Self-Certification of Jobs

The ENDUROCADD® software is the only steel framing software that has been independently audited and deemed to comply with the Australian Building Code Board (ABCB) Protocol for Structural Software Version 2011.1. This is a very useful feature as it means that designs can be signed off using the output from the software, and not relying on certification by a certifying engineer on the trusses and frames saving both time and cost.

This Protocol is recognised in the National Construction Code and is valid in all Australian states and territories.

In order to take advantage of the self-certification savings of the ENDUROCADD® software, the following conditions must be met:-

• The correct input load conditions must be selected;
• The parameters of the building must fall within the ABCB Protocol;
• Trusses and bracing must be passed in the ENDUROCADD® software;
• Other building elements are selected based on the ENDUROFRAME® Design Manuals, and are passed;
• The job is signed off by a Trained Software User who has been deemed competent for the type of building being designed, and their name and certification number appears in the Certification Sheet printed by the ENDUROCADD® software. Trained Software Users are those users who hold a valid Certificate issued by the Enduroframe business having been deemed competent in the use of the ENDUROCADD® software and related Design Manuals.
• The Trained Software User has suitable insurance policies;

Any job that does not meet ALL of the above conditions must be signed off by a engineer registered in the state or territory in which the job is being built.

The ABCB Protocol limits the designs that can be self-certified within the following limits:-

• The distance from ground level to the underside of eaves must not exceed 6m.
• The distance from ground level to the highest point of the roof, neglecting chimneys must not exceed 8.5m.
• The building width including roofed verandas, excluding eaves, must not exceed 16.0m.
• The building length must not exceed five times the building width.
• The roof pitch must not exceed 35 degrees.

Please note that under higher wind speeds and load conditions the ENDUROCADD® software and/or design manuals may still fail jobs that fall within the scope of the Protocol.

Designs must be signed off by a Trained Software User who has received training and can demonstrate their competence in the use of the ENDUROCADD® software.  Trained Software Users are assessed by the Enduroframe business either via tests and jobs submitted to demonstrate competency in the design of various types of buildings. The categories of buildings that a Trained Software User can be deemed to be competent in are:-

• Non-Cyclonic Single Storey
• Non-Cyclonic Double Storey
• Cyclonic/Load Transfer
• Advanced Roof Design
• Buildings Other than Residential

The Enduroframe business conducts courses in each of these areas, and in some cases on-the-job training can be considered, however in both cases the assessment of competencies will be the same.

Upon being deemed competent in a particular building type, a Trained Software User is issued with a certificate that contains the Trained Software User’s approval number, the types of jobs that can be signed off by the Trained Software user, and the expiry date of the certificate.

The Trained Software User must include their name and approval number in designs using the ENDUROCADD® software.  These details are to be added to the Job Data Menu/Trained User Data for each Job.

 This information then flows through the job and is automatically generated on the Certification sheets. If the job detailed has not been done by a Trained Software User a professional Engineer will be required to certify the whole job or any components of the job that have failed or are outside the scope of the ENDUROCADD® software design.