Public Comment Draft (PCD) for proposed changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 Volume 1 – ‘Commercial building energy efficiency’ opened on the 1st of May this year and we have the opportunity to provide comment and feedback until the 1st of July.

Reducing emissions and moving towards a net zero future are the primary drivers behind the proposed changes which continue progress on the ‘Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings’ policy agreed by Energy Ministers in 2019.

The proposed changes apply to commercial buildings, covering Class 3 and Class 5 – 9 building types, as well as the common areas of Class 2 buildings. The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) summarise the proposed changes as including:

 Cost-effective updates to the Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) provisions.

• Cost-effective updates to the Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) provisions.
• New infrastructure requirements to further support Electric-Vehicle (EV) charging.
• Requiring Photo-Voltaics (PV) to be installed.
• Measures supporting broader government initiatives to transition towards a renewable electricity grid.

Dewick & Associates have looked at the proposed changes in more detail and summarise what we consider to be the key elements as follows:

ESD & Complaince

• Buildings must facilitate near zero use of operational energy and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
• EV chargers must be provided for 20% of all parking spaces (non-residential buildings) and 100% of parking spaces (residential buildings).
• Section J compliance via the JV3 methodology will require the building’s total proposed annual GHG emissions to be at least 10% better than the reference building, which could prove challenging.
• Section J compliance via the JV3 methodology requires the reference building to be provided with solar PV, therefore preventing solar PV being used to offset building fabric performance.
• Solar PV array installations are required to all new buildings to achieve compliance, and where natural gas is employed, the solar PV requirement is increased to balance emissions.
• Thermal performance of building fabric requirements have generally increased:
  • R-values for roofs and ceilings
  • Roof reflectance (and a new requirement for metal roof emittance)
  • U-values and solar admittance for glazed elements (however vertical shading elements are now accommodated)

These changes are likely to have a significant impact on building façade glass/wall ratios and will likely make double glazing systems with thermally broken framing systems a necessity.

Engineering Services

• The economy cycle air flow rate threshold will reduce in some climate zones.
• Minimum energy efficiency requirements for Air-Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) are being introduced.
• Increased performance requirements for chillers.
• Increased minimum energy efficiency requirements for air-cooled air-conditioning plant.
• Minimum thermal efficiency of gas heaters will increase to 90% in all instances.
• A new requirement to provide indirect evaporative cooling for larger, constant volume outside air systems in climate zones 1 and 3, will be introduced.
• Gas fired engineering services are still permitted, but systems must incorporate provision for future electrification (heated water supply and swimming pool/spa heating systems, additional electrical infrastructure capacity, spatial provisions).

Get in involved and provide your feedback

The NCC Public Comment Draft is available on teh ABCB Consultation Hub and will be open for feedback until 11:59 pm AEST 1 July 2024. Feedback will only be accepted through the Consultation Hub. Submissions must relate only to proposed changes

Our knowledge of these changes ensures that Dewick & Associates approach to ensuring project compliance is bespoke and tailored to the specific project, reflecting client aspirations, project budget and the stage of the design. We can provide simple sign-off for a full design but are also adept at getting involved with the detail;  working through the project as a whole and achieving compliance through workshops and discussion. We understand that all projects are different and our flexible approach to compliance ensures the optimum outcome for all.

Author: Louise Gardner, General Manager of Dewick & Associates