The National Construction Code 2022
The National Construction Code 2022 (NCC 2022) is undergoing some significant changes by introducing new requirements that will alter the construction of most houses and apartments. This will likely result in additional costs to home owners.
Major changes
The changes affect volumes 1, 2 and 3, and also include the addition of the ABCB Liveable Housing Standard. Further, the code has undergone a restructure and renumbering, which will require familiarisation. In particular, Volume 2 now has two documents: Volume 2 and the Housing Provisions.
Some of the major changes occurring include:
The addition of mandatory liveable housing provisions. Both volumes 1 and 2 reference the new ABCB Liveable Housing Standard which provides various requirements for buildings centred around accessibility, although these changes also extend to pathways. The standard requires:
Providing a step-free path to the entrance of the building and a step-free entrance (a door sill can be used but there are height restrictions).
Minimum widths of doorways and hallways (820mm for entrance and internal doors on entrance level that connect to a habitable room, sanitary compartment or laundry and 1 metre for hallways that connect to doorways requiring the minimum opening).
A toilet on the ground/entrance level with 1.2 metre clear space for the door to swing in front of the toilet.
At least one step-free and hobless shower (a 5mm lip or rebate is allowed as well as a shower screen).
Reinforcing to the framing around the bath, shower and toilet, to allow installation of grabrails if needed in the future.
Changes to internal and external waterproofing, including the re-introduction of the wet aera acceptable construction provisions which can be adopted as an alternate to AS 3740. There are further changes including that revised AS 3740:2021 is adopted, walls of showers must be waterproofed up to 1800mm and fibre-cement sheeting can be used as a water-resistant substrate (where supported on a structural floor).
A higher standard for energy efficiency. While not finalised, it is expected to include increasing the thermal performance target from 6 to 7 stars, and new energy budget provisions that apply a whole of home approach for calculating the energy usage of fixed building services.
Additional condensation management provisions. While not finalised, it is expected to include stricter building wall wrap permeability requirements for specific climate zones, prescribed flow rates for exhaust fans and rangehoods and mandatory requirements for external ducting and roof ventilation.
Lead in plumbing changes, including that all copper alloy plumbing products in contact with drinking water comply with NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 ‘Drinking Water System Components - Lead Content’ in addition to the requirements of AS/NZS 4020. The lead content of plumbing products in contact with drinking water is limited to 0.25%.
Fire safety and cladding changes that include additions to the list of acceptable ancillary elements for walls and new additional requirements for high-rise early childhood centres, and in certain circumstances to primary schools in high rise buildings.
Revised provisions in respect of masonry, slabs, glazing, steel framing and gutters/downpipes and weatherproofing of cladding.
Publication of further changes and Adoption date
NCC 2022 is being finalised in two stages. The first stage includes the majority of the changes, however the energy efficiency and condensation management provisions will not be published until after the next Building Ministers’ meeting.
The Building Ministers are scheduled to meet later this month to consider NCC 2022. The ABCB has indicated it will recommend to Building Ministers that the publication date for NCC 2022 be further delayed to not earlier than 1 October 2022. Further, States and Territories may then make adjustments.
There will be a transition period in respect of the changes which has not yet been confirmed. HIA Australia has called for a 3-year transition period, with a minimum of 18 months.
Builders should make themselves familiar with the changes to start preparing for the necessary flow on changes to plans, costs and future construction projects.
Ben Broadhead
Principal
T: 03 5226 8549
M: 0413 561 332
E: bbroadhead@ha.legal
Leesa Hovendene
Lawyer
T: 03 5225 5230
E: lhovendene@ha.legal
