Australian Building Codes Board Office Poster showing the reform changes focusing on the performance aspect of the National Construction Code. Presented at Engineers Australia Convention 2014

1. A return to engineering
A return to performance
The NCC a performance based code
B. Ashe, M. Gaspari, R. Loveridge
Australian Building Codes Board, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Introduction
Conclusions
The three arrows approach supports the next instalment of regulation
reform. It engenders a performance mindset, builds the capacity of users
and quantifies performance so that it can be objectively measured. This
assists in unlocking the remaining $1.1 billion of potential benefits.
Capacity Building
In order to facilitate a better understanding of the NCC, capacity building
is a core focus. The following documents have been developed to provide
users with a better understanding of what a performance based code is,
the legal requirements and the pathways that can be used to achieve
compliance.
Engendering Performance Mindset
The subscriber survey highlighted a prescriptive mindset in applying
building regulation. In order to harness the benefits of performance a
performance mindset is needed.
Quantification of Performance
The Performance Requirements represent the tolerable levels of health
safety, amenity and sustainability in new buildings and plumbing systems.
Calculating societal and individual risk allows the quantification of health
and safety requirements. Historically, building regulation has been
reactive to significant and multi-fatality events. By addressing both
Acknowledgements
Notable mention goes to Bindi Cooper as well as the Increased Use and
Quantification of Performance Project Team; Brian Ashe, Benjamin Cripps,
Nick de Tarczynski, Ron de Veer, Joe Gleeson, Ray Loveridge, Kieran
O’Donnell and Lam Pham.
Aim
In 2013 NCC subscribers were surveyed to inform the strategy to increase
the use of performance. To fulfil the needs identified by subscribers a
three arrows approach was adopted.
The infographic highlights the
pathways to satisfy the NCC
requirements: Prescriptive
Solutions (Deemed-to-Satisfy)
and Performance Solutions
(Alternative Solutions).
An example FN Curve showing individual
and societal risks
Flowchart outlining the process to use the weatherproofing
Verification Method, satisfying Performance Requirements
FP1.4 and P2.2.2 the NCC.
Want to know more?
No.PO01
The current NCC Hierarchy on the left, emphasises the Deemed-to-Satisfy solutions, while the terminology of
Alternative Solutions implies performance is outside the norm. The diagram on the right shows a potential
hierarchy which more accurately emphasises the Performance Requirements as the only legal requirements.
The two hierarchies both represent the legal structure of the NCC.
The
Performance
Extract
contains only
the legal
requirements,
the
Performance
Requirements
of the NCC
from
Volumes
One, Two
and Three.
The Performance Extract
contains only the legal
requirements, another tool to
assist users in understanding
their requirements.
The Hype Cycle outlines the five
phases of technological development.
The ‘slope of enlightenment’ phase
parallels with reforming the NCC
and gaining the additional $1.1
billion of benefits.
The National Construction Code (NCC) has been a performance based
code for almost 20 years, offering $1.1 billion of benefits per annum and
can offer an additional $1.1 billion per annum.
The next installment of building regulation reform includes:
• Quantification of performance
requirements
• Making the NCC available free online
• Reducing State and Territory variations
• Expanding the NCC to cover all onsite
building regulations.
The three arrows are:
•Engendering a
performance mindset
•Capacity building
•Quantification of
Performance.
Legally, the Performance
Requirements are the
only requirements that
must be complied with.
The Performance video explains how the NCC is a performance based code and the possible pathways that can
be used to achieve the Performance Requirements, the only legal obligations of the code.
The Guidance Document has been formulated to assist practitioners in completing Performance Solutions. It
outlines a step by step process and factors to consider to ensure a compliant solution is delivered.
Quantification of Performance
Quantifying performance involves removing qualitative terms and
replacing them with quantified terms, that can be objectively measured.
Quantification at the highest level, the Performance Requirements, is
considered before looking at the introduction of Verification Methods or
other alternative means of compliance.
To assist in quantifying the structural requirements within the NCC, a
Structural Reliability Verification Method is planned for release in 2015.
The subscriber survey
highlighted the preference
for Performance
Requirements to be
quantified. Performance
Requirements FP1.4 and
P2.2.2 require buildings to
be weatherproof. To
quantify these requirements
a Verification Method is
planned for release in 2015.
The method assesses the
reliability of components and
connections, allowing
innovative products to meet the
Performance Requirements.
The curves represent the distributions used in
the Structural Reliability Verification Method.
The distance between resistance and action for
buildings meets the performance requirements.
Qm
Qn
VRVQ
Rn
Rm
Action
Distribution, Q
Resistance
Distribution, R
Performance
societal and individual risks,
building regulation can be
proactive in it’s approach to
these events. Graphing these
events using Frequency (F),
versus Number (N), of fatalities
supports Quantitative Risk
Assessment (QRA).
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Australian Building Codes Boardwww.abcb.gov.au
ncc@abcb.gov.au
1300 134 631
Vision: increased productivity and
improved building outcomes