Wall removal is not an everyday home improvement project in Perth. But when it comes down to it, understanding how to navigate the process is paramount.
First and foremost, there must be a valid reason for wanting to get your wall demolished. Are you seeking to create spacious rooms, modify your property’s floor plan, or eliminate older walls?
The next step is to find a wall removal service in Perth. While options abound, it’s important to insist on a reputable company with a trail of impeccable reviews from their previous clients.
One way to vouch for the credibility of a wall removal service is to inquire if they possess proper licenses. Besides, the company should be able to guide you in procuring relevant permits before embarking on the project.
Below are the licenses and permits you must insist on before demolishing your wall in Perth.
Regulatory Requirements Before Commencing the Work
Contents
1. Licenses
Wall removal services in Perth should possess relevant licenses. As mentioned, this is a critical requirement before engaging the company.
Hiring a licensed wall removal company provides the peace of mind of knowing you’re dealing with a fully authorized demolition expert. Licenses are particularly significant for load bearing wall removal, as the stakes are higher.
Two types of wall removal licenses are applicable in Perth: Class 1 and Class 2.
Class 1 licenses are issued to technicians who partially or completely demolish walls, buildings, and other structures measuring over 10 meters high.
Meanwhile, Class 2 licenses permit the removal of structures measuring under 10 meters. That excludes single-story properties.
Understanding the height of the walls you need demolished may be necessary to determine which license a demolition expert should have. If you’re in doubt, consider someone with both license classes.
Who Should Procure The Licenses?
Both Class 1 and Class 2 licenses are issued to wall removal technicians.
As a property owner, your mandate is to ensure any adduced documentation is valid and authentic.
What’s The License Validity Period?
Wall removal licenses in Perth are typically valid for three years from the issuance date. As stated, you’ll need to double-check each license’s validity before engaging a demolition expert.
Note that each license spells out the regulatory conditions relating to the types of demolition works they cover. Therefore, a wall removal company cannot simply argue that their Class 2 license covers Class 1 demolition works merely because it’s numerically superior.
What Are Your Options If Licenses Produced Are Invalid?
Any self-respecting wall removal company will endeavor to renew their licenses accordingly, as it directly impacts their reputation. The consequences of operating without a valid license include financial penalties, lawsuits, and expulsion from membership in professional bodies.
As the wall demolition client, conduct your due diligence to ensure you only hire licensed companies.
If you discover that the licenses adduced were falsified or invalid when the removal work is underway, immediately pause the project and look for a duly licensed technician. You could also prefer false representation charges against the unlicensed company and have them compensate you for damages.
2. Permits
While wall removal licenses vouch for a demolition company’s credibility permits ensure the project is undertaken in accordance with Perth’s building codes.
There are two permits to obtain before scheduling wall demolition services in Perth – BA5 and WorkSafe Approval.
BA5 permits are mandatory before undertaking the partial or total demolition of a wall, building, or other structures.
To obtain a BA5 permit, you’ll need to complete a formal application form. Both signatories to the project – legal property owners and the demolition contractor – must sign the form. Besides, a wall removal specialist should preferably be licensed in Perth for a BA5 permit to be valid.
BA5 permits are readily accessible online from the websites of the City of Perth or the Western Australian Government.
WorkSafe Approval isn’t always necessary. The permit is only required for highly sensitive or risky wall demolition projects, such as removing walls in commercial buildings with a height of 10 meters or more.
Demolition of asbestos walls would also necessitate a WorkSafe Approval permit. In such cases, the wall must be at least 200 square meters of asbestos cement.
Who Should Obtain Permits
Wall removal permits in Perth are typically obtained by clients, often in collaboration with their identified demolition experts.
Many reputable wall removal companies are happy to facilitate obtaining relevant permits. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re a busy homeowner with insufficient time to handle all the paperwork.
Besides, having wall removal permits handled by your demolition company can help you navigate the complex legal provisions in these documents.
Regulatory Requirements After Completing the Work
1. Notice of Completion
The Building Act 2011 stipulates that all projects that require building permits (including wall demolition) are subject to a notice of completion.
In liaison with wall removal technicians, property owners must submit a notice of completion to the authorities that issued the demolition permit within seven days of completing the work.
Note that a notice of completion must be submitted in an approved form. The document briefly highlights the completed work and whether it has been undertaken in accordance with the codes laid down.
Failure to comply with this regulation can attract a penalty of up to AUD 10,000.
2. Occupancy Permit
While you may be raring to assume house occupancy following a wall removal, you’re not legally allowed back in until you obtain an occupancy permit.
An occupancy permit determines whether your property is safe enough for use under conditions defined in the National Construction Code. It’s applicable for both partial demolitions (such as wall removal) and total house demolitions, but where some rebuilding work follows.
Remember, occupying a building after wall removal without a current occupancy permit is a violation of the Building Act. It’s also against the law to utilize the property in a manner not approved in the permit.
Occupancy permits are typically obtained by homeowners. But like other wall removal permits, your demolition expert can facilitate the process.
Final Word
Obtaining relevant permits for wall removal in Perth isn’t just a best practice. It’s a regulatory requirement intended to ensure all demolition projects comply with the city’s building codes.
While it may be tempting to bypass this critical step, especially for minor wall removal tasks, doing so could lead to hefty financial fines and other legal consequences.
Besides permits, it’s essential to engage a wall removal service that possesses relevant licenses. It’s how you know that the company’s employees have been professionally trained and officially approved to undertake wall demolition projects in Perth.
