South Perth building company Jaxon Construction Pty Ltd (BC12208) has been fined $5,000 for negligence after carrying out unauthorised building works that deviated from the approved plans for a Perth hotel development.

The Building Services Board also issued a $2,500 fine to the builder’s nominated supervisor, Christopher Christou (BP/BC6285), for failing to properly manage and supervise the project. Mr Christou is no longer the nominated supervisor for Jaxon Construction.

The Board was told that the 27-storey hotel was built between 2017 and 2019, when the company applied to the City of Perth for an occupancy permit. This application referred to amendments and work that were not part of the original building permit.

The unauthorised changes included removal of stair pressurisation, which is designed to stop smoke entering the stairwell of a high-rise building. Instead, Jaxon Construction added a different fire safety measure that had not been previously approved.

Also missing was a zone smoke control system – a safety measure that uses pressure changes to manage smoke at the site of the fire. The company also carried out unauthorised work on some exit doors and changed the approved design of a bar and pool area.

Building and Energy Executive Director Saj Abdoolakhan said although approval was eventually granted for the work and redesigns, the company’s conduct had undermined the building permit and certification process.

“Failure to build in accordance with approved plans is a serious matter because of the significant risks to community safety and confidence,” Mr Abdoolakhan said.

“Retrospective approval does not circumvent the need for a building permit, especially for the significant redesign of fire safety systems in a multi-storey building.”

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Media contact: BEmedia@demirs.wa.gov.au

Note: BC and BP numbers refer to registration as a building contractor or building practitioner. The registers of building service providers are available at commerce.wa.gov.au/buildersearch