Microsoft Word - The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Build…


 

  
The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building [Vol7, no 1] 37 

 

 

An Examination of the Performance Based Building Code on the 
Design of a Commercial Building 
John P Greenwood (Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia) 

 
ABSTRACT  

The Building Code of Australia (BCA) is the 
principal code under which building approvals in 
Australia are assessed.  The BCA adopted 
performance-based solutions for building 
approvals in 1996. Performance-based codes 
are based upon a set of explicit objectives, 
stated in terms of a hierarchy of requirements 
beginning with key general objectives.  With this 
in mind, the research presented in this paper 
aims to analyse the impact of the introduction of 
the performance-based code within Western 
Australia to gauge the effect and usefulness of 
alternative design solutions in commercial 
construction using a case study project.  The 
research revealed that there are several 
advantages to the use of alternative designs and 
that all parties, in general, are in favour of the 
performance-based building code of Australia. It 
is suggested that change in the assessment 
process to streamline the alternative design path 
is needed for the greater use of the 
performance-based alternative. With appropriate 
quality control measures, minor variations to the 
deemed-to-satisfy provisions could easily be 
managed by the current and future building 
surveying profession. 

Keywords: Performance based code, Building 
Code of Australia, commercial building, 

INTRODUCTION 

All building development requires an approval to 
commence prior to construction in order to 
satisfy the requirements of the Building Code of 
Australia (BCA). The approval process falls 
under the heading of building control and is 
typically administered by a Local Authority 
Building Surveyor. The control of building 
construction in Australia has traditionally been 
through prescriptive regulations (Brannigan et al 
1996). Prescriptive codes describe in detail the 
way in which a building must be built in order to 
satisfy the minimum requirements set out in 
regulations (Benge, 1999).  In applying the 1990 
Building Code of Australia to building 
development, considerable time and cost was 
expended by proponents to gain acceptance of 
alternative building solutions. In the past, many 
new building ideas were not pursued as it was 

considered to be easier and less costly to design 
and construct buildings using traditionally 
accepted methods. 

Established in 1994 the Australian Building 
Codes Board (ABCB) was a joint initiative of all 
levels of Australian government, including local 
government, in cooperation with the building 
industry. The ABCB maintains and develops the 
BCA. The ABCB also conducts research into the 
efficiency and effectiveness of building 
regulatory systems and promotes the 
introduction of new technology by the building 
industry. The ABCB was created in recognition 
that reform of the building regulatory system was 
necessary to affect extensive savings to the 
community, industry and all tiers of government. 
This enhanced reform process required strong 
senior level commitment from industry and 
government and a greater level of resourcing 
from that which already existed.  In 1996 the 
ABCB introduced an alternative method of 
building control using performance-based criteria 
(Australian Building Codes Board, 2000). In 
contrast with prescriptive regulations, 
performance-based codes describe 
requirements for health and safety through a set 
of flexibly defined performance objectives and 
functional requirements. 

The BCA 96 incorporates performance-based 
building codes and deemed to satisfy provisions 
(prescriptive codes) which state the technical 
aspects that buildings and other structures 
throughout Australia must meet. These 
provisions cover, among other things, the 
structure of the building, the fire resistance of 
building elements and materials, access and 
egress, services and equipment, health and 
amenity, and maintenance of services and 
equipment (Australian Building Codes Board, 
2001). It is suggested that the introduction of the 
BCA 1996 has influenced the way in which 
building designers have approached the design 
of construction projects. With this in mind, the 
research presented in this paper uses a case 
study to analyse the impact of the introduction of 
the performance-based code within Western 
Australia to gauge the effect and usefulness of 
alternative design solutions in commercial 
construction. 



 

  
The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building [Vol7, no 1] 38 

 

TOWARD PERFORMANCE BASED CODES 

Building construction in Australia has traditionally 
been controlled by prescriptive regulations as 
enshrined in a controlling document; the BCA. 
The BCA was introduced to all States and 
Territories in 1990 and adopted as the sole 
document that controls the standard of building 
construction in Australia (Owen and Thomas, 
1997).  The new Building Code of Australia 
replaced State controlled Universal Building By-
laws. Each State and Territory had individual and 
often very different laws to control building 
construction. Notwithstanding the need to allow 
for climate variation throughout Australia, the 
BCA brought about a consistency in construction 
on a national basis.  

The 1990 BCA contained detailed prescriptive 
requirements on how buildings were to be 
constructed in order to comply with the BCA. The 
BCA consists of a collection of minimum 
construction requirements and standards that 
describe how buildings should be designed, built, 
protected and maintained with regard to the 
health, safety and amenity of the general public 
(Bukowski,1995), (May, 2003). For the most part, 
this is accomplished using documents that 
specify both what is required for health, safety 
and amenity and how these requirements are to 
be met (Meacham, 1996). For example, in 
regards to public assembly buildings, Class 9b 
under the Building Code of Australia 1990 
stipulates the maximum travel distance to an 
open space in the event of a fire. The travel 
distance is prescriptive but does not take into 
account the individuality of the building and the 
extent of the smoke spread within the structure. 
Thus, if the intended objective of the travel 
distance restriction is life safety, it would be easy 
to state that the requirement has been met, but 
difficult to prove that the objective has been met. 

The most serious problem with the prescriptive 
approach is that it serves as a barrier to 
innovation (Whittaker et al, 2003). Over time, 
improved and/or alternative products may be 
developed, yet their use might not be allowed if 
construction is governed by prescriptive codes 
and standards. One example of this is the 
development of base isolation systems that 
protect buildings from damage and occupants 
from life-threatening injury during earthquakes. 
Widespread application and adoption of these 
systems soon after they were first developed in 
the 1960s would have had the potential to save 
many lives and reduce economic damage from 
earthquakes. It is indicated that prescriptive code 
requirements hampered and greatly delayed 
their adoption (Bergeron, 2002).  

Performance-based codes were introduced in 
Australia in 1996 under an amendment to the 
BCA to attain the following improvements of a 
revised building control industry: 

• introducing greater flexibility in building 
design; 

• improving the clarity of requirements in 
building approvals; 

• reducing the complexity of the Code, 
allowing a greater ease of use; 

• allowing easier application to renovation 
and refurbishment projects; 

• creating a greater responsiveness to 
innovation; and 

• introducing greater clarity of intent and 
consistency in scope. 

Performance-based codes are a set of explicit 
objectives, stated in terms of a hierarchy of 
requirements beginning with general objectives, 
for example; public health, fire safety or 
structural adequacy (Deierlein, & Hamilton, 
2003). The requirements then move through 
more specific objectives including, safeguarding 
people from injury or illness when evacuating a 
building on fire (Fielding, 2003). Finally, 
functional statements are addressed by specific 
articles within the code, for example building 
users will have safe egress from a fire in a 
building via a fire isolated passageway. Thus in 
contrast to prescriptive regulations, performance-
based codes describe requirements for health 
and safety through a set of flexibly defined 
performance objectives and functional 
requirements. Examples include broad 
statements such as the objective of this: 

 section is to safeguard occupants from 
illness or injury while evacuating in an 
emergency (BCA 1996:p.10,021) ; and 

 part is to prevent the spread of fire 
between buildings (BCA 1996: p.6,021). 

In this case, the solution is not prescribed in the 
regulations. Rather, it is the responsibility of the 
designer to demonstrate that the proposed 
design fulfils the health and safety needs of the 
community by meeting the functional objectives 
and performance requirements of the Code (ICC, 
2003). The demonstration of compliance can be 
accomplished through the application of 
accepted methods, which are either deemed to 
satisfy (specified) solutions or performance-
based design solutions. The performance 
approach is, in essence, the practice of thinking 
and working in terms of ends rather than means 
(Lee et al, 2003). 



 

  
The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building [Vol7, no 1] 39 

 

Performance-based codes have several 
advantages over specified methods (Deroukakis, 
2000). First, the objectives are clearly stated. 
Second, the analytical methods, data, and 
assumptions are formalised in a code of practice, 
clarifying procedures (Kose, 2003). Third, the 
former, prescriptive requirements are retained as 
deemed to satisfy provisions providing continuity 
and basic methodology for a significant number 
of projects where a performance analysis may 
not be warranted (Whittaker et al, 2003).  Codes 
of practice are continually being developed in 
order to provide guidance on categorising fires, 
understanding occupant loading and their 
characteristics, together with other parameters 
determined through occupancy type. For 
example, in mercantile occupancy in Australia, 
several types of fires, numbers of customers 
(including a mix of disabled) and allowances for 
staff training and fire department response times 
are all specified. These are used as design 
criteria in the same way a structural engineer will 
use to design loads in documenting a new 
structure (Bukowski, 1995). Under a 
performance-code the designer is free to use 
alternative means to ensure that the building 
occupants can be safely evacuated. A 
performance-based code is defined as one that 
gives the engineering design specifications to be 
met through identified performance objectives 
and acceptable calculations (NRC, 2003).  

Adopting performance-based design standards 
using performance-based codes requires a 
change in attitude and philosophy (Weaver, 
2003). Designers may need to consider focusing 
less on whether a specific fire protection feature 
should be required. Rather, designers should 
work toward developing various design 
standards that indicate performance 
expectations of a specific feature, such as 
smoke detection (Heskestad, 2005). 

PERFORMANCE BASED THEORY AND 
APPLICATION 

The theory of performance-based design allows 
a designer to develop a single design solution 
that complies with the individual building code 
requirements in any location and satisfies all 
approval authorities (Foliente, 2006).  The 
performance-based design theory would allow a 
single design analysis package for any one task 
that will be acceptable nearly anywhere in the 
world regardless of local building materials and 
by-laws.  The concept of performance based 
codes brings together many of the benefits that 
established prescriptive codes provide, for 
example, the certainty of traditional building 
forms, techniques and materials, with the 
increased flexibility provided through the mix of 

use of established performance requirements 
(Thomas and Bowen, 1996). The defining 
characteristic of a performance-based system is 
the replacement of prescriptive requirements 
with performance objectives and the means to 
assess whether these objectives will likely be 
met.  Thus, the transition to a performance-
based code system would require that society 
agrees on its objectives for the built environment 
and on the methods by which performance is to 
be assessed.   

The adoption of a performance only approach 
would require the rapid development of a 
considerable number of verification and 
computational tools and models, which would be 
necessary in order for designers and building 
officials to apply such codes. As well, it is argued, 
some code requirements do not lend themselves 
to a performance-based solution and are better 
left as prescriptive or specification-type 
statements (Thomas & Bowen, 1996). Therefore, 
a more logical and flexible approach is required. 
Codes organised around a logical framework 
that clearly state the intent (objective) of each 
code requirement and then relate each of these 
objectives to higher, and subsequently top level, 
objectives of the code document (in essence the 
scope of the code) are preferred.  Accompanying 
each of the code requirements would be one or 
more acceptable solutions (Meacham, 2004).  
Acceptable solutions can be performance or 
prescriptive-based. In some cases both kinds of 
solutions, performance and prescriptive, may be 
available to address a specific requirement 
within the code. 

The application of performance-based building 
should enhance consumer-orientation within the 
building industry, because throughout the 
building process the explicitly defined user 
requirements will be the basis for all 
communication (NRC, 2003). It will therefore 
lead to buildings that better fit the user 
requirements (both functionally and in terms of 
costs).  

Under a performance based code design 
environment, it is expected that not only the use 
of engineering calculations in design will 
increase but also more innovation in building 
designs and associated products will emerge 
(Meacham, 2004).  This will increase the need 
for standardising performance criteria and the 
need for developing society-acceptable risk 
levels.  The establishment of criteria and the 
development of risk assessment models that use 
both deterministic and probabilistic methods to 
assess the life risks in buildings from fires will 
lead to cost-effective and safe fire protection 
designs (Hua et al, 2000).  In addition, the use of 



 

  
The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building [Vol7, no 1] 40 

 

computer based tools to evaluate compliance 
with code requirements will succeed if they 
continue to be validated using full-scale test data 
and if training programs are designed to educate 
users on the application of these tools.   

Finally, one thing is certain; the introduction of 
performance-based codes requires a higher level 
of expertise and knowledge both from the 
designer and the approval authorities 
(Hadjisophocleous et al. 1998).  In Australia, the 
performance-based BCA was drafted using 
several international models including New 
Zealand, United Kingdom, Sweden and the 
Netherlands. These systems were adapted to 
suit the Australian building regulatory 
environment (ABCB, 2004). In examining the 
influence of the performance-based BCA on 
design solutions for construction projects a case 
study of a commercial building is undertaken. 

CASE STUDY 

Case study research is multi-method in its focus, 
involving an interpretive, naturalistic approach to 
its subject matter (Raftery, 1997). This means 
that case study researchers study things in their 
natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or 
interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings 
people bring to them. The Case Study Research 
Method (1997) characterises qualitative research 
as an umbrella concept covering several forms 
of inquiry that help to explain the meaning of 
social phenomena with as little disruption of the 
natural setting as possible and in which the focus 
of the study is on interpretation and meaning. 
Within this framework a case study can be 
defined as a methodology in terms of the 
process of actually carrying out the investigation, 
the unit of analysis (the case) or the end product.  

DATA COLLECTION 

Case study data collection is typically multi-
method, usually involving interviewing, observing 
and analysing documents.  Multiple sources of 
information are sought and used because no 
single source of information provides a 
comprehensive perspective. By using a 
combination of observations, interviewing and 
document analysis, the author was able to use 
different data sources to validate and cross-
check findings (Jick, 1979). A case study 
methodology was an appropriate research tool to 
carry out a practical example of the use of 
performance-based solutions on a large 
commercial building development. Participants 
involved with the design and construction of the 
project were interviewed and each interview 
ranged from 30 mins to one hour in length. 

 

CASE DESCRIPTION 

The City of Perth Local Authority encompasses 
8.75 square kilometres including the Central 
Business District (CBD) of Perth. The Planning 
Scheme incorporates mixed-use development 
including 2,246 households, 3,123 inner city 
residential units and 1,271,100m2 office floor 
spaces in the CBD (City Vitality Report, 2004).  
As the major centre for high-rise building in WA, 
the City of Perth is the focus of commercial 
development and therefore the most appropriate 
Local Authority for assessment of the use of 
performance-based building licence applications 
in commercial development. The PCEC was 
selected as case to examine because it was a 
building that was subject to performance based 
codes.  

The $220 million Perth Convention 
Exhibition Centre (PCEC) was designed by a 
team of Western Australia’s leading architects, 
engineers and builders, including The Cox Group, 
Arup and Multiplex respectively.  The venue’s 
design capitalizes on its unique riverside location, 
while providing a critical business link direct to 
Perth’s city centre for delegates and visitors.  
Opened in August 2004, the PCEC centre will 
generate $2.2 billion into WAs economy in its 
first decade of operation and create 2,600 jobs. 
The PCEC is centrally located in the heart of the 
city and can cater for up to 5,000 delegates.  The 
state-of-the-art, three-level venue is WAs only 
purpose-built convention, exhibition and meeting 
venue. Its major facilities include a six exhibition 
pavilions, Riverside Theatre, a 2,500-seat tiered 
auditorium with 23 specialist meeting rooms, and 
BelleVue Ballrooms.  

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY 

The PCEC case study draws on all of the 
aspects of a single case study structure. It 
explains why certain things were done the way 
they were; it is descriptive as it narrates the 
procurement process. The results of some of the 
areas of research are simply presented in a 
descriptive manner, there being little in the way 
of theory with which to compare the data 
gathered. In addition to contemporaneous 
documentary evidence the researcher also had 
access to direct observation and systematic 
interviewing (Yin, 1984). This method of data 
gathering was used carefully as the researcher 
wanted to avoid the possibility of personal bias 
entering into the research. Such bias is one of 
the main reasons why case study research lacks 
credibility (Kumar, 1996). Any direct 
observations recorded in the text of the report 
are therefore clearly qualified as such. Therefore 
by adopting the critical instance case study 



 

  
The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building [Vol7, no 1] 41 

 

structure the researcher was confident that the 
data gathered from the personnel working on the 
PCEC was reliable and valid. 

FINDINGS 

Twenty structured interviews were completed 
during this study (Table 1). The position title of 
the respondent was recorded in order to gain a 
suitable cross section of building professionals 
working on the convention centre. This was 
necessary to attain a wider view of the issues 
involved with alternative design solutions both 
during the design and construction phases of 
building. 

 

Position of respondent Number 

Contractor 6 

Engineer 4 

Project Manager 2 

Quantity Surveyor 2 

Architect/Designer 3 

Building Surveyor 3 

Total 20 

Table 1 Position title of respondent 

Respondents were asked to indicate the number 
of performance-based solutions that they 
personally had been involved in on this project in 
order to gauge the respondent’s involvement and 
number of alternative design solutions being 
used on the case study development (Table 2).  
60% of respondents indicated that they had been 
involved in seven or more performance-based 
solutions. This suggests that, due to the nature 
and design of the PCEC, alternative design 
solutions were the preferred option to resolve 
design issues. 

 

Number of PBS  Number 

0-3 3 

 
4-6 5 

 
7 or more 12 

Table 2. Number of performance-based solutions 

The value of the performance-based solution 
was identified to determine when an alternative 
design was employed based on financial 

reasons. It was revealed, as noted in Table 3, 
that only design issues over the value of $100 
000 are subject to alternative design solutions. 
Low cost design issues were not pursued 
through alternative design solutions due to the 
actual cost of obtaining approval for the variation 
itself. 

Typical value Number

$0.00 - $10 000 0 

$10 000 – 100 000 0 

$100 000 - $1 000 000 6 

More than $1 000 000 14 

Table 3. Typical value of a performance-based 
application 

Table 4 identifies the key factors that contributed 
to the selection a performance based solution. 
Overwhelmingly the greatest reason, 75%, for 
employing a performance-based solution design 
is the cost of the deemed-to-satisfy alternative 
outlined in the Building Code. Innovation in 
design followed with 20%. Therefore, according 
to this case study, the primary factor in applying 
alternative design solutions is cost saving. 
Respondents indicated that the alternative 
design approach significantly increased approval 
times. Each respondent was given the 
opportunity to comment on this question. From 
the 18 respondents who indicated an increase in 
time taken, fourteen sighted a major delay to the 
construction project due to approval difficulties. 

 

Reason Number

Cost of Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision 15 

  
Innovative Design 4 

  
Other 1 

Table 4. Reasons for alternative design solution  

Construction personnel involved in performance-
based design were asked whether they believed 
there was a significant difference in cost to the 
client when using alternative design solutions. 
75% of respondents to this question indicated 
that they believe there was a reduction in cost to 
the client by the use of performance-based 
building. Five respondents identified the area of 
cost saving as a reduction in fire protection whilst 
the remaining respondents did not comment on 



 

  
The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building [Vol7, no 1] 42 

 

this aspect. Four respondents (20%) were not 
aware of the cost implications of the 
performance-based solution. Respondents 
clearly indicated (80%) that the only reason for 
applying for alternative design solutions was for 
financial savings. This analysis suggests that 
developers are mainly focused on cost savings 
over innovative design.  However, the majority of 
respondents were in favour of the performance-
based building code despite some of the 
misgivings indicated by early responses to 
questions posed (85%).  

DISCUSSION 

In order to progress the intentions of a 
performance-based building code in Australia, it 
is necessary to identify areas that require 
attention to streamline the process of alternative 
design solutions. The case study results clearly 
show an issue with the approval process of an 
alternative design and therefore the following 
recommendations are stated. 

Simplify the process of approval for an 
alternative design proposal 

Methods of verification slow the process of 
approval and increase the cost of an alternative 
design proposal thus limiting the application of 
alternative solutions to only situations that 
cannot be resolved through traditional deemed-
to-satisfy methods or where the cost of the 
alternative design is clearly beneficial to the 
applicant. The use of performance-based 
solutions in fire safety systems has 
demonstrated the advantages of employing an 
alternative design approach. To introduce a 
system that allows alternative design in areas 
other than fire safety will increase the value of 
performance-based solutions even further. 
Employing methods of comparison through 
previously accepted design using the experience 
and professionalism of the building surveyor will 
significantly increase the use and acceptance of 
alternative construction in areas other than fire 
protections systems. 

Allow for smaller alternative design proposals to 
be assessed by the building surveyor     

Due to the cost and length of time taken to gain 
approval for an alternative design, a greater level 
of delegated authority should be issued to the 
building surveyor for smaller, non-life threatening 
alternative proposals. This may be carried out 
without the need for expensive engineered 
solutions for what may be a minor deviation to 
the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the code. 
This would allow greater acceptance of the 
performance-based code for minor construction 
alternatives.  

Provide Defined Legal Boundaries to Limit 
Litigation where the Duty of Care has Clearly 
Been Exercised 

In considering performance-based building 
applications, the building surveyor must employ 
the tools available as prescribed in the code 
itself.  By delegating authority to the certifier to 
consider applications of a minor nature and 
indeed to deal with more complex applications in 
a more professional manner, it is imperative that 
the legal system allows for sufficient protection 
under the legislation where a certifier has acted 
in good faith whilst carrying out an assessment 
with suitable duty of care. This may be provided 
by the Local Government Authority or through 
private certification with the aid of legislation 
governing the extent of the liability for negligence. 
Without such reassurance a bureaucracy is 
established and protracted and expensive 
approval processed are employed as is currently 
the case. 

Provide competition in the certification market 

With the monopoly of the Local Government 
approval process the building control industry 
cannot compete in an open market. All other 
States and Territories in Australia have adopted 
private certification for building licence approval. 
The concept of alternative building design was 
clearly restrained on the PCEC due to City of 
Perth Local Council taking longer time than is 
necessary to issue necessary approvals. It is 
imperative therefore that the Government of WA 
introduces a competitive market structure to 
improve the service to developers who are 
clearly restrained in their application for 
alternative design systems due to the length of 
time to gain approval. Increased understanding 
of alternative design applications by building 
surveyors will allow for greater application of 
performance-based codes. The market forces 
will eventually improve the service provided by 
the approval authority as they will act as a 
consultant in the concept design stage and 
therefore ensure compliance with the code by 
the time a formal approval application is 
submitted. 

CONCLUSIONS 

In analysing the data from the case study carried 
out in this research it apparent that the use of 
performance-based building in WA is restricted 
to areas in commercial projects that entail 
significant cost savings associated with an 
alternative design application. The cost and 
difficulty in obtaining an alternative design 
approval is prohibiting the use of performance-
based construction where developers are 
choosing to use the deemed-to-satisfy solution 



 

  
The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building [Vol7, no 1] 43 

 

as a means to gain approval. The research 
revealed that there are advantages to the use of 
alternative designs and that all parties, in general, 
are in favour of the performance-based building 
code of Australia. With these results, a change in 
the assessment process to streamline the 
alternative design path will no doubt result in a 
greater use of the performance-based alternative. 
With appropriate quality control measures, minor 
variations to the deemed-to-satisfy provisions 
could easily be managed by the current and 
future building surveying profession. 

The Government of WA is currently involved in a 
review of the building control process with the 
development of a possible future Building Act 
that may include some form of private 
certification in-line with the National Competition 
Policy. Future research could compare the 
results of a closed market as seen in this study 
and any future study under an open market 
certification industry. Alternatively a comparative 
study carried out in the Eastern States where an 
open market competition policy has been 
employed for many years would indicate any 
differences in the use of performance-based 
building designs on commercial buildings.  

In order to progress the legislation for Building 
Control in WA, it may be necessary for all 
construction personnel to support lobby groups 
to the State Government for action on a new 
Building Act. The current legislation for building 
control is forty seven years old and is out of 
touch with modern day thinking and the rest of 
Australia. Regardless of whether open 
competition is adopted there remains scope for 
further education to both Building Surveyors and 
associated white collar building professionals on 
the benefits of using performance-based building 
applications. Promotion and training courses in 
this area will benefit the industry as a whole 
when cooperation is established between all 
interested parties. 

REFERENCES 

Australian Building Codes Board (1996) Building 
Code of Australia Volume 1&2 

Benge, Claire (1999) Dealing with alternative 
construction methods through performance 
based building codes, paper for the 2nd 
international Conference on construction 
Industry Development, and the 1st Conference of 
CIB TG29 on construction in Developing 
Countries, retrieved 14 January, 2004, from 
http:/www.ecobuildnetwork.org.chchost.com/eng
3.htm 

Bergeron, D. (2002) Role of acceptable solutions 
in evaluation innovative designs in Proceedings 

of the 4th International conference on 
performance-based codes and fire safety design 
methods, SFPE, Bethesda, MD. 

Brannigan, Vincent JD and Meeks, Carol B 
(1996) Performance Based Codes: Economic 
Efficiency and Distributional Equity in 
Conference Proceedings Interflam ’96, 
Interscience Communications, London, pp573-
580 

Bukowski, RW (1995) International Activities for 
Developing Performance-Based Fire Codes Fire 
Safety Design of Buildings and Fire Safety 
Engineering Proceeding of the Mini-Symposium, 
Tsukuba, Japan, IV, pp25-27  

Bukowski, RW (1996) Risk and Performance 
Standards in Fire Risk and Hazard Assessment 
Symposium: Research and Practice: Bridging 
the Gap Proceedings, National Fire Protection 
Research Foundation. June 26-28, 1996, San 
Francisco, CA, pp37-45, and U.S./Japan 
Government Cooperative Program on Natural 
Resources UJNR Fire Research and Safety 13th 
Joint Panel Meeting, vol 1, 13-20 March, 
Gaithersburg, MD, Beall, KA (ed) pp79-88 

Deierlein, G.G. and Hamilton, S. (2003) 
Framework for structural fire engineering and 
design methods, Invited white paper at the NIST-
SFPE workshop on National R&D Roadmap for 
fire safety design and retrofit of structures, 2-3 
October 2003, Baltimore, MD 

Deroukakis, Eleni, (2000) Performance-based 
codes impact on international trade, Occasional 
Paper for Inter-Jurisdictional Regulatory 
Collaboration Committee, retrieved from 
http://www.ircc.gov.au/ 

Foliente, G (2006) The Performance Concept, 
performance-based building R&D roadmap 
towards Europe’s vision 2030 for construction, 
CSIRO 

Fielding, G, (2003) Changing demographics, 
disability access and the use of performance-
based design, Invited Paper at the Global Policy 
Summit on the Role of Performance-based 
International Policy and Local Needs, National 
Academy of 
academics.org/bice/global_policy_summit_2003.
html. 

Heskestad, Atle (2000) Practical Experiences on 
a Systematic Method of Assessing Level of Fire 
Safety by Evaluating both Organizational and 
Technical Fire Protection Measures presented at 
3rd International Conference on Performance-
Based Codes and Fire Safety Design Methods 
retrieved from http://www.brand.lth.se/PBDConf/ 



 

  
The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building [Vol7, no 1] 44 

 

Hua, Jinsong and Khoo, Boo Cheong, (2000) 
Application of unstructured CFD method in 
performance based building fire safety design 
presented at 3rd International Conference on 
Performance-Based Codes and Fire Safety 
Design Methods retrieved from 
http://www.brand.lth.se/PBDConf/ 

ICC (2003) Performance Code for Buildings and 
Facilities, International Code Council, Falls 
Church, VA. 

Jick, DT 1979, 'Mixing Qualitative and 
Quantitative Methods: Triangulation in Action', 
Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 24, no. 4, 
pp. 602-11.  

Kose, S. (2003) The impact of rapid ageing in 
Japan on accessibility issues, Invited Paper at 
the Global Policy Summit on the Role of 
Performance-based Building Regulations in 
Addressing Societal Expectations, International 
policy and local needs, National Academy of 
Sciences, Washington DC. 

Kumar, R. (1998). Research Methodology: A 
Step by Step Guide for Beginners. Melbourne: 
Addison Wesley Longman Australia Pty Limited,  

Lee, Angela and Barrett, Peter (Eds) (2003) 
Performance Based Building: First International 
State-of-the-Art Report by the International 
Council for Research and Innovation in Building 
and Construction, Netherlands, retrieved from 
http://www.pebbu.nl/resources/pebbupublication
s/  

May, P.J. (2003) Performance-based regulation 
and regulatory regimes: the saga of leaky 
buildings, Law and Policy, 25(4), 381-401. 

Meacham, B.J. (2004) Performance-based 
building regulatory systems: structure, hierarchy 
and linkages, journal of the structural 
Engineering Society of New Zealand, 17(1), 37-
35 

Meacham, Brian J. (1996). Concepts of a 
Performance-based Building Regulatory System 
for the United States. A paper delivered at the 
Fire Safety Science, Boston USA. 

NCR (2003) ISC Security Criteria for New 
Federal Office Building and Major Renovation 
Projects: A Review and Commentary, national 
Academics Press, Washington Dc 

Owen, RP and Thomas, JR (1997) Objective-
based codes: the Canadian direction presented 
at International Conference on Performance-
Based Codes and Fire Safety Design Methods, 
Canada, 1996 

Raftery, J 1997, 'Breaking up methodological 
monopolies: a multi-paradigm approach to 

construction management research', 
Construction Management and Economics, vol. 
15, pp. 291-7.  

Thomas, R, and Bowen R. (1996).  Objective-
based codes: the Canadian direction.  A paper 
delivered at the International Conference on 
Performance-Based Codes and Fire Safety 
Design Methods, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  

The case study as research method (1997) 
retrieved 6 May, 2004, from 
http://www.gslis.utexas.edu/~ssoy/usesusers/13
91d1b.htm   

Weaver, E.A. (2003) Three useful tools for goal 
setting: judgement analysis, the Taylor-Russell 
diagram and the System Dynamics Model, 
Invited Paper at the Global Policy Summit on the 
Role of performance-based building regulations 
in addressing societal expectations, International 
policy and local needs, National Academy of 
Sciences, Washington DC (available at: National 
Academy of 
academics.org/bice/global_policy_summit_2003.
html. 

Yin, K. R. (1984) Case Study Research, Design 
and Methods, Sage Publishing, London, England, 
United Kingdom