2022 National Construction Code

2022 NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE

The 2022 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC) was due to come into effect on 1 September, but at the time of writing this article, it has been deferred to no earlier than October 2022, subject to state and territory variations and transitional arrangements.

NCC 2022 introduces a considerable amount of change, both in terms of the sheer number of amendments and the significance of the reforms, particularly with the introduction of the new livable housing requirements and residential energy efficiency and condensation provisions.

Over the last 3 years, AGWA has been working tirelessly to engage directly with the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) to ensure the views and interests of our industry are represented while managing both the scale and technical complexity of the proposed changes.

AGWA has made several substantial submissions to the ABCB, met with ministers and heads of government departments, participated in many working groups, contributed substantially to the development of content throughout the drafting process, and actively reviewed and suggested changes to the Code to help deliver more practical and technically sensible outcomes for industry.

The major changes in NCC 2022 include:

• Consistent volume structure

NCC 2022 uses a new structure and clause referencing system to improve consistency across all volumes and introduces a new Section-Part- Type-Clause system to improve readability and overall user experience as well as make it more compatible for digital web-based delivery.

• Housing Provisions Standard

Acceptable Construction Practices (ACPs), previously included in Volume Two of the NCC, have been removed and transferred to a new document called The Housing Provisions Standard.

While no longer part of the NCC, the provisions are still referenced by the Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS)requirements in Volume Two.

• Livable Housing Design Standard

The new Livable Housing Standard introduces requirements for Class 1a buildings (houses and townhouses) and Class 2 sole-occupancy units(individual apartments) to include features which make homes more accessible for older people and the disabled as well as their families and carers.

• Fire safety of external walls

Volume One contains a number of amendments to the fire safety of external walls designed to clarify interpretation and concessions from non-combustibility requirements.

• Waterproofing

There are new DTS Provisions in Volume Two for waterproofing of wet areas, not previously covered by an ACP.

• Weatherproofing

New DTS Provisions, providing solutions for weatherproofing of external walls are introduced, which include references to weatherproofing provisions in Australian Standards for masonry, autoclaved aerated concrete, and metal wall sheeting.

• Energy Efficiency

Recognising that substantial changes were made to the energy efficiency provisions in Section J for commercial buildings in NCC 2019, the trajectory outline for NCC 2022 focusses on improving the energy efficiency requirements for housing and multi-residential (apartments).

Subsequently NCC 2022 delivers a raft of changes designed to:

• Increase the minimum benchmark thermal envelope performance target to NatHERS 7-stars for both houses and apartments.

• Improve the alignment between Deemed-To-Satisfy (DTS) elemental provisions and NatHERS assessments.

• Introduce a new reference building verification method (VURB) and DTS provisions for Class 2 apartments and Class 4 parts of buildings.

• Facilitate the future installation of onsite renewable energy equipment and electric vehicle charging.

Additionally, NCC 2022 includes an annual energy use budget (referred to as the ‘whole-of-home’), which regulates certain fixed equipment, namely heating and cooling equipment, hot water systems, lighting, swimming pool pumps and spa pumps. The budget can be achieved by installing energy-efficient equipment, or on-site renewable energy equipment (likely rooftop photovoltaics or PV) but cannot be used to offset (or reduce) the 7-Star thermal envelope requirements.

NCC 2022 ADOPTION

While the NCC is produced and maintained by the ABCB and provides a nationally consistent set of technical design and construction provisions for buildings, it is given legal effect through the individual state and territory building legislation.

This means that states and territories may choose to expand, remove or vary the NCC, and the dates of adoption are determined by state and territory building administrations.

At the time of writing this article, the Building Ministers agreed to delay the adoption of NCC 2022 to no earlier than October 2022, in recognition of the disruption of the COVID-19pandemic, and the impacts to industry during a difficult economic time.

The May preview of NCC 2022 did not include energy efficiency and condensation amendments as these had not yet been endorsed by Building Ministers. A preview of these amendments is expected prior to adoption, however at the time of writing, the Building Ministers meeting scheduled for late July had been deferred, meaning that advice on state and territory variations and transition arrangements was not available.

AGWA will provide more information as it becomes available.