Building certifiers and plumbing plan certifiers have several responsibilities for ensuring work is professional.

Licensing

You must be licensed as:

• a principal building surveyor to certify any building work;
• a general building surveyor to certify a building up to three storeys and with a floor area up to 2000 square metres; or
• a plumbing plan certifier to certify plumbing or drainage plans for commercial work.

Advertising

When a licensed corporation, partnership or individual advertises their construction service, they need to include in the advertisement their name as recorded on their licence, their licence number and for a corporation its ABN or ACN number.

Insurance

You need to have insurance. Adequate insurance is:

• for building certifiers, professional indemnity insurance that includes a minimum limit of indemnity of $1 million for any one claim, a minimum limit of indemnity of $1 million for the total of all claims against the insured made in the period of cover and a minimum limit of indemnity for the costs and expenses of defending or settling a claim of 20 per cent of the limit of indemnity for the claim;
• for plumbing plan certifiers, professional indemnity insurance that includes a minimum limit of liability of $1 million for each period of insurance.

You need to show evidence of the insurance you hold to a client before providing a service. This includes advising the person that you do not have insurance if that is the case. You may ask the client to sign an acknowledgment that they have been told about your insurance arrangements. The acknowledgment must state the time and date it was given. If the client signs the acknowledgement, you must immediately give them a copy.

Standards and legislation

Building certifiers are responsible for making sure the building work complies with the Building Code of Australia and the approved plan. This includes making sure that appropriate termite barriers and protection are installed.

Before plumbing approval is given, plumbing certifiers must ensure the proposed work and plan complies with plumbing and drainage plan standards. Documentation of work certified needs to be kept for 12 months after the job is completed.

Notifications, inspections and approvals

Builders certifiers need to:

• issue building approval;
• issue the builder with a commencement notice;
• ensure housing indemnity insurance or a fidelity certificate is in place before work begins;
• give copies of the plans to the Construction Occupations Registrar for record keeping;
• conduct inspections during construction; and
• issue a certificate of completion once the building work has been satisfactorily completed.

Plumbing plan certifiers must notify us that they have been appointed no later than the time they give plan approval. They also must notify us if their appointment is cancelled.

Safety

A building certifier is not necessarily responsible for checking all aspects of the quality of the work undertaken by the builder. Some certifiers may provide additional services such as quality control for an additional fee. However, some homeowners engage the assistance of a representative, such as an architect or building consultant, to inspect and monitor the quality of the work to ensure that it is being done in accordance with the contract.

Regulation

Anyone who believes a licensed or formerly licensed certifier has not fulfilled their obligations may put their concerns in writing by giving us feedback. Complaints may result in disciplinary action.