Classification of buildings and structures
Principles of classification The classification of buildings and structures or part of a building is determined by the purpose for which it is designed, constructed or adapted to be used. There are essentially 10 building classifications nominated in the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Each part of a building must be classified separately. Domestic buildings and structures (Ref: Volume 2 of the Building Code of Australia) Class 1a - a detached house or one of a group of two or more dwellings separated by a fire resisting wall, including a row house, terrace house, town house or villa unit. Class 1b - a boarding house, guest house, hostel or the like with a total area not exceeding 300m2; and in which not more than 12 persons would ordinarily be resident, which is not located above or below another dwelling or another class of building other than a private garage. Class 10a - a non-habitable building being a private garage, carport, shed or the like. Class 10b - a structure being a fence mast, antenna or the like, retaining or free standing wall, swimming pool or the like. Commercial and industrial buildings (Ref: Volume 1 of the Building Code of Australia) Class 2 - a building containing 2 or more sole occupancy units each being a separate dwelling. Class 3 - a residential building, other than a building of Class 1 or 2, which is a common place of long term transient living for a number of unrelated persons including a boarding house, guest house, hostel, lodging house, back-packers accommodation; or the residential part of a hotel or motel; or the residential part of a school; or accommodation for the aged or children or people with disabilities; or the residential part of a health-care building that accommodates members of staff; or a residential part of a detention centre. Class 4 - a dwelling in a building that is Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 if it is the only dwelling in the building. Class 5 - an office building used for professional or commercial purposes, excluding buildings of Class 6, 7, 8, 9. Class 6 - shop or other building used for the sale of goods by retail or the supply of services direct to the public, including an eating room, caf, restaurant, milk of soft drink bar; or a dining room, bar, shop or kiosk part of a hotel or motel; or a hairdresser or barber shop; public laundry or undertakers establishment; or market or sale room, showroom or service station. Class 7a - a building which is a carpark. Class 7b - a building which is for storage, or display of goods for sale by wholesale. Class 8 - a laboratory or a building in which in which handicraft or process for the production, assembling, altering, repairing, packing, finishing, or cleaning of goods or produce is carried on for trade sale or gain. Class 9a - a building of a public nature being a health care building, including those parts of the building set aside as a laboratory. Class 9b - a building of a public nature being an assembly building, including a trade workshop, laboratory or the like in a primary or secondary school, but excluding any parts of the building that are of another Class. Class 9c - a building of a public nature being an aged care building. Important: A building or structure that can not be given a BCA classification shall be classified as a Special Structure
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Typical classifications for domestic buildings/structures Description Aged accommodation/associated unit/dependant persons or similar (whether attached to, or detached from the main dwelling house) Additions/alterations to a dwelling house Awning attached to a storage shed Cubby house Carport (whether free standing, or attached to another building) Deck (attached) Dwelling house (whether new, or a removal dwelling, or a relocatable dwelling) Flag pole Fence Garage Gazebo Green house/shade house or similar Patio permeable roof cover (whether attached ort free standing) Pergola impermeable roof cover (whether attached or free standing) Pontoon Retaining wall Storage shed Swimming pool/spa Screening wall Shade sail (free standing) Shipping container (placed on a residential property for more than 30 days) Stable/animal accommodation Utility room or similar habitable area whether within a storage shed or as a detached stand-alone building Classification 1a 1a 10a 10a 10a 1a 1a 10b 10b 10a 10a 10a 1a 1a 10b 10b 10a 10b 10b 10a 10a 10a 1a
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