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Building Inspector Job Requirements
Are you planning to become a building inspector in Australia? This is an excellent decision since it is a high-paying job, and there are excellent prospects in this career. In modern days, buildings are constantly being erected, especially in cities, making this a perfect career to undertake.
However, as is required in any other profession, you must have ample skills to succeed. You need to be knowledgeable and have the right skill sets to be permitted to offer your services as a building inspector. This article focuses on what building inspector skills entail and other related information.
The Job Description Of Building Inspectors
You are supposed to play various roles when working as a construction and building inspector in Australia. All these roles are geared towards ensuring that all buildings meet all the set building codes and are in good condition. You need to check and determine whether all construction projects and buildings are structurally sound.
You are tasked with assessing and inspecting a building's structural quality and ensuring that each of the buildings you inspect complies with local regulations, contract specifications, and the national building codes. As a building inspector, you are expected to perform inspections before, during, and after the construction work is completed.
This helps ensure that all buildings and construction sites adhere to the laid down structural, safety, and building code regulations. You are also supposed to give violation notices, permits for construction, and stop-work orders. Below is a continuation of the building inspector job description:
- Perform land surveys before the construction of a building.
- Review building plans and blueprints.
- Check the depth of foundation and quality of construction materials to be used in a particular building.
- Inspect a building's structure, sewerage, electrical, plumbing, and heating safety. This inspection ensures that the building is safe and fully compliant with all set codes.
- Examine cranes and all other equipment used on construction sites.
- Maintain daily building logs and check that construction sites meet all the safety codes.
- Take measurements of all the dimensions to verify the elevation, alignment, and level of each constructed building.
- Monitor heating, plumbing, and electrical installations in a building.
What Do Building Inspectors Check?
Structural issues
Building inspectors look for several issues that may be affecting a particular building. Depending on the age of a building, a building inspector is mandated to check for structural problems. The issues checked include weakness in the building's roofing, walls, and foundation. They must check for all the problems that pose significant risks in terms of injuries or causing damage to other buildings.
Wiring and electrical concerns
As a building inspector, you are also required to check the wiring of a building and all other electrical issues. This is necessary because faulty wiring poses a significant fire risk. You are also expected to check if the building has fully functional smoke alarms to help detect smoke in case of a fire outbreak.
Building hazards
Constructions and buildings may have various hazards that must be identified and eliminated before they can cause any severe problems. A building inspector must identify risks, including gas leaks, asbestos, water damage, loose balustrades, mould, and other dangerous materials.
Wear and tear
Wear and tear are significant issues that affect older buildings. You are mandated to identify these defects when you work as a building inspector. These are issues primarily identified during pre-purchase building inspections to help potential buyers determine the amount they are required to invest in renovating the building.
Building Inspector Job Qualifications
You must have high-level building inspection qualifications to play all the above roles. You will need to possess formal qualifications in building surveying to work in the building and construction inspection field. Vocational education and training or universities are the most common study pathways.
You must complete the required qualifications like a Diploma of Building and Construction (CPC50220), Bachelor of Construction Management, or an Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying (CPC60121). Licensing or registration may also be needed, so you must look at the specific requirements with the authorities in your locality in Australia.
To work in any building and construction site in Australia, you should have a Construction Induction Card, also called the White Card. You will also have the upper hand if you belong to the professional building inspection association.
Building Inspector Skills
In addition to the qualifications mentioned above, you must also possess various skills to work as a building inspector in Australia. You are expected to know all the laws and procedures that apply before, during, and after building and construction projects. As a building inspector, you should have meticulous attention to detail and have strong development and planning skills.
Due to the high-level consultations involved, you need excellent communication skills. You also need strong analysis skills since the job involves forecasting costs, time, and all the resources required to finish the building and construction projects. You also need to learn how to use the various devices and test equipment used in the building inspection process.
Here are some of the skills you require:
- Leadership and management
- Good listening and communication
- Attention to details
- Technical mind with the ability to solve problems
It is also good to note that you may have to specialise in a particular area instead of providing general building inspection services as a building inspector. You can be involved in different tasks and have skills in several other areas in the building and construction industry. These areas include:
Construction estimation
As a building inspector, you can gain skills and work as a construction estimator. This is a perfect role that involves estimating the materials, environmental conditions, and energy efficiency necessary to complete a particular building.
Building surveying
You can also gain building surveying skills and become a building surveyor. The role involves taking accurate measurements, gathering survey data, and offering expert advice to builders, planners, and developers while ensuring high consistency between the construction works and the set plans.
Building consultancy
You can also establish yourself as a building consultant. You attain consultancy skills that involve knowledge in the entire building process and efficient methods of completing a given building and construction within the set budget. As a consultant, you can work on several projects simultaneously.
Industry Experience After Building Inspection
After gaining the above skills, it is always essential for a building inspector to gain industry experience by applying the skills to the actual working conditions. Before you can work as a building inspector, you can opt to work in one of the construction-related trades, such as electrical, plumbing, or any other.
This allows you to gain more understanding and hands-on building and construction experience. Suppose you have a bachelor's or a postgraduate degree in a building and construction-related area. In that case, you can gain industry experience in several areas, including working as an architect, cost estimator, or engineer.
Alternatively, you can attain hands-on experience by working with a fully licensed building inspector. By doing this, you gain direct experience with an expert and learn first-hand what the role of a building inspector entails. You are sure to gain enough skills to increase your chances of getting a building inspector job in Australia's top building inspection company. Besides, hands-on experience allows you to learn and apply the skills needed if you want to work as a self-employed building inspector.
Hands-On Experience As A Building Inspector
As mentioned above, you need to gain first-hand work experience to apply your building inspection skills correctly in the workplace. To achieve the best experience, you need to work with one of Australia's best building inspection companies. With a great company, you will be able to work with vastly experienced inspectors and learn how to use various inspection devices and equipment, apply inspection techniques, and deal with challenges involved in the process.
You are guaranteed to sharpen your skills and learn everything required to make you a respected professional building inspector in the industry. Moreover, you can always learn from qualified building inspectors in your locality.
