BASE STAGE INSPECTIONS OR SLAB STAGE INSPECTIONS

Base Stage is one of the most important stages when a new home is being built.

As outlined in Section 40 of the Domestic Building Contracts and Tribunal Act 1995:
‘Base stage’ means –

1. In the case of a home with a timber floor, the stage when the concrete footings for the floor are poured and the base brickwork is built to floor level;
2. In the case of a home with a timber floor with no base brickwork, the stage when the stumps, piers or columns are completed;
3. In the case of a home with a suspended concrete slab floor, the stage when the concrete footings are poured.
4. In the case of a home with a concrete floor, the stage when the floor is completed.
5. In the case of a home for which the exterior walls and roof are constructed before the floor is constructed, the stage when the concrete footings are poured.

It is important to note that the selection of the building surveyor is still influenced by the builder. The surveyor is therefore not completely independent. The base stage inspections conducted by Finalinspect are significantly more thorough than those conducted by surveying firms who are often employed by builders to carry out multiple basic, quick base stage inspections on several hundred homes each year.

We ensure that the base has been completed compliant with the relevant Australian Standards (e.g. AS 2870 Residential Slabs and footings – Construction), the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the relevant engineer’s drawings and specifications.

Finalinspect uses a comprehensive inspection checklist that has been progressively refined and updated over many years. At the base stage, Finalinspect closely inspects and checks a wide range of items including but not limited to the following:

Footings

• All trenches are thoroughly inspected and measured to check they are straight, square, clean and the correct width and depth compliant with the relevant engineers drawings and specifications.
• The reinforcement placed in the trenches is the correct size, is adequately lapped and properly tied together.
• All excavations are free of loose earth, tree roots, mud and debris immediately before the concrete footings are poured.
• The concrete poured in to the trenches has fully covered all reinforcement and has flowed to all corners of the trenches.

Piers / Stumps and Columns

• The size of the concrete pad footings are compliant with the relevant engineer’s drawings and specifications.
• All piers, stumps and columns are thoroughly checked to ensure they are correctly located, straight, plumb, level and the correct height – compliant with the relevant engineer’s drawings and specifications.
• All holes are well compacted and adequately backfilled.
• All base brickwork is properly backfilled.
• The sub floor area is clear of rubbish and rubble.

Pre-concrete pour checks

• The formwork is checked for level, square and size (i.e. compliant with the relevant floor plan).
• All excavations are thoroughly inspected and measured to check they are straight, square, clean and the correct width and depth compliant with the relevant engineers drawings and specifications.
• The reinforcement placed in the excavations is the correct size, is adequately lapped and properly tied together compliant with the relevant engineers drawings and specifications.
• All excavations are free of loose earth, tree roots, mud and debris immediately before the concrete footings are poured.
• The vapour barrier has been fully and properly installed.
• The vapour barrier is thoroughly inspected to make sure it is not torn or punctured.
• The termite barrier has been correctly installed (if required).
• All service pipe penetrations have been adequately sealed.
• The trench mesh and steel reinforcing bars are correctly placed, the correct size, and are adequately lapped and properly tied together.
• The trench mesh is adequately supported off the ground using bar chairs.

Post concrete pour checks

• A laser measuring tool and laser level is used to accurately check that the finished slab is level across all sections of the slab, straight and square.
• The size of the finished slab is measured to check it accords with the relevant floor plan.
• The location of all service pipes are re-checked to ensure they are located compliant with the relevant floor plan.
• The finished concrete slab is thoroughly checked for any damage or cracks etc.

The importance of base stage inspections or slab stage inspections

The structural integrity of a new home is only as good as the base or concrete slab upon which it has been constructed.  The base stage inspection or the slab stage inspection is therefore one of the most important inspections during the construction of a new home.

Often, the boxing and steel for a concrete slab is finished in one day and the slab is usually poured and finished the next day.  It is therefore very important to book an independent building inspector before preparation works (e.g. a site scrape) commences on site.

If you would like to talk to us about Base Stage Inspections or Slab Stage Inspections or would like to arrange a completely independent Base Stage Inspection or Slab Inspection, call us now on 0408132 152.