founded Tyrrells Property Inspections more than 30 years ago and have supervised the inspection of, or directly inspected, almost 80,000 buildings. I am committed to providing the best possible advice about property and building work – from the very first design idea through every stage of the buildings’ life – whatever it’s size or type. I particularly like inspecting larger facilities and resolving complex problems, including major disputes between reasonable parties when everyone sees the commercial benefit of the clarity and fairness of my knowledge and judgment. I am also very interested in prevention of consumer mistakes and unnecessary disputes and improving consumer knowledge about the best way to build or renovate.

Professional Experience

Jerry Tyrrell has over 40 years experience in the building, architectural and timber pest industry. He has hands-on experience in most building trades and has designed, built, supervised and project managed building projects from $5,000 to $8m.

His special interests are:

Building failures and the durability and performance of buildings
Pre-purchase advice for all Classes of buildings
Quality assurance of the building process including risk assessment of documents, inspections of building under construction and preparation of defect reports
Building maintenance, especially detailed strategic advice
Fire safety of buildings
Emergency planning in facilities
Detailing of remedial work
Structural timber pests of buildings and assessment of timber pest (including termite) damage
Liability claims against building, timber pest and architectural professionals
Personal injury and assessment of hazards
Prevention and resolution of building disputes
Strategic planning of larger or more complex projects
Assisting owners with the design and approval of their buildings
Education of all participants in the building process

He has inspected, built or overseen the inspection of almost 80,000 properties (including 46,000 timber pest inspections) or buildings under construction or requiring maintenance. He is instructed by most major insurers in liability, negligence and personal accident cases. He has overseen or advised in over 11,000 expert matters including claims in excess of $50m.

Regular adviser to media on property, building and timber pest related matters.

He is a contributor to numerous publications and periodicals including the Law Society Journal, the Sydney Morning Herald and is the author of ongoing CPD series in Connections Magazine.

A regular presenter of over 50 papers to consumers, legal, real estate, architectural, timber pest, building surveyors, building consultants and building industry.
Publications

2012
Contractor’s Handbook (Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW and Salvation Army) with Craig Redfern

2010
Emergency Flipchart (Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW and EMS) with Shane Park
Emergency Procedure Manual (Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW and EMS) with Shane Park
Essential Services Manual (Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW and EMS) with Tony Ransley and Shane Park

2009
Owner-Builder Handbook (Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW) with Tony Ransley and Jane Tyrrell

1999
Keeping Pests out of Buildings (Standards Australia)

1998
The Property Maintenance Handbook (Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW) with Tony Ransley

1997
The Home Key (The Credit Union Services Corporation (Australia) Limited)
House Hunting – A Consumer’s Guide to Buying A Home in Australia (Allen & Unwin)

1993
Control of Termite Infestations in Commonwealth Construction Projects (Department of Administrative Services)

1992
The Pest Pack – A Consumer’s Guide To Do-It-Yourself Pest Inspections (Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW)
The Motorists’ Emergency Handbook (Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW)
Building Failure Reports Nos 1 – 3 (Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW) with Tim Tyrrell

1991
House Hunting – A Consumer’s Guide to Buying A Home in Australia (Penguin 1991)
The Survival First Aid Emergency Handbook (Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW 1988), Australian Design Award winner 1991

1990
Practice Paper RE 21 Property Inspections (College of Law)

1982
Detailing of Domestic Scale Architecture (Thesis)

Qualifications
2013
Board of Architect’s Registration Queensland
2012
Board of Architect’s Registration NSW No 8975 Graduate Certificate in Performance-based Building & Fire Codes, Victoria University, Melbourne
2011
Certificate of Attainment Fire Safety Advisor – Qld Fire & Rescue Service / Qld Gov’t Contractor License (Builder) Qld Builder’s Licence NSW
2010
Certificate III Carpentry – TAFE Certificate IV Building – TAFE
2008
Asbestos Identification and Management, TAFE
2005
Height Safety Awareness Certificate
2000
Occupational Health & Safety Induction Training for Construction Work
1999
Essential Fire and Other Safety Measures, Australian Institute of Building Surveyors
1994
Accreditation Certificate in Commercial Mediation, ACDC
1993
Master of Building (Incomplete), University of New South Wales
1989
Building Consultant Accreditation, Master Builder’s Association
1985
Pest Control Certificate, Sydney Technical College
1984
Builder’s Licence NSW (not current)
1983
Bachelor of Architecture, University of New South Wales
1982
Real Estate Certificate, Sydney Technical College
1976
Bachelor of Science, University of New South Wales
1972
Commonwealth University Scholarship

Professional Memberships
Member Australian Institute of Building
Member Housing Industry Association
Member Master Painter’s Association
Member of the Standards Association Committee on Termite Protection of Buildings
Chairman and Member of Standards Association Committee on the Timber Pest Inspections
Member of Standards Association Committee on Property Inspections
Consultant to the Building Research Centre, Institute of Building Consultants and Standards Australia, New South Wales Government and Federal Government
Founder of the Institute of Building Consultants and inaugural President
Co-founder of Tyrrells Property Inspections NSW