Building Inspection Glossary
The Australian Standards, building forms and terms that matter to Queensland new-home buyers — explained in plain English. Each entry covers what the term means, where it applies in your build, and what an independent inspection checks against it.
- AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
AS 3740 — Waterproofing of Domestic Wet Areas
AS 3740 is the Australian Standard that sets out how wet areas — showers, bathrooms, laundries and the like — must be waterproofed in a home. It defines where membranes are required, how high they must extend and how junctions must be sealed.
Read definition - AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
AS 1684 — Residential Timber-Framed Construction
AS 1684 is the Australian Standard for residential timber-framed construction. It specifies how timber wall frames, floors and roof framing must be sized, spaced, braced and tied down so a home can resist the loads and wind it will face.
Read definition - AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
AS 2870 — Residential Slabs and Footings
AS 2870 is the Australian Standard for residential slabs and footings. It links the reactivity of your site's soil to the slab and footing design needed to support the home and limit movement as the ground swells and shrinks.
Read definition - AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
AS 3660 — Termite Management for New Buildings
AS 3660 is the Australian Standard for protecting new buildings from subterranean termites. It sets out the accepted systems — physical and chemical barriers — and how they must be installed and documented so termites cannot reach the structure undetected.
Read definition - BUILDING FORM
Form 16 — Inspection Certificate / Aspect Certificate
Form 16 is a Queensland building certificate used by a competent person to certify that a particular aspect or stage of building work has been inspected and complies with the relevant requirements. It is a building block of evidence the certifier relies on.
Read definition - BUILDING FORM
Form 21 — Final Inspection Certificate
Form 21 is the Queensland final inspection certificate. Issued by the building certifier at the end of a build, it confirms the building work is complete, complies with the development approval, and is suitable to occupy.
Read definition - INDUSTRY BENCHMARK
QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide
The QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide is the Queensland reference that defines what counts as defective building work. It sets the acceptable limits for finishes, surfaces and elements, and the timeframes within which a builder is responsible for defects.
Read definition - CONSTRUCTION CODE
NCC Volume 2 — The National Construction Code for Houses
NCC Volume 2 is the part of Australia's National Construction Code that applies to houses and other Class 1 and Class 10 buildings. It sets the performance requirements a new home must meet for safety, health, amenity and sustainability.
Read definition - BUILD STAGE
Practical Completion — What It Means for Your Build
Practical completion is the point at which a new home is finished enough to be used for its intended purpose, with only minor defects or omissions remaining. In Queensland it triggers the final payment and the handover process.
Read definition - BUILD STAGE
Defect Liability Period — Your Window to Have Defects Fixed
The defect liability period is the time after practical completion during which your builder remains responsible for rectifying defects in the work. It is a defined window for raising and resolving issues without dispute.
Read definition
Have a question about your build?
From $660 · Same week availability. A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every inspection across Brisbane and SEQ. QBCC Lic. 1318443.