Crane and people on site

National Construction Code (NCC) 2022

The National Construction Code (NCC) sets out the requirements for the design and construction of buildings in Australia, including plumbing and drainage work. It sets the minimum required level for the safety, health, amenity, accessibility and sustainability of certain buildings.

  • Volume One: relates to Class 2 to 9 buildings.
  • Volume Two: relates to Class 1 and 10 buildings.
  • Volume Three: relates to plumbing and drainage work associated with all classes of buildings (see Plumbing Codes and Standards for more information).

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) released NCC 2022 on 1 October 2022 to allow industry time to adjust to the new requirements and structure prior to it becoming mandatory. PDFs of all volumes are available for download. Printed copies will also become available for purchase from the ABCB’s commercial providers .

Energy efficiency and condensation mitigation requirements

The ABCB has updated the NCC to strengthen minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of new homes. The new energy efficiency and condensation mitigation requirements will commence in Victoria on 1 May 2024.

The changes will make homes cheaper to run, more comfortable to live in and more resilient to extreme weather.

Victoria will also remove barriers to installation of efficient electric hot water systems, helping households to capture further benefits from investing in solar panels, and supporting those who choose all-electric new homes.

Learn more about 7 star energy efficiency building standards by heading to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) energy website.

Learn more by accessing updated energy efficiency Practice Notes.

Livable housing design requirements

NCC 2022 includes new requirements for livable housing design.

These new provisions will improve the suitability of new Australian homes for people with mobility constraints.

The Livable Housing Standard is a significant advance in providing more housing options for people with physical disabilities and older Australians and will apply to new houses and apartments.

Head to the ABCB website to learn more about these changes.

Work underway to amend the Building Regulations 2018 to reflect adoption of BCA 2022

The Building Regulations 2018 (Regulations) contain a number of clause references to the Building Code of Australia (BCA) 2019. We are working with the Department of Transport and Planning to update the Regulations with new references to the BCA 2022 that came into effect on 1 May 2023.

In the interim, building work that fulfills the technical solution requirements of BCA 2022 as below will be deemed to be compliant.

Building Regulations 2018

BCA 2019 reference currently in the Regulations

Corresponding BCA 2022 reference

Regulation 5 - definition of fire performance requirement: (a)

BP1.1, DP2, DP3, DP4, DP6

B1P1, D1P2, D1P3, D1P4, D1P6

Regulation 5 - definition of fire performance requirement: (b)

CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4, CP5, CP6, CP7, CP8, CP9, DP5, EP1.1, EP1.2, EP1.3, EP1.4, EP1.5, EP1.6, EP2.1, EP2.2

C1P1, C1P2, C1P3, C1P4, C1P5, C1P6, C1P7, C1P8, C1P9, D1P5, E1P1, E1P2, E1P3, E1P4, E1P5, E1P6, E2P1, E2P2

Regulation 5 - definition of fire performance requirement: (c)

P2.1.1, P2.3.1, P2.3.2

H1P1, H3P1, H3P2

Regulation 29(b)

A5.1, A5.2

Part A5, Part A5

Regulation 125

A5.2(1)(e)

A5G3(1)(e)

Regulation 128(1)(a)

BP1.1

B1P1

Regulation 128(1)(b)

P2.1.1

H1P1

Regulation 145(2)(a)

Part 3.7.5

H3D6

Regulation 145(3)

Specification E2.2a

Specification 20

Regulation 145(3)(a)

Clause 3 of Specification E2.2a

S20C3

Regulation 145(3)(b)

Clause 4 of Specification E2.2a

S20C4

Regulation 145(3)(c)

Clause 5 of Specification E2.2a

S20C5

Regulation 146(2)

E1.5

E1D4

Regulation 147(2)

E1.5

E1D4

Regulation 147(4)(b)

E1.4

E1D3

Regulation 147(4)(c)

G4.4, E4.2

G4D4, E4D2

Regulation 147(5)(d)

E1.4

E1D3

Regulation 147(5)(e)

G4.4, E4.2

G4D4, E4D2

Regulation 151

BP1.1, P2.1.1

B1P1, H1P1

Regulation 152(2)

Schedule 3

Schedule 1

Regulation 152(3)

Schedule 3

Schedule 1

Regulation 164(1)

Schedule 3

Schedule 1

Regulation 164(2)(a)

Schedule 3

Schedule 1

Regulation 164(2)(b)

O2.7(f)

H7O1(f)

Regulation 164(2)(c)

P2.7.6(e)

H7P6(e)

Regulation 164(2)(d)

P2.7.6

H7P6

Regulation 165

P2.7.6

H7P6

Regulation 166F(1)(a)(i)

P2.1.1, P2.1.2, P2.2.2, P2.2.3, P2.3.1, P2.3.2, P2.4.1, P2.4.3, P2.7.3

H1P1, H1P2, H2P2, H2P3, H3P1, H3P2, H4P1, H4P3, H7P3

Regulation 235

P2.3.1

H3P1

Regulation 236(4)(b)

Table E3.6b

E3D8

Regulation 236(4)(c)

F2.4(c), F2.4(e)

F4D5(c), F4D5(e)

Regulation 236(5)

Part F2

Part F4

Regulation 237

Schedule 3

Schedule 1

Regulation 237(3)

A6.6

A6G7

Regulation 240(1)

Schedule 3

Schedule 1

Regulation 240(2)

Schedule 3

Schedule 1

Item 5 in Table in Schedule 3

A6.1, A6.10

A6G2, A6G11

ABCB NCC 2022 education resources

Access the Code in full through the ABCB website, as well as useful handbooks and guidance materials.

ABCB are also providing a series of articles that give an overview of some of the key changes and new requirements that may impact your work.

NCC 2022 Resource Hub

NCC 2022 VBA Roadshow

To communicate the detail of NCC 2022, the VBA hosted in-person seminars and webinars in September and October 2022.

If you missed these sessions or want to learn more, watch recordings of the NCC 2022 Roadshow webinars below.

The information presented during the VBA Roadshow was based on the early draft of NCC 2022. The ABCB has since made a number of editorial corrections which  may impact on the information presented during the VBA Roadshow. Viewers are advised to visit the ABCB website for the latest version of the NCC 2022 and a list of the editorial corrections.

NCC 2022 - Practitioner Education Series - Waterproofing of Wet Areas webinar

Updated VBA Practice Notes

The VBA has updated the following Practice Notes to reflect NCC 2022 changes:

Technical enquiries

If you have a technical enquiry about NCC 2022, please complete the NCC 2022 - Building / Plumbing Technical Enquiry Form.

The Technical and Regulation team will provide a response within five to 10 business days.