NCC 2022 introduces substantial changes that will impact the way you design and build homes for your clients. Here is a snapshot of the most significant changes for the housing sector, with the final completed version of NCC 2022 now available from the ABCB website.
Livable (accessible) Housing
These provisions will apply to all houses (Class 1a) and apartments (Class 2 buildings) and have been included in both Volumes One and Two. A new referenced ABCB Livable Housing Standard has been included in the NCC 2022.
- A step free path of travel from the boundary to the front or entrance door, which can incorporate either an access path or ramps
- A step free level entrance into the dwelling
- A minimum of 820mm clear width of opening for the entrance door and other doors on the entrance level
- Minimum clear width of 1000mm to corridors connecting doorways that require the minimum clear width opening
- A toilet on the ground or entrance level with minimum width between opposing walls and 1.2m clear space in front of the pan
- One shower in the dwelling that is step free and hobless
- Reinforcing to the framing in the toilet, shower and bath, to enable future installation of grab rails
Energy Efficiency
- Increased building thermal fabric stringency from 6 to 7- star minimum for houses and apartments (apartments 7-star average and no single apartment less than 6-star)
- A new energy usage budget provision that applies a ‘Whole of Home’ approach for calculating the energy usage for the following fixed building services (where included) for heating and cooling, hot water, lighting and swimming pool and spa plant
Condensation
- More stringent building wall wrap permeability requirements, for climate zones 4-8 and specifically for climate zones 6, 7 and 8
- Mandatory external ducting and roof space ventilation requirements
- Prescribed flow rates for exhaust fans, rangehoods and provisions for make up air in laundries and run off timers for bathroom exhausts
Adoption of NCC 2022
The Building Ministers have agreed to the adoption of the majority of NCC 2022 on 1 May 2023 and the adoption of the energy efficiency and condensation provisions and livable housing on 1 October 2023.
NSW
NSW will not be adopting the livable housing provisions, however, BAISX will continue to replace NCC energy requirements, and include an increased stringency to 7-stars to align with NCC, and further increased stringency for energy
and heating and cooling loads. A combined heating+cooling load cap is being introduced.
Vic
Victoria will be adopting both the livable housing standard and 7-star energy efficiency for the building fabric with a ‘Whole of Home’ energy usage requirement provisions from 1 October 2023.
Want to know more about the changes?
HIA ran a number of face-to-face seminars in September to provide a detailed breakdown of the proposed changes. For those who missed the seminars, you can register for an online recording. Visit hia.com.au to find out more.