February CEO update - Gary Rake

This month I’d like to highlight some of the work we’ve been undertaking to help industry prepare for the commencement of NCC 2022.

An essential part of our effort to help industry apply the most up-to-date provisions of the NCC is the production of guidance materials such as Handbooks. We have recently published updates to handbooks that provide background and guidance on Cross-connection Control, Bushfire Verifications Methods, Indoor Air Quality Verification Methods and Condensation in Buildings.

Handbooks expand on areas of existing regulation or relate to topics that are not regulated by the NCC. To support NCC 2022, I encourage practitioners to read the helpful material provided in our newest handbooks. You will find these handbooks and more in our Resource Library.

Through the middle of 2022, we presented live seminars on the first tranche of changes to NCC 2022 and highlighted that we would be conducting further events in early 2023 to cover the new energy efficiency, livable housing and condensation provisions of NCC 2022.

Those sessions have now been confirmed as a series of webinars to be held during the week 20-24 March 2023. Each webinar will include a live Q&A session and recordings of the presentation content will also be available for people to view in their own time. You can read about the webinars, and find out how to book your place on the ABCB website. Don’t wait too long to book your spot – places are filling fast!

Many of you will be aware that NCC 2022 includes new ‘rough in’ provisions for Class 2 buildings to support the future installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This is aligned to a national effort, being pursued by all levels of government, to reduce emissions through increasing the uptake of electric vehicles.

Related to this work, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts recently commenced consultation on draft Australian Design Rules for electric vehicles and hydrogen fuelled vehicles. To see the proposed new safety requirements for these vehicles, which will help with safety when these new vehicles are parked in buildings, I encourage you to read these proposals.

That’s all for this month, thanks again for reading!

Regards

Gary