NCC 2019 Amendment 1 Preview

To help you prepare for its expected adoption by all States and Territories from 1 July 2020, we’ve released an overview of the changes to help you better understand what to expect. The Amendment is the product of decisions by both the Building Ministers’ Forum and the Board, including in response to recommendations of the Building Confidence Report (BCR).

You can access the Amendment via the NCC Suite or you can download the summary and instructions for all Volumes from the ABCB Resource Library.

Early childhood centres in high-rise buildings

A new provision in NCC Volume One, D1.18 Egress from early childhood centres, prevents application of Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions in circumstances where an early childhood centre is located on an upper level of a multi-storey building. It follows that in these instances a Performance Solution will be required.

Labelling of Aluminium Composite Panels

A new provision in the Governing Requirements, A5.7 Labelling of Aluminium Composite Panels, requires labelling in accordance with Standards Australia Technical Specification 5344.

Concession for Class 2 and 3 buildings

This concession, which permits the use of timber framing for low-rise Class 2 and 3 buildings, has been redrafted to remove ambiguity and clarify application.

Corrections and clarifications

NCC 2019 Amendment 1 will include typographical and diagram corrections to provisions that have errors. In addition, NCC Volume Two Part 3.5.2.5 has been updated to clarify that anti-ponding board requirements only apply to roofs where sarking is installed.

In addition to the above, the NCC 2019 Amendment 1 preview also contains the following proposed changes that are yet to be confirmed:

New definition: Building complexity

A new definition for building complexity may form part of Amendment 1. It provides a rating of complexity that may be used in the future to identify buildings for which additional oversight is appropriate. This proposed change is a response to the BCR National Implementation Framework.

Process for the development of Performance Solutions

This proposed change is a good practice process when developing Performance Solutions. Inclusion of A2.2(4) of the Governing Requirements, including its accompanying note and explanatory information in NCC 2019 Amendment 1, is subject to consideration of impact analysis yet to be completed. This proposed change is a response to the BCR National Implementation Framework.

Practitioners who want more detailed information or who have questions about Amendment 1 should keep an eye on our YouTube channel and Resource Library from mid-May, where we will be releasing the webcast of the 2020 NCC Seminars.

Ensure that you keep your NCC profile up-to-date to receive further information concerning the Amendment and other supporting material.