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PLUMBING CONNECTION
AUTUMN 2015
CHANGES TO THE BCA
CONTINUING THE INCREASED USE OF PERFORMANCE
Previous editions of the NCC have included a number of
changes as a result of an ongoing project to increase the
use of performance. One key strategy in achieving this
is the removal of qualitative terms in NCC Performance
Requirements and their replacement with quantified terms
(terms that can be objectively measured). Quantification
occurs at the highest possible level, and this may be through
the modification of Performance Requirements, or the
introduction of Verification Methods as an alternative means
of compliance (to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions).
In recent years this has resulted in the quantification of
confusing or subjective terms such as ‘slip-resistant’, or ‘non-
skid’ along with a new Verification Method to demonstrate
levels of safe evacuation illumination for emergency lighting
systems. NCC 2015 continues the work of this project in
introducing two new Verification Methods in NCC 2015 for
‘structural reliability’ and ‘weatherproofing’.
WEATHERPROOFING
Water penetration through the external building envelope
has proven to be a major problem for countries such as New
Zealand and Canada. Although relatively few known problems
currently exist in Australia, any underlying problems may take
many years to become observable. Industry observations by
notification and survey along with the distribution of warnings
by some State and Territory building authorities provide an
indication that problems may become apparent in the future.
Of further concern that Australia may not be immune to future
problems is the fact that construction practices in Australia
are very similar to those of New Zealand and Canada.
Although some Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions currently
exist in NCC Volume Two, this is not the case for Volume One
and the new Verification Method offers an optional means to
verify whether or not a proposed external wall will meet the
Performance Requirements.
The Verification Method is limited to an external wall which
must meet a score achieved through a risk assessment
methodology contained in the Verification Method. There
are two test methods within the Verification Method and the
application of the test methods vary depending on whether the
external wall is classified as a direct fix cladding wall, a cavity
wall or a unique wall system.
It should be noted that Verification Methods in the NCC
are provided to assist in demonstrating compliance with the
relevant Performance Requirement. Verification Methods
are not a mandatory component of the NCC, however they
are one form of assessment method which can be used to
demonstrate compliance with the Performance Requirements.
Expanding the mandatory sprinkler protection provisions to
include all residential aged care buildings
A tragic multi-fatality fire in 2011 along with other fires
in the last 30 years in residential aged care buildings has
caused concern in the community and resulted in the
ABCB commissioning research into the causes along with
the consideration of the role of sprinklers in preventing
occurrences of such fires. This has resulted in expanding the
mandatory sprinkler protection provisions to include Class
3 and Class 9a residential aged care buildings. Although the
causes of the examined fires revealed that behavioural factors
were major contributors, it was considered that mandatory
sprinkler protection to all classes of residential aged care
THIS EDITION OF THE ABRB IS PUBLISHED TO COINCIDE WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE 2015 NATIONAL
CONSTRUCTION CODE (NCC) SERIES. FOR READERS WHO HAVE NOT YET FAMILIARISED THEMSELVES WITH THE
CHANGES IN NCC 2015, THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS A SNAPSHOT OF SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES PERTAINING TO BOTH
PLUMBERS AND BUILDERS.
NCC 2015 – AN OVERVIEW