Units
Statutory Construction Law
Unit code: UDB314
Contact hours: 3 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
Commercial Law. Sale of goods; Hire purchase; Trade practices; Negotiable instruments; Insurance law; Partnership law and company law; Bankruptcy and liquidation; Arbitration (the agreement, appointment of an arbitrator; Conduct of an arbitrator; Powers and duties; Enforcement of an award, costs; Alternative dispute resolution. Building Law; Study of the Building Code of Australia and Building Regulations, which control the design, construction of building works; emphasis on all building law; a study of the Acts Interpretation Act, Town Planning Acts; etc.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Offered in these courses
- UD40
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
UDB314 introduces students to the Australian statutory and legal frameworks associated with the construction industry environment in which they will be working. It addresses specific legal issues that relate to construction activities and projects and specifically to those issues covered by Building Code of Australia (BCA), Queensland Development Code (QDC) and the relevant Australian Standards. An understanding of these frameworks is essential to professionals practising in all areas of the built environment.
Aims
The unit aims to provide you with the requisite knowledge for you to make decisions on construction work to avoid the need for rework, identify when work does not comply with statute law, locate, interpret and apply building statute law.
Objectives
By the end of this unit you will be able to:
1. Locate and understand regulatory requirements to identify matters of potential risk critical to practical completion of the building and the right to occupy the building.
2. Manage and supervise priorities to ensure an 'on time', 'within budget' and 'quality' outcome complying with legislated regulatory standards.
3. Interpret and apply building law whilst problem solving construction methods and installation.
4. Identify the increasing social responsibility elements of building construction that are now being regulated (as opposed to minimum safety standards), accessibility and sustainability, etc.
Content
The unit covers the following:
- Building Code of Australia (BCA)
- Queensland Development Code (QDC)
- Relevant Australian Standards.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Teaching Mode:
Hours per week: 3
Lectures: 2
Tutorials: 1
Each week you will explore parts of the Building Code (BCA), Queensland Development Code (QDC) and relevant Australian Standards in the lectures and tutorials. The BCA and QDC are content-rich documents that require you to fully understand and apply each section, before you move onto the next section. When considering a problem scenario, you may need to refer to many sections of the BCA to answer a question as many sections rely on knowledge of other sections. These publications are not something you can read from cover to cover and gradually develop an understanding, nor can you study the night before and pass the final examination.
Assessment
The assessment will comprise formative assessment (feedback in class from tutors and through group discussions) and summative assessment (assignments).
QUT's Assessment Policy is located at MOPP C/5.1.You will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
- Informal: worked example, verbal feedback in lecture and tutorial
- Formal: in writing, such as criteria sheets, written comments
- Direct: to individual students, in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to the whole class, in lectures, tutorials or via unit Blackboard
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
By giving examples, investigate the purpose of building code and who administers it in Australia.
Relates to objectives:
1, 4
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Mid Semester
Assessment name:
Report
Description:
In detail, review architectural plans for a proposed development with the BCA and describe how the building does/ does not meet the requirement of the BCA and what actions may be required to achieve compliance.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3, 4
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Recommended texts:
1. Australian Building Codes Board Building Code of Australia (Free download from QUT library databases for printing)
2. QUT Cite|Write (Free download from QUT library)
3. Queensland Development Code
Further recommended texts will be available on the week one information list and also through the on-line Blackboard site for this unit.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. Students in this unit will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.
Additional Costs:
There are no additional costs associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 06-Feb-2013
