The NSW Government has announced a delay in enforcing the new practice standard for professional engineers. 

Initially set for enforcement on 1 September 2024, the implementation will now begin in early 2025. 

The postponement follows feedback from the industry, leading Building Commission NSW to revise the standard to better focus on the specific roles of professional engineers as distinct from other legislated positions.

Further consultation with the industry is scheduled for September and October 2024. 

This consultation will address a revised version of the standard and additional obligations for certain classes of engineers. 

The practice standard, introduced in March 2024, outlines mandatory minimum work and behavioural standards for engineers operating under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020. 

Industry body Engineers Australia has welcomed the government's decision to delay enforcement. 

“We will continue to support the Government’s efforts to improve building outcomes in NSW,” says Jenny Mitchell, General Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Engineers Australia.

“It is essential for the NSW Government to provide clear requirements that reflect the practices and responsibilities of individual engineers, especially in relation to their employers, to ensure NSW remains an attractive place for professional engineering work in the building industry,” she stated.

Concerns about the obligations proposed in the original standard included that it was too focused on building consulting work and did not adequately differentiate between the responsibilities of individual engineers and their employers. 

Respondents pointed out that the proposed standard imposed unrealistic obligations on individual engineers. 

Key features of the proposed standard included requirements for designs to be fit for purpose, mandatory on-site inspections during the construction phase, new requirements for independent third-party reviews, reinforcing the existing Code of Practice for professional engineers, and providing clarity on supervision requirements. 

Specific obligations for certain classes of professional engineers and certain types of engineering work were also introduced.