BPC/VBA Domestic Builder (Unlimited) Exam flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Class 1a building

A single dwelling such as a detached house, or one of a group of attached dwellings separated by fire-resisting walls, each with its own cooking, bathing and sleeping facilities.

Class 10a structure

A non-habitable building or structure such as a private garage, carport, shed or fence that is associated with a Class 1 building and appurtenant to it.

Performance Solution

A compliance pathway that satisfies the NCC Performance Requirements by analysis, testing or expert judgement rather than by following the prescriptive Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions.

Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions

Prescriptive NCC recipes, such as nominated dimensions and materials, that are accepted as automatically meeting the associated Performance Requirements without further analysis.

Site classification class A

A stable site of sand or rock with little ground movement due to moisture change, requiring only standard footing design under AS 2870 residential slabs and footings.

Class P site

A problem site where abnormal soil conditions such as soft clay, mine subsidence or landslip mean footings must be designed by a geotechnical engineer for that specific site.

Habitable room ceiling height

Generally 2.4 m minimum, with 2.1 m allowed over no more than one third of the floor area; kitchens, laundries, corridors and bathrooms may be 2.1 m.

Habitable room natural light

Window area to a compliant light source of at least 10 percent of the room floor area, with openable window area of at least 5 percent for ventilation.

Stair riser and going

For domestic stairs the riser is 190 to 220 mm and the going 240 to 355 mm, with a constant geometry and a 2 m head clearance above the nosing line.

Balustrade 125 mm sphere

A barrier must not have openings that allow a 125 mm sphere to pass through, preventing a young child from climbing or falling through the gap.

Wet area upturn

AS 3740 requires waterproofing turned up the wall at least 150 mm at junctions in wet areas, with full shower floor coverage and falls of about 1:80 to 1:100.

Smoke alarm requirement

Interconnected smoke alarms are required in Class 1a dwellings, located in each bedroom and in the path of travel between bedrooms and the rest of the dwelling.

Energy rating requirement

New domestic dwellings must meet the NCC energy efficiency provisions, commonly expressed as a star rating achieved through insulation, glazing, sealing and efficient services.

Termite risk management

AS 3660 requires a termite management system plus durable notices, and the system must be maintained and inspected for the life of the building.

Footing depth to reactive clay

Footings on reactive clay must extend to a depth where moisture variation is limited, typically 1.0 to 1.5 m depending on the site classification and tree influence.

Damp-proof course

A continuous moisture barrier in masonry at least 150 mm above finished ground level, preventing rising damp from entering the wall above.

Progress payment schedule

A contract term naming each stage and its payment amount; the builder may only claim a stage once that stage has actually been completed.

Home warranty insurance

Statutory insurance taken out before domestic work starts, covering structural defects typically for six years and non-structural defects for two years after completion.

Written variation

A signed document stating the change to the work, the resulting price adjustment and any time extension, agreed before the varied work is carried out.

Retention

A percentage, commonly 5 percent, withheld from progress payments and released at practical completion or on expiry of the defects liability period.

Practical completion

The stage when the works are complete except for minor omissions and defects that do not prevent the building being used for its intended purpose.

Defects liability period

A period, typically 12 months from practical completion, during which the owner notifies defects in writing and the builder must rectify them at no cost.

Safe Work Method Statement

A written document identifying high-risk construction work, the hazards, the control measures and how they will be implemented, monitored and reviewed on site.

Critical path

The longest sequence of dependent tasks through the programme; any delay on this path delays practical completion, so it carries zero float.

Float in a programme

The amount of time a non-critical task can be delayed without delaying the project completion date or breaching a dependent successor task.

Statutory declaration on claims

A sworn statement supporting a progress claim that subcontractors and suppliers have been paid, protecting the owner from later payment claims.

Prime cost item

An allowance in the contract for a material or fixture not yet selected, later adjusted to the actual cost plus the stated margin.

Provisional sum

An allowance for work that cannot be priced precisely at contract signing, adjusted to actual cost plus margin once the work is measured.

Liquidated damages

A pre-agreed genuine estimate of the owner's loss per day of delay, deducted from the contract sum if the builder fails to reach practical completion on time.

Contract documents

The signed contract, drawings, specification, schedules and any agreed variations that together define the scope, price, time and obligations of the parties.

Site induction record

A record showing each worker has been inducted on site hazards, emergency procedures and rules, kept as evidence of the builder's safety duty.

Notice of practical completion

Formal written notice from the builder to the owner stating the date practical completion is reached, triggering the defects liability period and final payment.