ABCB Housing Provisions
Search the National Construction Code editions
Classification
Building class 1a Building class 1b Building class 2 Building class 3 Building class 4 Building class 5 Building class 6 Building class 7a Building class 7b Building class 8 Building class 9a Building class 9b Building class 9c Building class 10a Building class 10b Building class 10c

Filter

Classification
Building class 1a Building class 1b Building class 2 Building class 3 Building class 4 Building class 5 Building class 6 Building class 7a Building class 7b Building class 8 Building class 9a Building class 9b Building class 9c Building class 10a Building class 10b Building class 10c

13.5

NT Part 13.5 Ceiling fans

NT Part 13.5 Ceiling fans

NT 13.5.1 Application of Part 13.5New for 2022

This Part applies to a habitable room in a Class 1 building.

NT 13.5.2 Air movementNew for 2022

(1) Air movement must be provided to habitable rooms in accordance with Table NT 13.5.2.

(2) Air movement required by (1) may be provided through an opening from an adjoining room (including an enclosed verandah) if—

  1. the adjoining room is not a sanitary compartment; and
  2. the opening between the adjoining room and the habitable room complies with Table NT 13.5.2 as if it were a ventilation opening to the habitable room or a proportion there of if some ventilation is provided from another source; and
  3. the ventilation opening to the adjoining room complies with Table NT 13.5.2 for the total area of the floor of the adjoining room and the proportion of the habitable room that is ventilated from the adjoining room.
Insert NT table (13.5.2) 13.5.2 as follows:
NT Table 13.5.2: Minimum total ventilation opening area as a percentage of the floor area for each habitable room
Climate zone Minimum total ventilation opening area per habitable room (percentage of the area of the floor of the habitable room)
Without a ceiling fan or evaporative cooler With a ceiling fan With an evaporative cooler
1 15% 12.5% 15%
3 12.5% 7.5% 7.5%

NT 13.5.3 Ventilation openingsNew for 2022

(1) The total ventilation opening area required by Table NT 13.5.2 to a habitable room must—

  1. be connected by a breeze path complying with (b) to another ventilation opening in another room or space; or
  2. be provided by a minimum of two ventilation openings located within the same habitable room, with each ventilation opening having an area of not less than 25% of the area required by Table NT 13.5.2.

(2) A breeze path required by (1)(a) must—

  1. pass through not more than two openings in the internal walls with each opening having an area of not less than 1.5 m2; and
  2. have a distance along the breeze path between ventilation opening of not more than 20 m.

Explanatory information

  • Ventilation openings should be designed to allow the interior of the building to take full advantage of any natural breeze. Careful consideration should be given to the type and location of openings to ensure optimum effect is achieved and that internal “dead air pockets” are avoided.
  • An opening may serve more than one breeze path.
  • Two openings are stated in NT 13.5.3(2)(a) as the limit of the number of openings permitted in a breeze path. These are typically doorways. Larger openings, such as those between adjoining lounge and dining areas in the same space are unlikely to restrict air movement significantly.