Proposal to unshackle standards development from NCC

A new system is being proposed that would allow the most recent versions of Australian Standards to be called up in the National Construction Code (NCC). Under the current system, Australian Standards in the NCC are referenced from a specific year, meaning that if new versions are published later, they are not automatically incorporated.

“It’s a fairly simple change, but it would be a big step forward,” says AIRAH’s Advocacy and Policy Manager Mark Vender.

“At the moment, the development of some key standards is shackled to the three-year cycle for updating the National Construction Code. As a result, standards projects can face unnecessarily tight timeframes, and may have to limit the scope of their work. A more flexible system would be better for the standards committees, and for industry.”

The proposal – part of the Public Comment Draft now open for review – would see a live Alternative Referenced Documents Register on the website of the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). The register would be updated as revised standards are published and determined suitable by the ABCB for referencing in the NCC, alongside the Referenced Documents list in the NCC’s Schedule 2.

According to the ABCB, the register will promote industry adoption of updated standards, fostering safety and innovation. The change should also relieve the pressure felt by committees aiming to publish projects in time for the current three-year cycle deadline.

Richard Lambert, Head of Standards Development at Standards Australia, says his organisation is pleased with the change, the result of collaboration with the ABCB.

“We look forward to the positive impact these changes will bring to our committees developing NCC-referenced documents,” he says.

The proposed changes are now available for consultation through the NCC 2025 Public Comment Draft, which closes on July 1, 2024. You can see more details on the changes and provide feedback through the ABCB consultation hub.