Browse BIG’s sustainable building documents.
These resources cover design and construction of sustainable buildings, resilient structures, green construction, sustainability legislation, and green energy.
| Name | Publisher | |
|---|---|---|
| Applying for a Planning Permit under the Flood Provisions (VIC) | Current Victorian Government |
This practice note provides guidance about making an application for a planning permit where flooding is a consideration and explains how an application will be assessed. |
| Making temporary re-establishment / buildings easier for business: Clause 52.07. Frequently Asked Questions (VIC) | Current Victorian Government |
If your business premises were destroyed or damaged by a bushfire you can use the exemption to build temporary premises without a planning permit - if it’s on the same property as the destroyed or damaged premises. |
| Bushfire Verification Methods Handbook | Current Australian Building Codes Board |
Assists in understanding the Verification Methods for building in bushfire prone areas in NCC Volumes One and Two (G5V1 in NCC Volume One and H7V2 in NCC Volume Two). |
| Built Environment Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 2022-2026 | Current Victorian Government |
This plan sets out the Victorian Government’s proposed actions during the next 5 years to respond to climate change risks to our built environment of cities, towns, suburbs and regional areas, along with supporting infrastructure and services. |
| Applying the Flood Provisions in Planning Schemes: A guide for councils (VIC) | Current Victorian Government |
This practice note provides guidance about applying the flood provisions in planning schemes including the preparation of policy, identifying land affected by flooding, preparing a local floodplain development plan and the application and operation of the flood provisions, including the preparation of schedules. |
| Planning permit exemptions for emergency recovery: Fact Sheet (VIC) | Current Victorian Government |
Clause 52.07 is a provision of the planning scheme which supports immediate recovery following any emergency; it includes the establishment of temporary accommodation, the continued operation of business and services, repair of fences, provision of required materials and infrastructure and other emergency recovery activities. |
| Making temporary accommodation easier for homeowners: Clause 52.07. Frequently Asked Questions (VIC) | Current Victorian Government |
Clause 52.07 of the planning scheme allows people to set up temporary housing on their land without a planning permit – though there are still some requirements. |
| Peer review guideline: Assessing the energy equivalence of housing using the peer review process (QLD) | Current Queensland Government |
Outlines the peer review process which can be used as a compliance option for assessing the energy equivalence (thermal performance) of new houses and major renovations (where practical) in Queensland. |
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mold Web Course | Current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
Contains information on mold prevention and remediation. |
| Where We Build, What We Build: Planners | Current South Australian Government |
The Where We Build, What We Build project has developed a climate ready home specification that provides increased resilience against flood, bushfire and heat compared with traditional houses. |
| Where We Build, What We Build: Building Climate Ready Homes | Current South Australian Government |
This project aims to encourage building or retrofitting of homes that are climate-ready, by demonstrating. |
| Where We Build, What We Build: Project Report | Current South Australian Government |
The Where We Build What We Build project is supporting the Resilient Hills and Coasts (RH&C) region by enabling assessment of the climate risk exposure of homes and encouraging better climate risk mitigation decisions. |
| Circular economy in South Australia’s built environment | Current South Australian Government |
The purpose of this report is to summarise the circular economy opportunities for South Australia, based on a national and international review of current policies, approaches and case studies. |
| DES 105 NCC - BCA Volume One: Energy Efficiency Provisions TECHnote | Current NATSPEC |
This TECHnote includes information useful in satisfying the NCC Energy efficiency provisions for Class 2 to 9 buildings. The NCC objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency. Operational energy is currently the focus of the NCC. Embodied energy may be considered in the future for sustainability controls. |
| Weathertex Product Portfolio | Available Superseded Weathertex |
Sustainable Design Trends for 2020. |
| Weathertex Design Trends Magazine 2021 | Current Weathertex |
Our second edition of Sustainable Design Trends, this time for 2021. |
| Guidelines for special fire services and referrals to the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QLD) | Current Queensland Government |
Provides building certifiers with guidance about special fire services as defined in Schedule 2 of the Building Act 1975, and the jurisdiction of referral agencies in Schedule 7, Table 1, Item 1 of the Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009. |
| An Exploration Of Factors Influencing Quality Management System (Qms) Implementation: The Case Of The Australian Construction Industry | This research primarily aims to investigate an inclusive list of factors impacting on quality management system deployment in the construction industry building sector by focusing exclusively on the external factors and the critical success factors of project level in order to develop a comprehensive framework of quality management system deployment. | |
| Condensation in Buildings Handbook | Current Australian Building Codes Board |
Assists in understanding the condensation requirements in NCC 2022 Volumes One and Two. |
| Social Housing Design Guideline: A QCompanion document 2021 | Current Queensland Government |
A design led, place-based and person-centred approach to good housing in Queensland. |
| Community Recovery: Australian Disaster Resilience Handbook Collection | Current Australian Government |
Provides a comprehensive guide to community recovery in Australia. |
| State Environmental Planning Policy (Sustainable Buildings) 2022 (NSW) | Current NSW Government |
This Policy is State Environmental Planning Policy (Sustainable Buildings) 2022. (NSW legislation.) |
| Selecting a Suitable Sustainable Construction Method for Australian High-Rise Building: A Multi-Criteria Analysis | Current Sustainability |
This research aims to identify the most suitable sustainable construction method for high-rise building construction in Australia; results show that the off-site construction method and robotic construction technique significantly improve the construction performance of high-rise construction in Australia. |
| Designing for Queensland's climate | Current Queensland Government |
The objective of the Smart and Sustainable Homes program is to demonstrate and promote the importance of investing in sustainable design and to increase the demand from owners, builders and developers for more sustainable development practices. |
| Identifying and assessing the risks of bushfires at work: using fire danger ratings and warnings | Current Safe Work Australia |
Helps persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and workers to use these systems to identify and assess the risk of bushfires at work. |
| Construction of buildings in flood hazard areas: ABCB Standard | Current Australian Building Codes Board |
Specifies requirements for flood-resistant design and construction of buildings that are subject to the NCC requirements and that are located, in whole or in part, in flood hazard areas. |
| Industry Guidance For Flood Resilient Homes | Current Queensland Government |
This Industry Guidance for Flood Resilient Homes provides information about improving the flood resilience of new and existing Queensland homes. |
| Design Guidance For Flood Resilient Homes | Current Queensland Government |
Queensland homeowners who experienced damage to their residential property as a result of flooding in 2021–22 can now register their interest for the $741 million Resilient Homes Fund. |
| Guideline for the construction of buildings in flood hazard areas (QLD) | Current Queensland Government |
Assists homeowners, building professionals and local governments in understanding the new part of the Queensland Development Code (QDC) for construction of buildings in flood hazard areas. |
| Flood Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes | Current Queensland Government |
Provides information about improving the flood resilience of new and existing Queensland homes. |
| Resilient Homes Fund: Building industry fact sheet. Quoting and contracting resilience works (for licensed contractors) | Current Queensland Government |
Flood resilient design is one of the many ways Queenslanders can build their resilience to floods. |
| DES 018 Bushfire Protection TECHnote | Current NATSPEC |
Bushfires are a feature of the Australian environment. The impact of bushfire on life and property can be reduced with responsible preparation and bushfire management plans. Bushfire hazards exist not only in rural areas but also at the rural and urban interface, for example areas adjacent to parks, public reserves and golf courses. |
| Queensland Building Plan 2017 (QLD) | Current Queensland Government |
Creating a safer, fairer, more sustainable construction industry. |
| QDesign | Current Queensland Government |
Principles for good urban design in Queensland. |
| Housing Energy Efficiency Handbook | Current Australian Building Codes Board |
Assists in understanding the energy efficiency provisions in NCC Volume Two that apply to houses. |
| DES 014 Environmental Rating Schemes For Buildings TECHnote | Current NATSPEC |
There are a number of national environmental rating schemes in place in Australia that can be used to understand how efficiently a building is operating as well as measure and reduce its impact on the environment. |
| NatHERS Heating and Cooling Load Limits Standard | Current Australian Building Codes Board |
NatHERS compliance pathway for energy efficiency. |
| NatHERS assessor handbook | Current Australian Government |
Explains how NatHERS assessments work and is an essential tool for NatHERS assessors. |
| NatHERS 2022: Whole of Home Overview | Current NatHERS |
The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, or NatHERS, is being expanded to include Whole of Home assessments and ratings to support the proposed National Construction Code energy efficiency requirements for residential buildings in 2022; the changes will help households improve a home's energy efficiency and reduce energy use, which provides a range of benefits including lower energy bills, improved comfort and health for occupants, and reduced carbon emissions. |
| Indoor Air Quality Verification Methods Handbook | Current Australian Building Codes Board |
Assists in understanding the indoor air quality (IAQ) Verification Methods in NCC Volumes One and Two (F6V1 and F6V2 in NCC Volume One and H4V3 of NCC Volume Two). |
| 2017 BASIX energy target changes: frequently asked questions | Current NSW Planning & Environment |
BASIX FAQ. |
| A comprehensive guide to BASIX | Current NSW Government |
The purpose of this guide is to provide an overview of how the BASIX engine works to estimate energy and water consumption in houses and apartments, and how these outputs can be used to inform design decisions. |
| DES 026 Living Walls And Roofs TECHnote | Current NATSPEC |
This TECHnote highlights design and construction issues for consideration and suggests suitable NATSPEC worksections for the documentation of living walls and roofs. |
| Apartment energy efficiency Handbook | Current Australian Building Codes Board |
Assists in understanding the energy efficiency provisions in NCC Volume One that apply to Class 2 apartment buildings. |