What is the NCC?
The National Construction Code (NCC) is a document that details technical guidelines for the design, construction and performance of buildings in Australia. The code also covers plumbing and drainage systems. Australia's primary set of building regulations, it's a unifying standard that creates one cohesive code. It is updated every three years by the Australia Building Codes Board (ABCB) in collaboration with the Australian Government and each State and Territory Government.
The NCC building code covers minimum standards for health, safety, accessibility and sustainability for buildings. In alignment with global sustainability goals, the NCC standards promote energy-efficient design and environmentally responsible construction. For homebuilders and homebuyers, an NCC-compliant home means:
- Lower power bills as a result of better energy efficiency.
- Improved accessibility to ensure your home can adapt to your needs.
- Long-term structural integrity.
From the design and specifications to the materials used, the NCC shapes every aspect of the building process. The NCC encompasses a wide range of residential building types including houses, townhouses and other types of single-family dwellings.
The code also covers apartments, commercial, institutional, industrial and specialised buildings including hotels, offices, hospitals and schools.
The three volumes of the NCC
- Volume One: Apartments and commercial buildings.
- Volume Two: Houses, townhouses and small residential buildings (most relevant for homebuyers).
- Volume Three: Plumbing and drainage work
Why did the NCC change?
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) made changes to the NCC to ensure new residential home builds are energy efficient, safe and liveable for everyone. The change increased the number of accessible homes, supporting people with disabilities as well as elderly Australians.
Many of the changes are also ideal for families and households with young children, making it easier to enter, exit and move around the home.
An updated code also ensures all people building or buying a new home have access to the same quality building, no matter where they are in the country.
The NCC and new home construction
Learning about the NCC building code is a good idea if you're planning to build a new home. Here's why.
- It can be helpful when selecting suitable builders, designs and materials.
- You can ask more informed questions of your builder and better understand any design and contract information.
- Calculate any cost savings based on energy-efficient home features over time.
- Build a more accessible home from the outset that adapts to your family's various needs over time.
- Understand the impact of the changes on design, space sizes, choice of windows, fixtures, fittings etc.
- In the future, homes that meet NCC standards may be more sought after which may improve resale values.
To learn more and read the full NCC, visit the NCC website.
What were the major changes in 2022?
Livable housing design standard
Under the Livable Housing Design Standard, homes must be accessible for elderly people and people with disabilities or mobility issues.
A livable home is designed with the following in mind:
- Easy entry and navigation inside and around the house.
- It must be easy and inexpensive to adapt.
- It should respond to the changing needs of its owners.
These features make tasks such as carrying groceries, arranging furniture and guiding prams or wheelchairs less difficult.
Built according to the Livable Housing Design Standard, a livable home includes some of the following features:
- A continuous, step-free path from the street entrance or parking area to a level entrance.
- Internal doorways with a minimum clear opening width of 820 mm.
- Internal corridors, halls and passages connected to internal doorways must have a minimum clear width of 1000 mm.
- Easy access to a ground floor room with a toilet such as a bathroom or powder room.
- At least one bathroom with a hobless and step-free shower entry located on any level.
- Walls reinforced around at least one toilet and shower to allow easy installation of rails in the future
Wet area waterproofing
Improved standards also covered waterproofing in wet areas to help prevent moisture damage and mould. Changes included:
- New requirements for waterproof and water-resistant materials as well as finishing materials.
- New waterproofing rules for floors and walls next to baths and spas.
- New condensation mitigation requirements to make homes more resilient to extreme weather.
- New standards for step-free showers and open showers.
New minimum standards for energy efficiency
New residential energy efficiency standards were introduced to cut energy use and improve efficiency. The changes were designed to make homes more comfortable to live in, save households money on energy bills long term and reduce emissions.
There are two components to the energy efficiency requirements.
1. Annual energy use budget also referred to as whole-of-home (WOH)
A new annual energy use budget based on floor area and location needs to be met by new homes. This whole-of-home (WOH) energy efficiency requirement offsets energy-using features against renewable energy features to deliver a final score of a minimum of 60 out of 100 (where 100 is a net zero energy home). New houses and townhouses will need to achieve a WOH rating of 60 and new units a rating of 50.
The energy-using component covers fixed items including heating, cooling, hot water, lighting and swimming pool pumps. Renewable energy features include solutions such as rooftop solar panels. While solar panels and other renewable systems are not mandated, they can be used to meet the annual energy budget.
2. Minimum 7-star rating
In addition to the WOH budget, new homes need to have a minimum 7-star rating out of 10 or equivalent (this was previously 6). A Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) assessment is the most common way to measure this rating. According to the government's NatHERS website, "a higher star rating means the home is more comfortable to live in and cheaper to run. Lower star ratings mean a home is more costly to keep comfortable."
NatHERS uses modelling tools to predict the amount of energy it will take to heat and cool the home for year-round comfort based on the design, materials and construction. It takes into account the home's layout, colours, orientation, roof, walls, windows, floor, construction methods, materials, shading and natural airflow.
Impact on new houses in Queensland
Queensland has fully adopted all the NCC 2022 changes, ensuring benefits for new home builders and homebuyers from comfort and efficiency to long-term value and reduced home maintenance issues.
To comply with the NCC 2022 changes, several updates were made to the Building Code of Australia QLD, setting out essential construction provisions such as the inclusion of EV-ready infrastructure for future electric vehicle charging points and a shift towards calculating a home's energy usage holistically. These changes paved the way for the implementation of NCC 2022 changes and more sustainable, future-proof homes.
Phased implementation of NCC 2022 changes
- 1 October 2023: The first phase of implementing livable housing provisions began, ensuring all new homes meet modern accessibility standards. This includes waterproofing in wet areas, and step-free entry requirements.
- 1 May 2024: New Queensland homes must meet higher energy efficiency standards: a 7-star energy equivalence rating (out of 10) and the required WOH rating, whether you're building a house or an apartment.
- 1 September 2025: All plumbing products will contain no more than 0.25% lead.
What are the benefits of the NCC changes?
Improved accessibility and livability
The mandated accessibility features ensure everyone can access more areas of the home. This means families can stay in their homes for longer, as they won't need to modify as much as they age, and new homes will be more accommodating to people with varying mobility needs.
Savings in energy costs
New Queensland homes built under the new energy efficiency standards are expected to provide an average electricity saving of $185 per year across the state's four climate zones. An independent analysis commissioned by the ABCB identified a net benefit of at least $506 million for the Queensland community.
Increased safety and longevity of homes
Waterproofing changes were designed to increase the accessibility, safety and longevity of new houses. With new minimum requirements for energy efficiency, the NCC encouraged innovative design and contributed to the global push for greener living.
How have we implemented the changes?
Beautiful and energy-efficient homes
Our design team took almost 12 months to remodel our most popular designs. They left no stone unturned to find the most cost-effective way to deliver designs that are both energy-efficient and beautiful to live in.
All our home designs are now 7-star energy efficient regardless of lot orientation. Our new floorplans champion the Plantation Homes reputation of luxury, sustainability, design, functionality and livability. From the façade and orientation of your block of land to the floorplan, with every window, fan, internal inclusion and climate zone considered.
Exclusive energy calculator
Our team of energy experts have created an energy rating calculator, which calculates the energy performance of your specific lot, taking into account the orientation, house design and façade you have chosen, the location of your garage (right or left side) and of our popular structural options you've selected. This is not an industry calculator, this is a leading tool created by our energy expert team to give you total confidence with your 7-star quote!
So, when you receive a quote from us, you will have absolute certainty on the price we quote when it comes to your home achieving 7-star compliance, regardless of the orientation of your block of land. Unlike some other builders, you won't find ambiguous provisional sums in our quotes, which later translate to expensive upgrades once you have committed to them.
Invested in innovation
We are proudly backed by our $7 billion parent company, The Sumitomo Forestry Group, and have the funds to stay ahead of the market and continually invest in research and innovation. As part of this investment, we have a dedicated internal team of energy experts who are on hand to answer your questions.
Pricing transparency
We offer an interior design consultation before you sign a contract so there are no surprises later. Choosing finishes later can lead to additional costs if they impact your home's efficiency. We make sure you have all the details upfront.
Commonly asked questions
Q: How did the NCC promote energy efficiency?
A: The NCC established new minimum standards for energy efficiency in new homes. This aligned with global sustainability goals and encouraged designs that cut energy use.
Q: When did the National Construction Code QLD changes take effect?
A: Some of the National Construction Code 2022 changes, including waterproofing, took effect in Queensland on 1 May 2023. A transition period applied to the liveability and energy efficiency requirements until 1 October 2023. All new homes constructed after this time must meet the new requirements and Modern Homes standards. From 1 May 2024, all new Queensland homes must meet higher energy efficiency standards.
Q: Are all builders in Queensland complying with the new NCC changes?
A: Compliance with the transitional NCC changes has been mandatory since 1 October 2023. All builders must comply with the NCC 2022 construction requirements.
Q: Where can I find more information about the changes and how they are being implemented by Plantation Homes?
A: You can explore our Reserve Collection or our home designs page for all new designs that achieve a 7-star rating. More information is available on the National Construction Code website. Or chat with our sales team at a display centre.
Q: How does the NCC contribute to the creation of environmentally sustainable homes?
A: The NCC requires builders to embrace building designs and features that reduce energy consumption. This performance solution will help to minimise environmental impact.
Q. What does the NCC mean for building a new home?
A: These compulsory changes mean your new home will be accessible, comfortable and energy efficient. The changes are designed to reduce household energy costs due to the implementation of an annual energy use budget and a 7-star NatHERS energy efficiency rating for new homes.