After reviewing hundreds of building design packages across Melbourne
and Victoria, the team at Integral Design Solutions has seen the same
types of errors appear again and again. Here are the five most common
— and how we catch them before they cost you money.
Error 1: Drawing Coordination Failures
The most common error type: dimensions, levels, or elements that are
inconsistent between architectural, structural, and services drawings. A
window shown at 900mm wide on the architectural drawings but 1200mm wide
on the structural drawings. A beam shown at 400mm deep on the structural
drawings but with only 350mm clearance in the ceiling void on the
architectural drawings. These coordination failures are invisible when
you look at individual drawings but obvious when you compare them —
which is exactly what a peer reviewer does.
Error 2: NCC Non-Compliance
Building designs that do not meet NCC requirements are discovered either
during peer review, during building permit assessment, or during
construction inspections. The later they’re discovered, the more
expensive they are. Common NCC compliance failures include: inadequate
fire separation between building classes, non-compliant stair geometry,
insufficient natural light and ventilation to habitable rooms,
substandard energy efficiency performance, and accessibility failures in
Class 2 and commercial buildings.
Error 3: Specification Gaps and Ambiguities
Construction specifications define the materials, products, and
standards of work required. Vague or incomplete specifications give
contractors licence to use cheaper alternatives, which often leads to
disputes and quality issues. ‘Provide structural steel framing’ is an
inadequate specification. ‘Provide Grade 350 structural steel framing
to AS 3678, hot-dip galvanised to AS 4680, minimum 85 micron coating’
is an adequate specification.
Error 4: Missing Structural Engineering
Architectural drawings without corresponding structural engineering
drawings are incomplete — but are surprisingly common. Peer review
regularly identifies architectural packages that include structural
elements (cantilevered slabs, long-span roofs, retaining walls) for
which no engineering design has been produced. These items cannot be
constructed safely without engineering input and should be flagged well
before construction begins.
Error 5: Heritage Condition Non-Compliance
When planning permits are issued for heritage properties, they often
include detailed conditions about materials, colours, window types, and
the extent of work. It is surprisingly common for construction drawings
to be prepared without fully reflecting all permit conditions. A peer
reviewer who compares the planning permit conditions against the
construction drawings can identify these discrepancies before they
trigger a compliance order.
Ready to Get Started? Contact Integral Design Solutions today for
expert peer review and design compliance services services in
Melbourne and Victoria. Visit integraldesignsolutions.com.au/ or call
us to book a free consultation.
