QLDIn ForceAct
Building Act 1975
sec.109What is a BCA classification or use change to a building
Start here
Get a plain-English read of sec.109
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Building Act 1975.
### sec.109 What is a BCA classification or use change to a building
A BCA classification or use change to a building is—
a change to the use for which the building was designed, built or adapted to be used if—
the change of use alters its BCA classification; or
the change of use does not alter its BCA classification but the new use requires building work to be carried out for the building to comply with any relevant building assessment provisions applying to the new use; or
a change in the use of a class 7b warehouse to an occupancy of excessive hazard by storing combustible cartons above 4m in height or more than 1,000m 3 of combustible cartons
if, under section 103 (e) , a certificate of occupancy for the building states a restriction on its use or occupation—a change in circumstances that affects the way the building complies with the restriction.
a change in the nature or quantity of materials displayed, stored or used in a building that increases the risk to life or safety, requiring building work to be carried out to comply with the BCA
However, a BCA classification or use change does not include a change of use that alters a building’s BCA classification if the alteration happens only because of an amendment to building classifications under the BCA made after—
if there is a certificate of occupancy for the building—the certificate was given; or
otherwise—the building was first used or occupied.
s 109 ins 2006 No. 36 s 5
amd 2009 No. 51 s 14 ; 2020 No. 24 s 153 s ch 1 pt 2
(sec.109-ssec.1) A BCA classification or use change to a building is— a change to the use for which the building was designed, built or adapted to be used if— the change of use alters its BCA classification; or the change of use does not alter its BCA classification but the new use requires building work to be carried out for the building to comply with any relevant building assessment provisions applying to the new use; or a change in the use of a class 7b warehouse to an occupancy of excessive hazard by storing combustible cartons above 4m in height or more than 1,000m 3 of combustible cartons if, under section 103 (e) , a certificate of occupancy for the building states a restriction on its use or occupation—a change in circumstances that affects the way the building complies with the restriction. a change in the nature or quantity of materials displayed, stored or used in a building that increases the risk to life or safety, requiring building work to be carried out to comply with the BCA
(sec.109-ssec.2) However, a BCA classification or use change does not include a change of use that alters a building’s BCA classification if the alteration happens only because of an amendment to building classifications under the BCA made after— if there is a certificate of occupancy for the building—the certificate was given; or otherwise—the building was first used or occupied.
- (a) a change to the use for which the building was designed, built or adapted to be used if— (i) the change of use alters its BCA classification; or (ii) the change of use does not alter its BCA classification but the new use requires building work to be carried out for the building to comply with any relevant building assessment provisions applying to the new use; or Example of BCA classification or use change for paragraph (a) (ii) — a change in the use of a class 7b warehouse to an occupancy of excessive hazard by storing combustible cartons above 4m in height or more than 1,000m 3 of combustible cartons
- (i) the change of use alters its BCA classification; or
- (ii) the change of use does not alter its BCA classification but the new use requires building work to be carried out for the building to comply with any relevant building assessment provisions applying to the new use; or
- (b) if, under section 103 (e) , a certificate of occupancy for the building states a restriction on its use or occupation—a change in circumstances that affects the way the building complies with the restriction. Example of BCA classification or use change for paragraph (b) — a change in the nature or quantity of materials displayed, stored or used in a building that increases the risk to life or safety, requiring building work to be carried out to comply with the BCA
- (i) the change of use alters its BCA classification; or
- (ii) the change of use does not alter its BCA classification but the new use requires building work to be carried out for the building to comply with any relevant building assessment provisions applying to the new use; or
- (a) if there is a certificate of occupancy for the building—the certificate was given; or
- (b) otherwise—the building was first used or occupied.