Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Approved Building Manuals and OC Tick.
An Approved Building Manual is a structured, centralised record of all critical building documentation, including permits, compliance certificates, maintenance records, defect history, and regulatory information.
In Australia, Building Manuals are part of a broader regulatory shift to improve building transparency, safety, and accountability. In Victoria, draft regulations propose formal requirements for certain building classes to maintain and provide access to a Building Manual.
In Australia, Building Manuals are part of a broader regulatory shift to improve building transparency, safety, and accountability. In Victoria, draft regulations propose formal requirements for certain building classes to maintain and provide access to a Building Manual.
Requirements vary by state.
In Victoria, draft regulations propose that certain classes of buildings must maintain an Approved Building Manual and provide access to relevant authorities or emergency services within a defined timeframe.
More broadly, Building Manuals are aligned with national best practice and are expected to become increasingly standard across Australia as regulatory frameworks evolve.
In Victoria, draft regulations propose that certain classes of buildings must maintain an Approved Building Manual and provide access to relevant authorities or emergency services within a defined timeframe.
More broadly, Building Manuals are aligned with national best practice and are expected to become increasingly standard across Australia as regulatory frameworks evolve.
The Building Manual is the property of the Owners Corporation (the building owners).
OC Tick provides the platform and governance framework, but ownership and control of all records remain with the Owners Corporation. This ensures continuity and independence regardless of changes to service providers or management.
OC Tick provides the platform and governance framework, but ownership and control of all records remain with the Owners Corporation. This ensures continuity and independence regardless of changes to service providers or management.
OC Tick works alongside your Strata Manager.
Strata Managers continue to manage the day-to-day operations of the building, including administration, finances, and contractor coordination. OC Tick provides a structured system for storing, maintaining, and verifying building records.
This separation ensures:
Strata Managers continue to manage the day-to-day operations of the building, including administration, finances, and contractor coordination. OC Tick provides a structured system for storing, maintaining, and verifying building records.
This separation ensures:
- Clear record ownership
- Improved transparency for committees
- Consistent documentation standards
A Building Manual provides a single, reliable source of truth for all building records.
It helps ensure:
It helps ensure:
- Compliance obligations are clearly documented
- Records are complete, structured, and accessible
- Information can be provided quickly when requested
- Owners maintain long-term control of their building data
The Building Manual remains with the building.
All records are retained and can be transferred to a new Strata Manager without disruption. This eliminates the risk of lost documents and ensures continuity of compliance and historical records.
All records are retained and can be transferred to a new Strata Manager without disruption. This eliminates the risk of lost documents and ensures continuity of compliance and historical records.
A Building Manual typically includes:
- Occupancy permits and approvals
- Essential Safety Measures (ESM) reports and certifications
- Maintenance schedules and inspection records
- Asset registers for common property
- Electrical, plumbing, and gas compliance records
- Pool and safety barrier compliance certificates
- Building notices or orders issued by authorities
- Defect registers and rectification history
- Warranties and contractor documentation
OC Tick enables building documentation to be accessed and shared efficiently.
In jurisdictions such as Victoria, proposed regulations require that Building Manuals be made available to relevant authorities or emergency services within 24 hours of request. The platform is designed to support this requirement.
In jurisdictions such as Victoria, proposed regulations require that Building Manuals be made available to relevant authorities or emergency services within 24 hours of request. The platform is designed to support this requirement.
No.
While specific legislative requirements are introduced at a state level, the need for structured building documentation is national.
Building Manuals align with broader regulatory reforms across Australia aimed at improving compliance, safety, and accountability in the construction and property sectors.
While specific legislative requirements are introduced at a state level, the need for structured building documentation is national.
Building Manuals align with broader regulatory reforms across Australia aimed at improving compliance, safety, and accountability in the construction and property sectors.
Yes.
OC Tick can establish and maintain Building Manuals for both new and existing buildings, including those without an existing structured record system.
Our expertise in building compliance and documentation enables us to organise and validate records across a wide range of building types and ages.
OC Tick can establish and maintain Building Manuals for both new and existing buildings, including those without an existing structured record system.
Our expertise in building compliance and documentation enables us to organise and validate records across a wide range of building types and ages.
OC Tick combines:
- Registered building surveying expertise
- In-house legal capability
- Structured compliance and documentation systems
- Audit buildings against occupancy permits
- Provide compliance oversight and determination support
- Maintain accurate and defensible building records
OC Tick provides a structured framework for managing compliance documentation, inspections, and certification.
This ensures that required records are:
This ensures that required records are:
- Collected and stored correctly
- Maintained over time
- Easily accessible for audit or review
OC Tick enables the structured recording of defects, rectification works, and associated documentation.
This creates a clear and traceable record of:
This creates a clear and traceable record of:
- Identified issues
- Actions taken
- Outcomes achieved
Recent reforms propose that certain developments maintain a retention fund for a defined period after completion.
To support claims against this fund, owners must be able to demonstrate:
To support claims against this fund, owners must be able to demonstrate:
- Defects
- Rectification works
- Ongoing building performance
Yes.
OC Tick uses secure, enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure with controlled access, encryption, and data protection measures to safeguard building records.
OC Tick uses secure, enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure with controlled access, encryption, and data protection measures to safeguard building records.
Access is controlled by the Owners Corporation.
Permissions can be granted to:
Permissions can be granted to:
- Strata Managers
- Committee members
- Owners
- Regulatory authorities or emergency services, when required
No.
OC Tick provides the Building Manual and documentation framework. Strata Managers continue to manage building operations, while OC Tick ensures records are structured, complete, and independently maintained.
OC Tick provides the Building Manual and documentation framework. Strata Managers continue to manage building operations, while OC Tick ensures records are structured, complete, and independently maintained.
Pricing depends on the size and complexity of the building and the level of service required.
OC Tick offers structured plans designed to support ongoing compliance and maintenance of the Building Manual over time.
OC Tick offers structured plans designed to support ongoing compliance and maintenance of the Building Manual over time.
Still have questions?
We're here to help. Contact our team for more information about building manual compliance.