Short Courses

Introduction to the Building Code of Australia

Learn how the Building Code of Australia - including state and territory variations - applies to the design and construction of buildings.
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Overview
Learn how the Building Code of Australia - including state and territory variations - applies to the design and construction of buildings.

The Building Code of Australia (BCA) guides construction in each state and territory. Understanding how to apply the BCA in everyday work situations ensures structures are safe and comply with the law.

In this introductory self-paced course, you'll learn how to interpret the BCA and its role in the design and construction of buildings. You'll become familiar with the BCA sections that relate to various construction disciplines, such as civil, structural, hydraulics, mechanical and fire.

Using examples and case studies, you'll cover:

  • how the law is structured in Australia
  • variations to the BCA in each state and territory
  • how to meet performance requirements under the BCA
  • subordinate regulatory documents (known as reference documents).

By the end of the course, you'll be able to apply relevant BCA resources to your project. You'll also be better informed to discuss the BCA with building certifiers and other engineers involved in your project.

This course is delivered in partnership with the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE):

The BCA is a very important document for design and construction as it sets the minimum requirements for health, safety and amenity of people in buildings to ensure consistent outcomes throughout Australia. Practitioners should recognise the BCA sets out to protect people and is worthy of attention, yet the BCA is not intended to solve the problem of what “good” looks like in design and construction. What good looks like is left to the designer or constructor to create. 

Thomas Wise, Director - Hydraulic, Warren Smith & Course Facilitator
Details
Price
$350*
EA members
$411.76*
Non-members

*1% credit card surcharge applies.

Any questions?
Contact us

Duration
8 Hours, self-paced
Location & dates
Online

1 January - 31 December

Additional Information

Once you register, you will be provided with access to the EEA Online platform to start this course.

We can arrange a bulk corporate registration for 10 or more learners.

This course can also be customised to align to your business objectives or L&D needs.

Find out how we can help you and your team by completing an enquiry form or calling us on +61 3 9321 1700.

Duration
Customisable
Learning outcomes
  • Explain the hierarchy of building laws and legislation and how they are created
  • Identify and navigate relevant building legislation
  • Identify the Building Code of Australia (BCA) as a part of the National Construction Code (NCC) written by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)
  • Acknowledge the BCA as a performance-based code consisting of performance requirements that can be complied with in multiple ways. 
  • Understand the application and relevance of state variations within the BCA
  • Determine the right BCA year and related reference documents for a project, including determining the significance of storeys and effective height
  • Navigate various and describe the various sections of the BCA, including State variations, performance requirements, verification methods, DTS provisions and reference standards
  • Describe instances where performance solutions are required, including assessment methods and approval processes

This course will develop an understanding of how compliant solutions in accordance with the BCA can be achieved through prescribed methods, alternate methods or a combination of both. The course supports these predefined methods with case studies and examples to help you think about how you can achieve compliance in your area of practice.

The course also references State and Territory legislation that play a significant role in defining the backbone for compliance requirements within the construction industry. Knowledge of these areas is thought to be quite limited, so understanding this will help you develop solutions that are not only compliant, but also consistent across the country. 
 

James Skubevski, Engineer – Hydraulic, Warren Smith & Course Facilitator
Is this course for you?

Is this course for you?

This course suits engineering and construction professionals, including:

  • design engineers
  • builders
  • project managers
  • architects
Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Topics we'll cover

Topics we'll cover

  • Introduction to law
  • Building regulatory framework
  • Understanding the National Construction Code (NCC) 
  • Understanding the BCA and its structure
  • Developing performance solutions
Facilitator
Darin Evans
James Skubevski
Vish Gopakumar
Thomas Wise
How you'll learn

This course is delivered through EEA Online, our new digital learning platform.

You'll learn using a mix of practical case studies, quizzes and reading, audio and video materials. You'll also apply your knowledge in practice with a variety of assessment tasks and learning checks.

It will take approximately 8 hours to complete.

As it is self-paced, you can start anytime and save your progress as you finish each module.

Once you register for the course, you have 90 days to complete it.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital badge as evidence of your achievement. Learn more about Engineering Education Australia’s digital badges including how to claim and share on our Frequently asked questions page.

This will also count towards the number of Engineers Australia Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours you can claim. 

EEA Online access

EEA Online is powered by leading Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas by Instructure.

Once you register for a course, you will be provided with access to the EEA Online Canvas platform to start this course.

If you are registering for your first EEA Online course, you will receive an email from [email protected] inviting you to set up your EEA Online account. 

Supported Browsers

For best performance, please use the most recent major release of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Read more about the current supported browsers on Canvas:

Mobile access

EEA Online is mobile friendly, however desktop is preferred. Please read through the following information on mobile access via Canvas:

Reviews

An efficient introduction into building industry requirements. The most beneficial element was the link to applicable realities within the Building Industry, a must know for Designers, and access to further online resources to research yourself when needed.

Sebastian
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