Home Property Australia National Construction Code Update

National Construction Code Update

  • September 29, 2023
  • by Property Australia
Energy efficiency provisions delayed

The state government has announced the energy efficiency requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) Modern Homes standards will be delayed to 1 May next year (originally planned for 1 October 2023).

The new energy efficiency requirements include:  

  • 7-star rating (out of 10) for the building shell (i.e. roof, walls, windows and floors), 
  • new whole-of-home energy budget that will assess the energy efficiency of the home’s major appliances and any on-site renewable energy system, such as solar photovoltaic (PV).
  • The delay is designed to provide additional time to access software to support the implementation of the new energy efficiency requirements.

The existing timeframes for the new livable (accessibility) requirements of the NCC remain, with transition to commence from the beginning of next month (1 October 2023).

The minimum accessibility standards for new houses will include:

  • at least 1 step-free entrance door
  • wider internal doors and corridors
  • more space in bathrooms and toilets on ground (or entry) level, hobless and step free showers and provisions for future adaptations (grabrails in bathrooms and toilets).

The previously announced exemptions for the livable homes requirements remain and include:

  • an exemption for lots approved prior to commencement of the new provisions. 
  • an 18 month exemption for narrow lots (12.5m or less in width),
  • exemptions for cosmetic renovations including:
    • installing reinforcement for handrails unless the wall framing is exposed during the renovations.
    • larger toilets or wider doorways in bathrooms and toilets, except where the renovation involves demolition of the existing doorway or walls,
    • An exemption from installing a toilet on the entry level when no habitable rooms exist on that level. 

More information on the Modern Homes standards can be found here.

The updated Queensland Development Codes can be found below: 

If you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Queensland Advocacy Team via [email protected] or (07) 3225 3005.