NCC 2022 Updates That Affect Australian Home Inspections

The National Construction Code 2022 was published by the Australian Building Codes Board, with each state and territory adopting it on its own timetable through 2023 and 2024. Several changes are particularly relevant to residential building inspectors.

The headline change is energy efficiency. NCC 2022 raised the NatHERS baseline for new homes from 6 stars to 7 stars. This affects insulation levels, glazing performance, and building sealing. Inspectors of newly built homes should be familiar with how a 7-star design differs from older 6-star stock.

Livable Housing Design Silver standard provisions are now part of NCC for class 1a buildings. This includes requirements for level entry, doorway widths, accessible bathrooms, and reinforced wall blocking for future grab rails. These features are not optional add-ons in new builds, they are code.

Condensation management provisions were significantly expanded. Inspectors should look for vapour permeable membranes in colder climates and check for condensation risk in roof voids and wall cavities, particularly where energy efficiency upgrades have been made without addressing moisture pathways.

State adoption varies. Some provisions were optional or deferred. Always check the current adoption status in the relevant state before forming a view on whether a specific provision applies to a given building.