CEO Update

It’s been a busy year for the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) – with another big year just around the corner. 

We have finished 2024 with some important pieces of work. I have provided a summary of these below, but I encourage you to regularly check the ABCB’s website for further updates over the next few months. 

I would like to extend my thanks to all the stakeholders who have contributed to our work this year. From those attended our Public Forums through to those who read and made submissions on the Public Comment Draft, we have heard from thousands of interested people and that helps us continue to improve our work.  

The team here is looking forward to a short break, and the ABCB office will be closed from 25 December 2024 until 2 January 2025. I wish you all a safe and happy summer. 

Next edition of the NCC

We know our stakeholders are eager to hear how NCC 2025 is progressing. We are planning to present our advice to Building Ministers in early 2025 and we will look to publish public comment draft (PCD) submissions shortly after this. We thank you for your patience.

Prefabricated, modular and offsite construction handbook

Building Ministers asked us to work with industry to find ways to facilitate increased use of prefabricated and modular construction to help support and increase the supply of new housing. We have developed a handbook in collaboration with Building 4.0 CRC to provide guidance on how to use prefabricated, modular, and associated Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) technologies safely, sustainably and in compliance with the NCC.  

This handbook has been a great partnership between industry, academia and government and there is plenty more to do in this space.  

Building Product Registration Scheme consultation

Taking on another important piece of work for Building Ministers, in the middle of this year we started work on an initial set of proposed principles and parameters for a Building Product Registration Scheme. After many 1:1 industry discussions, we presented this for public consultation between 4 September 2024 and 3 October 2024. 

More than 100 submissions received, with many voices and views on the proposal.

Common submission themes

  • This process should not be rushed. There was a strong view that we need to ensure that relevant issues are considered, including implementation and enforcement. 
  • Existing industry and government schemes should be recognised, and it will be important to consider how to achieve mandatory acceptance of these schemes to give industry greater confidence and certainty, 
  • There is broad support for taking action and many parts of industry are willing to assist in future work, 
  • Integration with common design and site management software would allow seamless adoption of better product information, and 
  • We should avoid using the term ‘Scheme’ unless we mean to have the current accepted meaning (in relation to existing product schemes). We are grateful for this feedback, and we are likely to use the word ‘framework’ in any future work. 

All the feedback received will be included in our advice to Building Ministers.

ABCB public forums

We delivered our last face to face forum for the year on November 26 in Canberra.  

The ABCB Forums began in August 2023 and are part of the ABCB’s commitment to building and retaining the confidence and trust of the people and organisations who have an interest in our work.  

Thanks again to those who attended any of the forums and engaged in important discussions about our work and the future of the construction industry. 

That’s all for this final update of 2024. See you in 2025. 

Gary Rake