Performance Based Building Codes have been operational in Australia for over 15 years following the introduction of the Building Code of Australia in 1996. Concurrently in many Australian States and Territories the administration and enforcement of Building Control is through private sector practitioners registered and authorized to administer various building and development legislation. Whilst the advent of private practicing Building Control officials is unique to only a number of countries in the world, very few outsource the "statutory authority" role to privately operating companies and/or individuals. Equally Performance Based Building Codes facilitate a process which encourages innovation through designing and / or assessment of alternative design solutions deviating from a deemed to satisfy community expected standards. The advent of design practitioners including Architects, Engineers, and Fire Engineers varying deemed to satisfy provisions derived from public policy, and approved by privately operating Building Control Officials, demands a robust approval system to ensure fire life safety and associated health and amenity objectives are achieved in all new and existing development. My paper outlines a number of scenarios in my capacity as a Fire Safety Engineering consultant and as private Building Code Official and considers the pros and cons of various frameworks including the importance of regulation, accreditation, registration, insurance and independence in the approval process, to best accommodate the reforms of privatisation and the cost benefits of performance based building codes.
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