Building Ministers’ forum update – non-conforming building products and NCC changes

Building Ministers from around the country met recently in Melbourne to discuss non-conforming building products and changes to the National Construction Code.

RDC and the Property Council were represented at the meeting through the Construction Product Alliance, and welcome a number of the outcomes of the meeting that will improve certainty for members and may reduce development costs going forward.  

A key outcome of the meeting was the establishment of a Working Group of senior officers to report to Ministers within 6 months on strategies to minimise the risks to consumers, businesses and the community associated with failure of building products to conform to relevant laws and regulations at the point of import.

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) will investigate options for a possible mandatory scheme for high risk building products with life safety implications and also report to Ministers within 6 months.

The ABCB will also consider and report on possible amendments to the National Construction Code (NCC) to require fire sprinkler protection for covered balconies of multi-storey buildings.

Concerns were also raised in the forum regarding the costs and delays arising from unnecessary and inconsistent local government regulation of building activity. This has been an issue for RDC members for some time, and we are pleased to see it being addressed at a national level.

In a win for industry, State Ministers resolved to reduce red tape by removing opportunities for local planning schemes to exceed the requirements of the NCC.

The communique from the meeting can be downloaded below.