Consumer Building Guide NSW- PCA?

A Principal Certifying Authority (PCA) is the only person or body that can issue an occupation

certificate. [19/10/21 currently called Principal Certifier]

A PCA must be appointed before any building work can begin. A PCA can only be appointed

by the person who benefits from the development (usually the owner); the builder cannot

Appoint the PCA unless they are also the landowner. Your PCA can be either a private

or council-accredited certifier.

The council must be notified of the appointment of a PCA at least 2 days before the building

work commences.

Your PCA must inform you about the inspections required to be undertaken at certain stages

During construction and you must inform your builder of these inspections.  In turn, your builder

Must contact the PCA for the inspections to be carried out as construction occurs.

If the required inspections are not undertaken, your PCA may not be able to issue an occupation

certificate. Your PCA should advise you and the builder of any problems identified at an inspection.

The PCA inspects whether the building work complies with the relevant planning legislation,

the development consent and the BCA. Your PCA is not responsible for supervising your builder

or tradespeople or for ensuring the quality and finish of the building work.

Your PCA is also not responsible for ensuring that your work complies with the conditions of

consent. You should read the conditions of consent carefully, note which conditions must be

complied with at different stages, and liaise regularly with your builder and PCA to ensure

conditions are satisfied.

The Building Professionals Board (BPB) is responsible for accrediting qualified professionals as

private and council-accredited certifiers. You can find an accredited certifier in your NSW area under the

‘find a certifier’ link on the BPB website at www.bpb.nsw.gov.au

Choose a PCA in the same way you would choose an architect, draftsperson or builder:

• seek recommendations from others

• obtain quotes from the council and a selection of accredited certifiers

• check references from certifying authorities

• check inclusions in any contract or service level agreement before entering into it.

Applying for a construction certificate or a CDC is not the same as appointing a PCA.

However, you may choose to appoint the accredited certifier or council who issues your construction

certificate or CDC as your PCA.

Reference- NSW Fair Trading viewed 15/2/12, image via google

Como Building P/L, Michael Como provides in SYDNEY, an NSW Building Regulations Consultancy service that comprises, Interpretation of NSW legislation relevant to the construction of Class 1 and 10; Issuing: Complying Development Certificates (CDC), Construction Certificates (CC) [after a local council has approved a development], Occupation certificates (OC), Compliance Certificates, NCC Building Code Australia Reports. Engagement for the certification work is on a contract basis.

Also, a pre-purchase property inspection or building inspection by Michael Como may empower you with knowledge about the condition of a property currently or before you buy it and help you avoid future problems and unexpected costs. However, this service can only be conducted if the insurer is on-side, and currently, they are not and as a result, we do not conduct it.

Michael Como is Your Custom Home Builder in Sydney with over 46 years of construction experience, a Master Craftsman sharing innovative Restoration/renovation Ideas. Licensed since 1988. At this stage, I will only carry out building work at a contracted agreed hourly rate.

Let your imagination soar as you enjoy Building Green Homes or Straw houses or Hemp Homes or Heritage Style Restoration or Bathroom renovations or UHR or Digital twin or Sealing…. Etc.

Paste the following URLs in your search engine:

https://privateBuildingCertifiersSydney.com/  

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