The following examples may provide a little chuckle to those in the know but they should be taken seriously. Thankfully, our inspectors don’t come across this calibre of work every day but we are thrown a curly one every now and then. If you are a Builder we hope you pick the faults before reading the explanation; if you are an
Owner Builder we hope you don’t follow these examples and if you are an Owner contact us immediately if your Builder’s work resembles what you see below!
No matter who you are, we hope you can appreciate that all examples were constructed with the best intentions, if only a little misguided in their execution.
1. Joints in top plates
The top plate connections has not been installed as per AS 1684.2 Section 6.2.2.4 Joints in top plates.
Correct top plate connecters placed central to timber top plate this reduces the chances of spliting the timber top plate.
2. Bracing faults
Walls must be permanently braced to resist horizontal racking forces applied to the building. Wall bracing must be designed to resist racking forces equal to or greater than the forces calculated in AS 1686.2 section 9.
3. Inadequate footing support
Changed your mind and decided you want a built in robe after all? No worries, just please get your designer to document it and submit it for a variation to the building permit before you commence changes on site, at the very least to spare our inspectors some sanity.
4. External stair compliance
This may seem a bit pedantic but it can be the biggest headache at the final inspection, for the inspector and Builder/Owner alike. It’s very rare that we identify issues with internal stairs but just as important is the external access to the new works. The nominal dimension of goings and risers of a stair must be constant throughout each stair flight and treads must have a slip-resistant finish or a suitable non-skid strip near the edge of the nosing these steps do not comply with NCC Vol 2 Section 3.9.1.3.
5. Pre-pour support for suspended slabs
Log propping supports and standard “acro-props” may or may not hold up during concrete pour and could endanger pump operators / concreters and associated workers.
