iCIRT ratings and what a developer should ask for
What is an iCIRT rating and does a builder need one?
iCIRT is an independent construction industry rating tool operated by Equifax and introduced in New South Wales in 2022 alongside the Building Commissioner's reforms. It rates developers, builders and consultants on a one to five star scale after an assessment of their capability, conduct, character, capital and counterparties, and the ratings are published so that purchasers, financiers and insurers can see them. It is voluntary. A developer choosing a builder should understand what a rating does and does not say: a rated builder has been through the assessment and met the threshold for the stars shown, while an unrated builder has either not applied or not disclosed a result. Financiers on class 2 projects increasingly ask whether the builder is rated, and some lenders have made it a condition. A developer should ask a prospective builder directly whether it holds a rating, and treat the answer as one input beside the licence record, the completed projects and the references.
What the rating assesses
Capability, conduct, character, capital and counterparties: the completed work, the compliance record, the people, the financial position and the relationships with consultants, subcontractors and financiers.
Who uses it
Purchasers checking a development before they buy, financiers assessing construction risk, and insurers. Its weight has grown as lenders have started to reference it in their credit conditions for class 2 projects.
What it does not replace
The licence register, which is public and free, and the builder's actual completed buildings. A rating summarises a point-in-time assessment; the buildings and the licence record are the evidence.
Where Calibre stands
Calibre's rating status is a question to ask directly. Its licence record is on Verify NSW and its completed projects are listed on this site.
Reviewed September 2026. Regulatory settings in New South Wales change; confirm the current requirements with your certifier and solicitor.
Related questions
Is iCIRT compulsory?
No. It is voluntary, though some financiers make a rating a condition of construction funding on class 2 projects.
How long does a rating last?
Ratings are reviewed periodically and can change. Confirm the current rating on the iCIRT register rather than relying on a figure quoted in a tender.
Does a high rating guarantee a defect-free building?
No. It reflects an assessment of the business, not a warranty on a particular building. The statutory warranties and the defects process do that.
Discuss a site.
Send the address and the stage the project has reached. A director reads every enquiry and replies within one business day.