Building designer

Building Design (architectural)

Registered practitioners do the following for all classes of buildings and types of construction:

• Produce plans and documentation for building work.
• Assist with building permit applications and other associated permits.
• Develop plans and documentation to enable builders to tender for construction.
• Work closely with endorsed building engineers to produce compliant designs and drawings to obtain building permits.

What do registered practitioners need to know and do?

A registered practitioner in this class must have capacity to undertake the following activities in a competent manner and to a professional standard:

• advise building owners and/or builders on building materials and construction methods.
• apply knowledge of the requirements of the relevant building legislation, regulations and Australian standards to the design (including plans and specifications) of all classes of building and types of construction.
• brief and coordinate a range of secondary consultants (such as engineers and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) consultants) to provide specialist advice and recommendations on the design of all types of building and their components.
• enable builders to prepare tenders for building projects.
• ensure a project's design, specifications and documentation consider energy rating reports.
• ensure a project's design, specifications, and documentation consider Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings from AS 3959 Construction of buildings in bushfire‐prone areas.
• initiate applications for building permits and liaise with the relevant building surveyor to produce the documentation needed for the permit application.
• prepare plans and related documentation for the design and construction of all types of building, for use in relation to building permits. Documentation must include sufficient detail for obtaining building permits and for tender and contractual use.
• undertake project administration and monitoring for projects that the practitioner has documented, on behalf of clients.

What knowledge do you need to demonstrate?

You satisfy the knowledge requirements for registration in Building Design (Architectural) if you have successfully completed one of the following qualifications:

• Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) (22627VIC, 22477VIC, or 22268VIC)
• Bachelor of Building Design from Victoria University, plus
  • CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry unit; or
  • A copy of your WorkSafe Construction Induction card.

What experience do you need to demonstrate?

You must hold at least two years practical experience obtained in the last seven years in the following areas of experience:

1. Prepare Class 1 technical Building design (architectural) drawings.
2. Prepare Class 2 to 9 technical Building design (architectural) drawings.
3. Initiate the application for building permits.
4. Project administration and building contract administration.
5. Brief and coordinate secondary consultants.

This experience must have been supervised by a person registered in one of the following:

• Building Designer, Building Design (Architectural).
• An architect registered by the Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV).
• A person registered as a Domestic Builder (Unlimited) (if the builder was the direct employer).
  

Building Design (interior)

Registered practitioners:

• Are responsible for preparing plans and specifications for building interiors that affect the structure of the building. This class does not include works related to the external elements of the building envelope.
• May be engaged by a building owner or a builder to prepare plans and supporting documentation (specifications and schedules) to help establish a building contract between the builder and the property owner, and to ensure the design intention is met.
• May be engaged by the building owner to liaise with the builder on behalf of the property owner to ensure construction decisions are consistent with design intentions.

What do registered practitioners need to know and do?

A registered practitioner in this class must have capacity to undertake the following activities in a competent manner and to a professional standard:

• advise building owners and/or builders on building materials and construction methods.
• apply knowledge of the requirements of the relevant building legislation, regulations and Australian standards to the design (including plans and specifications) of all classes of building and types of construction.
• brief and coordinate a range of secondary consultants (such as engineers and HVAC consultants) to provide specialist advice and recommendations on the design of all types of building and their components.
• ensure a project’s design, specifications and documentation consider energy rating reports.
• initiate applications for building permits and liaise with the relevant building surveyor to produce the documentation needed for the permit application.
• prepare documentation on behalf of clients so builders can prepare tenders for building projects.
• prepare plans and related documentation associated with building interiors affecting the structure, for all types of building and for use in relation to building permits. Documentation must include sufficient detail for obtaining building permits and for tender and contractual use.
• undertake project administration and monitoring for projects that the practitioner has documented, on behalf of clients.

What knowledge do you need to demonstrate?

You satisfy the knowledge requirements for registration in Building Design (interior) if you have successfully completed one of the following qualifications:

• Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) (22627VIC, 22477VIC, or 22268VIC)
• MSF60113 Advanced Diploma of Interior Design, including the following units of competency:
  • BSBSMB405 Monitor and manage small business operations.
  • MSFFDT5014 Investigate legal requirements for design.
  • MSFID4007 Identify materials, construction techniques and methods used in building interiors.
  • MSFID5004 Specify structural elements, systems and services for interior spaces.
  • MSFID5014 Use CAD applications to complete models and documentation for interior design projects.
  • MSFID6003 Design for large scale commercial or institutional interiors.
  • MSFID6007 Select and instruct contractors and consultants.
  • MSMWHS200 Work safely.
• MSF60118 Advanced Diploma of Interior Design, including the following units of competency:
  • BSBSMB420 Evaluate and develop small business operations.
  • CPCCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry (White card).
  • MSFGN4001 Research and meet ethical and compliance requirements.
  • MSFID4014 Produce digital models and documentation for interior design projects.
  • MSFID5025 Develop residential interior design project documentation.
  • MSFID6012 Design for large scale commercial or institutional interiors.
  • MSFID6016 Select and monitor contractors.
  • MSFID6020 Develop commercial interior design project documentation.
• Bachelor of Building Design from Victoria University, plus:
  • CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry unit; or
  • A copy of your WorkSafe Construction Induction card

What experience do you need to demonstrate?

You must hold at least two years practical experience obtained in the last seven years in the following areas of experience:

1. Prepare Class 1 technical interior design drawings.
2. Prepare Class 2 to 9 technical interior design drawings.
3. Initiate the application for building permits.
4. Project administration and building contract administration.
5. Brief and coordinate secondary consultants.

This experience must have been supervised by a person registered in one of the following:

• Building Designer, Building Design (interior).
• Building Designer, Building Design (architectural).
• An architect registered by the Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV).
• A person registered as a Domestic Builder (unlimited) (if the builder was the direct employer).

Building Design (services)

• People registered in Building Design (services) are responsible for producing working plans, drawings and specifications for the design of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or fire services for all classes of building and all types of construction. They design services for new buildings, as well as for retrofitting existing buildings or individual floors within buildings.
• Practitioners work closely with endorsed building engineers to produce compliant designs and drawings that can help obtain building permits and guide service installation.
• This class of registration does not include hydraulic calculations or modelling work.

What do registered practitioners need to know and do?

A registered practitioner in this class must have capacity to undertake the following activities in a competent manner and to a professional standard:

• apply knowledge of the requirements of the relevant building legislation, regulations and Australian standards to the design of services for all classes of building and types of construction.
• brief and coordinate other technical project consultants to provide advice and recommendations on related services.
• ensure a project’s design, specifications and documentation consider energy rating reports.
• prepare plans and related documentation for the design of services for all classes of building and types of construction. Documentation must include sufficient detail for obtaining building permits and for tender and contractual use.
• provide information to clients on costs.

What knowledge do yo need to demonstrate?

You satisfy some of the knowledge requirements for registration in Building Design (services) if you have successfully completed one of the following qualifications:

• CPC50509 Diploma of Fire Systems Design.
• CPC50520 Diploma of Fire Systems Design.
• UEE62111 Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology (Electrical), including the following units of competency:
  • UEENEEE190A Prepare engineering drawings using manual drafting and CAD for electrotechnology/utilities applications.
  • UEENEEE191A Prepare electrotechnology/utilities drawings using manual drafting and CAD equipment and software.
• 22228VIC Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology (Mechanical), including the following units of competency:
  • MEM09157A Perform mechanical engineering design drafting.
  • MEM12024A Perform computations.
  • VU21131 Produce an engineering drainage design of pipes and culverts.
  • VU21132 Produce an engineering design for stormwater reticulation scheme.
  • VU21133 Produce an engineering design for sewerage reticulation scheme.
  • VU21143Produce engineering drawings for a stormwater reticulation scheme
  • VU21154 Generate design solutions.
  • VU21202 Design fluid power-controlled engineering systems.
  • VU21203 Apply hydraulic principles in engineering.
  • VU21204 Apply pneumatic principles in engineering.
• 22479VIC Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology, including the following units of competency:
  • MEM09157A Perform mechanical engineering design drafting.
  • MEM12024 Perform computations.
  • VU22494 Produce engineering drawings for a stormwater reticulation scheme.
  • VU22499 Apply hydraulic principles to achieve an engineering task.
  • VU22500 Apply pneumatic principles to achieve an engineering task.
  • VU22540 Generate design solutions.
  • VU22547 Produce an engineering drainage design of pipes and culverts.
  • VU22548 Produce an engineering design for a stormwater reticulation scheme.
  • VU22549 Produce an engineering design for a sewerage reticulation scheme.
  • VU22566 Design fluid power-controlled engineering systems.
• MEM60112 Advanced Diploma of Engineering, including the following units of competency:
  • MEM09157A Perform mechanical engineering design drafting.
  • MEM12024A Perform computations.
  • VI21248 Design pressure sewerage systems.
  • VU21131 Produce an engineering drainage design of pipes and culverts.
  • VU21132 Produce an engineering design for a stormwater reticulation scheme.
  • VU21133 Produce an engineering design for a sewerage reticulation scheme.
  • VU21143 Produce engineering drawings for a stormwater reticulation scheme.
  • VU21154 Generate design solutions.
  • VU21202 Design fluid power-controlled engineering systems.
  • VU21203 Apply hydraulic principles in engineering.
  • VU21204 Apply pneumatic principles in engineering.
  • VU21249 Design sewerage pumping station systems.

What experience do you need to demonstrate?

You must hold at least two years practical experience obtained in the last seven years in the following areas of experience:

1. Prepare Class 2 to 9 technical building services drawings.
2. Liaise with other consultants.

This experience must have been supervised by a person registered in one of the following:

• The class of Building Designer: Building Design (services).
• A person registered as an Engineer in the classes of; Electrical Engineer, Mechanical.
• Engineer, Hydraulic Engineer, or via the Professional Engineers Register either.
• Nationally (NER), or in Victoria (PERS).
  

If you are in a partnership

There are specific requirements for partnership applications. To find out more, go to building companies and partnerships.