Over the past six months we have continued to provide new and updated content covering a wide range of practice issues including the release of our 2019 Client Architect Agreement in downloadable digital format. We’ve been spring cleaning too! In consultation with the Acumen Content Review Panel, a number of notes have been consolidated or archived to further aid navigation, together with an ongoing review of existing notes for currency. If you have missed an update, all recent new and updated content can be found via the Acumen home page. We welcome your feedback.
Acumen (including Environment) is an included benefit for A+, Member level 1, Affiliate Level 1, Graduate and Student members.
National Construction Code (NCC)
Our recently updated notes on the NCC provide you with up-to-date information in line with the release of the NCC 2019:
- National Construction Code (NCC) has been reviewed by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) for currency and includes a summary of the energy efficiency changes introduced in the 2019 edition.
- NCC 2019 Section J and commercial building facade design provides an overview of the changes to Section J and presents design charts for different climate zones, enabling you to quickly design high-performance, compliant facade concepts in line with the new edition.
Access design notes
Prepared by the National Access Working Group, these notes aim to inform you in achieving compliance and better design outcomes in providing disability access and inclusive design for all users:
Environment notes
New and updated content in Environment covers strategies for heat stress resistant residential building design and construction. Understand the legal framework for your project’s solar access protection and the impact of climate change on Australian bushfire conditions with its ensuing regulatory imperatives for planning and construction in bushfire-prone areas:
- Development in Australian bushfire-prone areas
- The legal right to solar access
- Heat stress resistant residential design in Australia.
Practice notes
Offering topical information for your day-to-day practice, these updated notes provide guidance ranging from the use of different communication methods, avoiding warranties in conditions of engagement, an overview of the taxable payments annual report and dos and don’ts when undertaking a commission as a student or graduate. See also our Access and NCC notes above.
- Communications
- Graduate and student commissions
- Warranties in client and architect agreements
- Taxable payments annual report (TPAR).
Client Architect Agreement 2019
Released in April this year, the Institute’s 2019 Client Architect Agreement and Client Architect Agreement Limited Services are available digitally and freely downloadable via access to Acumen. The agreements come with a full suite of supporting material, including user guides, information guides for clients and template guide letters.
Hardcopy versions of the CAA2019 and CAALS2019 can also be purchased on our website.
ABIC update
ABIC SW 2018 H Schedule 2a – staged payments
With the recent addition of a replacement schedule 2A for Queensland, our ABIC SW 2018 H Schedule 2a – staged payments note provides replacement schedules for ABIC SW 2018 housing contracts in ACT, NT, Qld, SA and WA. Replacement schedules are for use where a financial institution’s lending requirements specify staged payments instead of monthly progress payments for residential projects, or the parties wish to use staged payments. Where staged payments have been adopted by residential building legislation, the procedure for staged payments is now integrated in the relevant ABIC SW H contract.
ABIC 2008 MW and SW versions withdrawn from sale and use
Effective September 2019: The ABIC 2008 versions of MW and SW are no longer published and have been withdrawn from sale and use. They have been replaced with the 2018 revisions of MW and SW, which were released in April 2018. The ABIC co-authors no longer give copyright permission for anyone to use the 2008 versions (and 2011 versions in Queensland) of the ABIC MW and SW contracts, subcontracts, User Guides, the associated ABIC supporting documentation, nor the related Acumen guidance (the ABIC 2008 Materials). The ABIC co-authors do not give anyone permission to use, adapt, modify, reproduce nor communicate the ABIC 2008 Materials, unless permission is given under an express licence. Any such use is a breach of copyright and at a user’s own risk. The Institute no longer provides customer support or guidance about the ABIC 2008 Materials and we encourage all users to purchase and use the 2018 contracts and related supporting documents.
