The assessment process
Once the Department has received your application, we will review it to ensure that it includes all the required information, that your application pre-payment has been received and that your application is eligible for assessment. Once we have determined that all the required information is present, we will advise you that your application has been accepted for assessment and we will begin the formal assessment process of ensuring that your design complies with the Building Code.
The Department will have 40 working days, from the date of formal acceptance, to either approve or decline your application.
During the assessment process, we may need to contact you for further information or clarification on particular aspects of your application. At this time, we will ’stop the clock‘, and not proceed further with your application until the additional information has been received. Once we have received the information, we will ‘restart the clock’ and continue assessing your application.
When your application has been assessed, you will be advised in writing of the Department’s decision. At the same time we will include an invoice for outstanding amount for processing your application. This will need to be paid before your MultiProof certificate is issued.
If your application is ‘approved’ for a National Multiple-Use Approval
When your application is deemed to comply with the Building Code and when you have made full payment of all outstanding fees, we will issue you with a MultiProof certificate that will cover the designs and any customisations included in your application. The certificate will list any specific conditions that will apply to your MultiProof.
If your application is ‘declined’
The Department may decline your application, for example, if you or your application are ineligible or your building is outside the scope of the allowable design type. In addition, your application may be declined if:
- your design is assessed as being non-compliant with the Building Code
- where the design includes a banned method or products
- where the application fee has not been paid
- where you have not supplied the required information following a reasonable period after being requested to supply such information.
Declined applications will still attract a fee, based on the Department’s processing costs.
received. Declined applications will still attract a fee, based on the Department’s processing costs.
Withdrawing an application
You can withdraw your application at any time by giving the Department notice in writing of this intention.
The Department will discontinue processing your application and will determine the costs incurred to date, before sending you an invoice for the balance of the total costs incurred. You will also receive a formal letter confirming your withdrawal of the application.
Appeals
If the Department decides to decline your application for a MultiProof and you disagree with this outcome, you will be able to appeal to the District Court.
Role of the Building Consent Authority (BCA)
When the MultiProof certificate has been issued (ie, the design and any desired customisations to that design have been approved), you will need to apply to the local Building Consent Authority for a building consent each time you wish to reproduce the building. The BCA will have 10 working days to issue the building consent, and this will involve matters such as checking the site conditions, foundations and utilities (such as water services) and confirming that the proposed design meets the conditions of your MultiProof.