Quality · Compliance
Materials, standards and approvals
What our granny flats are made of, what we require from every factory, and the rules that apply to putting one in your backyard in New South Wales.
Materials, element by element
From the manufacturer's quotation for our reference units (October 2026). Every item is confirmed in writing in your quote.
Galvanised steel frame
Powder-coated Q235 steel, bolted with stainless fixings: 150 × 210 × 3.0 mm columns and 4.0 mm corner castings on our reference units. Near the coast, the fluorocarbon (PVDF) coating option extends service life in salt air.
Insulated sandwich panels
Walls of 75 mm EPS (Standard) or 100 mm EPS (Premium) between two skins of 0.35 mm colour steel; 75 or 100 mm PU and rock wool are available. Thicker panels give more headroom for your BASIX certificate.
Windows and doors
Thermal-break aluminium, double glazed, with flyscreens; thermal-break aluminium entry door.
Floor and finishes
Cement board and bamboo plywood with a PVC wear layer, SPC click flooring in the finish schedule; embossed metal cladding outside.
Electrical
230 V single-phase installation wired to AS/NZS 3000 practice, with RCD/RCBO protection. Components are specified with SAA approvals; in NSW, declared articles need an approval recognised by NSW Fair Trading, and we check each one before your order. Your licensed electrician connects the unit and issues the compliance certificate.
Plumbing
Fittings specified as WaterMark-certified, with four labelled connection points: cold, hot, grey water and sewer. We check each certificate before your order, including Lead Free WaterMark where it applies. Your licensed plumber makes the connections.
The rules in New South Wales
General information as at 19 October 2026, not advice for your block. Approval and certification are issued by your certifying authority, not by us.
| Topic | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Granny flat in NSW | A secondary dwelling can be approved as complying development under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 only if every standard is met, including a residential zone other than R5, a lot of at least 450 m², and a floor area of 60 m² or less. Otherwise, a development application is needed. | SEPP (Housing) 2021, s 54 and Schedule 1 |
| Building class | A single dwelling is Class 1a; Class 10a is reserved for non-habitable buildings. A granny flat is a Class 1a dwelling. | NCC 2022, A6G2 and A6G11 |
| NCC edition | NCC 2025 was published on 1 May 2026, but NSW adopts it on 1 May 2027. Until then, NCC 2022 applies in NSW. | ABCB, state adoption information |
| Evidence of suitability | Compliance can be shown by a CodeMark certificate, a Certificate of Accreditation, a certification body's certificate, an accredited testing laboratory report, an engineer's certificate or other documentary evidence. | NCC 2022, A5G3 |
| Licensed work | Residential work over $5,000 needs a contractor licence, and constructing a secondary dwelling needs a building licence. Electrical, plumbing and drainage work needs a licence whatever its value. | NSW Government, categories of work and prefabricated structures |
| Home Building Compensation | Residential building work over $20,000 (including GST) needs HBC cover, which the owner should check before any payment. The deposit is capped at 10%. | NSW Government, insurance cover and building contracts |
| Plumbing products | WaterMark certification is mandatory for products on the WaterMark Schedule; a licensed plumber cannot install a listed product without it. Lead Free WaterMark applies to new installations from 1 May 2028. | ABCB; NCC 2022 Volume Three, A5G4 |
| Electrical articles | NSW does not take part in the national EESS scheme. Declared electrical articles must carry an approval recognised by NSW Fair Trading; overseas marks such as CE are not accepted. | ERAC; NSW Government, electrical approval schemes |
| Asbestos | Asbestos is a prohibited import, and goods labelled asbestos-free overseas can still contain it. | Australian Border Force |
What we require from every factory
- Business licence, checked on China's national registry.
- Detailed specification: steel, panels, insulation, windows, floor.
- AS 4055 structural drawings and calculations for your engineer.
- Asbestos test reports from a laboratory accredited by NATA or under a NATA mutual recognition arrangement, and independent sampling before shipping.
- Copies of electrical approvals and WaterMark certificates (Lead Free where it applies), checked with the issuing bodies.
- Wiring and plumbing layouts, installation guide, written warranty item by item.
Your side of the project
- The approval pathway for your block: complying development or development application, and BASIX.
- A structural engineer to certify footings and anchorage for your site.
- A licensed builder and licensed trades for installation and connections, with HBC cover where required.
- Truck and crane access to your block.
- Insurance of the unit once delivered.