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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 first announced by the NSW Building Commissioner in 2020 as part of the state's construction reforms. It rates developers, builders and consultants after an assessment of their capability, conduct, character, capacity, capital and counterparties, and parties rated three gold stars or more are listed on a public register 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 listed builder has been through the assessment and met the threshold for the stars shown. 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, capacity, capital and counterparties: the completed work, the compliance record, the people, the pipeline the business can carry, 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

Ask Calibre for its current rating status with the rest of a prequalification pack: the licence, certificates of currency and the completed project list. The licence details are on the capability statement, and every completed project is listed on this site.

Reviewed October 2026. Regulatory settings in New South Wales change; confirm the current requirements with your certifier and solicitor.

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.