NCC Tasmania – What you must know for your next build

At HED Consulting, we’re adapting to the new NCC regulations for each project coming through. These NCC changes are important for builders, project managers, construction managers, building designers, certifiers and surveyors and as we all know, it’s impossible to be across every change in one go.

HED Consulting Building Designer David Abel gives some insight into how the changes will affect projects in the rollout of the changes in Tasmania. 

David says that for the most part, we can be comforted that the updates are logical and systematic. “It doesn’t need to be overwhelming and in some cases reinforces what we’ve been moving to ahead of it being legislated. Rather than having to learn something new, it’s a case of adapting and helping move construction practices in the right direction.”

It’s important that we’re all on the same page in ensuring plans, documentation, construction and approval processes are adjusted for the new provisions.

Tasmania-specific NCC changes

If you’re not working on the mainland, then there’s no need to sift through the reams of information not relevant to you. Here are the essentials for Tasmania for Volume 2 relating to residential construction.

NCC Item	Updates	Compliance Date	NCC Reference
Condensation	Addition of a mould index and vapour permeance for condensation mitigation	May 1, 2023	H4V5
Waterproofing	Updates for falls to floor wastes Waterproof membranes grading	May 1, 2023	H4D2
Livable Housing Standard	Legislation for livable housing from access and features in and around a dwelling	October 1, 2024 (delayed for TAS)	H8
Energy Efficiency	Updated from 6 to 7 stars	Delayed to 2025	Energy Efficiency Summary (infographic) – click here

Positive impacts from the NCC updates

David says that from the HED team’s perspective, there are some real opportunities in these changes for Tassie construction and what is delivered to clients.

One of the most beneficial changes taking effect on October 1st sees the inclusion of the livable housing standard helping to future-proof Tasmanian housing stock.

As David notes, “This isn’t just about ageing, it’s about houses that cater for all stages of life. That includes disability, temporary injuries, young families and ageing for changing needs of occupants across a lifetime.”

Our HED designing team have long been championing these considerations as it just makes good design sense. For example, the change of doorway widths from 820mm to 870mm might seem insignificant but can have both an immediate and lasting impact to the livability options for the occupants in terms of wheelchair accessibility.

For new builds and renovations, we think that the updated NCC standards also make good allowances for future additions that improve livability. For example, grab rails might not be needed now, however if the framing to support them is documented in the design and put in place, the provision is there for easier retrofitting at a later date.

The point about level access might be one of the more challenging components for Tassie given our topography. However, having this NCC standard helps keep it as a design requirement to achieve where possible, such as level access from garage to house. 

 

Minimising NCC disruptions to pre-construction

We’ve mapped out how these changes factor into the pre-construction process so that you can see where they’ll be incorporated into your project. Our systems have been updated so that all documentation reflects the NCC updates:

• • Accessible living – our building designers will discuss new frameworks and possibilities with each client in the earliest stages of the design phase

• • Condensation – we’ll ensure that the home’s sealing and ventilation is optimised for energy efficiency whilst balancing moisture levels according to the NCC specifications for the Tasmanian climate

• • Waterproofing  – for Vol 2 (housing) compliance, our building designer will ensure specifications for waste are specified to the updated code

• • Compliance – we cover the regulations during the design phase. By having the design documentation prepared according to the updates, it means that the build is set up for compliance, avoiding issues later in the post-construction phase.

Our approach is collaborative. We’re here to ensure the design and engineering are in place for a build that’s high in quality, meets compliance regulations and creates much needed housing for our state.

By working with our team who are confidently across the NCC and its updates, it means that you can take the changes in your stride, keeping projects on track, on budget and with the best outcomes for homeowners. 

Listen to David explain some of the strategies for moving forward with the NCC for compliance below.