Functional Classification of Buildings

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The primary application of the Functional Classification of Buildings is to classify buildings according to their predominant function or purpose

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January 2021

Preface

The Functional Classification of Buildings (FCB) was designed in 1986 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to provide a standard framework for the classification of buildings and building work according to their function. It is used in the collection, production and dissemination of the ABS' building statistics. New buildings and alterations to existing buildings are classified or assigned to the FCB according to their usage upon completion of construction work. There have been two revisions since 1986 to the classification. 

The 2021 revision to the classification was undertaken to address significant changes in the building industry, especially the composition of the types of residential buildings being constructed (the growing share of semi-detached dwellings and taller apartment buildings), as well as emerging stakeholder needs that are not reflected in the current classification. It is broadly compatible with earlier editions.

The key changes in the 2021 classification are:

  • Removal of the reference to 500-millimetre separation in the definition of "Separate houses". This reflects the now common-place practice of constructing two dwellings adjacent to one another on a common boundary, with no physical attachment between the two dwellings. This change also brings the definition into better alignment with the building classes in the National Construction Code.
  • An additional subclass for "Detached secondary dwellings". These were previously classified as "Separate houses". 
  • Providing further granularity for apartment buildings through two subclasses; "Apartments in a four to eight storey block" and "Apartments in a nine or more storey block". These replace the "Apartments in a four or more storey block" subclass in the 1999 FCB. The reason for breaking up the two subclasses at 8/9 storeys is because there are additional building rules that apply if their height exceeds 25 metres, which is typically around eight storeys.

Purpose

The primary application of the Functional Classification of Buildings (FCB) is to classify buildings, or building work according to their stated predominant function or purpose.

It is principally used in the economic collections of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Data is compiled using this classification in a range of ABS publications including: 
Building Approvals, Australia
Building Activity, Australia
Construction Work Done, Australia, Preliminary

For the purpose of this primary application a building is a rigid, fixed and permanent structure which has a roof. Its intended purpose is primarily to house people, plant, machinery, vehicles, goods or livestock. An integral feature of a building's design is the provision for regular access by persons in order to satisfy its intended use.

For these collections the function of the completed building, or building work, is determined at the time the building approval is lodged. 

In cases where a building may have multiple functions or purposes it is normally classified to the predominant function or purpose. There are exceptions:

  • Multi-purpose buildings where the purposes or functions are independent and, if individually coded, would have an impact on published aggregates in their class. (For example multi-storey urban buildings with commercial and residential components). In these cases, an FCB code may be applied for each major function of a building.
  • Building work to alter, extend or renovate a non-residential building may be coded to the purpose or function applicable to the alterations rather than the building as a whole. (For example, the work to add a cinema complex to a shopping centre may be coded as "Entertainment and recreation", rather than "Retail").

As the classification encompasses all building types, it can be used for other applications.

A concordance with a subset of the FCB is also used to classify buildings in ABS population and social collections such as the Census of Population and Housing and monthly Labour Force Surveys. For more information, please refer to the 'Relationship with Social Classifications' section of this document.

The Classification structure

The classification has a hierarchical structure split into four divisions, eighteen classes and thirty-three subclasses.

The divisions are: 

1 Residential Buildings

2 Commercial Buildings

3 Industrial Buildings

4 Other non-residential Buildings

Commercial Buildings, Industrial Buildings and Other non-residential Buildings are together referred to as Non-residential Buildings. Each division is detailed in its own subsection. 

Functional Classification of Buildings 2021 structure
1 Residential Buildings
   11 Houses
    111 Separate houses
    112 Kit houses
    113 Transportable/relocatable houses
    114 Detached secondary dwellings
   12 Semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses
    121 One storey
    122 Two or more storeys
   13 Apartments
    131 In a one or two storey block
    132 In a three storey block
    133 In a four to eight storey block
    134 In a nine or more storey block
    139 Attached to a house
   19 Residential buildings not elsewhere classified
    191 Residential buildings not elsewhere classified
2 Commercial Buildings
   21 Retail and wholesale trade buildings
    211 Retail and wholesale trade buildings
   22 Transport buildings
    221 Passenger transport buildings
    222 Non-passenger transport buildings
    223 Commercial car parks
    224 Transport buildings not elsewhere classified
   23 Offices
    231 Offices
   29 Commercial buildings not elsewhere classified
    291 Commercial buildings not elsewhere classified
3 Industrial Buildings
   31 Factories and other secondary production buildings
    311 Factories and other secondary production buildings
   32 Warehouses
    321 Warehouses (excluding produce storage)
   33 Agricultural and aquacultural buildings
    331 Agricultural and aquacultural buildings
   39 Other industrial buildings not elsewhere classified
    391 Other industrial buildings not elsewhere classified
4 Other Non-residential Buildings
   41 Education buildings
    411 Education buildings
   42 Religion buildings
    421 Religion buildings
   43 Aged care facilities
    431 Aged care facilities
   44 Health buildings
    441 Hospitals
    442 Health buildings not elsewhere classified
   45 Entertainment and recreation buildings
    451 Entertainment and recreation buildings
   46 Short-term accommodation buildings
    461 Self-contained, short-term apartments
    462 Hotels (predominately accommodation), motels, boarding houses, or lodges
    463 Short-term accommodation buildings not elsewhere classified
   49 Other non-residential buildings not elsewhere classified
    491 Other non-residential buildings not elsewhere classified

1 Residential Buildings

Buildings that contain one or more dwellings, intended for the provision of long-term accommodation. Examples include: detached houses, townhouses and apartments. Ancillary outbuildings not containing dwellings built adjacent to existing residential buildings, such as garden sheds, gazebos and free standing garages, are treated as residential buildings.

For the purposes of this classification, a dwelling is considered to be a suite of rooms contained within a building intended for long-term residential use, possessing cooking and bathing/shower facilities as building fixtures. A house is considered to be a detached residential building containing a single dwelling.

This division excludes buildings providing short-term commercial accommodation and those providing communal accommodation or temporarily housing itinerant workers or students. These are classified as non-residential buildings.

Where significant non-residential functions are contained in a building, such as shops, hotel/motel rooms, or offices, the building should be coded to the appropriate non-residential class. This may, for example, occur where a dwelling is attached to, or enclosed within, a non-residential building.

An exception is in the case of multi-storey, mixed-use buildings with several floors devoted to apartments. In these cases, the residential floors may be coded as “Apartments”. 

Classes and subclasses

11 Houses

A class covering dwellings that are not attached in some structural way to another dwelling. The class has three subclasses: 

111 Separate house

This subclass includes detached dwellings that are constructed using traditional methods, such as brick veneer or masonry (double-brick). This subclass excludes those houses which are identified to meet the criteria to be coded as kit houses or transportable/relocatable houses. Examples include:
Bungalow
Cabin (residential)
Caretaker's residence
Cottage
Farm house
House (unless attached or semi-detached)
House for clergy
Villa (detached)

Excludes: 
Cabins and self contained units for short-stay accommodation
Kit and transportable houses

112 Kit house

A type of separate house which structurally consists of predominantly prefabricated components, generally provided as a kit, and intended for assembly on site. Examples include:
Kit home (single)
Modular home
Separate houses identified as kit, manufactured or prefabricated

113 Transportable/relocatable house

A type of separate house specifically designed to be readily transportable or relocatable to another site. This subclass includes caravans intended for long-term residency where fixed on site. Short-term caravan accommodation is excluded. Examples include:
Relocatable cabin (residential)
Caravan (long-term residential, fixed)
Transportable house

Excludes: 
Short-stay caravans and relocatable cabins

114 Detached secondary dwelling

A self-contained dwelling which is on the same lot of land as the principal dwelling. Examples include granny flats and bedsitters, including those which have been converted from detached garages or sheds.

12 Semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouse 

This class covers dwellings with their own entrance and private grounds, and no separate dwelling above or below. A key feature of these dwellings is that they are attached in some structural way to one or more dwellings e.g. dwellings that share a common wall. The class has two subclasses distinguishing between single storey (121) and multi-storey dwellings (122). Examples include:
Dual occupancy dwelling
Duplex
Flats (with attached car parks or private gardens, unless stacked)
House (row, terrace, attached or semi-detached)
Multi-dwelling kit or transportable dwelling
Townhouse (unless detached)
Villa (attached)

13 Apartments 

This class covers all dwellings in blocks of apartments. These dwellings do not have their own private grounds and usually share a common entrance foyer or stairwell. This class has five subclasses; four distinguishing between one or two storey (131), three storey (132), four to eight storey blocks (133), and nine or more storey blocks (134), as well as Dwellings attached to houses (139). This class may include the residential floors of certain multi-storey, mixed-use buildings. Examples include: 
Apartment building or complex
Block of flats
Dwelling units building
Mixed-use building (residential part)
Stacked dwellings

Examples of dwellings attached to houses include: 
Bedsitter or sleepout (self-contained, attached)
Flat attached to house
Granny flat (attached)

191 Residential buildings not elsewhere classified

This class includes residential outbuildings not containing dwellings. For example, residential garden sheds, detached garages, detached carports, pool houses, greenhouses, aviaries and gazebos built to service residential dwellings. Buildings containing dwellings are not coded to this class.

2 Commercial Buildings

Buildings primarily occupied with or engaged in commercial trade or work intended for commercial trade, including buildings used primarily for retail and wholesale trade, office and transport activities.

Notwithstanding any commercial trade use, this division explicitly excludes industrial and residential buildings as well as those predominantly for the provision of education, religious worship or other religious activities, health or veterinary care, recreation, entertainment, temporary accommodation, or the provision of care to children, the aged, or other persons (as per the classes defined in the Other non-residential Buildings division). 

Classes and subclasses

211 Retail and wholesale trade buildings

Commercial buildings primarily used for the sale of goods to intermediate and end users and the provision of services on a shop-front basis except where another class of this division applies. This class excludes storage warehouses which are included in the Industrial Buildings division. Examples include: 
Bakery (retail)
Barber
Bistro
Bottle shop
Boutique
Butcher shop
Cafe
Car dealership
Delicatessen
Department store
Dry cleaning establishment
Fast food outlet
Grocer
Hairdresser
Hardware store
Hotel (predominantly drinking)
Jeweller
Kiosk 
Laundromat
Liquor store
Market (wholesale or retail)
Nail salon
Pet shop
Petrol station (no vehicle servicing)
Pharmacy (retail)
Plant nursery (public sales)
Post office (shop-front)
Restaurant 
Retail ‘warehouse’
Salon 
Shoe repair store
Shop
Shopping arcade
Shopping centre
Showroom 
Skin care clinic
Snack bar
Souvenir shop
Sports apparel/equipment store
Supermarket
Take-away food store
Tavern
Telecommunications store
Ticket booking and sales (off-site)
Winery building (sales/tasting centre)

Excludes: 
Storage warehouses
Commercial storage facilities

22 Transport buildings

Commercial buildings primarily used in the provision of transport services, or facilities supporting transport services. This class also includes commercial car park buildings. This class has four subclasses: 

221 Passenger transport buildings

Buildings primarily used in providing passenger transport services, such as passenger, bus and rail terminals. Examples include: 
Airport passenger terminal
Bus station
Coach depot
Passenger transport interchange
Railway station
Railway ticket offices (at station)

222 Non-passenger transport buildings

Buildings primarily used in providing non-passenger transport services. Examples include: 
Air freight terminal
Cargo shed (freight)
Freight loading terminal
Loading dock building
Port terminal building
Weighbridge station

223 Commercial car parks

A car park building that is commercial in nature and is built independently of other building developments. Car parks built as part of other distinct building developments and intended to service these are excluded from this definition and should be classified to the buildings with which they are associated. Examples include: 
Car parks (covered, multistorey or underground)
Parking stations (covered or multistorey)

Excludes: 
Open air car parking lots (non-building car parks)
Car parks as part of a shopping centre or other development

224 Transport buildings not elsewhere classified 

Other commercial transport buildings and facilities supporting transport services. Examples include: 
Air traffic control buildings
Aircraft storage buildings (hangar)
Aircraft maintenance buildings
Bus storage sheds
Bus maintenance buildings
Taxi despatch centre
Tram or train servicing depots
Truck sheds

231 Offices

Buildings primarily used in the provision of professional or financial services or public administration. Examples include: 
Administration building
Advertising agency
Bank
Credit union
Council chamber
Embassy
Insurance brokerage
Office building
Property manager 
Real estate agent
Solicitor
Stock exchange or broker
Town hall (administrative)

291 Commercial buildings not elsewhere classified

Commercial buildings not elsewhere classified, such as:
Car wash
Car repair shop
Data centre
Garage – servicing
Funeral home
Mail sorting centre
Marina buildings
Metering station
Pet boarding facility
Petrol station (vehicle servicing)

3 Industrial Buildings

Buildings used for warehousing, primary production and the production and assembly activities of industrial or manufacturing processes. This division also includes factories and plants, and buildings used for agricultural and aquacultural activities.

Classes and subclasses

311 Factories and other secondary production buildings

Buildings housing, or associated with, production and assembly processes of intermediate and final goods and those converting fuels or environmental energy into electricity. Examples include: 
Abattoir 
Assembly plant
Brewery
Brick works
Cannery
Electricity generation plant buildings
Factory
Food processing
Foundry
Industrial laboratory
Manufacturing plant
Mill
Mint
Painting shed (manufacturing) 
Printing works
Refinery 
Shipyard
Steel works
Tannery
Workshop (as part of manufacturing operation)

321 Warehouses

Buildings primarily used for the storage of goods, excluding bulk storage of produce and agricultural and aquacultural buildings. Examples include: 
Self-storage facility
Storage depots
Storage shed
Warehouse

331 Agricultural and aquacultural buildings

Buildings housing, or associated with, agricultural and aquacultural activities including bulk storage of produce. Examples include: 
Animal enclosure – covered (agricultural)
Aquacultural nursery
Barn - rural
Cold store
Drying shed
Farm shed
Feed lot building
Fruit packing shed
Glasshouse
Grain storage building
Hatchery
Hay shed
Implement shed
Milking pavilion
Piggery
Poultry shed
Rural worker’s accommodation
Shearer’s quarters
Shearing shed
Wool shed

391 Other industrial buildings not elsewhere classified

Primary production or other industrial buildings not elsewhere classified, such as: 
Boiler house
Crusher house
Gas wellhead building (mining)
Mine mess building
Oil depot (buildings, not tanks)
Transient mining accommodation

4 Other non-residential Buildings

Non-residential buildings for the provision of education, religious worship or other religious activities, aged and health care, recreation, entertainment, or commercial temporary accommodation. It also includes emergency services, utilities and other care and public services except where classified to Commercial or Industrial divisions.

Classes and subclasses

411 Education buildings

Buildings used in the provision or support of educational services except where the provision or support of educational services is a secondary function of the building and another class explicitly applies (such as the location of an independent retail outlet on the grounds of a university). Examples include: 
Boarding house (school)
Classroom
College (education)
Conservatorium of music
Corporate training facility
Covered play area (school)
Dormitory (education)
Driver training centre
Early learning centre
Education centre
Hall of residence (education)
Kindergarten
Lecture theatre
Library (education)
Military academy
Police academy
Preschool
Preparatory school
School auditorium
School canteen
School chapel (student/education use)
School gymnasium
School hall
School laboratory
Seminary
Sunday school
Student accommodation (co-located on the grounds of the education establishment)
TAFE college
Toilet block (to education)
Training centre
University

Excludes: 
Independent book store on campus
Independent cafe on campus 
Bank on campus

421 Religion buildings

Buildings used for or associated with worship, religious services or ceremonies, or in support of programs sponsored by religious bodies other than when another class explicitly applies. Examples include:
Cathedral
Chapel building (other than purely for education, aged or health care support)
Church
Church hall
Convent
Mosque
Monastery
Presbytery (attached)
Rectory (attached)
Religious dormitories
Synagogue
Temple

Excludes: 
School chapel
Seminary
Theological college (education)

431 Aged care facilities

Buildings used in the provision of aged care, aged care support or services supporting aged care facilities, excluding residential buildings (such as retirement villages). Examples include:
Aged care facility
Aged care support service
Community care centre (retirement village)
Dementia unit (aged)
Geriatric care centre
High-dependency aged care
Home for the elderly
Hostel for the aged
Low-dependency aged care
Nursing home

Excludes: 
Community or social centre (retirement village)
Residential building

44 Health buildings

Buildings used in the provision of non-aged care medical services. Includes group accommodation used to support the provision of non-aged medical care, where these are not identified as separate buildings. This class is further split into the two sub-classes: Hospitals (441) and Health buildings not elsewhere classified (442). 

441 Hospitals

Buildings providing general medical, accident and emergency, surgical, psychiatric or other medical services on an acute or intermittent basis having in-patient facilities and other buildings supporting and associated with these services. Examples include: 
Allied health care as part of a hospital
Consulting clinics as part of a hospital
Hospital
Hospital chapel
Hospital pharmacy
Medical centre (with in-patient facilities) 
Outpatient service as part of a hospital
Pathology service as part of a hospital
Private accident and emergency services as part of a hospital
Psychiatric hospital

442 Health buildings not elsewhere classified

Buildings providing various health care or human well-being services other than as part of a hospital. Examples include:
Assisted living facility
Care facility (other than aged care)
Chiropractor
Dental practice
District nursing service
Day surgery
Family planning clinic
Health centre
Holistic health centre
Home for convalescents (not aged care)
Hospice
Human quarantine station
Medical clinic (outpatient only)
Medical specialist centre
Mental health home
Nurse’s residence
Occupational therapy
Osteopath 
Pathology service
Podiatrist rooms
Physiotherapist
Psychiatric clinic
Radiologist rooms
Sport medicine centre
Therapeutic massage

451 Entertainment and recreation buildings

Buildings used in the provision of entertainment and recreational facilities or services. Examples include:
Amphitheatre (roofed)
Amusement park
Aquatic centre
Archive (open to public)
Art gallery (other than retail)
Art museum
Arts centre
Art studio
Auditorium
Bowling alley
Casino
Cinema
Club
Community centre
Concert hall
Cultural centre
Dance studio
Fitness centre
Gaming centre
Gymnasium
Information centre (tourist)
Licensed club
Memorial
Museum
Nightclub
Public hall
Public library
RSL rooms
Scout/Guide hall
Senior citizens centre
Sports centre
Swimming centre
Theatre
Toilet block (associated with entertainment or recreation building)
Youth centre
Zoo

46 Short-term accommodation buildings

Buildings primarily used for providing short-term or temporary accommodation on a commercial basis, excluding long-term accommodation and community service hostels such as disability, women and children's hostels. 

461 Self-contained short-term apartments

Buildings predominantly consisting of self-contained apartments primarily used for other than private dwellings. They comprise self-contained units which are available on a unit or apartment basis to the general public for a minimum of one night. Units should contain at least cooking facilities (e.g. hot plates, microwave oven), refrigerator and bathing facilities. Examples include: 
Holiday apartment building
Holiday cabins (self-contained)
Serviced apartments

Excludes: 
Long-term rental accommodation
Mining, rural or other worker accommodation

462 Hotels (predominantly accommodation), motels, boarding houses, or lodges

Commercial accommodation usually not self-contained but with private rooms. Examples include:
Bed and breakfast
Boarding house (commercial)
Country club (accommodation)
Guest house
Health retreat
Hotel (predominantly accommodation)
Lodge
Motel
Park home (short stay)
Resort 

463 Short-term accommodation buildings not elsewhere classified

Accommodation buildings not elsewhere classified. Includes commercial group accommodation, such as: 
Backpackers accommodation
Bunk house
Camp dormitory
Youth camp dormitory

Excludes: 
Non-commercial group accommodation
Military barracks
Educational accommodation
Refuges and care hostels

491 Other non-residential buildings not elsewhere classified

Non-residential buildings not elsewhere classified including emergency services, utilities, temporary accommodation provided on a non-commercial basis, and other care and public services not elsewhere classified. Examples include:
Animal shelter
Child care centre
Coast guard
Consulate
Correctional centre
Council depot
Courthouse
Crematorium
Crypt
Detention centre
Emergency housing centre
Emergency services building
Fire station
Guardhouse
Home for disabled persons
Homeless centre/shelter
Immigration detention centre
Juvenile justice centre
Laboratory, forensic
Law court
Lighthouse
Mausoleum
Military barracks
Military base
Morgue
Mortuary
Police station
Prison
Public toilet
Pumping station
Refuge
Remand centre
Shade structure
Veterinary hospital
Waste depot
Watch house
Water treatment plant
Welfare centre
Women’s refuge

Relationship with other classifications

At the time of revision of the FCB, the ABS' endorsed standard for dwelling statistics was the Dwelling Structure. The Dwelling Structure classification covers only residential buildings and classifies private dwellings according to their structure. The Residential division of the FCB is broadly consistent with Dwelling Structure apart from the class of Houses where the FCB provides greater detail than Dwelling Structure, and the Dwelling Structure "Other dwelling" class which includes non-permanent and mobile dwellings such as caravans, tents and houseboats, which are excluded from the FCB. 

The data produced by the FCB is consistent with the same concepts and principles applying to ABS collections which use the Dwelling Structure classification. There are however methodological differences across ABS collections. The Building Approvals and Building Activity collections classify buildings according to information reported in approval documents and during construction activity, and therefore provide information on buildings according to their original stated function. The Census of Population and Housing for example, provides the stock of dwellings at a specific point in time, based on how buildings are used. The use of a building at the time of collection may differ to that reported on the original building approval.

The use of the term, private, has different applications in the FCB and Dwelling Structure. In the FCB, buildings are further classified by ownership, according to the sector (i.e. public or private) of the intended owner of the building at the time of the approval. This classification does not apply to the Dwelling Structure. The term 'private dwelling' is used in the Dwelling Structure to indicate private occupancy.

The FCB structure broadly aligns with the relevant parts of the internationally recognised Central Product Classification version 2.1 (CPC v2.1, Group 531 - Buildings) to the 4-digit level, with some differences in the split between residential versus non-residential buildings. There are more significant divergences at the 5-digit level. The FCB aligns with the Input Output Product Classification (IOPC) used in the Australian System of National Accounts, the Australian and New Zealand Standard Commodity Classification (ANZSCC), and the Harmonized System, but provides far more detail than any of them. 

Concordance: 2021 to 1999 classification

Show

2021 FCB 1999 FCB 
111Separate houses111Separate houses
112Kit houses112Kit houses
113Transportable/relocatable houses113Transportable/relocatable houses
114Detached secondary dwelling111Separate houses
121Semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses - One storey121Semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses - One storey
122Semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses - Two or more storeys122Semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses - Two or more storeys
131Apartments - In a one or two storey block131Flats, units or apartments - In a one or two storey block
132Apartments - In a three storey block132Flats, units or apartments - In a three storey block
133Apartments - In a four to eight storey block133Flats, units or apartments - In a block of four or more storeys
134Apartments - In a nine or more storey block133Flats, units or apartments - In a block of four or more storeys
139Apartments - Attached to a house134Flats, units or apartments - Attached to a house
191Residential buildings not elsewhere classified191Other residential buildings n.e.c.
211Retail and wholesale trade buildings211Retail and wholesale trade buildings
221Passenger transport buildings221Passenger transport buildings
222Non-passenger transport buildings222Non-passenger transport buildings
223Commercial car parks223Commercial car parks
224Transport buildings not elsewhere classified224Transport buildings n.e.c.
231Offices231Offices
291Commercial buildings not elsewhere classified291Commercial buildings n.e.c.
311Factories and other secondary production buildings311Factories and other secondary production buildings
321Warehouses (excluding produce storage)321Warehouses (excluding produce storage)
331Agricultural and aquacultural buildings331Agricultural and aquacultural buildings
391Other industrial buildings not elsewhere classified391Other industrial buildings n.e.c.
411Education buildings411Education buildings
421Religion buildings421Religion buildings
431Aged care facilities 431Aged care facilities 
441Hospitals441Hospitals
442Health buildings not elsewhere classified442Health buildings n.e.c.
451Entertainment and recreation buildings 451Entertainment and recreation buildings 
461Self-contained, short-term apartments461Self contained, short term apartments
462Hotels (predominately accommodation), motels, boarding houses, or lodges462Hotels (predominately accommodation), motels, boarding houses, hostels or lodges
463Other short-term accommodation buildings not elsewhere classified463Other short term accommodation buildings n.e.c.
491Other non-residential buildings not elsewhere classified491Other non-residential buildings n.e.c.

Concordance: 1999 to 2021 classification

Show

1999 FCB 2021 FCB 
111Separate houses111Separate houses
111Separate houses114Detached secondary dwelling
112Kit houses112Kit houses
113Transportable/relocatable houses113Transportable/relocatable houses
121Semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses - One storey121Semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses - One storey
122Semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses - Two or more storeys122Semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses - Two or more storeys
131Flats, units or apartments - In a one or two storey block131Apartments - In a one or two storey block
132Flats, units or apartments - In a three storey block132Apartments - In a three storey block
133Flats, units or apartments - In a block of four or more storeys133Apartments - In a four to eight storey block
133Flats, units or apartments - In a block of four or more storeys134Apartments - In a nine or more storey block
134Flats, units or apartments - Attached to a house139Apartments - Attached to a house
191Other residential buildings n.e.c.191Residential buildings not elsewhere classified
211Retail and wholesale trade buildings211Retail and wholesale trade buildings
221Passenger transport buildings221Passenger transport buildings
222Non-passenger transport buildings222Non-passenger transport buildings
223Commercial car parks223Commercial car parks
224Transport buildings n.e.c.224Transport buildings not elsewhere classified
231Offices231Offices
291Commercial buildings n.e.c.291Commercial buildings not elsewhere classified
311Factories and other secondary production buildings311Factories and other secondary production buildings
321Warehouses (excluding produce storage)321Warehouses (excluding produce storage)
331Agricultural and aquacultural buildings331Agricultural and aquacultural buildings
391Other industrial buildings n.e.c.391Other industrial buildings not elsewhere classified
411Education buildings411Education buildings
421Religion buildings421Religion buildings
431Aged care facilities 431Aged care facilities 
441Hospitals441Hospitals
442Health buildings n.e.c.442Health buildings not elsewhere classified
451Entertainment and recreation buildings 451Entertainment and recreation buildings 
461Self contained, short term apartments461Self contained, short term apartments
462Hotels (predominately accommodation), motels, boarding houses, hostels or lodges462Hotels (predominately accommodation), motels, boarding houses, or lodges
463Other short term accommodation buildings n.e.c.463Other short term accommodation buildings not elsewhere classified
491Other non-residential buildings n.e.c.491Other non-residential buildings not elsewhere classified

Abbreviations

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AbbreviationDefinition
ABSAustralian Bureau of Statistics
ANZSCCAustralian and New Zealand Standard Commodity Classification
CPCCentral Product Classification version 2.0
FCBFunctional Classification of Buildings
IOPCInput-Output Product Classification
n.e.c.not elsewhere classified

Glossary

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Agricultural activity

Activity that involves the cultivation of soil or rearing of animals.

Alterations and additions

Building activity carried out on existing buildings; including extensions, renovations, fit-outs and the construction of structures attached to an existing building. Buildings created which share the same roof, floor or structural walls with an existing building or are residential outbuildings are considered alterations and additions. 

Aquacultural activity

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

Attached

A building is attached if it shares a structural component with one or more other buildings. This may include walls, ceiling, floor or roofing.

Building

A rigid, fixed and permanent structure with a roof. Its intended purpose is primarily to house people, plant, machinery, vehicles, goods or livestock. An integral feature of a building's design is the provision for regular access by persons in order to satisfy its intended use.

Commercial trade

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

Conversion

Building alteration to convert a non-residential building into 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. 

Group accommodation

Communal accommodation provided by an institution to enable its 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 a single dwelling unit. For instance, detached 'granny flats' and detached dwelling units (e.g. caretaker's residences) associated with a non-residential building are defined as houses.

New building work

Building activity, other than alterations and additions, which will result in the creation of a building which previously did not exist. A building, other than a residential outbuilding, which is built adjacent to an existing building but with a separate roof, floor and structural walls is considered new building work.

Non-residential building

A non-residential building is a building primarily intended for purposes other than long-term residential purposes. Note that, on occasions, one or more dwelling units (such as a caretaker’s flat) may be created through non-residential building activity. 

Primary production building

Buildings associated with agricultural, aquacultural, mining or quarrying activities.

Residential outbuilding

A building separate from but supporting and associated with a specific residential building which is not itself a residential building (e.g. a shed, garage, carport, pool house, greenhouse etc). 

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

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 1268.0.55.001.