Drawing the Line: Understanding a Certifier's Scope

Few working relationships shape a project’s progress as directly as the one between an architect and the certifier, yet the boundaries are often poorly understood until a project is already underway. What falls within the scope of a building certifier, and what sits outside it? How does the commissioning framework actually work in practice, and how does it shape the way architects and certifiers work together?

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The ACA NSW/ACT invites you to a practical session with experienced building surveyor Heath McNab, Managing Director of MBC Certifiers, exploring the realities of certification and how to keep projects moving through approval. The conversation will look at:

– What falls within the permissible scope of a Principal Certifier, and how should architects understand that boundary?
– What are the practical realities of the commissioning framework and how these shape the working relationship?
– What is the requirement for full upfront payment at the time of appointment?
– What difficulties are posed with changing certifiers once appointed?
– How to resolve the profession’s reliance on certification for a project to proceed – avoiding disputes over scope which can become counter-productive to the project
– How can architects and certifiers build a positive working relationship and navigate scope questions constructively, so projects keep moving through approval stages

Heath also offers a certifier’s perspective on a question many architects grapple with: how to balance the policy intent behind the rules, such as discouraging certifier shopping, with ensuring those same rules do not become an impediment to good project outcomes.

With more than two decades in the building surveying profession, Heath has built a reputation for sound judgement, technical excellence and a solutions-driven approach. His career spans major industrial facilities, educational campuses, high-rise commercial towers, retail developments and sensitive government projects. Drawing on experience across both the public and private sectors, he brings a balanced understanding of regulatory intent, design innovation and real-world constructability.

Bring your questions. This is a chance to understand the certifier’s side of the table and to build the kind of working relationship that gets projects approved.

Cost & Booking
Members $20/ Non-members $30 + booking fee
1 CPD Point

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Any questions or queries, please get in touch at nswact@aca.org.au.