Standards and Tolerances

In response to community expectations the VBA have produced a reference document for an acceptable standard of workmanship to cover potential areas of dispute in domestic construction from preliminary site works, to floor finish, framing, brickwork through to completion.

The Guide to Standards and Tolerances (the Guide) has been developed for use by builders and building owners as a convenient reference for acceptable standards of workmanship in domestic building construction. Most domestic building disputes arise because of disagreements between building owners and builders about the appropriate standards and quality of work.  The Guide is intended to address areas that are not prescribed under legislation or under a domestic building contract and building work could be considered defective when it does not meet the standards as outlined.

The Guide can be used to determine whether or not an item is defective only where this cannot be done by reference to the contract documents, the relevant Australian Standards, the BCA or the relevant regulations. Where there is any contradiction or difference between the Guide and an Act, a regulation, the BCA or a building contract, all of these take precedence over the Guide. The Guide does not replace the requirements of these other documents.

Further reading is available via this link Guide to Standards and Tolerances to obtain a detailed understanding of the recommended tolerances for the various elements and trades in domestic construction.