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Building standards in Victoria
In Victoria, the Building Act 1993, Building Regulations 2018, and Plumbing Regulations 2018, give legal effect to the National Construction Code (NCC) requirements.
These regulations set out the framework for the regulation of building construction, building standards (including NCC standards) and the maintenance of specific building safety features in Victoria.
The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) manages these regulations and ensures their compliance through building and plumbing practitioners. For each project, the appointed building surveyor is responsible for issuing the building permit and ensuring the proposed building design is compliant with the standards set in the Victorian regulations and the NCC.
Related links
- Victorian Building Authority
- Overview of the different parties and professionals
- Consumer Affairs Victoria
What is the National Construction Code?
The NCC sets out the requirements for the design and construction of buildings in Australia, including plumbing and drainage work. Building industry practitioners must deliver design and new construction works that comply with their state building and plumbing regulations, which in turn refer to the requirements set out in the NCC.
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) produces and maintains the NCC. Collectively, Volume One and Two of the NCC are also titled the Building Codes of Australia (BCA). Volume Three is titled the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA).
Related links
Information for consumers and home builders prepared by the Australian Building Codes Board.
Updates to the NCC throughout 2022 and 2023
The NCC is updated every three years. Update to the NCC are based on required regulatory practices, advances in industry practice and products, stakeholder feedback and government policy settings.
The current version, NCC 2022, will introduce a number of significant changes to building and plumbing standards, including:
| Residential energy efficiency | Increase the minimum thermal performance requirements for Class 1 (houses) and Class 2 (apartment) buildings from 6 to 7-star National Home Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). Introduction of new Whole-of-Home appliance performance requirements that will support improved energy efficiency of key household appliances such as heating, cooling and hot water. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action has prepared fact sheets and information for consumers on energy efficiency standards. |
| Condensation | Increase the minimum thermal performance requirements for Class 1 (houses) and Class 2 (apartment) buildings from 6 to 7-star National Home Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). Introduction of new Whole-of-Home appliance performance requirements that will support improved energy efficiency of key household appliances such as heating, cooling and hot water. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action has prepared fact sheets and information for consumers on energy efficiency standards. |
| Accessible housing requirements | New accessible housing requirements for Class 1 and Class 2 buildings. The changes will support improved dwellings access and use for Victorians who have mobility limitations. |
| Lead in plumbing | New requirements will ban trace lead elements from plumbing products intended for use in contact with drinking water from 1 May 2026. |
| Early childhood centres and primary schools in multi-storey buildings | New provisions addressing the difficulties associated with evacuating young occupants from upper levels of multi-storey buildings. |
| Waterproofing and weatherproofing | Updates to standards for weatherproofing of external walls and new standards for Class 1 for waterproofing of wet areas. |
| Fire safety of external walls | Clarifications to concessions from non-combustibility requirements and provisions that prevent fixing of certain bonded laminated cladding panels by adhesive only. |
| NCC new structure and clause referencing system | A revised, more user-friendly NCC reference structure format to improve the searchable function. |
Related links
NCC 2022 commencement in Victoria
To support the building industry to prepare for the scale of change and adjust their processes and designs, an extended transition for some NCC 2022 standards was approved by state and territory Building Ministers. During the extended transition, some NCC 2022 standards can be used voluntarily.
Key dates for NCC 2022 commencement in Victoria
| Date | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1 May 2023 | The main provisions of NCC 2022 commence in Victoria. Update energy efficiency and condensation management and new accessible housing requirements transitional period commences. These provisions may be applied voluntarily until 01 May 2024. |
| 1 May 2024 | Mandatory commencement of updated energy efficiency and condensation management and new accessible housing requirements in Victoria. |
| 1 May 2026 | Mandatory commencement of lead-free plumbing products standards in Victoria. |
Page last updated: 06/03/24