If you're building a new home in Queensland, the QBCC Standards and Tolerances is the most important document you've probably never read. It defines, specifically and measurably, what constitutes a defect in residential construction. It's what your builder will cite when they say something is "within tolerance" — and it's what your VG Inspect report cites when we say it isn't.
Understanding this document doesn't require a building licence. Here's what you need to know.
What is the QBCC Standards and Tolerances?
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission publishes a document called the Standards and Tolerances Guide for Building Construction Work. It applies to all residential building work in Queensland and sets out specific, measurable standards for every element of construction — from slab levelness to paint finish, from wall plumb to roof tile alignment.
When a builder says a wall crack is "normal" or a floor is "within tolerance," they are either citing this document correctly — or they aren't. Your VG Inspect report references specific clauses so you know which situation you're in.
Key Standards You Need to Know
### Slabs and Footings
The QBCC Standards and Tolerances state that floor levels are defective if they differ by more than 10mm in any room or area, or by more than 12mm in any 3-metre length. This is measured from the documented finished floor level.
Slab cracks are categorised from Category 1 (hairline, less than 0.2mm) through to Category 4 (greater than 4mm or with vertical displacement). Category 3 and 4 cracks require structural engineer assessment.
### Walls and Frames
Wall frames are defective if they deviate from vertical by more than 4mm in any 2-metre height. This is measured with a spirit level or straight edge — not by eye.
Plasterboard walls are defective if there are visible nail pops, joint ridging, surface waviness exceeding 4mm in any 2-metre length, or visible joints when viewed under raking light from a normal viewing position.
### Brickwork
Brick walls are defective if they deviate from vertical by more than 5mm as measured by AS3700 Table 12.1. Perpend joints (the vertical mortar joints) must be within the range of 5mm to 20mm. Bed joints (the horizontal joints) must be consistent throughout.
Articulation joints — the vertical expansion gaps beside all window and door frames — must be a minimum of 10mm wide and must be free of mortar or other non-compressible material.
### Roof
Tile roofs are defective if undulations in the roof line exceed 20mm in any 4-metre length measured in the roof plane. Ridge and hip capping must be installed straight and true.
Sheet metal roofs are defective if screws are overtightened (crushing the sealing washer) or undertightened (not compressing the washer). Both conditions allow water penetration.
### Paint and Render
Internal paint finishes are assessed from a normal viewing position — standing at 1.5 metres from the surface under natural light. Defects visible from this position and distance are defective. This assessment is done with the light source at 90 degrees to the surface — not with raking light that would reveal every minor texture variation.
External render is defective if it shows cracking, delamination, blistering or colour variation visible from a normal viewing position.
### Windows and Doors
Doors are defective if they don't operate smoothly, if the clearance between the door leaf and frame is outside the range of 2mm to 4mm, or if the door doesn't close and latch without force.
Windows are defective if they don't operate smoothly, if weather seals don't perform their intended function, or if glazing shows imperfections visible from 3 metres under normal daylight.
### Drainage
External surface drainage is defective if it allows water to pond within 1 metre of the building, or if ground levels direct surface water toward rather than away from the structure. Ground must be graded a minimum of 50mm over the first metre from the building.
What "Within Tolerance" Actually Means
When a builder tells you something is "within tolerance," they should be able to point to the specific QBCC Standards and Tolerances clause and measurement that supports that claim. If they can't — if they're using the phrase loosely to dismiss your concern — that's worth pushing back on.
Every item in a VG Inspect report references the specific QBCC clause, the measured deviation we found and the required tolerance. There is no ambiguity.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an InspectionThe Defect Liability Period
Under the QBCC Home Warranty Insurance scheme, your builder is responsible for defects that become apparent within a defined period after handover. For most defects this is 12 months. For structural defects it extends to 6 years and 6 months.
A defect that becomes apparent within this period — a crack that appears after the first wet season, a waterproofing failure that shows up after several months of use — is claimable under the warranty scheme. But you must formally notify the builder within the period. A VG Inspect warranty inspection provides the formal documentation needed to do this.
How to Use This Information
You don't need to become an expert in the QBCC Standards and Tolerances. You need an inspector who is. Every VG Inspect report is written to be handed directly to your builder as a formal rectification document — every defect referenced, every tolerance measured, every clause cited.
That's what gets defects fixed.
