Overview of changes – performance

One of the main changes for performance in NCC 2022 is the quantification of more Performance Requirements.

We’re providing a series of articles to give you a snap shot of what’s changed and what may impact your work when NCC 2022 is adopted by states and territories.

Open up the NCC, and we’ll step you through some of the key changes to performance for NCC 2022.

Remember, NCC 2022 also has a new referencing system. We’ve included both the new and previous NCC 2019 references, to help you identify what has changed.

G7P1 (Volume One) and H8P1 (Volume Two) are new requirements for NCC 2022. They facilitate housing design to meet the needs of more community members. 

We’ll provide further guidance on livable housing design soon.

H7P5 (2019: P2.7.5) and G5P1 (2019: GP5.1) are quantified. The new metrics set appropriate design bushfires for different building classifications. 

A new requirement for certain Class 9 buildings in bushfire prone areas is also included (G5P2).

Quantified metrics are now in F7P1 to F7P4(2019: FP5.1 to FP5.5), along with a re-organisation.  This eliminates the need for the Performance Requirements about the impact of penetrations (NCC 2019). The metrics are based on the NCC 2019 Verification Methods FV5.1 to FV5.4.

H3P1 and H3P2 (2019: P2.3.1 and P2.3.2) now include quantified metrics for spread of fire and automatic warning of occupants. H3P1 is quantified with appropriate fire safety design metrics. H3P2 is quantified using an effectiveness metric. This metric combines efficacy and reliability.

Requirements for water service flow rate in Parts B1, B2, B3 and B6 (2019: BP1.2, BP2.3, BP3.3 and BP6.2) are now quantified with the flow rate requirements using a time of exceedance measure.

Requirements for water service pressure levels in Parts B1, B2, B3 and B6 (2019: BP1.2, BP2.3, BP3.3 and BP6.2) are now quantified setting an allowable range of pressures.

B4P1 to B4P4 (2019: BP4.1) for fire-fighting water services are quantified and sets a nominated level of system performance.

The efficient use of drinking water in B1P2 to B1P6 (2019: BP1.2(d)) is quantified by elevating the related NCC 2019 DTS Provisions to Performance Requirements.

New quantified metrics for sanitary plumbing are in C1P5 and C1P6 (2019: CP1.1(1)(c) and CP1.1(2)(b) and (d). They are based on the likelihood of pressures at trap seals exceeding the set levels and the allowable depths of trap seals.

B2P6 Legionella control (2019: BP2.5) to prevent Legionella growth is quantified.  B2P6 now includes a limit on the count of Legionella colony forming units (cfu) allowed per millilitre (mL).

We are grateful for the feedback provided on our proposals to further quantify the fire and structural safety Performance Requirements (Parts A8 and B1), as set out in the Public Comment Draft of NCC 2022.

While these provisions have not been included in NCC 2022, work continues on these important projects and we’ll consider an updated proposal in a future NCC.

Do you know someone that would find this article helpful? To help yourself, your work colleagues or staff understand the changes to the NCC, you can:

• Bookmark this article
• Share this article
• Print this article and share it with your colleagues or workplace
• Opt-in for our monthly newsletter so you can receive education and information about the NCC.

This article was updated on 6/04/2023