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 >> Purpose

    1. The Functional Classification of Buildings (FCB) is a classification primarily to classify buildings according to the stated predominant function or purpose.

    2. It is principally used by 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, Australian Bureau of Statistics (Cat. no. 8731.0)
  • Building Activity, Australia: Dwelling Unit Commencements, Preliminary, Australian Bureau of Statistics (Cat. no. 8750.0)
  • Building Activity, Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics (Cat. no. 8752.0)
  • Construction Work Done, Australia, Preliminary, Australian Bureau of Statistics (Cat. no. 8755.0)

    3. 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.

    4. For these collections the function of the completed building is determined at the time the building approval is lodged.

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

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


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