Codes and Compliance: Australian National Building Code Report

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the Australian National Building Code (NCC), focusing on its structure, purpose, and application. It details the relationship between the NCC and the Building Code of Australia (BCA), highlighting the BCA's role in assessing building approvals and establishing technical provisions for construction and design. The report explores the NCC's performance-based code system, including compliance solutions and various methods for achieving compliance, such as performance-based solutions, deemed-to-satisfy solutions, and verification methods. It discusses the rating tools used to evaluate compliance with the BCA, such as FirstRate and NABERS, and the role of building certifiers. Furthermore, the report examines the changes in the environment of the BCA, including essential amendments made in 2015, and compares the Australian codes with the International Building Code, ensuring consistency. The report emphasizes the importance of the NCC in ensuring safety, amenity, and sustainability within the building industry.

Running head: CODES AND COMPLIANCE
Codes and Compliance
Name of the Student
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Author Note

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Table of Contents
Australian National Building Code (NCC)......................................................................................2
Australian standards.........................................................................................................................2
NCC- A Performance based Code...................................................................................................3
Rating tools to evaluate the compliance to NCC.............................................................................4
Tools used for assessing compliance...............................................................................................6
Change in the environment of the Building Codes of Australia......................................................7
Essential amendments made in the Building Code of Australia 2015.............................................9
Reasons behind the changes in the Building code of Australia.....................................................10
International Building Code..........................................................................................................11
Inadequacy and challenges arising from the National Construction Codes..................................13
Analysis of the International Building Code against recently adopted Building Codes of Australia
ensuring consistence of the Australian codes with that of the International building codes.........14
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................17

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Australian National Building Code (NCC)
The National Construction Code (NCC) of Australia is a governmental initiative that was
created with a view to develop a single code for all the on-site construction requirements in the
country (Board 2015). The NCC consists of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) Volume one
and two and the Plumbing Coda of Australia (PCA) as Volume three.
The Building Code of Australia (BCA) is the main code that assesses building approvals
in Australia. It is a set of technical provisions for the construction and design of the buildings and
other structures applicable throughout Australia. The provisions are uniform in nature. The BCA
is produced and regulated by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). The reason behind
frequent review and amendments in the BCA is twofold: firstly, to ensure that the building
related works are being carried out in compliance with the Building Code. Secondly, the
amendments are made with a view to avert any form of contractual disputes that may arise due to
no-compliance (Dimyadi and Amor 2013). A joint initiative of the ABCB and the Australian
government along with the state and territory governments is to address issues related to health,
safety, sustainability and amenity through the National Construction Code (NCC) with an
intention to attain universal minimum and consistent standards.
Australian standards
Several building standards have been developed for the construction and building
industry to ensure safety, cost-effectiveness, efficiency in the building construction throughout
the country. A standard refers to a document that includes all the guidelines, rules, and other

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detailed technical provisions that are essential while undertaking any activities within the
building and the construction industry.
Some of the building and construction standards are provided in the regulations stipulated
under the Building Code of Australia, which implies that those standards must be maintained or
followed while undertaking any activities in the specified way (Daly, Cooper and Ma 2014). For
instance, test methods and product standards in relation to the doors, roofing and windows;
product standards and installation of smoke detectors; design standards that is necessary to
ensure accessibility of the disabled; external and internal waterproofing of the residences.
NCC- A Performance based Code
The performance based National Construction Code (NCC) includes compliance
solutions, which enables a plumbing, drainage and building installations to comply with the
compliance level. The performance requirements lay down the minimum level of performance
for all the drainage, plumbing and building installations. It further includes components, relevant
materials, construction methods and design methods (Roetzel, Tsangrassoulis and Dietrich
2014). The requirements mentioned as the performance requirements calls for mandatory
compliance.
There are three options for compliance set out under the Performance based Code which are as
follows:
 Performance based solution: It requires using of approved tools such as calculators,
rating tools, etc, as per the intent of the BCA. This solution refers to any solution that
fulfills the Performance requirements except the deemed-to-satisfy solutions. A

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performance solution may either differ wholly or partly from the deemed-to-satisfy
provisions.
 Deemed to satisfy solution: it is the use of any deemed-to-satisfy solutions or any
referenced documents that is stipulated in the NCC. These provisions comprise the
instances of products, designs factors, components, and installation and construction
methods (Kibert 2016 ). If these requirements are followed and the building related works
have been carried out in compliance with such requirements, it shall be deemed to be in
compliance with the performance requirements of the NCC.
 Verification method: the experts who are recognized consider that the approach satisfies
the intent of the BCA but owing to its innovative nature, it cannot adequately be
evaluated under the remaining methods.
The theory of performance-based design permits a designer to develop a single design
solution that meets the requirements of individual building codes in any location, thus, satisfying
the approved authorities. The underlying principle for introducing the performance-based codes
is to enjoy all the benefits that the code prescribes for instance, the certainty of the techniques
and the building materials along with flexibility by using the established performance
requirements (Berardi 2017). The performance based code system requires that the society acts
in agreement with the methods to assess the performance and the objectives for the built
environment.
Rating tools to evaluate the compliance to NCC
Rating tools are used to comply with the provisions stipulated under the BCA with a view
to ensure the clients with best possible outcomes. Sometimes, these rating tools developed for

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voluntary purposes are often used in contracts. For instance, the local and state governments
require to give Green star ratings in respect of certain buildings.
The implementation of performance based building aims at enhancing the consumer-
orientation within then construction and building industry as while carrying out the building
works it is the user requirements explained in the performance–based codes shall form the basis
for all communication (Iyer-Raniga, Moore and Wasiluk 2014). The implementation of the
performance-based code design environment enhances the in innovation in building designs and
the associated products. In Australia, the BCA based on the performance-based code was drafted
using several international models including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Sweden and the
Netherlands.
In case of Residential buildings, the NCC applies to new buildings and any additions or
alterations, the building size threshold shall be determined by the individual jurisdictions. The
BCA Volume 2 stipulates requirements for constructing and designing domestic buildings that is,
the Class 1 and 10 buildings and in addition, class 10 structures. In case of buildings that already
exist, the building size threshold shall be determined by the individual jurisdictions and shall use
the deemed –to-satisfy solutions hall in case of both alterations and additions.
In case of new commercial buildings, BCA volume 1 shall stipulate requirements for design
and construction of commercial buildings that is, class 2-9 buildings including class 10
structures. In case of existing commercial buildings, major renovation is required and although
several states have included the requirements for existing buildings but such requirements varies
based on jurisdictions (Watson, Gad and Pham 2016). Since the NCC contains the certain
requirements which when adopted by various territories and states of Australia, it is mandatory

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to comply with such requirements. The requirements are both enforceable locally or regionally
with respect to construction and design with the assistance from the third parties. The NCC
covers the following areas with respect to the construction and building industry:
 HVAC Envelope Maintenance Thermal Comfort Lighting Option for performance-based solution Service water heating
Tools used for assessing compliance
In Australia, the building certifier is authorized to settle the type of calculation method
that is acceptable and there are other simulation tools are available that enables compliance path
for the entire building. The star rating that is used for regulating the thermal performance of
homes can be measured by using the certain computer software packages such as FirstRate,
BASIX, AccuRate, etc. In case of ensuring the compliance with respect to the Commercial
building, the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) strictly performs
similar function as that of the mentioned systems.
The star rating is provided based on the actual performance of the building after it is
certified. The governments or the licensed operators maintain all these compliance-checking
tools. In order to implement the compliance tools for checking compliance level with respect to
the residential buildings, the software compliance tools must be in accordance with the standards

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stipulated by the Nationwide Home Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) Software Accreditation
Protocol (Pianella et al. 2016). In respect of the commercial buildings, the software tools must
comply with the requirements accredited by the ABCB.
Change in the environment of the Building Codes of Australia
The BCA stipulates the national standards to ensure safety, amenity and sustainability
while carry out the building works in the current and future communities. It stipulates the
technical requirements with respect to the construction and design of the building and other
structures (Ching and Winkel 2016). The matters covered by the BCA include fire resistance,
structural soundness, energy efficiency, access related services and other provisions related to
health and safety.
The majority of the amendments included in the BCA 2012 include the following factors:
 changes in facilities relating to the early childhood education and care in alignment with
the BCA;
 exemptions from certain BCA requirements in respect of the class 8 elcetrical network
substations;
 requirement for handrails in relation to private stairs;
 structural software provisions;
 changes required with respect to wet areas in the buildings;
 update of referenced documents;
 other minor technical changes;
Essential amendments made in relation to national BCA provisions for both the volumes:

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 The provision related to the use of software in computer for designing the structural
framing systems of the building must comply with the ABCB Protocol for Structural
Software;
 With respect to slips, trips and falls changes the new requirements made in the BCA
provisions, handrails must be present to private ramps and stairs which would prevent
falls;
 In the wet areas of the buildings, provisions must be incorporated that would decide
which areas of the building should be waterproof or water resistant;
 Minor changes have been introduced for the purpose of expansion, refinement,
clarification and alignment;
The changes made in the Volume one of the BCA provisions in 2012:
 new verification method has been incorporated to verify whether an emergency lighting
system satisfies the safe illumination level that is stipulated under the Performance
Requirement;
 Class 8 electrical network substations have been exempted from the BCA requirements
for a range of installations and facilities based on the control systems applied to the
construction and design of the building through the state-based and national network
provider legislation (Porter 2015).
 Amendments include the requirements for a atmospheric contaminant monitoring system
to be installed in a carpark.
 In addition to the changes made in the both the volumes of the BCA provisions, a change
has been made in the in Volume two with respect to the changes in the Australian
Government’s Renewable Energy Target Scheme (Ching 2014). This change would

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result in the replacement of the term ‘Renewable Energy Certificate’ with ‘Small-scale
Technology Certificate’.
There are certain amendments made in both the volumes of BCA provision in NSW hich are as
follows:
 The Swimming Pools Regulations, the Swimming Pools Act, the Environmental Planning
and Assessment Act, the Rural Fires Act and the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Regulation have been incorporated in the referenced documents of the NSW
Tables owing to the variations in the NSW references (Evans, Roshchanka and Graham
2017).
 There have been changes made in respect of the Fire hazard properties by introducing
provisions that would enable the identification of any materials that should treated as
retardants;
 The changes made with respect to the special fire protection where the definition has
been updated to demonstrate the changes made in the referenced NSW State
Environmental Planning policies;
 There have been amendments with respect to various other clauses with a view to
maintain consistency.
Essential amendments made in the Building Code of Australia 2015
Most of the changes made to the BCA in 2015 have been made relating to the following
elements:
 the introduction of verification methods with respect to weatherproofing and structural
reliability;

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 expanding the sprinkler facilities for all new aged care facilities;
 necessary changes made with respect to barrier provisions to improve useability;
 New references and editions have been adopted in volumes One and two volumes which
have included Windows in buildings-selection and installation. There has been inclusion
of Termite Management- New Building work and Smoke Alarms as well.
 Construction of Barriers have been introduced to prevent falls;
 The incorporation of Residential and Low-rise Steel Framing has been introduced as an
additional deemed-to-satisfy compliance for low-rise steel framing.
 Other minor technical changes have been made which includes incorporation of openable
windows, open spectator stands, necessary access to maintain all parts of the building
(Ronchi and Nilsson 2014);
The present policy formulated by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) aims at the
following objectives:
 Obtaining compliance with the present performance requirements which is more
important than raising the firmness of the energy efficiency provisions;
 To assess or review the rating software for its implementation in tropical northern
climates of the country as the modeling in those areas result in sub-optimal consequences.
 To incorporate qualified measures into the performance requirements with a view o
increase the certainty and clarity regarding what is required to do to act in compliance
with the Building codes of Australia (Grondzik and Kwok 2014).

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Reasons behind the changes in the Building code of Australia
The main reason for the constant changes made in the building codes of the Australia is
based on the developmental in the factors such as environment, technology, culture, economic
relationships that competes for recognition. With the advancement in the technology and the
living standards of the Australian people, it has become necessary to enhance safety, amenity,
health and sustainability of the society and the individuals residing within the society. The
building codes of Australia or the building regulations has been set up to outline the minimum
level of safety with respect to the constructed objects that were designed to safeguard public
health, safety and welfare of the community in relation to the occupancy and construction of the
building and structures (Coyle et al. 2016).
The National Construction Code has been brought to regulation by adopting Territory,
state and commonwealth legislations. It is subject to annual revision and the modified version
comes into effect every year in May. With the establishment of the building codes since 1964 till
the present code, there have been changes which led to the inclusion of new requirements for
energy sufficiency. It further includes new provisions related to the incorporation of the
requirements for health, safety and amenity. The processes and policy used by the Australian
Building Code to make changes in the building codes or to facilitate any development in the
building laws of the country (Clarke and Hensen 2015).
International Building Code
The International Building Code (IBC) is a model code that has been developed by the
International Code Council (ICC). The IBC aims at addressing the concerns related to health and
safety for buildings on the basis of performance a prescriptive related requirements. The