BUILDING BRAD ARMITAGE Assistant Director Planning & Building NSW BUILDING CODE OF AUSTRALIA 2019 – WHAT IS CHANGING? 1 May 2019 sees the adoption of the first major edition of the National Construction Code (NCC) since moving to a 3 year amendment cycle. The National Construction Code addition to meeting both the 6-star standard.growing calls for this issue to be addressed 2019 is the first (full) edition of theThis somewhat aligns the national provisionsin particular in houses in colder climates of NCC since moving to a three-yearwith the current requirements under BASIX.Australia. The provisions are intended to be amendment cycle – the result of The reference building verification methodthe first of a suite of changes to come in which is an unprecedented level of changes(V2.6.2.2) has been made and also clarifiesfuture editions of the code. being included in the new edition. which software tools can and cannot be The new provisions address The 2019 edition contains a number ofused to undertake modelling for this methodcondensation management including the significant changes that will affect all classes(Note: Due to a NSW variation that requiresuse of vapour permeable membranes of buildings, including houses and low- andthe use of ‘BASIX’ these changes will notand external ducting of exhaust has been mid-rise residential buildings. affect projects in NSW). introduced. The extent of impact of the changes The requirements for building sealing for residential buildings is difficult to put aare now more prescriptive and there is theAcceptable Construction Practice dollar amount to, but it will mean that manyinclusion of an optional verification methodOn a positive note the NCC will re-introduce for building sealing utilising a ‘blower door’ ‘Deemed-to-Sasfyovisions’ (DtS) for THE NATIONAL test, this provision applies both nationallymasonry veneer construction, provide and in NSW under BASIX. additional fire safetymeasures between CONSTRUCTION CODE attached dwellings and introduce new DtS 2019 IS THE FIRST (FULL) Condensation provisions for earth retaining structures and EDITION OF THE NCC The inclusion of the condensation the attachment of decks and balconies. SINCE MOVING TO A management provisions is in response to HIA sought the inclusion of this content THREE-YEAR AMENDMENT CYCLE – THE RESULT OF WHICH IS AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF CHANGES... house and apartment designs will require some changes and some building products may require adjustment – or, worse, may no longer be usable on certain building types. Major changes to NCC Volume Two (housing) Energy efficiency requirements The national energy efficiency requirements include a number of changes, such as separate heating and cooling loads in P16 BUILDING NEWS ISSUE 1/2019