NCC 2025 preview now available | ABCB

NCC 2025 preview now available | ABCB
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NCC 2025 preview now available
2026-02-02
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has released the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 preview, providing early access to the next edition before the full NCC 2025 publication. Jurisdictions can consider adoption from 1 May 2026.
The preview reflects updates informed by public consultation and expert technical review. The preview gives practitioners the opportunity to understand the changes that may apply in their jurisdiction when adoption decisions are made.
You can now download the PDF versions of all NCC 2025 preview volumes at
ncc.abcb.gov.au
.
What's new in NCC 2025?
The NCC 2025 preview includes several updates intended to improve safety, performance and usability across the built environment. Some of these updates are listed below.
Water management
NCC 2025 includes improved water management amendments in
Volume One Section F (Health and amenity)
, along with updated definitions in Schedule 1.
Carpark fire safety
Amendments in NCC
Volume One
strengthen fire safety in carparks, including:
sprinkler protection for open‑deck carparks (other than stand‑alone open‑deck carparks)
reduced scenarios where concessions to fire‑resistance levels (FRL) apply.
Commercial energy efficiency
Changes to
Volume One Section J (Energy efficiency)
for buildings other than Class 2 introduces measures that reduce energy consumption, including:
mandatory on‑site solar photovoltaic systems
higher requirements for building envelopes and services
improved lighting control requirements.
Condensation mitigation
Updates to condensation management provisions, such as reduced ventilation requirements for small roofs, are included in:
Volume One Part F8 (Condensation management)
NCC 2025 Housing Provisions Part 10.8 (Condensation management).
All‑gender sanitary facilities
Volume One Part F4
now permits the optional installation of all‑gender sanitary facilities in place of separate male and female facilities.
Structural reliability and fire safety Performance Solutions
Amendments to
A2G2 (Performance Solution)
,
B1P1 (Structural reliability)
, and
H1P1 (Structural reliability and resistance)
specify the means of assessment to support consistent, robust Performance Solutions.
Combined sprinkler and hydrant systems
Amendments to provisions referencing
AS 2118.6 Combined sprinkler and hydrant systems
clarify that plastic pipe is not to be used above-ground in combined sprinkler and hydrant systems.
What's not included in NCC 2025?
Some changes proposed in the public comment draft are
not included
in NCC 2025, including those listed below.
Residential energy efficiency
Proposed changes to
Volume Two Part H6 (Energy efficiency)
and
Housing Provisions Part 13 (Energy efficiency)
will not go ahead. Instead, NCC 2025 will reflect the existing requirements in NCC 2022 Amendment 2 for these parts.
For Class 2 buildings, the proposed amendments to
Volume One Section J
will not proceed. NCC 2022 Amendment 2 remains applicable for these buildings.
Electric vehicle (EV) charging
Proposed new provisions for EV charging readiness in Volume Two and the Housing Provisions, along with proposed amendments to
Volume One J9D4 (Facilities for electric vehicle charging),
are not included.
Fire separation of roofed outdoor areas
Proposed changes to
Housing Provisions Part 9.6 (Fire separation of roofed outdoor areas)
are not included.
More information
Read the
Public Record from the ABCB's November Board meeting
for more information on these amendments.
The Board Public Record also contains a summary of substantial changes as compared to the
National Construction Code 2025 Public Comment Draft
.
Access the NCC 2025 preview in PDF format at ncc.abcb.gov.au
What's new in NCC 2025?
What's not included in NCC 2025?
More information