Alteration to non-significant fabric
Alterations to non-significant fabric under this Standard Exemption could include:
- reopening a closed pre-existing fireplace
- removing single glazed non-significant window and installing double glazed window
- replacing non-significant bathroom finishes/surfaces such as tiles, and fixtures such as vanities, shower cabins and baths
- installing built-in units (eg bookshelf) to non-significant walls.
This Standard Exemption is not for establishing new structures or buildings.
For more information on significance see the Significance and Significant Fabric fact sheet.
Standard Exemption 3: Alteration to non-significant fabric
General conditions (see page 6 of Government Gazette) apply to the use of all Standard Exemptions and must be complied with.
The following specified activities/works to an item do not require approval under subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 if the specified activities/works are undertaken in accordance with each of the relevant standards prescribed below.
Specified activities/works:
- The alteration of an item involving the introduction of new fabric and/or the removal of non-significant fabric.
Relevant standards:
- The specified activities/works must not impact the heritage significance of the item.
- Significant fabric of the item must not be impacted.
- Relics must not be impacted.
- Activities/works must not involve construction of extensions or additions where these may impact the item’s setting, views to or from the item, obscure existing significant fabric, impact relics and/or impact significant landscape layout, landscape elements or vegetation.
- The positioning and size of walls, windows and doors is not altered.
- Significant finishes, surfaces (including flooring) and fixtures must not be impacted.
- Any new fabric must be sympathetic to but can be distinguished from the appearance, composition, detailing, size, position and finish of existing fabric.
- Non-significant fabric must be identified as non-significant fabric in the listing on the State Heritage Register or the gazetted Interim Heritage Order, or a Conservation Management Plan, Conservation Management Strategy, Heritage Collections Plan, Archaeological Management Plan or Aboriginal Place Management Plan or identified as non-significant fabric in written advice prepared by a suitably qualified and experienced heritage professional before it can be removed.
- Installation of new fabric must be in accordance with the policies of a Conservation Management Plan, Conservation Management Strategy, Heritage Collections Plan, Archaeological Management Plan or Aboriginal Place Management Plan or in written advice prepared by a suitably qualified and experienced heritage professional before installation.
- Any new fabric must not impact setting or views to or from the item, obscure existing significant fabric or limit access to existing fabric for future maintenance.
- Any new penetrations must be:
- limited in number; and
- made through non-significant fabric or mortar joints only.
- Any excavation must comply with Standard Exemption 8: Excavation*.
- Any new fabric must not exacerbate the decay of existing fabric or risk the destruction of existing significant fabric due to chemical incompatibility, vibration, percussion or explosive flammability.
Guidance
*Note on Standard Exemption 8: Excavation Any excavation or disturbance of land requires compliance with Standard Exemption “8: Excavation” relevant standards (b), (c) and (d). Compliance with Standard Exemption “8: Excavation” specified activities/works (a) is not required. However, if the activities/works cannot comply with the relevant standards, then approval is required.
- The Heritage Manual (1996, Heritage Office and Department of Urban Affairs & Planning)
- The Maintenance Series (1996, republished 2004, NSW Heritage Office and Department of Urban Affairs & Planning)
- The Burra Charter (The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance) 2013
- Minimum standards of maintenance and repair
- Levels of heritage significance
- Maintenance Series 5.3: Patching old floorboards
- Maintenance Series 5.4: Repair old tongue and groove floorboards
- Maintenance Series 7.1: Plaster finishes
- Design Guide for Heritage
- Design in Context: Guidelines for infill development