Design integration is a focus of NSW’s DBP laws because it’s critical to the success of building projects. Under the DBP, regulated designs are required to integrate with other design documentation across all relevant building elements. To achieve integration effectively not only requires upfront investment in planning and coordination, architects and consultants also need to have a common understanding of how design and elements relate to each other. Without this common understanding a project is more likely to incur delays, rework and disputes.
Lisa King, the Institute’s NSW Chapter Policy & Advocacy Manager, Craig Burns, BVN and Rob Graham, and Bates Smart have been working on this issue for many weeks and after much consultation and review have now produced the “declared drawing matrix”.
The matrix contains a list of over 50 common architectural documents and aligns each to one or more of the key building elements (fire safety systems, waterproofing, structure, enclosure and services). Fair Trading’s DBP audit team have reviewed the matrix to ensure it aligns with our views and considers it to be a very helpful resource for the benefit of architects and their clients. We will also look at how we reference the matrix in the future versions of our Design Guidelines.
Well done to the Australian Institute of Architects, Lisa, Craig and Rob for helping to lift standards in design and construction.
