Form 16 - Inspection Certificate - 171 Ewarts Road, Cooran

                                                 Appendix – explanatory information

IMPORTANT NOTE: a competent person who knowingly or reasonably suspects the information they are giving to the building
certifier is false or misleading, including the information contained in this certificate (Form 16), commits an offence and is liable
to a maximum penalty of 100 penalty units.
Who can complete this certificate? (sections 10 of the Building Act 1975 (Building Act) and 53(2) of Building Regulation 2021
(BR 2021)).
This form must be completed and signed by a building certifier for the work or another building certifier or the appointed
competent person (inspection) – the inspecting person.
When is a Form 16 needed?
This form is to be completed when an inspecting person inspects a stage of assessable building work, as stated in a notice for
inspection and is satisfied that all relevant aspects of the stage of work have been completed and comply with the building
development approval for the work.
The inspection time for a stage of work is to be agreed between the builder and building certifier and must be carried out by the
inspecting person in accordance with best industry practice.
If satisfied the stage is compliant the inspecting person must give the builder for the stage of work the completed and signed
Form 16. The regulation requires the inspecting person to provide the reasons why they are satisfied all aspects of the stage are
completed and compliant, including any tests, specifications, rules, standards, codes of practice or other publications relied
upon when making the assessment.
The inspecting person may rely on an aspect certificate from an appointed competent person (inspections), (Form 12 – Aspect
inspection certificate) or a QBCC licensee (Form 43 – Aspect certificate (QBCC licensee)).
Restrictions for who can sign a Form 16 (section 46 of the BR 2021)
For a single detached class 1a building and class 10 building or structure only the building certifier for the assessable building
work, or another building certifier, can sign the certificate of inspection (Form 16) for the following stages:
   after the excavation of foundation material and before the concrete for the footings, or slab, for the building or structure is
    poured (foundation/excavation stage)
   if the building or structure is to have footings – after the placement of formwork and reinforcement for the footings but before
    the concrete for the footings is poured (footings stage)
   if the building or structure is to have a slab – after the placement of formwork and reinforcement for the slab but before the
    concrete for the slab is poured (slab stage).
   the final stage of the work (for swimming pools, the final stage is at the completion of the pool and its fencing and, if no
    temporary fence for the pool was constructed, before the pool is filled with water to a depth of 300mm or more).


In addition to the stages above for a building development approval, if the structure is a swimming pool that includes a
temporary fence, only the building certifier for the assessable building work, or another building certifier, can sign the certificate
of inspection (Form 16) for the following stages:
   on the completion of the construction of the temporary fence and before the pool is filled with water to a depth of 300mm or
    more
   before an extension is given to extend the period within which the temporary fence must be constructed.


The relevant building certifier can use another building certifier to inspect the stages mentioned above, without assessing and
appointing the person as a competent person.
While the building certifier can accept a competent person’s aspect inspection certificate (Form 12) as part of their compliance
assessment for the stage of work, it remains the building certifier’s responsibility to complete and sign the Form 16 for the
stages of work mentioned above.
Nothing prevents a competent person (inspection) who is not a building certifier from giving inspection help for an aspect of a
stage mentioned above. However, for a single detached class 1a building or a class 10 building or structure, the building certifier
must not accept an aspect inspection certificate for all aspects of the final stage.
Competent person (section 10 of the Building Act and Part 6 of the BR 2021)
A building certifier must assess and decide to appoint an individual as a competent person before they can, as a competent
person, give inspection help. The building certifier is required to keep detailed records about what was considered when
appointing a competent person.
A competent person cannot give inspection help to a building certifier until they have been appointed by the building certifier.
For further information about assessment of someone as a competent person refer to the Guideline for the assessment of
competent persons.
Inspection help (section 34 of the BR 2021)




Building Regulation 2021 • Section 53 • Form 16 • Version 2 • March 2023                                                    Page 3 of 4