What is Inspecting Up?
Changes introduced on 22 May 2026 mean registered individuals in either
- Building surveyor – restricted (class 1 and 10 buildings)
- Building surveyor – restricted (all classes of building)
can carry out critical stage inspections (except the final critical stage inspection) of building work in one registration class above their own.
These inspections must be carried out with the consent and under supervision of the principal certifier appointed for the building work.
If the principal certifier is a local council or registered body corporate, the inspection must be carried out under the supervision of a registered individual authorised by the principal certifier.
Why has it been introduced?
Inspecting Up will help ease current workforce capacity challenges, particularly in regional areas by permitting individuals in restricted building surveyor registration classes to carry out critical stage inspections of building work in the registration class above their own.
It also provides more opportunities for individuals in restricted building surveyor classes to gain practical experience to progress to higher classes of registration.
How is compliance managed?
Supervision is a critical element for ensuring certification work under Inspecting Up maintains compliance with existing obligations, standards and registration requirements.
With the introduction of Inspecting Up, a new supervision chapter has been added to both volumes of the Practice Standard for Registered Certifiers which provides clear, principles-based standards for the supervision of certification work.
Inspecting Up in practice
- Building surveyors registered in restricted classes may carry out critical stage inspections in one class above their own.
- Inspections must occur with consent of principal certifier and under supervision.
- Inspecting Up does not apply to final critical stage inspections.
- All work under Inspecting Up must meet existing obligations and requirements of registration.
How Inspecting Up applies to different roles and classes
You can carry out critical stage inspections (except the final critical stage inspection) for class 2 to 9 buildings, provided the building does not:
- have a floor area greater than 2,000 m², or
- have a rise in storeys of more than:
- 3 storeys, or
- 4 storeys, only if the ground floor or basement is class 7a and the other 3 storeys are class 2.
This work must only be carried out with the consent and supervision of the principal certifier.
You can continue to carry out inspections of class 1 and 10 buildings.
When inspecting up on a class 2 building or a building with a class 2 part, you are required to carry out the certification work in accordance with Volume 1 of the Practice Standard for Registered Certifiers (new residential apartment buildings).
You can carry out critical stage inspections of building work (except the final critical stage inspection) for class 2 to 9 buildings that:
- have a floor area greater than 2,000 m², or
- have a rise in storeys of more than:
- 3 storeys, or
- 4 storeys, only if the ground floor or basement is class 7a and the other 3 storeys are class 2.
This work must only be carried out with the consent and supervision of the principal certifier.
You can continue to carry out inspections of class 1 and 10 buildings. as well as class 2 to 9 buildings.
If you are the principal certifier for building work, you can give consent for a registered individual in the building surveyor – restricted (class 1 and 10 buildings) class to inspect up on your project and you must supervise this work.
If you are the principal certifier for building work, you can give consent for a registered individual in either
- building surveyor – restricted (class 1 and 10 buildings) or
- building surveyor – restricted (all classes of building)
to inspect up on your project and you must supervise this work.
The individual under supervision can only carry out work authorised in one registration class above their own. For example, a registered certifier in the building surveyor – restricted (class 1 and 10 buildings) cannot inspect up on a class 2 building with five storeys, even if the work is supervised by a building surveyor – unrestricted.
If appointed as the principal certifier for building work, the body corporate or council can give consent to registered individuals in either:
- building surveyor – restricted (class 1 and 10 buildings) or
- building surveyor – restricted (all classes of building)
to inspect up on the project.
You must also authorise a registered individual in either:
- building surveyor – restricted (all classes of building) or,
- building surveyor – unrestricted
to supervise this work subject to the registration class of the individual being supervised.
Certifier responsibilities
Registered certifiers must carry out ‘certification work’, as defined by the Building and Development Certifiers Regulation 2020, in accordance with existing obligations and standards, including:
For additional information, see Certifier obligations when working on regulated buildings.
Who can supervise?
If the principal certifier is a registered individual, they must supervise any work carried out under Inspecting Up on their project.
If the principal certifier is a local council or registered body corporate, any work carried out under Inspecting Up must be supervised by a registered individual authorised by the principal certifier.
When a building surveyor – restricted (class 1 and 10 buildings) is inspecting up, the authorised individual supervising may be registered in:
- building surveyor – restricted (all classes of building) or,
- building surveyor – unrestricted
When a building surveyor – restricted (all classes of building) is inspecting up, the authorised individual supervising must be registered in the building surveyor – unrestricted class.
Supervision under Inspecting Up cannot be delegated under any other circumstance.
Supervision by registration class
Supervision requirements
The Practice Standard for Registered Certifiers has been updated to provide the expected standards and requirements for the supervision of certification work, including inspecting up.
A new chapter about supervision has been added to both volumes of the practice standard. It covers supervision levels (direct and general supervision), the requirement for mandatory competency assessments before certification work commence, and principles-based requirements for those being supervised and for those supervising.
Supervision levels
Two levels of supervision have been established which will be required subject to the supervisor’s assessment of the supervised certifier’s competency.
- Direct supervision: One on one, constant in-person supervision where the supervised certifier receives continued guidance and monitoring.
- General supervision: Periodic monitoring with general instruction and support but not requiring constant in-person supervision.
Competence and capability
Mandatory competency assessments are required to be undertaken by the supervisor to determine the appropriate level of supervision based on the supervised certifier’s competence and capability, the complexity of the certification work and the risks involved. Considerations are detailed in the practice standard.
Principles-based requirements
The practice standard now includes principles-based requirements to be followed while carrying out supervision, such as providing clear instructions and monitoring work at appropriate intervals relative to the level of supervision required.
Compliance
Compliance with the supervision chapter of the practice standard is required when supervision is considered certification work. This means that:
- it is a condition of the supervised certifier’s registration that the certification work be carried out only under the supervision of a registered certifier (the supervisor) holding a particular class of registration, and
- the supervisor holds that class of registration.
Supervision under Inspecting Up is considered certification work, which means the new supervision chapter of the practice standard must be complied with.
Compliance of supervision requirements under the Practice Standard for Registered Certifiers may be monitored as part of our building and development certifier audit program.
Supervision under Inspecting Up must be carried out in accordance with existing requirements for registered certifiers, such as those within the Code of Conduct and the practice standard.
Updated Practice Standard for Registered Certifiers
Industry practitioners should now refer to the May 2026 edition of both volume 1 and 2 of the practice standard and update any offline copies to this edition.
