Kit Home Building Approval Definitions
Paperwork; no one likes it, but building a house means we have to do it. We aim to iron out some of the paperwork definitions you will get used to hearing over the duration of your build. These are the most common ones you will come across.
Private Certifier
Gone are the days of asking your local council for building approval (some regional councils will still do this, but it’s rare), and that’s where a private certifier comes in.
Your private certifier will be the one to issue your kit home building approval. Once you engage a private certifier, they will normally issue you an RFI (Request for Information), outlining the different documents they need from you to stamp your plans & give you the go ahead with your build.
Property Overlay
You may or may not have heard of this one, and you never will if it doesn’t apply to your block. If it does, this section is for you.
A property overlay is a layer within the planning scheme of your council area which identifies any relevant building constraints. Common property overlays include Bushfire Overlays (property is at risk of experiencing bushfire) & Flood Overlays (property is at risk of experience flooding).
These overlays then trigger specific building requirements for your new home.
BAL Rating
If you have a bushfire overlay on your property, you will need to obtain a BAL Rating. A BAL rating is Bushfire Attack Level Rating & you will need this to be determined with a bushfire attack level assessment.
There are 6 different BAL ratings – Low, 12.5, 19, 29, 40 & FZ – each of which require different construction methods/materials to comply with the current building code.
Energy Assessment
Under the NCC (National Construction Code), all new home builds must comply with a 6-star energy rating (this is currently in review to increase to 7 stars). The energy rating scheme has been developed to decrease the energy required to cool & heat your home. It’s kind of like an energy rating on your fridge, but for your house.
Your energy assessment will look at the position of your new home on your block, the insulation you will need to use, any solar system requirements, glazing & ceiling fan requirements.
