Inspector qualifications
Defines minimum qualifications, licensing, and insurance requirements for inspectors operating under the standard.
AS 4349.0-2007
General Inspection of Buildings
The parent standard for Australian building inspections. Defines the general principles, format, and limitations that all sub-standards build on. Covers handover, defect, progress, and general condition inspections.
SCOPE
What's inspected under this standard.
- General-purpose building inspections not covered by 4349.1 (pre-purchase) or 4349.3 (timber pest)
- Handover / practical completion inspections on new builds
- Staged construction inspections through a build
- General condition assessments outside of a property transaction
WHAT THE STANDARD DEFINES
Key requirements and structure.
Report format
Required sections: executive summary, scope, methodology, limitations, defects with photographs, recommendations.
Limitations disclosure
Every report must explicitly state what wasn't inspected and why (inaccessibility, weather, vegetation, occupant possessions blocking access).
Photographic evidence
Defects must be documented with location-tagged photographs sufficient to identify and locate the issue on a follow-up visit.
WHO USES IT
Inspections under this standard are typically for...
- Buyers and owners commissioning general condition inspections
- New-build owners arranging handover or staged inspections
- Body corporates assessing common property condition
- Investors auditing property condition outside of a purchase context
REPORT REQUIREMENTS
Every compliant report includes these.
- Property identification (address, type, age)
- Inspection date and weather conditions
- Inspector licence number and insurance details
- Defined scope of inspection
- Explicit limitations and inaccessible areas
- Defects with photographs, severity rating, and location
- Recommendations for further investigation where needed
- Executive summary in plain English
LIMITATIONS
What this standard doesn't cover
AS 4349.0 is a visual inspection standard. It does not include destructive investigation (no opening up of walls or ceilings), electrical or gas compliance testing, structural engineering certification, or environmental hazard testing beyond visible observation.
RELATED INSPECTIONS
Inspections conducted under AS 4349.0
OTHER STANDARDS
Related standards in the AS 4349 family
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