BCA & Australian Standard's
Performance Based Solutions
The National Construction Code is Australia’s primary set of technical design and construction provisions for buildings.
The National Construction Code – Building Code of Australia (NCC-BCA) is a code that establishes the minimum safety, health, amenity, accessibility, and sustainability standards for certain buildings in Australia. The code is performance-based, meaning that it sets the minimum level of required performance for buildings, rather than prescribing specific building methods or materials.
To comply with the NCC, a solution must meet the Governing Requirements and Performance Requirements. The Governing Requirements contain how the Performance Requirements should be met. The Performance Requirements specify the minimum standards for buildings and building elements. They are the only technical provisions that must be satisfied, but state and territory variations and additions may apply. A solution can be a combination of Performance Solution and Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution, but the Performance Requirements must always be met. Verification Methods can be used to assess compliance with Performance Requirements.
A Performance Solution is a tailored solution that meets the intended objective of the Performance Requirements, verified using Assessment Methods such as evidence of suitability, Verification Method, Expert Judgement, or Comparison with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions. A Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution follows prescriptive Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions in the NCC, which specify materials, components, design factors, and construction methods that meet the Performance Requirements.
Some Performance Requirements have no Deemed-to-Satisfy Solutions and require a Performance Solution. Acceptable construction practices and manuals can be used as options for Deemed-to-Satisfy Solutions, but compliance with the Performance Requirements must be demonstrated. A holistic approach is necessary when determining the appropriate Performance Requirements, and a combination of solutions may be used to meet a single Performance Requirement. Any departure from Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions for a Performance Solution must be assessed against relevant Performance Requirements. More information on NCC compliance methods can be found on the ABCB website.
Building & Legal Solutions can provide a Performance Based Solution when a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is not available or is no longer an option. We have a team of industry experts who can develop a customized solution to meet the specific Performance Requirements of a building or plumbing system. This approach is useful when there are unique circumstances that cannot be met through the prescriptive requirements of a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements.