Learner Manual CPCCBC4001A

Learner Manual Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for low rise building projects

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 5 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 5 Learning outcomes ..................................................................................................................... 6 Assessment requirements .......................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1: Relevant Codes and standards ............................................................................... 7 What is the National Construction Code? .................................................................................. 7 History of the National Construction Code .............................................................................. 10 HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE ................................................................. 10 Australia's Constitution and Building Regulations ................................................................ 12 Australia's Model Uniform Building Code ............................................................................ 12 The Building Code of Australia ............................................................................................. 12 History of the Plumbing Code of Australia ........................................................................... 13 Australian Standards ............................................................................................................ 13 The Plumbing Code of Australia 2004 .................................................................................. 13 Inclusion of the PCA in the National Construction Code ...................................................... 14 Variations and additions .......................................................................................................... 14 Australian Standards ................................................................................................................ 15 Why Australian Standards are important - ........................................................................... 16 Chapter 2: Classification of Buildings ................................................................................... 18 NCC classification criteria ......................................................................................................... 18 Multiple classification .............................................................................................................. 19 Chapter 3: Meeting performance requirements in building ................................................. 20 How the NCC Performance-Based System Operates ................................................................ 20 Hierarchy of the performance-based BCA ............................................................................ 21 Determining deemed to satisfy provisions ............................................................................... 23 Accessing and interpreting relevant Australian standards ....................................................... 25 Alternative solutions to meet performance requirements ...................................................... 25 Assessment methods ............................................................................................................... 26 BCA assessment methods .................................................................................................... 26 June 2014 Page 2

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects Introduction Overview This guide has been designed to help you to attain knowledge and develop the necessary skills to access, interpret and apply relevant building codes and standards applicable to the construction processes of residential and low rise commercial buildings. The information in this guide covers the unit of competency CPCCBC4001A, which is part of the overall Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) CPC40110. Each chapter in this guide presents you with information to build your knowledge of the processes involved in understanding the purpose and content of the National Construction Code including the Building Code of Australia and to have the ability to interpret other codes and standards related to a specific building. This guide is designed to be read in conjunction with National Construction Code Series 2013 NCC 2013 Building Code of Australia volume 1 NCC 2013 Building Code of Australia volume 2 NCC 2013 Guide to the BCA Volume One These 3 volumes will be accessed throughout this guide and will form the basis of this Unit of Competency. You will need to become familiar with these 3 volumes in order to attain competency. These are the basis of making decisions in your role of designing or constructing low rise residential or commercial buildings. Throughout this guide we will be making references to these volumes so that you can become familiar with handling them and researching solutions for your role in construction. The information in this guide will follow the process as outlined below: June 2014 Page 4

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects There are a range of learning activities, scenarios and examples for each chapter, to extend and aid your learning in a practical way. Learning outcomes By the end of this Unit you will be able to:  Access and interpret relevant code and standard requirements  Classify buildings  Analyse and apply a range of solutions to a construction problem for compliance with the NCC, and  Apply fire protection requirements June 2014 Page 5 Accessing Relevant Codes and Standards Interpreting relevant code and standard requirements Classifying buildings Analysing and applying a range of solutions to construction problems for compliance with the NCC Applying fire protection requirements

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects When complying with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, or when developing an Alternative Solution in order to comply with the BCA, consideration may need to be given to whether the Building Solution impacts on compliance with the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA). June 2014 Page 7

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects THE BUILDING CODE OF AUSTRALIA The BCA is produced and maintained by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) on behalf of the Australian Government and each State and Territory government. The BCA is a uniform set of technical provisions for the design and construction of buildings and other structures throughout Australia whilst allowing for variations in climate and geological or geographic conditions. THE AUSTRALIAN BUILDING CODES BOARD The ABCB is established by agreement between the Australian Government and each State and Territory Government. It is a co-operative arrangement between the signatories, local government and the building industry. The ABCB's mission is to address issues relating to safety, health, amenity and sustainability in the design, construction and performance of buildings. This is achieved through the NCC and the development of effective regulatory systems and appropriate non-regulatory solutions. The Board comprises— (a) a Chair; and (b) the head of each Commonwealth, State and Territory department, statutory body, division, or agency that has the relevant administrative responsibility for NCC matters; and (c) a representative of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA); and (d) representatives of the building and construction industry, including one representative with plumbing expertise. The Building Codes Committee (BCC) is the peak technical advisory body to the ABCB, with responsibility for technical matters associated with the BCA. The BCC comprises— (a) the General Manager of the ABCB; and (b) one nominee each of the Australian, State, and Territory Governments and ALGA members of the ABCB; and (c) representatives of the building and construction industry. June 2014 Page 8

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects History of the Building Code of Australia Australia's Constitution and Building Regulations The Australian Constitution sets out the roles, responsibilities and powers of the Australian Government. By standard convention, those matters which are not mentioned in the Constitution remain the responsibility of the States. As the Constitution does not mention matters regarding the safety, health and amenity of people in buildings, responsibility for them rests with the State and Territory Governments. This has led to 8 separate Acts of Parliament and 8 distinct building regulatory systems. At various times, it has been even more complex, with some states passing on many of their building regulatory powers to their municipal councils, which effectively enacted their own building regulatory systems by way of council by-laws. Australia's Model Uniform Building Code The complexity of Australia's building regulatory system provided a legislative maze for building practitioners to work through. However, after World War II several of the States started to establish more uniform technical building requirements, and those States which delegated their primary responsibilities to municipal councils started to reclaim control. This prompted further discussion about the benefits of having a national set of building regulations. In 1965, the Interstate Standing Committee on Uniform Building Regulations (ISCUBR) was established. ISCUBR was basically an agreement between the State administrations responsible for building regulatory matters to pool their resources for the benefit of all States. ISCUBR's first task was to draft a model technical code for building regulatory purposes. The document was referred to as the "Australian Model Uniform Building Code" (AMUBC), and was first released in the early 1970's. The AMUBC contained proposals for both technical matters and some administrative matters which were based on the then Local Government Act of New South Wales. The intention was that States could use the AMUBC as a model for their own building regulations. However, variation from the model was considerable, with many States changing the provisions in accordance with their perceptions of local needs. The Building Code of Australia In 1980, the Local Government Ministerial Council agreed to the formation of the Australian Building Regulations Coordinating Council (AUBRCC) to supersede ISCUBR. AUBRCC’s main task was to continue to develop the AMUBC, which led to the production of the first edition of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) in 1988. The BCA was further refined and a new edition was released in 1990. This edition of the BCA was progressively adopted by States and Territories during the early 1990s. In 1991, the Building Regulation Review Task Force recommended to COAG the establishment of a body to achieve far-reaching national reform. An Inter-government Agreement was signed in April 1994 to establish the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). One of the first tasks of the ABCB was to convert the BCA into a more June 2014 Page 10

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects fully performance-based document. The ABCB released the performance-based BCA (BCA96) in October 1996. BCA96 was adopted by the Commonwealth and most states and territories on 1 July 1997, with the remainder adopting it by early 1998. In 2003 a decision was taken to move to an annual amendment cycle with a date of operation from 1 May each year. From 2004, the BCA moved from BCA96 to become BCA 2004, BCA 2005 in 2005 and so on. History of the Plumbing Code of Australia Historically, the regulation of plumbing and drainage in Australia has developed in close alignment with the State and Territory water and sewerage authorities, as they regulated for plumbing, drainage and water supply. Most regulations were based on British Standards requirements and developments in plumbing and drainage methods and technology. Australian Standards Standards Australia, formerly the Standards Association of Australia, has for some time published technical standards relating to plumbing and drainage matters. In the late 1980s, several existing plumbing standards were consolidated and a set of updated Australian Standards was published in 1990 with the objective to provide: ‘acceptable technical standards for the design and installation of plumbing systems throughout Australia’. This was the AS 3500 series. Although designed as a national code, its adoption over the years following was piecemeal and it was heavily varied. The Plumbing Code of Australia 2004 A National Plumbing Regulators Forum (NPRF), with representatives from all States and Territories, was established in 2002 to develop a Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA). In 2004, the NPRF’s PCA 2004 was published. It was adopted in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. PCA 2004 was designed as a performance-based code, and was set out to be compatible in its structure and operation with the Building Code of Australia. PCA 2004 called up, or referenced, the 2003 AS/NZS 3500 – Plumbing and Drainage series of standards, along with other relevant standards, as a means of providing Deemed-to-Satisfy solutions to the Performance Requirements. Those jurisdictions which did not adopt PCA 2004 continued to directly regulate the use of AS/NZS 3500 or used other independently developed regulation. June 2014 Page 11

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects Australian Standards Throughout the National construction code references are made to Australian standards. What are they and why should we use them? Note the following extract from the explanation brochure from Standards Australia. What is an Australian Standard? Australian Standards are published documents setting out specifications and procedures designed to ensure products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently perform the way they are intended to. They establish a minimum set of requirements which define quality and safety criteria. Australian Standards are voluntary consensus documents that are developed by agreement. Their application is by choice unless their use is mandated by government or called up in a contract. Many Australian Standards, because of their rigour, are called up into legislation by government and become mandatory. Australian Standards are one tool in a regulatory spectrum that may be applied by governments or an industry to provide a solution to a problem. Australian Standards differ from industry standards because of the importance of rigour, robustness and consensus in the development process. Third party certification, inspection and testing bodies assess whether a product conforms to an Australian Standard. Standards Australia is not involved in conformity assessment or compliance. June 2014 Page 13

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects Why Australian Standards are important - To government and industry ✓ They make Australian businesses and industry more competitive. ✓ They complement Australian regulation and help markets work better and more efficiently. ✓ They offer an internationally aligned alternative to laws and regulations. ✓ They are based on industry collaboration and consultation with input from all relevant parties, including consumers. To business and the community ✓ They protect Australians at home, at play and at work. ✓ They boost Australian production and productivity. Australian Standards save businesses time and money. They drive economies of scale; help cut energy bills and foster new technologies. ✓ They ensure products manufactured in one country can be sold and used in another. ✓ Working on Australian Standards has its own rewards – increased knowledge, stronger business networks, competitive advantages and personal satisfaction in knowing an Australian Standard has made the world a safer place. ✓ They support Australian innovation and provide a platform on which to build new and exciting ideas. June 2014 Page 14

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects Chapter 2: Classification of Buildings The use of a building determines its classification. Use is determined on the basis of its design, construction or adaptation. Because buildings have different uses they are subject to different risks and so this affects the classification of these buildings. Classification is a process for understanding risks in a building or part thereof, according to its use. It must be correctly undertaken to achieve BCA aims as appropriate to each building in each circumstance. The classification of buildings is an important process as this affects the design and construction of these buildings. The different classifications determine the type of construction and type of materials used in the building. It also will influence the fire protection requirements whether passive or active. In order to classify buildings we will reference the BCA guide. This will help us to determine the correct BCA criteria in order to ascertain the correct classification. NCC 2013 Guide to the BCA Volume One: Part A3 Page 51 NCC classification criteria To understand and apply classification criteria and we will again consult with the NCC 2013 guide. NCC 2013 Guide to the BCA Volume One: Page 51 – 58 Multiple classification June 2014 Page 16

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects At times buildings have more than one use and so it is necessary to determine what classifications apply to these buildings. When we have situations of multiple classifications we need to determine how to apply the classification system. In order to understand how to do this, we refer again to the NCC 2013 guide as shown below. NCC 2013 Guide to the BCA Volume One: Page 58 – 60 EXERCISE Describe the difference between a class 1 building and a class 1b building. What is the basic definition of a class 2 building? What class of building is a retail shop? What is the difference between building classes 9a, 9b and 9c? June 2014 Page 17

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects http://www.abcb.gov.au/about-the-national-construction-code/the-building-code-of-australia/hierarchy-of- the-performance-based-bca Hierarchy of the performance-based BCA The performance-based BCA was drafted following consideration of numerous overseas models (including the New Zealand, British, Swedish and Dutch examples) to suit the Australian building regulatory environment. This has meant that the performance-based BCA substantially includes the technical requirements from the previous BCA90, with a 'performance hierarchy' built around them. The hierarchy of the BCA is shown belo w. NOTE: For Volume Two, documentary evidence is described in 1.2.2. The following is an explanation of the terms used and how they operate in practice. At Level 1 are the Objectives. These represent the reason the community wants a matter regulated. They are primarily expressed in general terms, and usually refer to the need to safeguard people and protect adjoining buildings or other property. An example of an Objective from the BCA is: June 2014 Page 19

Learner Manual Apply Building Codes & Standards to the construction process for low rise building projects “The Objective is to safeguard the occupants from injury or loss of amenity caused by inadequate height of a room or space.” At Level 2 are the Functional Statements. These set out in general terms how a building could be expected to satisfy the Objectives (or community expectations). An example of a Functional Statement from the BCA is: “A building is to be constructed to provide height in a room or space suitable for the intended use.” At Level 3 are the Performance Requirements. These outline a suitable level of performance which must be met by building materials, components, design factors, and construction methods in order for a building to meet the relevant Functional Statements and, in turn, the relevant Objectives. The Performance Requirements are the core of the BCA and are the only parts of the code with which compliance is mandatory. An example of a Performance Requirement in the BCA is: “A room or space must be of a height that does not unduly interfere with its intended function.” By considering the hierarchy of the performance-based BCA we can then use the BCA to determine the relevant performance requirements that apply to projects. It is important to ascertain these basic requirements before proceeding with the project. By becoming familiar with the NCC, we are assured that we can interpret the codes necessary to proceed with and then incorporate these in the design or construction of this building. As noted above, at level 3 are the performance requirements. This level is the minimum that must be met. To understand how these performance requirements can be met we need to reference: NCC 2013 Building Code of Australia volume 1 sections A0.5 and A0.10 NCC 2013 Building Code of Australia volume 2 Part 2.1 page 50 June 2014 Page 20