Page 10 - Climate Control News Magazine June 2022

News
NCC 2022 revisions, transitional updates
Adoption of the NCC has been delayed until September.
THE AUSTRALIAN BUILDING Codes Board (ABCB) has released vol- ume one of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022.
All states and territories agreed to delay the adoption of NCC 2022 until 1 September.
The ABCB will provide advice on transitional arrangements in Au- gust, 2022.
Major changes covered in volume one include a requirement for lead free plumbing products.
NCC 2022 specifies new requirements for any plumbing product containing copper alloy and intended for use in contact with drinking water from 1 September 2025.
There are a number of amendments to the fire safety of external walls including a new provision that prevents fixing of certain bonded laminated cladding panels by adhesive only.
Some minor amendments to the required number of exits are in volume one. This includes a new concession allowing a single exit for a part of a storey in some circumstances, where previously at least two exits were required.
Volume three contains new provisions for on-site wastewater man- agement, and a new verification method for sanitary plumbing and drainage pipe sizing.
The latest editions of several new Australian Standards are also adopted by reference in NCC 2022, as part of new DTS Provisions. For example, AS 3740: 2021 sets out the requirements for the materials, design and installation of waterproofing for domestic wet areas for residential buildings.
The ABCB will continue to release guidance on NCC 2022 through- out the year.
Urgent need for greater star power, efficiency
SEVEN STAR ENERGY efficient homes should be the norm in Australia to drive down energy costs while reducing emissions.
Seven star energy efficient homes should be the norm in Australia to drive down energy costs while reducing emissions.
The Tents to Castles report released by the Climate Council has found living in a 7 Star all electric house in any capital city in Australia would save occupants, on average, $450 per year in heating and cooling costs compared to the current building standard of 6 stars.
Adding an extra star to each new home be- ing built in Australia would also mean a 25 per cent reduction in emissions compared to a 6-star home.
The report has been released as state and ter- ritory ministers prepare to meet in July to re-
view 11-year old regulations that govern mini- mum energy efficiency standards in new home builds.
The Climate Council is calling on ministers to amend the National Construction Code to increase the 6-star standard to 7-stars.
Climate councillor and report author, Nicki Hutley, said even a short delay in implementing this change will lock in higher bills and emis- sions for decades to come.
“Australian homes are energy guzzling com- pared to those built to higher minimum stand- ards overseas. A Tasmanian home built today uses more than double the energy of a similar sized house built in Ireland,” she said.
Climate Councillor Professor Hilary Bam- brick said poor energy efficiency standards have left too many Australians living in sub-
L-R: Climate councillor and report author, Nicki Hutley. Climate Councillor Professor Hilary Bambrick.
standard homes dubbed as ‘glorified tents’, which are unbearable during summer and freezing in winter.
“If we urgently update our new build stand- ards as well as upgrade poorly built existing homes we’ll all be much happier and safer, and as a country we’ll be contributing fewer emis- sions,” she said.
The Climate Council recommends Australia triple its efforts and aim to reduce national emissions by 75 per cent this decade, and reach net zero by 2035. ✺
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