What to Expect from the NCC (National Construction Code) in 2021 and Beyond

In May of 2021, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) will release the Public Comment Draft of the 2022 National Construction Code (NCC). This draft is designed to give builders and associated entities the chance to familiarise themselves with changes to the NCC before they are put into action.

The update will cover various aspects of construction and management, from building permits and PI Insurance through to risk management and safety. One of the most high-profile changes in recent years was in direct response to combustible cladding issues and related safety concerns. While it is still too early to tell exactly what will be included in the next iteration of the document, there are a few changes you need to be prepared for.

NCC Document Restructuring

One of the changes expected in the 2022 draft of the NCC is a restructuring of the document text to make the code more accessible and more readable for those who need to adhere to it.

In the new document, it will be referred to as SPTC, which reflects the new system’s referencing syntax (Section – Part – Type - Clause). Reasons for this change is to align the Volume Two referencing system with that of Volumes One and Three. ABCB Connect further explains how SPTC will work in practice, here.

It is expected that NCC 2022 will include the current NCC 2019 numbering alongside the new references to assist certifiers in the transition to the new system.

Energy Efficiency

Beyond the document's wording, however, we can expect several practical changes in the next year and beyond. One of the most important will relate to energy efficiency.

The next draft of the NCC will seek to reduce the "operational energy use and greenhouse gases" during the construction of buildings and their subsequent long-term operation. This will cover a range of different elements, including the installation of on-site renewable energy sources and charging locations for electric vehicles.

For the 2022 iteration of the NCC, we can expect the biggest changes to be implemented regarding residential buildings. The 2019 code already covered wholesale changes for commercial building construction and operation.

Bushfire Safety

Bushfires are severe issues in many parts of Australia, and building regulations are still playing catch-up in tackling the problem. Shocking statistics tell us that as many as 90% of buildings in bushfire-prone areas are not built to survive such catastrophes – a relic of previous regulatory ambiguity in this area of the building code.

With this in mind, we can expect changes to the NCC in the coming years. Australia's bushfire problem has shown no signs of going away, and property builders will need to demonstrate that their buildings are properly safe and secure.

Plumbing and Water Services

In December 2020, the ABCB committee released an amendment to the Plumbing and Drainage, Part 4: Heated Water Services" section of the 2019 code. The committee has made it clear that this amendment is to be used as an update to the relevant section of the 2019 document until the succeeding document (NC 2022) is released.

As such, it looks likely that plumbing and water services are an area for development in the future plans of the ABCB, and that this will be reflected in future drafts of the NCC. These changes – relating to heated water temperature control and cross-connection control – will be factored into the building application and building approval processes across Australia.

Stay Compliant with Building Certification Software

Building certification software gives you the tools you need to keep projects compliant with the NCC. To assist building surveyors in the management of the NCC, Visual Approvals has created a VA Checklist from the NCC, with consent from the ABCB. Therefore, the NCC Checklist (Volumes 1 & 2) is now available as an add-on solution. Reach out to learn more.