations.

Hints for this assessment

In preparing your submission, you should ask yourself the following:

What supporting documents should be submitted to the Certifier to support the performance report?

Have I identified the correct DTS clause that is not complied with?

Does the CodeMark Certificate identify all of the correct performance requirements? Are there any additional Performance Requirements that should be listed?

Do you think that you should support the Performance Solution and why?

If not, what are the alternative design solutions to achieve compliance with the NCC?