Building & Construction Industry

Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)

The Australian Building Codes Board is a joint initiative of all levels of government in Australia. It is responsible for developing and managing a uniform, national approach to building codes and building standards.

www.abcb.gov.au

Australian Paint Approval Scheme (APAS)

The Australian Paint Approval Scheme (APAS) develops minimum performance standards for coatings; tests and approves products available on the market; and publishes an annual List of Approved Products complying with APAS specifications. It also audits manufacturers to ensure they are complying with industry best practice manufacturing standards.

www.apas.gov.au

Australian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC)

The Australian Procurement and Construction Council (APCC) is the peak council of departments responsible for procurement and construction policy of the Australian, State and Territory governments.

www.apcc.gov.au

Building and Construction Industry (National Code and Guidelines)

The page provides information about the Australian Government's National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry 1997 (the Code) and the Australian Government Implementation Guidelines for the National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry (the Guidelines).

www.deewr.gov.au

Building Code of Australia

The Building Code of Australia is available for purchase from the On-Line Shop of the Australian Building Codes Board.

www.abcb.gov.au

CSIRO Appraisals

Following the launch of the Codemark building product certification scheme by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), CSIRO has decided discontinue the CSIRO Appraisals scheme by 31 December 2009. Old website.

www.dbce.csiro.au

CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering

CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering (CMSE) focuses on delivering outcomes for the Australian manufacturing sector. It provides a coordinated approach to materials design, creation, characterisation and application.

www.csiro.au

ESD design guide for office and public buildings

This guide gives a basic introduction to ecological sustainability issues and specifically how the built environment affects them. It begins by outlining the Australian position on Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) and some key policies relevant to buildings and ESD.

www.environment.gov.au

Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC)

The role of the Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) is to promote and improve occupational health and safety in the building and construction industry through an OHS accreditation scheme for Australian Government building and construction work.

www.fsc.gov.au

First Home Owner Grant (FHOG)

The First Home Owner Grant Scheme (FHOGS) is a joint Australian and State Government initiative to help first home owners. The grant provides a $7000 benefit to eligible applicants. Each State and Territory Revenue Office is responsible for administering the grant in their respective jurisdiction. This site includes links to the various revenue offices.

www.firsthome.gov.au

First Home Owners Boost

If you are a first home buyer you may be eligible for additional support from the Australian Government through the First Home Owners Boost. To be eligible for the Boost, you must enter into a contract to purchase an existing home, construct or purchase a new home or buy 'off the plan' between 14 October 2008 and 31 December 2009 (inclusive). Further information about eligibility, application and payment methods is included. While the First Home Owners Boost will no longer be available after 31 December 2009, the $7000 First Home Owner Grant will continue.

www.fahcsia.gov.au

Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme provides a framework that allows various computer software tools to rate the potential energy efficiency of Australian homes. NatHERS defines the minimum set of information that must be used by all software tools.

www.nathers.gov.au

Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC)

The Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC) provides a national service to ensure that workplace laws are upheld in the building and construction industry. The ABCC achieves this by educating industry participants about their rights and responsibilities under workplace laws, investigating suspected contraventions of the law, the National Code of Practice, federal agreements and awards, and instituting or intervening in proceedings when workplace laws are broken. .

www.abcc.gov.au

Painting Contractors Certification Program (PCCP)

The Painting Contractor Certification Program (PCCP) is an Australian Government accreditation scheme which audits protective coating painting contractors to verify that they comply with minimum standards for competency, professionalism, OH&S and environmental requirements for large industrial painting projects.

www.apas.gov.au

Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry (2001-2003)

Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry web site. Includes the terms of reference, discussion papers, submissions, transcripts and reports. The Royal Commissioner presented his final report to the Governor-General on 24 February 2003.

www.royalcombci.gov.au

Water Efficiency Guide: Office and Public Buildings

The Water Efficiency Guide: Office and Public Buildings gives practical 'how to' help for building owners, managers and users to reduce water use by up to 30% to 40%. They provide an introduction to the technical and behavioural opportunities that exist in office and public buildings for reducing water consumption and increasing water reuse. The second part of the publication is the National water intensity benchmarks for office buildings and public buildings.

www.environment.gov.au

Your Home - Design for lifestyle and the future

Your Home is Australia's guide to environmentally sustainable house design and construction. Includes 300 pages of practical technical solutions for builders and designers and a 32 page consumer magazine.