Summary

This module covered the necessary information to understand and gain the knowledge to access, interpret, and apply relevant building codes and standards to the construction process applicable to National Construction Code (NCC) Class 1 and 10 building projects. In this module, you learnt how to classify buildings, determine construction compliance requirements from NCC, and apply fire protection requirements to Class 1 and 10 building projects.

Volumes of the NCC

The NCC incorporates all building work requirements into a single code containing three volumes. The Building Code of Australia (BCA) is Volumes One and Two, and the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) is Volume Three. 

The Volumes of the NCC covers the following building classifications:

• Volume 1: covers the technical design and construction requirements for all Class 2 to 9 buildings (multi-residential, commercial, industrial, and public assembly buildings) and all their associated structures. 
• Volume 2: covers the technical design and construction requirements for certain residential and non-habitable buildings and structures, specifically Class 1 and 10 buildings.
• Volume 3: (Plumbing Code of Australia) pertains to plumbing and drainage system of all building classifications.

Australian Standards

Australian Standards (AS) are documents that have been specifically created to outline the specifications that relate to building and construction procedures and products to make sure that they comply with safety and performance standards. Construction procedures are a series of steps followed in a regular definite order to accomplish a construction goal. An example of this is the procedure for cladding a window.

Behaviour of structures under stress 

Building structures should be designed using materials to withstand different forces such as compression, tension, bending, torsion, shear and combinations of these forces.

Compression

Compression is the application to different points of a structure of balanced inward ('pushing') forces. Materials such as concrete are often used to withstand compression forces.

Tension

Tension is the application of outward ('pulling') forces on a structure. Steel is often used to withstand tension forces.

Bending

Bending is the forming or forcing of a structure into a curve or angle. Part of the material is under compression and part under tension, so composite materials may be preferred in this situation.

Torsion

Torsion is a twisting or turning force on a structure. Being a more complicated force to deal with, careful design and material selection are important.

Shear

A shear force is a sliding force. One part of the structure has a force in one direction, and another part has a force in the opposite direction. Careful design and material selection are required to withstand shear force.

A combination of these forces is a major cause of the decline of structures' integrity by causing deformation, stiffness, shortening, buckling, breaking, and failure of structures to support themselves and serve their purpose.

Building designers need to be aware of these different forces, and through the calculation of stress and strain, suitable construction materials can be selected. Construction materials have different stress-strain characteristics.

Stress

Stress is the term for the amount of force applied divided by the area over which the force is applied.

Strain

Strain is the ratio between the amount of deformation (due to stress) and the structure's original length.

Australian Standards and other documentation will contain provisions and requirements on ensuring that buildings remain water-resistant and can withstand elements such as stress and exposure. 

Codes of states and territories

Some states and territories also have their own codes relating to residential building and construction projects. Examples of these are the Queensland Development Code, South Australia (SA)’s residential development code, and Western Australia’s residential design codes. 

Some of these codes are specific and only apply to the states and territories where they are made for. 

Building classes

Here are the building classifications as defined by the NCC:

Class	Sub-class	Definition
1		Class 1 buildings are dwellings
	1a	One or more buildings forming a single dwelling like: a detached house; and two or more attached buildings separated by a fire-resisting wall, e.g. row house, terrace house
	1b	One or more buildings which together form: a guest house, boarding house, a hostel or something similar which does not accommodate more than 12 people and more than 300m2 floor area; or four or more dwellings in one allotment, used for short-term accommodations for holidays. A Class 1b building cannot be located above or below another dwelling or another building class (except for a private garage).
2		A building containing two or more sole-occupancy units. Each unit must be a separate dwelling.
3		Class 3 buildings are residential buildings other than Class 1 or 2. These are long-term or transient living accommodations for unrelated people. These include the following: boarding house, guest house, a hostel or backpackers larger than the limits of a Class 1b building dormitory-style accommodation or workers’ quarters, e.g. fruit-pickers healthcare facilities like accommodations for children, elderly or people with disability which must not be considered under Class 9 residential parts of motels, hotels, schools, hospitals, or jails
4		A Class 4 building is the only dwelling or residence within any Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 buildings.
5		An office building used for professional or commercial purposes, except for buildings of Class 6, 7, 8 or 9. Examples include: law office office for general medical practitioners
6		Buildings that directly sell goods by retail or supply services to the public, such as: restaurants or cafés markets, shopping centres and malls public laundry hairdressers and barbershops
7	7a	Carparks
	7b	The following buildings are classified under Class 7b: warehouses storage buildings buildings used to display or produce wholesale goods
8		These are process-type buildings such as: buildings used for production, assembling, altering, repairing, finishing, packing or cleaning of goods or produce laboratories (classified as such because of their high potential for fire hazard)
9		Buildings of public nature
	9a	Healthcare buildings in which occupants are either: undergoing or have undergone medical treatment; or in need of physical assistance in the evacuation during emergencies.
	9b	Assembly buildings used for social, theatrical, political, religious, or civil purposes. The following are examples of Class 9b buildings: schools universities childcare centres pre-schools sporting facilities night clubs public transport buildings
	9c	An aged care building. An aged care building is defined as a residential accommodation for elderly people who are: provided with personal care services; and need 24-hour staff assistance to evacuate the building in an emergency.
10		Non-habitable buildings or structures
	10a	Sheds, carports, and private garages
	10b	Structures like: fence mast antenna retaining wall swimming pool other such similar structures
	10c	Private bushfire shelters

Relevant NCC Performance Requirements

Building classifications determine the Performance Requirements that you must follow in any given project. Some of the Performance Requirements are only applicable to certain building classifications. Always check with the NCC or an Appropriate Authority if you are unsure which requirements you must apply to your building. Examples include energy efficiency, damp and weatherproofing, fire Safety, health and amenity, structure, safe movement and access and ancillary provisions.

Achieving compliance with NCC Performance Requirements

There are three different ways to achieve compliance with the NCC Performance Requirements. Each method has its uses and may not always be the most suitable option. 

1. A Performance Solution is one of the choices to achieve compliance with the Performance Requirements of the NCC. This is a tailored solution for a given project situation. This solution is flexible in achieving the outcomes and encourages the use of innovation in design and technology.  
2. A Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Solution (also known as a Prescriptive Solution) is a standard way to demonstrate compliance with the Performance Requirements. However, there are times when a DTS Solution to a given problem does not exist or does not apply to certain building designs. Sometimes, a unique or site-specific solution is preferred or necessary. In these instances, a Performance Solution may be developed and used.
3. A DTS Solution is achieved if you follow all relevant DTS Provisions in the NCC. DTS Provisions tell you what, when, and how to do something to meet the Performance Requirements. These include the materials, components, design factors, and construction methods needed to meet the Performance Requirements. 

Assessment methods to determine compliance with Performance Solutions

There are four types of Assessment Methods that can be used to determine compliance with Performance Solutions and Deem-to-Satisfy Solutions. These are: 

• Evidence of suitability
• Expert judgement
• Verification methods
• Comparison with Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

Certificate of conformity 

A Certificate of Conformity is a certificate that states an item or product meets the relevant standard. An independent review must be conducted to issue that certificate; however, it is up to the State, Territory or relevant authority to accept these certificates as suitable evidence.

Complete documentation to meet NCC requirements

A full copy of the original certificate, report, or document must constitute any copy of the documentary evidence submitted. Inspection documentations are sometimes needed, like a final inspection certificate. To complete the relevant documentation, all the compliance requirements fulfilled by the construction must be documented thoroughly. 

Difference between passive and active fire control elements

Passive fire control elements involve the use of suitable materials (e.g. fire-resisting elements and fire doors) in the construction of a building to improve structural stability and reduce the likelihood of collapse. Unlike active fire control elements that aim to extinguish a fire, passive fire control elements aim to contain the fire to its point of origin and prevent it from spreading to the other parts of the building.

Standards Australia, in partnership with the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), produced an online dictionary of terms for the building and plumbing industry. The dictionary can be accessed here.

Below you can see a list of frequently used construction-related terms explained:

Term	Definition
Air brick	Ventilation built into brickwork to provide ventilation through the wall
Agreement	A contract between two or more parties, either written or verbal
Arris	A sharp corner formed by the join of two surfaces along a length of timber or brick
Australian Standard	The approved standard for material, equipment, technique, or procedure as set down by the Standards Australia International Limited (SAI Ltd)
Building trades	All trades which have a part in the construction of a building
Carpentry	Trade of preparing, cutting, and fixing timber in building construction
Cladding	Any material used to face a building or structure
Contractor	One who agrees by written agreement or contract to supply materials and perform certain types of work for a specified sum of money
Cul de sac	An access street with a blind end usually in the form of a turning space for vehicles
Datum	A predetermined level on a site from which all other levels are established
Dimension	A measure of distance
Eave	The lower part of a roof that overhangs the walls
Flush	A smooth-faced door
Gable	The triangular end of a house formed at the end of a pitched roof, from eaves level to apex
Housing	Recess cut across the face of a piece of timber to receive the end of another piece
Housing Provisions Standard	The Housing Provisions Standard is a significant format change to the NCC and it is part of NCC 2022. This new ABCB Standard is introduced to align the structure of the NCC Volumes. It represents the Acceptable Construction Practices’ (ACPs) content previously found in NCC 2019 Volume Two, Section 3. Like the ACPs, it’s referenced by the Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Provisions in Volume Two. To make it easier to understand this change, a more traditional version combining NCC Volume Two and the new Housing Provisions Standard into one document can be downloaded.
Matrix	The mixture of sand and cement that binds together the aggregate of concrete
National Construction Code (NCC)	The NCC, published by the Australian Building Codes Board, incorporates all building work requirements into a single code containing three volumes. NCC 2022 is proposed to come into effect from 1 September 2022 and it will allow transition periods for states and territories for some requirements.
Pane	Single piece of glass in a window or door
Pier	The vertical member of base structure
Profile	A frame set up on a building site on which is indicated the position of the building
Reduced level	Elevation of a point relative to a given datum
Waterproof	Materials and construction which will prevent water from passing through walls and joints

1. To access the National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 Volumes One, Two, and Three, register to NCC’s website and download the documents free of charge. 
2. A comprehensive summary of the updated NCC 2022 can be accessed here, including the newly introduced Housing Provisions Standard.
3. NCC Tutor is a suite of educational modules designed for educators and students, designed and published by ABCB. The recorded lessons are a video version of each NCC Tutor module and it provides a detailed explanation about NCC volumes, energy efficiency provisions, fire safety and WaterMark. The playlist containing 13 videos is available here.
4. For more information on standards used in Australia, you can click here. The Concrete structures AS 3600-2018 standard provides requirements for construction projects that involve concrete structures and members. It also lays down guidelines for pedestal footings.
5. Guide to hazardous paint management Lead paint in residential, public and commercial buildings AS/NZS 4361.2:2017: This standard offers guidelines on non-industrial facilities for the management of lead paint. It also includes guidance on ways to assess the presence and amount of lead on a building and how to choose an effective management strategy.
6. Steel structures AS 4100:2020: This standard sets out minimum specifications for the construction aspects of the manufacture and the alteration of the steelwork in compliance with the design method.
7. You can access ABCB's Handbook for Performance Solution Processes here.
8. You can access a sample CodeMark Certificate of Conformity here.
9. You can access a sample of an engineering certificate where an insulation product has been tested for non-combustibility here.
10. You can access ABCB's handbook on evidence of suitability here.

The following table shows the Australian Standards commonly used for building and construction. It is often worth viewing a summary of the content online to check if it covers what you are expecting and that you have the most recent version. Australian Standards are available for purchase through the Standards Store or distribution partners' websites. 

No.	Date	Title
AS/NZS ISO 717	2004	Acoustics — Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements — Airborne sound insulation
AS ISO 717 Part 2	2004	Acoustics — Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements — Impact sound insulation
AS 1056 Part 1	1991	Storage water heaters — General requirements (incorporating amendments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
AS/NZS 1170	2002	Structural design actions — General principles (incorporating amendments 1, 3 and 4)
AS/NZS 1170	2011	Structural design actions — Wind actions (incorporating amendments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
AS 1191	2002	Acoustics — Method for laboratory measurement of airborne sound transmission insulation of building elements
AS 1273	1991	Unplasticized PVC (UPVC) downpipe and fittings for rainwater
AS 1288	2006	Glass in buildings — Selection and installation
AS 1289.6.3.3	1997	Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes — Method 6.3.3: Soil strength and consolidation tests — Determination of the penetration resistance of a soil — Perth sand penetrometer test (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 1397	2011	Continuous hot-dip metallic coated steel sheet and strip — Coatings of zinc and zinc alloyed with aluminium and magnesium (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 1428	2009	Design for access and mobility — General requirements for access
AS 1530	1994	Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures — Combustibility test for materials
AS 1562 Part 1	2018	Design and installation of sheet roof and wall cladding — Metal
AS 1657	2018	Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders — Design, construction and installation
AS/NZS 1664	1997	Aluminium structures — Limit state design (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 1668	2015	The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings — Fire and smoke control in buildings (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 1670	2018	Fire detection, warning, control and intercom systems
AS/NZS 1680 Part 0	2009	Interior lighting — Safe movement
AS 1684	2010	Residential timber- framed construction
AS 1720	2010	Timber structures
AS 1735	1986	Lifts, escalators and moving walks
AS/NZS 1859 Part 4	2018	Reconstituted wood- based panels
AS 1860 Part 2	2006	Particleboard flooring — Installation (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 1905 Part 1	2015	Components for the protection of openings in fire-resistant walls
AS 1926 Part 1	2012	Swimming pool safety
AS 2047	2014	Windows and external glazed doors in buildings
AS 2049	2002	Roof tiles (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 2050	2018	Installation of roof tiles
AS 2118	2017	Automatic fire sprinkler systems
AS 2159	2009	Piling — Design and installation (incorporating amendment 1)
AS/NZS 2179 Part 1	2014	Specifications for rainwater goods, accessories and fasteners
AS/NZS 2269 Part	2012	Plywood
AS/NZS 2293 Part 1	2018	Emergency lighting and exit signs for buildings
AS/NZS 2327	2017	Composite structures
AS 2419 Part 1	2005	Fire hydrant installations
AS 2441	2005	Installation of fire hose reels (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 2444	2001	Portable fire extinguishers and fire blankets — Selection and location
AS 2665	2001	Smoke/heat venting systems — Design, installation and commissioning
AS/NZS 2699 Part 1	2000	Built-in components for masonry construction
AS 2870	2011	Residential slabs and footings
AS/NZS 2890 Part 6	2009	Parking facilities
AS/NZS 2904	1995	Damp-proof courses and flashings
AS/NZS 2908 Part 1	2000	Cellulose-cement products
AS/NZS 2918	2018	Domestic solid fuel burning appliances
AS/NZS 3013	2005	Electrical installations — Classification of the fire and mechanical performance of wiring system elements
AS/NZS 3500 Part 0	2003	Plumbing and drainage
AS/NZS 3500	2018	Plumbing and drainage
AS 3600	2018	Concrete structures
AS/NZS 3666	2011	Air-handling and water systems of buildings
AS 3700	2018	Masonry structures
AS 3740	2010	Waterproofing of domestic wet areas
AS 3786	2014	Smoke alarms using scattered light, transmitted light or ionization (incorporating amendment 1 and 2)
AS 3959	2018	Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas
AS/NZS 4020	2018	Testing of products for use in contact with drinking water
AS 4055	2012	Wind loads for housing (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 4072	2005	Components for the protection of openings in fire-resistant separating elements
AS 4100	1998	Steel structures
AS/NZS 4200	2017	Pliable building membranes and underlays — Materials
AS 4200 Part 2	2017	Pliable building membranes and underlays — Installation requirements (incorporating amendment 1)
AS/NZS 4234	2008	Heated water systems
AS 4254 Part 1	2012	Ductwork for air- handling systems in buildings — Flexible duct
AS 4254 Part 2	2012	Ductwork for air- handling systems in buildings — Rigid duct
AS/NZS 4256	1994	Plastic roof and wall cladding materials — General requirements
AS/NZS 4284	2008	Testing of building facades
AS/NZS 4505	2012	Garage doors and other large access doors (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 4552	2005	Gas fired water heaters for hot water supply and/or central heating
AS 4586	2013	Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 4597	1999	Installation of roof slates and shingles (Non- interlocking type)
AS/NZS 4600	2018	Cold-formed steel structures
AS 4654 Part 1	2012	Waterproofing membranes for external above-ground use — Materials
AS 4654 Part 2	2012	Waterproofing membranes for external above-ground use — Design and installation
AS 4678	2002	Earth-retaining structures
AS 4773 Part 1	2015	Masonry in small buildings — Design (incorporating amendment 1)
AS/NZS 4859	2018	Thermal insulation materials for buildings
AS 5113	2016	Classification of external walls of buildings based on reaction-to-fire performance (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 5146 Part 1	2015	Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete — Structures (incorporating amendment 1)
AS 5216	2018	Design of post-installed and cast-in fastenings in concrete
AS 5637 Part 1	2015	Determination of fire hazard properties — Wall and ceiling linings
AS ISO 9239 Part 1	2003	Reaction to fire tests for floorings — Determination of the burning behaviour using a radiant heat source