Stage by Stage Inspections
Stage inspections can be carried at any time during your build. However, stage inspections are usually conducted at “stage” claims, or “prior” to stage claims. These inspections are usually Slab, Frame, Enclosed, Fixing and Practical Completion (these can differ in each State)
‘Base/Slab Stage’ means:
For a building with a concrete floor, other than a suspended concrete slab floor – the stage when the buildings floor is finished.
For a building with a timber floor with base brickwork – the stage when:
- The concrete footings for the buildings floor are poured; and
- The buildings base brickwork is built to floor level; and
- The bearers and joists for the building are installed
For a building with a timber floor without base brickwork – the stage when:
- The buildings stumps, piers or columns are finished; and
- The bearers and joists for the building are installed
For a building with a suspended concrete slab floor – the stage when:
- The buildings concrete footings are poured; and
- The formwork and reinforcing for the suspended slab are installed
‘Frame Stage’ means: The stage when a buildings frame is finished.
Inspection on the frame is done once the roof is installed, windows installed and electricial and plumbind roughins are complete and before sheeting (plasterboard or brickwork – mortar installed)
‘Enclosed stage’ means-
- The external wall cladding is fixed; and
- The roof covering is fixed, but without:
- Soffit linings necessarily having been fixed; or
- For a tile roof – pointing necessarily having been done; or
- For a metal roof – scribing and final screwing off necessarily been done; and
- The structural flooring is laid; and
- The external doors are fixed (even if only temporarily), but, is a lockable door separating the garage from the rest of the building has been fixed, without the garage doors necessarily having been fixed; and
- The external windows are fixed (even if temporarily).
‘Fixing stage’ means the stage when all internal lining, architraves, cornice, skirting, doors to rooms, baths, shower trays, wet area tiling, built-in cabinets and built-in cupboards of a building are fitted and fixed in position.
Practical Completion means:
QLD – Schedule 1b of the QBCC Act 1991 states that Practical Completion is: for a domestic building contract, means the day when the subject work is completed—
- in compliance with the contract, including all plans and specifications for the work and all statutory requirements applying to the work; and
- without any defects or omissions, other than minor defects or minor omissions that will not unreasonably affect occupation; and
- if the building owner claims there are minor defects or minor omissions—the building contractor gives the building owner a defects document for the minor defects or minor
NSW – Section 3B of the Home Building Act 1989 states: “Practical Completion” of the work, which is when the work is completed except for any omissions or defects that do not prevent the work from being reasonably capable of being used for its intended purpose.
VIC – Section 42 of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 states: When work
is to be considered to have been completed
A builder must not demand final payment under a major domestic building contract until—
- the work carried out under the contract has been completed in accordance
with the plans and specifications set out in the contract; and - the building owner is given either—
(i) a copy of the occupancy permit under the Building Act 1993 , if the building permit for the work carried out under the contract requires the issue of an occupancy permit; or
(ii) in any other case, a copy of the certificate of final inspection.
