Role of National Construction Code in Commercial Construction

This article discusses the role of the National Construction Code (NCC) in commercial construction projects in Australia. It covers various aspects such as acoustic separation, fire safety, workplace health & safety, and accessibility. Additionally, it provides an assessment of a proposed supermarket based on NCC 2019.

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Commercial Construction
Name Of Student
Institution Affiliation

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Executive summary
Ordinarily, there exist laws which govern almost every activity in a country. In Australia, the
construction field is governed by the national construction code of Australia, which stipulates the
various performance requirements which should be met while constructing anew building.
Various stakeholders of the national construction codes include plumbers, builders, architects,
building surveyors, engineers, as well as hydraulic consultants. The building codes are
partitioned in three volumes, volume 1 and volume 2 forming the building code of Australia,
whereas volume three forms the plumbing code of Australia.
In each of the volumes, various provision is enlisted, including the performance requirements,
the governing requirements, the state and territory additions, and variations, as well as
compliance options to satisfy the requirements of the national construction code. This task will
detail various components of the NCC as well as performing an assessment on a supermarket
case study provided.

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Introduction
In Australia, the provision for the construction process as well as any technical design is enabled
through the national construction code. The national construction code is a performance-based
code which determines the various minimum requirements for the health, safety, accessibility,
amenity as well as the sustainability of various structural buildings. In essence, it is employed
mostly for the construction of the new buildings, but then, it also encompasses the drainage and
plumbing systems of the existing buildings (Allison, Hon, and Xia, 2019)
The codes are generated by the Australian building codes board, which acts on the behalf of the
Australian government. In the process of determining the national construction codes, the board,
ABCB; ensures that
 The set requirements have a workable rational
 Addresses practical issues in an empirical manner.
 Generates societal benefits which outweigh the costs
 Encompasses the competitive impacts of regulation
 Is unnecessarily restrictive (Andrić, Wang, Mahamadu, and Zhong, 2019).
In the identification of the parts of buildings and buildings purposes, the NCC employs the
building classifications, which relates to the characteristics of the building. In terms of the legal
protection, the NCC enjoys legal cover from various statutory authorities such as the building
and plumbing legislations, as well as the state and territory legislation.
In commercial construction projects, various aspects are of significance, and the national
construction codes play a very crucial role. Our discussion will focus on the role of the NCC on
the acoustic separation, fire safety; workplace health & safety, as well as the accessibility (Pham
et al., 2016).

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Acoustic separation
Acoustic separation is of the essence, more so when dealing with rooms such as recording
studios, halls, music rooms among others. The national construction codes stipulate the various
requirements for these types of rooms so that it becomes a standard for any provisional task of
similar nature. The national construction code, for instance; stipulates that the construction
requires a lightweight material, which is in compliance with the specification 1.8. Further,
separation of the rooms requires that an FRL with a value of 60/60/60 or more needs to be
erected. This as well is in compliance with the specification 1.8. By extension, the building codes
also protects the acoustic separation aspect through the enactment of a self-closed fire door, with
compliance to the specification 1.8 (Berry, Moore, and Ambrose, 2019).
Fire safety;
The national construction code of Australia stipulates the fires safety codes which have a very
significant impact. Generally, the codes implemented by the national construction are meant to
avert the possibility of a loss of lives in any building that is being erected. The codes somehow,
might seems not to be very meaningful in the eyes of the public, but these codes really signify a
lot in the safety of the public (Murray et al., 2018). Wherever people are inside buildings, there
are various codes which guide their entry as well as their conduct inside the building. For
instance; there are codes which relate to the limited number of occupants inside a building, the
location of the fire extinguishers, keeping of the doors closed all the times or open, placement of
the exit signs which are to be strictly adhered to, not locking of the doors when the occupants are
inside among other codes (Rahmani et al., 2017).
Inside the commercial buildings, there exist various building rules and regulations which are
made in line with the building and construction codes. For instance, the situation of detection

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alarms so as to detect any presence of smoke inside the building. The rooms have to be equipped
with windows which will allow for easy escape during incidences of fire outbreak, the long
storey buildings having sprinklers to help during the fire outbreak incidences. By extension,
installation of the fireplace, as well as the construction of the sitting equipment, has to comply
with the various fire safety codes of fire-resistant (Clayton and Jansz, 2015).
In general, daily life is being guided by a number of fire safety codes, which significantly help in
protecting the lives of humans. It is therefore of importance that the construction engineers are
aware of these fire safety codes as outlined in the national construction code of Australia so that
the buildings offer maximum protection not only to life but also the property thereof.
Workplace health & safety.
The workplace is an environment which is coupled with a variety of persons, including the
employees, employers, the construction equipment among others. Ordinarily, the workplace is
characterized by a variety of hazardous situations which calls for preventive measures as well as
curative measures. It is, therefore, the duty of the employees as well as the employers to ensure
that their safety within the workplace is safeguarded (Hasan and Dutta, 2015).
There are the workplace, health and safety codes which give clear guidance on how safety should
be managed within the workplace. Theses regulatory codes, in Australia, play a significant role.
For instance; the guidelines provided by the codes protect the various workers from various
forms of injury as well as illness (Steinhardt et al., 2019). Proper training on the codes which
should be followed is significant as it helps the employees in being in such circumstances. Also,
the national construction codes in Australia help in reducing the health and safety hazards
(Melles et al., 2019).

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It offers a detailed guideline in handling most of the dangerous materials and chemicals which
potentially can cause irritation or harm to the workers. Handling of the dangerous substances will
most likely expose the workers to severe circumstances, and the building codes offer decision
which should be taken prior and possibly after an event has occurred. The aspect of prevention of
serious consequences to the workers is also addressed by the Australian national construction
codes (Strachan, 2019). Taking an instance of wearing protective clothing, these help in easy
identification of the construction workers and will play a big role in the deterrence of injuries to
the workers.
Accessibility
Accessibility of the buildings is wide and extensive. This is because it involves parameters
dealing with entrance/exit to the building, access to the various commercial rooms, as well as
enabling of another person with various physical disabilities. Additionally, the height of the
buildings is also encompassed within the national construction codes of Australia. The
regulations stipulate various standards which have to be met by the construction engineers to
allow easy access to the building. For instance, installation of lift, underground parking, as well
as other requirements, helps in ensuring that the building successfully serves its commercial
purpose (Hasan and Dutta, 2015).
Other legislative documents
There exist other bodies which also encompass on the aforementioned sectors of commercial
construction. These bodies include:
Australian building and construction commission- the body offers guidance’s on the strict
enactment of the building laws. It does through investigations and ensures that the construction
laws are strictly adhered to (Martez et al., 2019). It can be consulted in matters of ensuring the

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safety of the workplaces, hence related to the subject matter of national construction code. By
extension, the relationship may directly encompass the interpretation of the construction codes.
Building code of Australia- the building code for Australia, generally stipulates the minimum
standards which need to be met in any construction work. The regulatory body is directly
concerned with the construction aspects of the commercial building, as it is deemed to set
minimum requirements for the fire safety, work health and safety requirements, acoustic
requirements and the accessibility requirements (Hasan, 2016).

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Assessment of the proposed supermarket
The various sections of the national construction code of Australia which is used in the
assessment of this proposed supermarket are the sections c, d– e, 2019. The sections include fire
resistance, access, and egress, as well as services and equipment. The below brief introduction
details what needs to be conducted in the assessment activity (Lullfitz et al., 2017).
Introduction
The report provides a detailed national construction code 2019 assessment of the proposed
supermarket. This comes after an appointment to approve the proposal and generate an audit.
The major purpose will be to identify the sections which fails to conform with respect to the
deemed- to -satisfy requirements stipulated by the national construction code (Strachan, 2019).
The building will be utilized as a class 2 classification under the current national construction
code. In the section below, the report of non-compliance is provided which is a summary of all
the issues identified and needs to be improved (Heffernan, Beazley, McCarthy, and Sohel, 2017).
Basis of assessment
The report has been generated in order to address compliance with the safety provision of
sections (c, d, and e). The review has been done based on the desktop review as well as the
building plans drawing attached and utilizes the requirements of the national construction codes
of Australia, 2019.
Purpose and limitations of the report
The report majorly addresses an assessment of the non-compliance rules of the section (c to e) in
the supermarket.
However, areas which have not been addressed include:
- Facilities as well as areas which are meant for the person with disabilities.

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- Report on the materials which are hazardous
- Structural assessments of the structural components of the building.
- Assessment of the fire services operations
- Such as the hydraulic systems and other systems
- The significance of the heritage
- Assessment of the water and energy authority requirements
- A review into the councils local planning policies
- The planning and environmental issues
- The light, shading and glazing calculations
Note: the assessment of the building was with regards to the visual inspection of the desktop
proposal, and thus did not involve the open dismantling of the various sections as tabled above.
The NCC passement data
Building classification – 2
The building rise in the storey – 1
Type of construction – c
Assessment report
Ncc code Provisions Findings Recommendation
cp1 structural
stability during a
fire
The section of code stipulates
that the building needs to
have elements in terms of the
fire load, fire intensity, fire
safety system among others
As per the desktop
review, the
provisions seemed to
be satisfied
___
cp2 spread of
fire (Tam et al.,
2019)
The elements of buildings
need to provide assurance to
the fire exits to prevent the
spread of fire
There are various
fire protection
measures provided
___
cp4 safe
conditions for
The building elements need to
prevent the possibility of fire
The provisions
seemed to be
___

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evacuation spread through the generation
of heat and smoke in the
event of a fire
satisfied
cp5 behavior of
concrete
external walls in
a fire
The construction of the
external wall should be such
that it prevents the possibility
of an external fall (Johnson
and Lobel, 2018)
As per the desktop
review, the
provisions seemed to
be satisfied
___
cp6 fire
protection of
service
equipment
The building needs to have
equipment which potentially
inhibits the spread of fire
during fire outbreaks
Various fire
protection
equipment as
indicated in the plan
___
cp8 fire
protection of
openings and
penetrations
The buildings need to offer
the necessary level of
protection so that the
openings are always are
sufficient enough
The fire protection
of openings and
penetrations were
sufficient enough
___
cp9 fire brigade
access
Suitable access needs to be
availed so that in case of
emergency, the fire brigade
services have adequate space
for parking
There is suitable
access to the in the
car parking and for
emergency purposes
___
Access and egress
Ncc code Provisions Findings Recommendation
dp1 access
for people with
a disability
The provisions are that there should
be adequate access, space, facilities,
accessways as well as
accommodation for persons with
disabilities
The facilities
are adequate
enough for the
persons with
disability
___
Dp2 safe
movement to
and within a
building
The provision is that the doors,
stairways, as well as the walking
surfaces, allow for easy access into
the building, and characterized with
appropriate (Johnson and Lobel,
2018)
The pathways
and entries are
sufficient
enough
___
dp3 fall
prevention
barriers
Appropriate fall prevention barriers
are erected, to ensure that no one
becomes victim,
Could not be
verified
- ___
dp4 exits To protect the occupants during fire
outbreak situations exists needs to be
provided
The existing
signage was
clear enough
___
dp5 fire-
isolated exits
In order to protect the occupants
during fire outbreak situations,
sufficient exist needs to be provided
and with fully installed fire
There are
sufficient fire
exit
___

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equipment’s.
dp6 paths of
travel to exits
In order to protect the occupants
during fire outbreak situations,
sufficient pathways need to be
provided and with fully installed fire
equipment’s (Johnson and Lobel,
2018)
There are
enough
pathways to
allow the travel
to the exits
___
Services and equipment
Ncc code Provisions Findings Recommendation
ep1.1 fire hose
reels
The provisions stipulate that
depending on the size of the
building, a fire hose reel
system needs to be installed
which allows for the safe
evacuation of the occupants in
case of a fire attack
Could not be
verified as per the
desktop review
___
ep1.2 fire
extinguishers
The provisions stipulate that
depending on the size of the
building, a fire extinguisher
needs to be installed which
allows for the safe evacuation
of the occupants in case of a
fire attack
Fire extinguishers
are provided
___
ep1.3 fire
hydrants
The provisions stipulate that
depending on the needs of the
fire brigade, a fire hydrant
system needs to be installed
which allows for the safe
operation of the brigade
Fire hydrants are
provided
___
ep1.4 automatic
fire suppression
systems
The building needs to have an
automatic fire suppression
system which allows for
automatic control and
prevention of the spread of fire
(Johnson and Lobel, 2018)
Automatic fire
suppression
systems are
provided
___
ep1.5 fire-
fighting services
in buildings
under
construction
A suitable mechanism for fire
fighting has to be erected to
allow for easy operation of the
fire brigade
Fire-fighting
services in
buildings under
construction are
provided
___
ep1.6 fire control
centers
Sufficient facilities need to be
provided, as per the provision
so that in case of an emergency
fire brigade intervention, easy
coordination is laid out.
Enough fire
control centers are
provided
___

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Fundamentals of the components, and the NCC and/or Australian standard
Foundations;
This forms the most significant section of the building as it determines its durability as well as
the strength. Undoubtedly, some of the components which have been used in the construction of
the foundation include
Concrete- concrete forms the basis of the foundation, as it mixes very well and offers structural
stability. It is comprised of cement, sand, and waste which are mixed in various proportions so as
to obtain the appropriate mixture. Typically, wooden frames have to be constructed when
working with concrete. Thus, the wooden frame is also part of the components. Once the
concrete has hardened, the wooden frame will certainly be eliminated (Krupar and Smith, 2019).
Metal- as the concrete dries, the metal is fixed which offers the rigidity and the structural
strength.
Concrete block- the concrete block is made from concrete materials, which are a bit bigger than
the regular bricks. They are easily laid and saves time, as well as being much lighter in weight.
Weather-proofing materials – in all circumstances, the basements tend to suffer from water
damage since they are erected underground. This simply implies that waterproofing material is
applied, and there is likeliness that it has been applied.
The NCC relating to foundations is b1.4 determination of structural resistance of materials and
forms of construction (Krupar and Smith, 2019)
Footings;

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Typically, the foundations have been constructed for concrete which has been reinforced with a
material such as a rebar. The footings are to assist in the provision of the structural strength in
various parts of the supermarket such as the floor and the walls.
The NCC relating to the footings is bp1.2 structural resistance (Power, 2019)
Structural framing;
Engineered wood, as well as steel, has been utilized in the construction of the structural framing.
These materials are fitted together through compression. The steel framing possibly has been
made of various steel products.
The NCC relating to structural framing is b1.4 determination of structural resistance of
materials and forms of construction
Wall claddings;
The wall claddings are made of a number of materials, which possibly includes; metal, wood,
vinyl, brick, as well as composite materials which includes wood, aluminum, polystyrene,e
blends of cement, metal as well as rice straw fibers. They are basically meant for the protection
of sound and weather.
The ncc relating to wall claddings is fp5.2 sound transmission through walls
Roof claddings;
The roof materials which possibly makes the roof claddings include terracotta tiles, concrete tiles
as well as steel. This is because of the low noise which is expected in the supermarket environs,
as well as the temperature changes. The materials are also generally known for their
affordability, durability, fireproof, as well as weatherproof. Depending on the conditions of the
supermarket, the material will be of significance as it prevents the moisture build-up.

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The NCC relating b1.4 determination of structural resistance of materials and forms of
construction
Internal linings & insulation;
The internal linings and insulation depend on the various factors in the location of the
environment. Further, other factors such as the coast, and sustainability are considered. From the
desktop review, the most likely materials used in making the wall linings and insulation includes
fiberglass. The principal reason is due to the fact that it minimizes a lot of heat from escaping
into the atmosphere (Schmidt, 2018). Consecutively, the fiberglass is comprised of glass
powder, woven silicon, and tiny shards of glass. By extension, the material has high r values with
excellent noninflammable properties.
The NCC relating to the internal linings and insulation include c1.10 fire hazard properties, c2.6
vertical separation of openings in external walls
Windows & glazed assemblies
The windows and glazed assemblies are made of aluminum, wood, and polyvinyl chloride. The
construction is such that the glass gets fixed into the frame.
The NCC relating to the glazing is f4.2 methods and extent of natural light

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Conclusion
In this task work, the various national construction codes in Australia have been addressed.
These codes play a significant role in the construction of new buildings. Strict adherence to the
various national construction codes helps in ensuring that the buildings meet the set standards,
thus ensuring that both the life of the occupants as well as property inside a building is protected.
Further, an extensive assessment, based on the sections C, D, and E of the national construction
code is presented.
However, the assessment is characterized with various limitations, as some of the parameters
could not be identified, this comes as a result of the case study provided, which is in the forms of
a desktop review. The research assessments can be concluded that it is successful as the learning
outcomes: regulatory requirements while constructing a project, as well as fire, acoustic, health,
and safety requirements for the commercial projects, have been intricately discussed.

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