by Peter Graham Tas DoJ Executive Director CBOS

What’s On 03

Designing for Tasmania

from the Executive Director of Consumer, Building and Occupational Services – Tasmanian Government

Tasmania has a proud history of high standards of building design contributing to our built environment. High standards of building design and construction are one important factor which contribute to this state being recognised as an attractive place to live and work. Assisting building designers to ensure that such high standards of design and construction are maintained is a priority of our building regulator Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS).

One key feature of Tasmania’s building regulatory framework is the requirement for residential building work of certain classes to comply with the Director of Building Control’s ‘minimum requirements for design documentation’. Schedule 1 of the Director’s Specified List provides minimum documentation requirements that must be provided for the design project to achieve approval. All designers who do work in Tasmania must comply with Schedule 1 to ensure that our buildings are safe, compliant and gain approval through the project building surveyor.

Tasmania’s climate also presents additional challenges for our built environment. Energy efficiency stringency can provide great benefit for building occupants, making homes more comfortable throughout the year, and reducing energy bills. However, in colder climates such as in Tasmania, thermal performance achieved via increased sealing of the building envelope can result in condensation risk.

In recognising the difficulties associated with condensation, CBOS initiated research projects on the topic in 2014 and 2017 by the University of Tasmania School of Architecture and Design. This research led to the development of the Condensation in Buildings – Tasmanian Designers’ Guide, which is available at cbos.tas.gov.au.

This Guide provides strategies for building designers to minimise condensation risk within new home designs. Strategies include roof space methods, such as sarking to be installed underneath roof battens and additional ventilation for supply and exhaust; and wall and subfloor techniques including specific techniques for building in bushfire prone areas. Consumer, Building and Occupational Services is committed to ensuring that Tasmania’s buildings are designed, approved and constructed to the highest standards. For this reason, our building regulatory framework has been carefully developed to ensure that all of our specialised and licensed persons operating within this framework are provided with information and guidance to assist them to deliver high quality buildings. CBOS looks forward to continuing to work with our building designers as we all work towards designing for the safety, health and amenity of Tasmania’s built environment.

Peter Graham is the Tasmanian Department of Justice’s Executive Director of Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS).

Peter oversees Tasmania’s regulatory response to consumer protection in his various statutory roles.

Peter’s key statutory roles include Director of Building Control, Security of Payment Official, Administrator of Occupational Licensing, Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading and Residential Tenancy Commissioner.

Prior to joining the Department of Justice Peter held senior executive roles in the Victorian Public Service with responsibility for infrastructure, education and regulation.

cbos.info@justice.tas.gov.au