Legislation, codes of practice, and standards provide the legal and regulatory framework for insulation installation in Australia. Key points covered include: - Acts and regulations set mandatory rules at the national and state/territory level - Industry codes of practice provide guidance on meeting legal obligations safely - The National Construction Code specifies insulation requirements and deemed-to-satisfy clauses - Australian standards establish specifications for insulation products and their testing - Codes also address industry conduct, waste management, health and safety practices

1. Insulation Installation
WHS Legislation, codes of practice
and standards

2. Contents
• Legislation: Acts and regulations
• Industry Codes of Practice
• National Construction Code (NCC)
• Australian Standards
• Manufacturers specifications
Legislation, Codes of practice
& Standards

3. Legislation, Codes of Practice and Standards
Legislation:
 Acts and regulations must be followed by everyone – for example the WHS ACT states what must be
done in every workplace in Australia.
 Regulations are more specific about how these laws need to be met.
 In the ACT National and State Acts and Regulations mandate how insulation installation is to be
carried out
Industry codes of practice:
 Codes of Practice provide practical guidance on how the rules that are set out in the Acts and
Regulations can be met.
 Are developed for specific work activities
 They detail hazards, risks and controls for specific activities
Australian Standards:
 what they are, why they are important, and a listing of key Australian Standards relating to insulation
 brief look at the National Code of Construction (NCC) (formerly known as the Building code of
Australia or BCA) requirements including climate zones
Can find a list of construction related legislation and codes of practice at
https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/4201/~/legislation-and-codes-of-
practice
Legislation, Codes of practice
& Standards
Legislation is law passed by Parliament. It governs many areas,
including health and safety at work. It can be national, or
relevant to individual states and territories

4. Legislation: Acts and Regulations
ACTS:
ACT Legislation:
• Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Act 2012, and
• Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Amendment Act 2019
• These laws established the Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme (EEIS) and sets out what must be
complied with in most aspects of the EEIS.
Regulations
ACT Legislation:
• Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Regulation 2017
Other ACTS and Regulations:
relating to the installion of insulation include (but is not limited to);
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011;
• Building Act 2004;
• Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004;
• Dangerous Substances Act 2004;
• Electricity Safety Act 1971;
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2004 (ACT)
• Environment Protection Act 1997;
Legislation, codes of practice
& standards

5. Industry codes of practice
What is a code of practice?
Set of guidelines and regulations to be followed by members of and industry, organisation, or group
Not law (ie not mandatory), but may guide compliance with provisions of an Act or regulation
In some cases, failure to observe an approved code of practice can be used in legal proceedings as
evidence of failure to comply with and Act or regulation.
The 2 codes of practice for insulation cover insulation under the EEIS, other codes of practice that relate
to the installation process include;
• Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement (Eligible Activities) Code of Practice 2020, and
• Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Record Keeping and Reporting code of
practice (record keeping and reporting code of practice).
See next page for more details on these
Legislation, codes of practice
& standards

6. Insulation Codes of Practice
The Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement (Eligible Activities) Code of Practice is an Instrument made
under Section 25 of the Act, which gives details on how activities are to be undertaken. It explains the general
obligations and competencies required for delivering all EEIS activities. It also gives activity-specific information on
training, safety, licensing and other requirements.
In particular: Ceiling Insulation (Activity 1.8); Under-floor Insulation (Activity 1.9) and Ventilation Opening Sealing
(Activity 1.3);
The Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement (Record Keeping and Reporting) Code of Practice is an
Instrument made under Section 25 of the Act, which gives details on how the Act and other EEIS instruments are
administered. It describes general obligations and establishes the requirements for compliance plans, activity
records, activity certification compliance period reports, independent information audits. Activity-specific record
keeping and reporting requirements are also included.
These codes provide
 definitions of terms such as authorised installers (2.7), eligible activity (2.12) consumer (2.14)
 Standards of conduct (3.6), management of waste (3.14), notification of health, safety and
environmental incidents (3.15)
 Specific Activity description eg 1.8 install ceiling installation
 Minimum activity performance specification (1.8.4)
Legislation, codes of practice
& standards

7. Other codes of practice relevant to insulation
installation
In the construction industry the ACT has adopted Model (or Australia
wide) Codes of practice.
 Construction work code of practice (2018) -
 Confined spaces (2018)
 Managing the Risk of Falls in Housing Construction Code of Practice
 How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace
 Managing electrical risks in the workplace Code of Practice OCT
2018
 How to manage work health and safety risks Code of Practice MAY
2018
Legislation, codes of practice
& standards

8. Other instruments
The Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement
(Eligible Activities) Determination is a Notifiable
Instrument made under Section 10 of the Act,
which establishes the eligible activities that can be
undertaken by energy retailers to achieve the
Energy Savings Target. This instrument defines the
activities, sets minimum performance
specifications, installed product requirements,
when activities are complete and how the
abatement factor is calculated.
Legislation, codes of practice
& standards

9. National Construction Code NCC/BCA
Is also classified as a regulation and set of standards
• A code containing the performance requirements and technical requirements for the
construction of buildings.
• Has legislated power to regulate certain aspects of building work in accordance with relevant
legislation in each State and Territory
Legislation, codes of practice
& standards

10. National Construction Code NCC/BCA
Aims to achieve and maintain acceptable standards of structural
sufficiency, safety (including from fire), health and amenity
Contains technical provisions for design and construction of buildings
and other structures
‘Deemed to Satisfy’ clauses specify minimum R-values across 8
climate zones
2019 changes to the NCC mean that new homes in Australia have
to comply with mimimum energy efficiency requirements.
This requires insulation products to comply with Australian Standard
AS/NZS 4859.1.
Also, the thermal resistance (R-value) shown on all product labelling
must be determined by a recognised laboratory, accredited to
test the relevant Standards and procedures.
Legislation, codes of practice
& standards

11. Australian Standards
‘…documents setting out specifications and procedures designed to ensure
products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently perform
the way they were intended to.’
Standards Australia
• All Australians are made safer by Australian Standards
• They give business and consumers confidence that goods and services they are developing or using
are safe, reliable and will do the job they were intended for
• They help consumers to make choices between one product and another
• They protect tradespeople and their clients
If an Australian Standard (or part of it ) is referred to in a regulations ( eg NCC ), it must be
complied with.
Legislation, codes of practice
& standards

12. Standards for insulation installation
Standards that installers must know about and comply with can be included under the
following headings:
•Thermal Insulation
•Pliable building membranes​
•Acoustic Insulation​
•Fire performance​
•Other insulations​
•Dust and respirators​
•Working at heights​
•Confined spaces
Remember that complying with Australian Standards in your installation work, and checking
that products comply with relevant Standards, is your responsibility.
For more details on these Standards see the ICANZ Handbook Chapter 4
Legislation, codes of practice
& standards

13. Other guidance
ICANZ Installer handbook
http://icanz.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/code-practice-2003.pdf
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/injury-prevention-
safety/alerts/whsq/2009/safety-alert-insulation-installing-ceiling-
insulation-and-your-health-and-safety
Legislation, codes of practice
& standards