1268.0.55.001 - ABS Functional Classification of Buildings, 1999  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/08/2001   
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Contents >> Glossary

Agricultural activity
Activity that involves the cultivation of the soil and rearing of animals.

Alterations and additions
Building activity carried out on existing buildings.

Aquacultural activity
Activity that involves the cultivation of plants or breeding of animals in water.

Building
A rigid, fixed and permanent structure with a roof. Its intended purpose is primarily to house people, plant, machinery, vehicles, goods or livestock.

Commercial trade
Trade that involves the exchange of merchandise or services for financial return.

Conversion
Building activity which converts a non-residential building to a residential building, such as the conversion of a warehouse to residential apartments.

Dwelling
A suite of rooms contained within a building which are self-contained and intended for long-term residential use. To be self-contained the suite of rooms must possess cooking and bathing/shower facilities as building fixtures.

Dwellings can be classified by the sector of the intended owner; eg

  • Private dwellings A dwelling that is build for the purpose of a private residence. In the context of a specific building "Private" infers the sector of intended owner of the completed building at the time of approval;
  • Other dwellings Includes all dwellings other than houses. They can be created by:
    • the creation of new other residential buildings (e.g. flats);
    • either new or alteration/additional work to an existing residential building;
    • either new or alteration/additional work on a non-residential building; and
    • conversion of a non-residential building to a residential building creating more than one dwelling unit.)

Group accommodation
Communal accommodation provided by an institution to enable it's members, workers, students or inhabitants ease of access to accommodation whilst they participate in the broader institutional activity of the organisation. Group accommodation may consist of dormitory style accommodation, providing group dining and bathing facilities or it may provide self-contained facilities. Access to group accommodation is generally dependent on the individual's continued participation in the broader institutional activity of the organisation.

House
A detached building used for long term residential purposes and consisting of only one dwelling unit. For instance, detached 'granny flats' and detached dwelling units (eg. caretaker's residences) associated with a non-residential building are defined as houses.

New building work
Building activity which will result in the creation of a building which previously did not exist. New building work can be further split into by the type of building for which the activity is done, eg New other residential building work where building activity results in the creation of a residential building other than a house, which previously did not exist.

Non-residential building
A non-residential building is primarily intended for purposes other than long term residential purposes. Note that, on occasions, one or more dwelling units may be created through non-residential building activity. Non-residential building activity includes commercial and industrial building activity such as the building of factories for manufacturing purposes. This category also includes buildings for short term residential accommodation, such as hotels and motels.

Retail trade
Involves trading new or used goods to final consumers for personal or household consumption.

Secondary production building
A secondary production building includes those buildings in which raw materials produced in primary production are turned into final goods.

Short term accommodation
Building establishments that offer accommodation for a minimum of one night and a maximum of two months stay. It includes hotels, motels, hostels, boarding houses, guest houses, and holiday apartment buildings.

Type of Work Classification
The Type of Work Classification refers to the building activity carried out: New; Alterations and additions; or Conversion.

Wholesale trade
Involves sale of new or used goods or the resale of new or used goods to businesses or institutions.



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