NCC 2016
A PERFORMANCE BASED CODE
The performance based National Construction Code (NCC) consists of compliance solutions that enable a building, or plumbing or drainage
installation to meet the compliance level.
COMPLIANCE
LEVEL
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
COMPLIANCE
SOLUTIONS
PERFORMANCE
SOLUTION
and/or
DEEMED-TO-SATISFY
SOLUTION
Figure: NCC Compliance Structure
COMPLIANCE LEVEL
Performance Requirements specify the minimum level of performance for all buildings, and plumbing and drainage installations.
This includes relevant materials, components, design factors, and construction methods. The Performance Requirements are the mandatory
requirements of the code1.
An example of a Performance Requirement in NCC Volumes One and Two, the Building Code of Australia (BCA), is:
“Surface water, resulting from a storm having an average recurrence interval of 100 years must not enter the building.”
An example of a Performance Requirement in NCC Volume Three, the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA), is:
“A cold water service must be designed, constructed and installed in such a manner as to avoid the likelihood of contamination of drinking
water within both the water service and the Network Utility Operator’s supply”
The Performance Requirements set the level of performance that must be achieved by the compliance solution.
COMPLIANCE SOLUTIONS
The compliance solutions are the means of satisfying the Performance Requirements. The NCC provides for different approaches being: a Performance
Solution, a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution or a combination of these. This allows greater flexibility in satisfying the Performance Requirements of the
NCC.
A Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution uses the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions and any referenced documents contained within the NCC.
These provisions include prescriptive examples of materials, products, design factors, construction and installation methods, which if followed in full,
are deemed to comply with the Performance Requirements of the NCC.
A Performance Solution is any solution that can meet the Performance Requirements, other than a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution.
A Performance Solution may differ in whole or in part from the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, but will still meet the Performance Requirements as
long as it can be successfully demonstrated how this will be achieved.
GUIDANCE INFORMATION
The Objectives and Functional Statements provided as explanatory information in NCC Volumes Two and Three and in the Guide to NCC Volume One,
provide guidance on the intent and interpretation of the Performance Requirements.
The General Provisions (NCC Volume One and Three) and the General Requirements (NCC Volume Two), contain additional mandatory requirements.
1