Shed Conversions in Sandy Ridges

Before converting shed to a habitable dwelling, you must complete a number of steps. To convert your shed into a home, you’ll need to reclassify it from a Class 10a building to a Class 1a structure. Sheds, garages and carports are called as Class 10a structures and cannot be lived in permanently. When applying for your conversion, you’ll need to submit a Form 15 Design Certificate and Form 16 Inspection Certificate according to the National Building Code of Australia and the Queensland State Building Act 1975. Postma Consultants are Registered Professional Engineers of Queensland (RPEQ) and can create a Structural Reclassification Report and help complete a Form 15 and Form 16 for your Sandy Ridges shed conversion.

Sandy Ridges Class 10a to Class 1a Shed Conversions

A Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) must provide a Structural Reclassification Report to turn your shed or garage in Sandy Ridges into a Class 1a structure.

This report includes a drawing set and Form 15 Design Certificate to outline remedial structural and/or strengthening works required to convert your Sandy Ridges shed to a Class 1a dwelling. We will review your design plans and our consulting engineer will give a professional judgment on structural changes needed, including those related to:

Foundations
Footings
Slab
Walls
Roof framing
Bracing
Trusses
Tie-downs

Furthermore, Postma Consultant works with a number of other building and construction professionals to help walk you through the design process. This may include site specific needs such as soil testing.

Form 15 Design Certificates and Form 16 Inspection Certificates

When planning to convert a Class 10a shed to a 1a building, you’ll need to submit a Form 15 Design Certificate and Form 16 Inspection Certificate. Any further structural improvements must be listed on a Form 15 Design Certificate. Also, a Form 16 needs to be submitted when inspecting your build progress. Only a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) can issue a Form 15 to convert your Sandy Ridges shed. If you don’t have these forms, you may incur government fines.

Form 15 Design Certificates for Sandy Ridges Sheds

Sheds in Sandy Ridges are not structurally sound to live in on a full time basis. A Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) must therefore determine the structural integrity of your existing Class 10a structure and report on what must be done to reclassify it as a Class 1a inhabitable building. A Form 15 Design Certificate is used for this purpose to state the structural improvements required to make your Sandy Ridges shed fit to live in permanently. In combination with a Structural Reclassification Report, a Form 15 must be submitted to Council before starting construction. The Form 15 Design Certificate also lists the tests, specifications, rules, standards and codes of practice the consulting engineer used to make their recommendations. As such, only a RPEQ consulting engineer can complete this form for Sandy Ridges shed conversions to Class 1a dwellings.

Form 16 Inspection Certificate for Sandy Ridges Shed Conversions

During the process of building, each major stage during construction of your Class 1a building must be inspected. Form 16 Inspection Certificates help make sure your builder is working in accordance with the design plans and they are meeting building standards in The National Building Code of Australia. You will need a structural engineer that serves the Sandy Ridges area, like Postma Consultants, to complete a Form 16 Inspection Certificate. We will only submit a Form 16 for a Sandy Ridge shed conversion after we are completely satisfied all building standards have been surpassed. Form 16 Inspection Certificates are legal documents and must be signed off on by a competent person such as a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) such as Postma Consultants.

Who Can Issue A Form 15 and Form 16?

Only a competent person is allowed to complete a Form 15 and or Form 16. A RPEQ, such as Postma Consultants, are considered a legally competent person and can offer this service. To help in converting your Sandy Ridges shed to a home, a local Sandy Ridges structural engineer must assist your builder who is not permitted to inspect their own work or issue a Form 16 Inspection Certificate due to possible conflicts of interest.

Sandy Ridges Shed Conversion Structural Engineers

Postma Consultants are a regional structural engineering consultancy offering services to Sandy Ridges and beyond. Our structural engineer is highly experienced in many areas of the field with 30 years industry exposure. We have assisted many residents with their Class 10a shed to Class 1a dwelling conversions. Postma Consultants is a family owned and operated business that provides a more personalised service than larger engineering firms. Our engineer is available to answer questions any time and also perform site visits at short notice to provide professional assistance to you or your builder. We are a top class engineering firm with many satisfied customers. For a free no-obligation conversation about turning your Class 10a Sandy Ridges shed into a Class 1a dwelling, please contact us on on 0417 533 691 or email jan@postmaconsultants.com for helpful and flexible structural engineering services.