What is the HIA Guide to Materials and Workmanship (NSW/Hunter/ACT/Vic/Tas)

Why develop a HIA Guide to materials and workmanship?

HIA developed a Guide to Standards & Tolerances almost two decades ago, in an attempt to alleviate the wide divergence of opinions being expressed by claims inspectors employed by the Housing Guarantee Fund Limited (HGFL) in Victoria . The determination of what was a reasonable defect and what was beyond the builder’s responsibility were the main drivers for a benchmark of defects to be developed. After 2 years of operation the document became the primary source of what was considered acceptable in the dispute claims and settlement process in Victoria .

In 1995, the Victorian Building (Control) Commission assumed responsibilities of the HGFL. The Commission adopted the HGFL’s A Guide to Standards and Tolerances 1992, reproducing it with their badge. This version of the guide was used by the Commission’s domestic inspectors as well as private insurers when assessing claims.

The Commission reviewed the document in 1999 producing an expanded and significantly altered version. The position of HIA at that time was to resist the introduction of new tolerances that did not assist industry and tended only to add new issues to disputes rather than resolve common areas of work defects.

The guide was reviewed and republished in 2002 and began being used in NSW. Whilst not specifically supporting the Guide, HIA did not oppose it’s use in both states. However in 2006, the Commission commenced another rewrite and sought to expand the Guide to address a considerably larger set of issues, many of which were addressed with arbitrary standards or tolerances, and in some cases these are inconsistent with current building regulations.

HIA is concerned that current guides to standards and tolerances do not provide acceptable industry standards that reflect common methods of construction and the realities of many building materials which are based on natural products, such as timber.

Hence HIA has not supported the 2007 Victorian Guide as a true representation of residential construction practices and acceptable industry standards and has seen fit to develop the HIA Guide to Materials and Workmanship for Residential Building Work, to provide a voluntary industry accepted alternative.

Why use a Guide?

It should be remembered that all of the guides to standards and tolerances are not designed as construction manuals or to be used as a specification of works.  Instead, they are applicable in assisting two parties determine if there is a defect or not, and therefore whether remedial action is needed. The tolerances are only applicable where the builder has complied with the relevant building regulations and the contract documents in the first instance.

Benefits of the HIA Guide to materials and workmanship

The HIA Guide has been prepared to provide members with support in their day to day business.

The primary aim of the Guide is to give an unbiased workable solution to non-regulated construction aspects where workmanship may lead to a variation in the finished product.

The HIA Guide adopts recognised long standing industry tolerances, with HIA consciously drawing on the resources of other specialist industry associations and building product manufacturer’s to determine acceptable and workable tolerances.

The Guide does not reproduce current BCA provisions or Australian Standards which set out regulated standards and tolerances as this will lead to the Guide needing regular updating to keep abreast of changes in regulation.

The Guide only relies upon Australian Standards which are referenced in the BCA to avoid confusion over reliance on non referenced Australian Standards which do not have legal force.

The Guide includes advice to help eliminate problems prior to commencement of construction, through open communication between the builder and the consumer, to ensure that all parties are aware of the expected quality of materials and workmanship.

The HIA Guide covers all relevant aspects of the 2007 Victorian Guide to Standards and Tolerances, to ensure HIA members are provided with appropriate tolerances, and do not need to work with both Guides.

How do I get a copy of the HIA Guide?

HIA members can download the HIA Guide to Materials and Workmanship for Residential Building Work here. More information on how to reference the Guide in your contract documents is available here.

For further information HIA members can contact HIA’s Building Services staff on 1300 650 620 or hia_technical@hia.com.au .

If you would like to become a HIA member, contact 1300 650 620 or enquiry@hia.com.au

Ref No. NAT 08-23

The above is intended to provide general information in summary form. The contents do not constitute specific advice and should not be relied upon as such. Formal specific advice should be sought by members with respect to particular matters before taking action.  ABN 99 004 631 752