Structural Reports & Certifications
A structural engineering certificate or report signed by an RPEQ is a formal professional document that carries legal weight in Queensland. Whether you need a Form 15 to satisfy your building certifier, a structural report to support an insurance claim, an engineering assessment for a QBCC dispute, or technical evidence for a legal proceeding, Brisbane Structures produces accurate, well-documented, RPEQ-signed reports that hold up to scrutiny.
Our engineers understand what different stakeholders — certifiers, insurers, QBCC, courts — require from engineering documentation. We structure our reports to meet those requirements: clearly presented findings, relevant Australian Standards references, quantified conclusions and specific recommendations. We also respond to requests for information (RFIs) from certifiers and other parties, keeping your project moving without delays.
Brisbane Structures is independent — we are not affiliated with builders, insurers or developers, and our reports reflect our honest professional opinion. This independence is especially important in dispute contexts, where a report's credibility depends on the engineer's independence from the parties involved.
RPEQ-signed Form 15 design certificates for building approvals. Required by building certifiers across Queensland.
Structural damage assessments for insurance claims — flood, storm, subsidence and building defect reports.
Independent structural reports for Queensland Building and Construction Commission complaints and dispute resolution.
Expert witness reports and technical evidence for QCAT, courts, arbitration and other legal proceedings.
Report Types
Brisbane Structures produces a broad range of structural engineering reports and certifications. The right report type depends on who requires it and for what purpose — contact us to confirm which document you need.
Form 15 Explained
The Form 15 is Queensland's mandatory structural engineering design certificate. It is a QBCC form completed and signed by the RPEQ engineer of record to certify that the structural design documents — drawings and calculations — comply with the applicable Australian Standards and the National Construction Code (NCC).
Building certifiers across Queensland require a Form 15 for any building approval that includes structural work. Without it, a certifier cannot issue the approval and construction cannot legally commence. The Form 15 is the engineer's professional declaration that the design is structurally sound and code-compliant — it carries legal weight and the engineer assumes professional liability for that certification.
Brisbane Structures issues Form 15 certificates for all structural work we design or review. We also issue Form 15 certificates for projects where another engineer has produced drawings but requires an RPEQ signature — contact us to discuss retrospective or peer-review certification. All our Form 15 certifications are issued by RPEQ engineers registered with Engineers Australia and the Registered Professional Engineers of Queensland (RPEQ) scheme.
Clear process from first contact to signed certification
Describe your project or the situation requiring a report. We'll confirm the right report type and quote a fixed fee.
We review any existing drawings, plans or prior reports relevant to the certification or assessment required.
Where required, our RPEQ engineer inspects the property and documents findings with photographs and measurements.
We issue your RPEQ-signed report or certificate — ready for your certifier, insurer, QBCC or legal team.
Common Questions
A Form 15 is a QBCC form signed by an RPEQ engineer to certify that the structural design documents comply with applicable Australian Standards and the NCC. Building certifiers across Queensland require a Form 15 before issuing a building approval for structural work.
You need a Form 15 for any building work involving structural elements that requires a building approval — including new homes, extensions, wall removals, retaining walls, underpinning, decks, carports and commercial structural fitouts. The building certifier will specify exactly what engineering documentation is required for your project.
Form 15 is a design certificate — the engineer certifies the design documents comply with applicable standards. Form 16 is an inspection certificate — the engineer certifies that completed work has been inspected and complies with the approved documents. For most residential projects, a Form 15 is required at the design stage.
Yes. We provide RPEQ-signed structural damage assessment reports for property insurance claims, including flood damage, storm damage, subsidence and fire damage. Our reports document the extent of structural damage, identify the cause, and provide recommended remediation — giving your insurer the technical information needed to process the claim.
Yes. Brisbane Structures provides independent structural engineering reports for QBCC complaints and disputes. Our reports assess whether building work complies with the approved plans and applicable Australian Standards, and document defects or non-compliant work — prepared to be used in QBCC and, where required, legal proceedings.
Where drawings are already available and a site inspection has been completed, Brisbane Structures can typically issue a Form 15 or structural certification within 3–5 business days. For urgent submissions, expedited turnaround is available — contact us to discuss your timeline.