Part Two – Four of our building surveyors’ review into the 2019 edition of the NCC focuses on the changes to the Health and Amenity provisions. We have previously highlighted the inclusion of condensation management provisions for the first time in the NCC as well as providing a room height verification method to assist with addressing the performance requirement.
Minor changes have been made throughout to improve clarity or were affected by other changes, such as the introduction of condensation management and re-shuffling of clauses. One of these changes being the amendment of Clause 3.8.5.2c with regards to exhaust discharge which now conveniently includes kitchens and refers to the additional condensation management provisions.
Waterproofing and water resistance of wet areas has also had a slight amendment within Table 3.8.1.1 with the requirement for wall/floor junctions within Laundries and WCs scaled back from waterproof to now water resistant.
Aside from the introduction of condensation management provisions, the greatest change to the Health and Amenity clauses of the NCC 2019 is the amendment to “P2.4.4 Lighting” and the associated verification method. The below table shows the inclusion of an average daylight factor into the performance requirements and a minimum lux measurement of illuminance for a building.
| NCC Volume Two 2016 | NCC Volume Two 2019 |
| (a) A habitable room must be provided with windows so that natural light, when available, provides a level of illuminance appropriate to the function or use of that part of the building. | (a) A habitable room must be provided with windows, where appropriate to the function or use of that part of the building, so that natural light, when available, provides an average daylight factor of not less than 2%. |
| (b) Artificial lighting must be installed to provide a level of illuminance appropriate to the function or use of the building to enable safe movement by occupants. | (b) Artificial lighting must be installed to provide an illuminance of not less than 20 lux appropriate to the function or use of the building to enable safe movement by occupants. |
The need for 10% natural light and one light fitting per 16m2 for non-habitable rooms was not always applicable in every building scenario. The inclusion of a verification method now provides an additional pathway for building surveyors to address the performance requirement without a complete performance solution report. Guidance on this method is provided by the ABCB within Guide to Volume One of the code.
If you would like more information on how the NCC 2019 will impact your next project please contact one of our building surveyors on 0411 648 159 or via e-mail admin@specialisedbuildingsolutions.com
Further information on health and amenity and other building surveyor matters can be found on our website www.specialisedbuildingsolutions.com.au
