SPASA Members will be aware that the 2025 update of the National Construction Code (NCC) has been delayed. It was expected to be adopted on 1 May 2025, however the updates and approvals needed prior to the federal election were not completed on time.
The Australian Building Code Board (ABCB) released advice in June that no date had been agreed by Building Ministers. This advice has not changed, however as part of the Australian Government’s economic roundtables last week, some new information has been released.
Reducing red tape for new housing was a key area of focus at the roundtables, with the NCC becoming an important part of the conversation. The Government has now made a public announcement about their intentions for NCC 2025 and beyond, in an effort to speed up new home building activity.
“The government will work with states and territories to pause further residential changes to the National Construction Code until the end of the National Housing Accord period (mid‑2029), following finalisation of NCC 2025.
This excludes essential safety and quality changes, and it maintains the strong residential standards adopted in 2022, including 7‑star energy efficiency.
The next round of NCC changes will come at the end of the National Housing Accord period (mid‑2029).
While this pause is underway, the government will streamline the National Construction Code through further consultation with stakeholders, including examining how to:
Streamline and use AI to improve useability of the 3‑volume 2000‑page NCC to assist tradies, small businesses and households.
Remove barriers to the uptake of modern methods of construction, including prefab and modular housing that have cost savings built in with energy efficiency.
Improve how code provisions are developed by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) and consider the appropriate cadence of future NCC updates.”
What does this mean for NCC 2025?
Based on this announcement, it is expected that Building Ministers will now meet to approve NCC 2025 for publication in the next few months. A commencement date will be announced following that meeting.
The changes to the Code that relate to swimming pools and spas are expected to be in-line with the public comment draft released in 2024. These include:
· The adoption of the 2024 version of AS 1926.1 – Safety barriers for swimming pools.
· Clause H2D2(2) – A new sub-clause has been included for swimming pool drainage stating that Performance Requirement H2P4 is satisfied for swimming pool drainage if the swimming pool’s pumped discharge is discharged to the sanitary drainage system in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.2.
SPASA will provide further advice to members after the Building Ministers meet. In the interim, NCC 2022 continues to apply in all states including any variations that may be adopted in your state.