The NSW Government has delayed the implementation date of the new practice standard for professional engineers.
Following industry feedback, Building Commission NSW is planning to revise the previously published standard to ensure it has the necessary focus on the work of professional engineers, as distinct from other legislated roles.
The Commission will conduct further consultation with industry in September and October 2024 on a revised version of the standard and additional obligations for specific classes of engineer, with enforcement commencing in early 2025.
The practice standard for professional engineers, released in March 2024, sets out mandatory minimum work and behavioural standards for NSW engineers doing engineering work under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.
It was previously indicated that compliance with the practice standard would be enforced from 1 September 2024.
Engineers Australia welcomes this approach from the NSW Government. In April, we expressed concerns about some of the proposed obligations in the practice standard and encouraged members to contact the NSW government.
Engineers Australia General Manager, Policy and Advocacy Jenny Mitchell says the organisation is pleased the Government has taken these comments on board and is taking steps to address the challenging requirements the proposed standard would have placed on engineers.
“We will continue to support the Government’s efforts to improve building outcomes in NSW. It is essential for the NSW Government to provide clear requirements that reflect the practices and responsibilities of individual engineers, especially in relation to their employers, to ensure NSW remains an attractive place for professional engineering work in the building industry,” she says.
Engineers Australia’s feedback – remaining concerns
Engineers Australia has repeatedly advised the Government, including in this member-backed submission, that their approach to the registration of professional engineers and corresponding standard is based too narrowly on building consulting work and does not distinguish between the roles of individual engineers and the businesses that employ them.
Our advice remains that the proposed practice standard imposes unrealistic obligations on individual employee engineers. We are seeking full implementation of our feedback in the upcoming round of consultation
Key features of the proposed standard include:
- introducing a requirement that designs must be fit for purpose
- requiring on-site inspections during the construction phase of a project
- introducing new requirements regarding independent third-party reviews
- reinforcing the importance of the existing Code of Practice for professional engineers
- providing clarity regarding supervision requirements
- introducing specific obligations for certain classes of professional engineers and certain professional engineering work.
Engineers Australia will continue our advocacy on this issue and encourage our members to make your voice heard.