NCC 2025 comes into focus

NCC 2025 reflects updates informed by public consultation and expert technical review. The preview gives practitioners the opportunity to understand the practical improvements across several areas before the code is published online on May 1, 2026. Jurisdictions can consider adoption of NCC 2025 from this date.

Energy efficiency in commercial buildings

Changes to Volume One Section J (Energy efficiency) for buildings other than Class 2 introduce measures that reduce energy consumption, including:

• Mandatory onsite solar photovoltaic systems
• Higher requirements for building envelopes and services
• Improved lighting control requirements.

Condensation mitigation

Updates to condensation management provisions, such as reduced ventilation requirements for small roofs, are included in Volume One Part F8 (Condensation management), and NCC 2025 Housing Provisions Part 10.8 (Condensation management).

What else has changed – and what has stayed the same?

NCC 2025 also contains updates in the areas of water management, carpark fire safety and structural reliability and fire safety Performance Solutions.

Some changes proposed in the public comment draft are not included in NCC 2025, including residential energy efficiency.

Proposed changes to Volume Two Part H6 (Energy efficiency) and Housing Provisions Part 13 (Energy efficiency) will not go ahead. Instead, NCC 2025 will reflect the existing requirements in NCC 2022 Amendment 2 for these parts.

For Class 2 buildings, the proposed amendments to Volume One Section J will not proceed. NCC 2022 Amendment 2 remains applicable for these buildings.

The NCC 2025 preview can be accessed at the ABCB website.

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