[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-160226-en":3,"doc-seo-160226-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":90},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":20,"is_downloadable":20,"audit_status":20,"page_count":21,"language":22,"language_code":23,"site_id":24,"html_lang":23,"table_of_contents":25,"faqs":26,"seo_title":27,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":28,"read_time":29},160226,13056703020460,"Valentina","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/be000253dac470eee5d?_k=1778207105932848923",8,"Research & Report","Principal Certifying Authority Agreement - The Role and Responsibilities of the PCA","Principal Certifying Authority (PCA) Agreement explains how a PCA supports semi-regulatory oversight for building projects. It defines the PCA’s duty to ensure construction aligns with development consent conditions and complying development criteria, and with the Building Code of Australia and referenced Australian Standards. The agreement covers PCA selection between accredited private certifiers and local councils, grading levels of accreditation, certification steps for construction and occupation, and reliance on supporting design and stage component certifications to maintain compliance.","| |  |\n| --- | --- |\n| \u003Cbr>PRINCIPAL CERTIFYING AUTHORITY AGREEMENT |  |\n| THE ROLE OF THE PRINCIPAL CERTIFYING AUTHORITY\u003Cbr>The information given here is to assist those involved in the project in understanding the roles and responsibilities of a Principal Certifying Authority (PCA) .\u003Cbr>A PCA is essentially a semi-regulatory role whereby it is the duty of the PCA to ensure the project is constructed and completed in accordance with:\u003Cbr>􀂃 the plans and associated documentation and Conditions under the Development Consent issued by the Consent Authority (generally the Local Council), or the pre-determined criteria for a Complying Development Certificate, and\u003Cbr>􀂃 the relevant building regulations, more particularly the Building Code of Australia and referenced Australian Standards.\u003Cbr>The choice of PCA, is made by the owner(s) of the property that is being developed. There are essentially two options for the choice of a PCA, these being either an Accredited Private Certifier or the Local Council.\u003Cbr>Private Certifiers are accredited individually on the basis of their knowledge and experience by the NSW State Government, or recognised bodies or associations, these include Planning NSW and Planner’s and Engineer’s professional associations. Local Council Certifiers do not need to be accredited, but rather the accreditation is given to Council ‘as a whole’. Private Certifiers in New South Wales are given a graded Level of Accreditation, these being:\u003Cbr>Level 1 or Fire Engineer: At this level the Certifier can approve any construction in accordance with the ‘deemed to satisfy’provisions of the Building Code of Australia or provide an alternative solution to the Code which is judged by peer review. Alternative solutions may reduce building costs where the current provisions of the Building Code of Australia may be excessive for the type of building proposed,\u003Cbr>Level 2 Certifier: This level allows the Certifier to certify any size or type of building so long as it is in accordance with the ‘deemed to satisfy’ provisions of the Building Code of Australia. Level 2 Certifiers can provide alternative solutions to the Code apart from fire safety, and\u003Cbr>Level 3 Certifier: This level allows Certifiers to certify buildings in accordance with the ‘deemed to satisfy’ provisions of the Building Code of Australia, subject to the buildings being no higher than three (3) storeys or over 2,000 m2 in floor area.\u003Cbr>One of the main advantages of having the choice of a PCA is that the owner can decide which PCA is the most capable of handling their project on the basis of experience and knowledge relating to previous similar projects.\u003Cbr>In most cases the PCA will be responsible for the initial approval of the construction which will allow work to commence. Such approval is the issue of a Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate.\u003Cbr>Before a Construction Certificate can be issued, it is the responsibility of the Certifier to ensure that:\u003Cbr>􀂃 the conditions under the Development Consent relating to the issue of the Construction Certificate are met, and\u003Cbr>􀂃 that the building, when completed, will comply with the provisions of the Building Code of Australia. | Assessment of a building for Compliance with the Building Code of Australia will include the following:\u003Cbr>􀂃 structural integrity,\u003Cbr>􀂃 fire safety and construction,\u003Cbr>􀂃 access and egress, including disabled access,\u003Cbr>􀂃 services and equipment, including fire detection and suppression equipment,\u003Cbr>􀂃 health and amenity, including light, ventilation and sanitary facilities.\u003Cbr>To ensure the building will comply with the Building Code of Australia, the Certifier will rely on the design plans, specifications and other documentation as necessary such as structural engineer’s details.\u003Cbr>Once construction is under way it will be the responsibility of the PCA to ensure that the development is continuing to meet the Conditions of Development Consent as well as compliance with th","cbCainTQtYNXAxy4","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCainTQtYNXAxy4","pdf",206399,1,4,"English","en",105,"# The Role of the Principal Certifying Authority\n## Basis for PCA oversight\n## Choosing a PCA (private certifier or local council)\n## Accreditation levels for private certifiers\n## Construction Certificate approval and compliance checks\n## Compliance assessment areas\n## Ongoing compliance during construction\n## Occupation Certificate and interim occupation options","[{\"question\":\"What is the primary responsibility of a Principal Certifying Authority (PCA)?\",\"answer\":\"The PCA ensures the project is constructed and completed in accordance with development consent requirements (or complying development criteria) and relevant building regulations, especially the Building Code of Australia and referenced Australian Standards.\"},{\"question\":\"How can the property owner choose a PCA?\",\"answer\":\"The owner chooses between an Accredited Private Certifier or the Local Council. Private certifiers are accredited individually, while local council accreditation is provided to the council as a whole.\"},{\"question\":\"What approvals must be issued before a building can start and before it can be occupied?\",\"answer\":\"Before work starts, the PCA issues a Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate. Before occupation, the PCA must issue an Occupation Certificate, or an Interim Occupation Certificate with a Schedule of Works for relatively minor remaining works.\"}]","Principal Certifying Authority Agreement - The Role and Responsibilities of the PCA | PDF",1788052543,10,{"code":4,"msg":31,"data":32},"ok",{"site_id":24,"language":23,"slug":33,"title":13,"keywords":34,"description":14,"schema_data":35,"social_meta":85,"head_meta":87,"extra_data":89,"updated_unix":28},"principal-certifying-authority-agreement-the-role-and-responsibilities-of-the-pca","",{"@graph":36,"@context":84},[37,53,67],{"@type":38,"itemListElement":39},"BreadcrumbList",[40,44,48,51],{"item":41,"name":42,"@type":43,"position":20},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":45,"name":46,"@type":43,"position":47},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":49,"name":12,"@type":43,"position":50},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":52,"name":13,"@type":43,"position":21},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/principal-certifying-authority-agreement-the-role-and-responsibilities-of-the-pca/160226/",{"url":52,"name":13,"@type":54,"author":55,"headline":13,"publisher":57,"fileFormat":60,"inLanguage":23,"description":14,"dateModified":61,"datePublished":61,"encodingFormat":60,"isAccessibleForFree":62,"interactionStatistic":63},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":56},"Person",{"url":41,"name":58,"@type":59},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-08-30",true,{"@type":64,"interactionType":65,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":66},"ViewAction",{"@type":68,"mainEntity":69},"FAQPage",[70,76,80],{"name":71,"@type":72,"acceptedAnswer":73},"What is the primary responsibility of a Principal Certifying Authority (PCA)?","Question",{"text":74,"@type":75},"The PCA ensures the project is constructed and completed in accordance with development consent requirements (or complying development criteria) and relevant building regulations, especially the Building Code of Australia and referenced Australian Standards.","Answer",{"name":77,"@type":72,"acceptedAnswer":78},"How can the property owner choose a PCA?",{"text":79,"@type":75},"The owner chooses between an Accredited Private Certifier or the Local Council. Private certifiers are accredited individually, while local council accreditation is provided to the council as a whole.",{"name":81,"@type":72,"acceptedAnswer":82},"What approvals must be issued before a building can start and before it can be occupied?",{"text":83,"@type":75},"Before work starts, the PCA issues a Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate. 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