The reference site for Australian residential building. Compliance, contracts, practical site work, materials, trades, WHS.https://chalkline.com.au/en-auhttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/abic-mw/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/abic-mw/Major Works edition.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/abic-sw-2018/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/abic-sw-2018/Australian Building Industry Contract, Simple Works edition.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/addenda/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/addenda/formal revisions issued during tender period.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/allowance/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/allowance/looser term often used loosely; can mean PC or PS.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/as-standards/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/as-standards/Australian Standards referenced throughout NCC (e.g.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/bal/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/bal/bushfire risk rating; drives material specs in bushfire-prone zones.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/basix/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/basix/NSW thermal/water/energy assessment.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/cost-plus-contract/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/cost-plus-contract/actual cost + builder's margin.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/da-development-application/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/da-development-application/planning approval pathways.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/d-and-c/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/d-and-c/builder takes on design risk.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/defects-liability-period/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/defects-liability-period/period after practical completion when builder must fix defects (usually 12 months residential).Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/detention/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/detention/stormwater management often required by council for new impervious area.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/document-precedence/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/document-precedence/order of authority when documents conflict (typically contract > spec > drawings > schedules).Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/energy-report/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/energy-report/assesses thermal performance, drives glazing/insulation specs.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/drawing-register/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/drawing-register/list of all drawings issued, with revisions.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/footing/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/footing/the base of the structure transferring load to the ground.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/engineers-details/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/engineers-details/drawings produced by a structural engineer specifying footings, framing, steel, etc.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/gpo/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/gpo/electrical socket.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/hazmat-survey/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/hazmat-survey/pre-demo identification of hazardous materials.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/hia-contracts/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/hia-contracts/Housing Industry Association contracts.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/hydraulic-plans/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/hydraulic-plans/plumbing schematic showing water, waste, stormwater layout.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/livable-housing-silver/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/livable-housing-silver/accessibility provisions in NCC 2022 (mandatory in VIC for new dwellings since Oct 2023).Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/liquidated-damages/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/liquidated-damages/pre-agreed daily $ payable by builder if project runs late.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/make-good/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/make-good/vague contract phrase meaning "rectify to acceptable condition." Always worth defining tightly.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/lump-sum-contract/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/lump-sum-contract/fixed price for a defined scope.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/mba-contracts/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/mba-contracts/Master Builders Association contracts.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/ncc/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/ncc/the building code governing all construction in Australia.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/niche/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/niche/recessed shelf in shower wall.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/pc-sum/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/pc-sum/supply allowance for an item where the actual product hasn't been chosen yet (e.g.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/practical-completion/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/practical-completion/the milestone when works are sufficiently complete for the client to occupy.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/ps/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/ps/allowance for work where scope isn't fully defined (e.g.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/retention/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/retention/% of payment held back (typically 5%) until defects period passes.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/rfi/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/rfi/formal question from builder to architect/client during tender or build.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/rough-in/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/rough-in/first-fix services (electrical, plumbing) before linings go on.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/screen/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/screen/shower screen; framed/semi-frameless/frameless.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/slab-on-ground/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/slab-on-ground/concrete slab poured directly on prepared ground.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/soil-report/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/soil-report/classifies site soil per AS 2870 (A, S, M, H1, H2, E, P).Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/stormwater-discharge/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/stormwater-discharge/where roof and surface water legally must connect (council-controlled).Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/stumped/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/stumped/older houses on timber or concrete stumps; common in VIC/QLD.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/swms/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/swms/required for high-risk construction work under WHS regs.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/tie-down/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/tie-down/connection from roof to foundation resisting wind uplift.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/tpz/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/tpz/protected radius around significant trees per AS 4970-2009.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/traffic-management-plan/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/traffic-management-plan/required where construction affects public access; council permits often needed.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/variation/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/variation/change to scope after contract signing.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://chalkline.com.au/glossary/waterproofing/https://chalkline.com.au/glossary/waterproofing/wet area construction per AS 3740.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT