Drawing the Line: Understanding a Certifier's Scope
About
Few working relationships shape a project's progress as directly as the one between an architect and the certifier, yet the boundaries are often poorly understood until a project is already underway.The ACA NSW/ACT invites you to a practical session with experienced building surveyor Heath McNab, Managing Director of MBC Certifiers, exploring the realities of certification and how to keep projects moving through approval. The conversation will look at:
The ACA NSW/ACT invites you to a practical session with building surveyor Heath McNab of MBC Certifiers, exploring the realities of certification and how to keep projects moving through approval. The conversation will look at:
- What falls within the permissible scope of a Principal Certifier, and how should architects understand that boundary?
- What are the practical realities of the commissioning framework and how these shape the working relationship?
- What is the requirement for full upfront payment at the time of appointment?
- What difficulties are posed with changing certifiers once appointed?
- How to resolve the profession's reliance on certification for a project to proceed - avoiding disputes over scope which can become counter-productive to the project
- How can architects and certifiers build a positive working relationship and navigate scope questions constructively, so projects keep moving through approval stages
Heath also offers a certifier's perspective on a question many architects grapple with: how to balance the policy intent behind the rules, such as discouraging certifier shopping, with ensuring those same rules do not become an impediment to good project outcomes.
With more than two decades in the building surveying profession, Heath has built a reputation for sound judgement, technical excellence and a solutions-driven approach. His career spans major industrial facilities, educational campuses, high-rise commercial towers, retail developments and sensitive government projects. Drawing on experience across both the public and private sectors, he brings a balanced understanding of regulatory intent, design innovation and real-world constructability.
Bring your questions. This is a chance to understand the certifier's side of the table and to build the kind of working relationship that gets projects approved.
Date
Thursday 17 September 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (UTC+10)Location
Online event access details will be provided by the event organiser
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Drawing the Line: Understanding a Certifier's Scope
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