BPB practice advice 11-001 July 2011
Note to readers: practice advice relates to the legislation in force at the time, which may since have been amended. Also, names of organisations and weblinks were correct at time of writing and may have since changed.
The provisions contained in Section A of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) are general provisions that deal with the application, interpretation and operation of the provisions contained in the other Sections of the BCA.
They complement the provisions in the other Sections. Section A includes the definition of effective height in clause A1.1 of the BCA and the requirements of clauses A4.1 and A4.2 of the BCA in relation to united buildings.
An Alternative Solution is defined in the BCA as a Building Solution which complies with the Performance Requirements other than by reason of satisfying the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
The BCA clearly specifies the provisions that are the Performance Requirements and the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions in each part of the BCA, other than Section A.
The BCA only allows Alternative Solutions to be used in relation to the Performance Requirements. Section A does not have a set of Performance Requirements. Therefore, Alternative Solutions to its provisions are not applicable.
The Board reminds accredited certifiers with authority to deal with Alternative Solutions that an applicant cannot propose an Alternative Solution to the provisions of Section A and construction certificates cannot be issued if an application includes a proposed Alternative Solution to provisions contained in Section A of the BCA.