Guide to Australian manufacturing standards, accounting standards, food code, building code and design rules
The National Construction Code of Australia (NCC) was previously known as the Building Code of Australia (BCA). It is published and maintained by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).
Building regulations, rules and codes have been continuously evolving. For a very good coverage of the history of this evolution please see the following link at the National Construction Code website.
The NCC contains technical provisions for the design and construction of buildings and other structures throughout Australia. It is given legal effect by building regulatory legislation in each State & Territory. The legislation consists of an Act of Parliament and subordinate regulations.
The mission of the Australian Building Code Board is to address issues relating to safety, health, amenity and sustainability in the design and performance of buildings through the National Construction Code (NCC) Series, and the development of effective regulatory systems and appropriate non-regulatory solutions
The National Construction Code Series (NCC) has been developed to incorporate into a single-code all on-site construction requirements for buildings and other structures.
It incorporates Volumes One and Two of the Building Code of Australia and the Plumbing Code of Australia as Volume Three.
Volume One: pertains primarily to Class 2 to 9 buildings
Volume Two: pertains primarily to Class 1 and 10 buildings
Volume Three: pertains primarily to plumbing and drainage associated with all classes of buildings.
Online
The current NCC is available freely online through their website. There is the option to print part or all of the NCC.
The National Construction Code prior to 2015 was issued in print and is available for request from storage.
Prior to 2011 the publication was titled the Building Code of Australia and the Library holds many years of the print publication. The 1990 base volume was interfiled with subsequent amendments.
Another useful publication for historical reference is the following handbook:
NATSPEC Handbook of building standards extracts
Prior to the consolidation of building laws and regulations into the Building Code of Australia, there were various editions of the Uniform Building Regulations which directed and defined building laws in Victoria, from 1945 to 1974. Information and access to these, can be found on the Victorian building regulations page of this guide.
