Plumbing Connection Spring 2016

PLUMBING CONNECTION

SPRING 2016

plumbing and drainage installations. They are supported by the

General Requirements.

The Performance Requirements are found in:

∫ Sections B to J of NCC Volume One;

∫ Section 2 of NCC Volume Two;

∫ Sections B to G of NCC Volume Three; and

∫ The main body of the Consolidated Requirements document.

COMPLIANCE SOLUTIONS

Compliance solutions are used to achieve compliance

with the Performance Requirements. They may be simple

or quite complex depending on the design, materials,

components and construction methods needed. A compliance

solution may be a:

∫ Performance Solution;

∫ Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution; or

∫ Combination of both.

In addition to the choice of compliance solution,

practitioners have a choice in how compliance is shown.

Assessment Methods, as described in the General

Requirements are used to show that the solution meets

the Performance Requirements. The Assessment Methods

include:

∫ Methods described in the evidence of suitability provisions

;

∫ Verification Methods;

∫ Expert Judgement; and

∫ Comparison with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.

Evidence of suitability is the most commonly used

Assessment Method and applies to both Performance and

Deemed-to-Satisfy Solutions.

PERFORMANCE SOLUTION

A Performance Solution may be used to meet one or more of

the Performance Requirements.

All Performance Solutions need to consider:

∫ The Performance Requirements that apply to the solution;

∫ How the solution meets the Performance Requirement/s

(or achieves equivalence to the Deemed-to-Satisfy

Provisions

); and

∫ Impacts on other Performance Requirements (or Deemed-

to-Satisfy Provisions).

The NCC contains means of verifying Performance Solutions

for some Performance Requirements. They are called

Verification Methods.

DEEMED-TO-SATISFY SOLUTION

A Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is a standardised compliance

solution. It is based on the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

contained within the NCC which are “deemed” to meet

the Performance Requirements. The start of each part of

the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions shows the link to the

Performance Requirements. This is found in the NCC in the:

∫ “Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions” clauses in Volumes One and

Three; and

∫ “Appropriate Performance Requirements” clauses in Volume

Two.

The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions also commonly refer

to Australian Standards and other referenced documents.

Many practitioners commonly use this approach to develop a

compliance solution.

CHOICE

A performance based code allows choice in how you arrive

at a building or plumbing solution. Whilst the minimum level

of health, safety, amenity and sustainability is set in the NCC

Performance Requirements, there is choice in how compliance

is achieved.

As shown by the different compliance solutions available,

the NCC provides flexibility for practitioners to develop the

most appropriate solution to meet their needs. Whether it is a

prescriptive Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution or a more innovative

and unique Performance Solution the NCC as a performance

based code is all about facilitating the best solution for

Australian buildings.

Australian Building Codes Board

www.abcb.gov.au

More information

The ABCB provides a range of supporting materials to help

develop compliance solutions. These materials are available

through the Resource Library on the ABCB website.

General Requirements are known as General Provisions in NCC

Volumes One and Three.

including related evidence of suitability.

Evidence of suitability provisions are clause A2.2 in NCC Volume One

and Three and clause 1.2.2 in NCC Volume Two.

Equivalence to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions may be useful when

working with unquantified Performance Requirements.