Module 1 - Introduction to the BCA

National Construction Code
Training Program
MODULE ONE
An Introduction to the
Building Code of Australia –
Volume One and Two
of the NCC Series

Introduction to Module One
This training module is one of a series developed by the Australian
Building Codes Board, the organisation responsible for the
development and maintenance of the National Construction Code
(NCC) Series.
Operation of the BCABackground to the BCA Application of the BCA

Series
Series
Building Code
Volume Three
Guide to
Volume One
Volume One
Appendices
Volume TwoVolume One
Plumbing
Code

Operation of the BCA
Object of Module One
• The objective of this training Module is to provide fundamental
information on the operation and application of the BCA.
Background to the BCA Application of the BCA

Background to the BCA
Application of the BCA
Content Module One

Outline of Module One
Background to the BCA
• Building Regulation Systems
• The ABCB

• Structure of the BCA
• Content of Volume One
• Content of Volume Two
• How NCC content is kept up to date

Application of the BCA
• When to apply the BCA
• How to comply with the BCA
• How to apply Volume One
• How to apply Volume Two

Building Regulation
Systems

Building Regulation Systems
• The Australian constitution gives the States and Territories general
responsibility for regulating building activity within their State or
Territory
• Therefore – Australia has eight separate building regulation systems
• Even though there are eight systems – the content of each is
reasonably similar

A Typical System
• A typical building regulation system will generally comprise two types
of regulation:
– Administrative regulation
– Technical regulation

Administrative Regulations
• Examples of administrative issues:
– powers and responsibilities of parties
– assessment procedures
– referrals, objections and appeals
– inspection and certification processes
– offences and penalties
– adoption of the BCA

Technical Regulations
• Technical issues can include:
– Building requirements such as;
▫ protection of adjoining property during construction
▫ hoardings to protect the public
▫ signage to warn the public of hazardous materials
– Design and construction requirements for buildings and
structures

Design and Construction Requirements
• The BCA is a performance-based code, setting the minimum
requirements for the design, construction and performance of
buildings
• By agreement, the BCA is adopted through State and Territory
legislation as the primary technical standard for their building
regulation system

Why Regulate Building Work?
• To protect people – building occupants and people outside a
building, during –
– Construction
– Operational life
– Demolition
• To protect property – primarily the protection of adjacent property
rather than subject property.

• To mitigate risks to life
– Structural collapse of a building
– Fire in a building
• To protect against health and amenity issues
– Dampness
– Sanitation
– Ventilation
– Lighting
– Sound transmission

• To promote sustainable development
– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
– Increase energy efficiency of buildings
– Other issues in future e.g. climate change

• So governments can –
– Facilitate acceptable levels of risk
– Assess whether regulation is necessary and / or desirable to
address the risk or issue, through rigorous cost / benefit
analysis
– Where appropriate, establish minimum necessary standards
that are proportionate to the problem

The
Australian Building
Codes Board

Background to the ABCB
• For over 45 years, Australian governments have worked to achieve
national consistency in building regulations
• Their activities are founded on a cooperative arrangement and
achievements are derived from political goodwill and the national
interest

Origin of the ABCB
• In the early 1990s, a Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
taskforce recommended the establishment of a national body to
assist in achieving national consistency in building regulations
• The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) came into existence
through an inter-government agreement (IGA) in 1994

The Role of the ABCB
• The ABCB’s mission is to address issues relating to safety, health,
amenity and sustainability in the design, construction and
performance of buildings through the NCC, and the development of
effective regulatory systems and appropriate non-regulatory
solutions.

The Board
• ABCB activities are governed by a Board
• The Board consists of representatives from:
– Australian Government;
– State and Territory governments;
– Local government;
– the building, construction and plumbing industry; and
– has an independent Chairperson
• The ABCB has an office of full-time staff that assist the Board in
achieving its goals

Technical Committee’s
• To assist the Board meet its obligations, the ABCB has two principal
technical advisory committees:
– The Building Codes Committee (BCC); and
– The Plumbing Code Committee (PCC).
• These committees advise the Board on –
– technical content of the NCC;
– general building regulation matters; and
– regulatory reform strategies.

Building Codes Committee (BCC)
• The Building Codes Committee advises the Board on the technical
content of the BCA, is chaired by the ABCB Office and has
representatives from:
– Local government;
– New Zealand government;
– fire service authorities;
– Standards Australia; and
– the building and construction industry

Plumbing Code Committee (PCC)
• The Plumbing Code Committee advises the Board on the technical
content of the PCA, is chaired by the ABCB Office and has
representatives from:
– fire service authorities;
– Standards Australia; and
– the building, construction and plumbing industry

Specialist Committees
• Development of the BCA is also assisted by specialist committees
established to deal with specific projects when required
• In the past these committees have included:
– Energy Efficiency Policy Steering Committee
– Building Access Policy Committee

Part 1 - Key Messages
• The primary aims of building regulations are to:
– protect people
– protect adjacent property
– protect the environment
• The ABCB is responsible for development of the NCC Series
• The role of the BCA is to establish minimum necessary standards for
the design, construction and performance of buildings.

Characteristics of
the BCA

Characteristics of the BCA
• The BCA is a performance-based building code that presents
minimum necessary technical building regulations
• Performance-based building codes set mandatory levels of
performance that must be achieved
• The BCA allows flexibility in how compliance with respective
Performance Requirements is achieved

Benefits of Performance–based
Regulations
• Performance-based regulations provide significant flexibility to
industry by allowing the approval of alternative options to the
Deemed-to-Satisfy solutions
• Performance-based regulations allow the design of tailor made
buildings – no more “one size fits all” approach

• Alternative options to Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions are called
Alternative Solutions
• Alternative Solutions may be used to:
– improve cost-effectiveness
– improve constructability
– facilitate innovation
– address anything different to standard practice.
Regulations

• Some but not all Certifying Authorities can approve Alternative
Solutions
• Performance-based regulations reduce the need to:
– lodge objections to regulations
– apply for a modification or variation
– appeal decisions of Certifying Authorities
Regulations

Please tell us about your
experiences
Think for a while!
• Can you think of a time when you wanted to build something different
to standard practice?
• Do you see benefit in being able to do things the way you’d like?

What is the Role of the BCA?
• To provide a technical base for the design and construction of
buildings that is acceptable for adoption by individual States and
Territories
• Through its adoption in all States and Territories it delivers a high
degree of national consistency to minimum necessary regulations

What is the Origin of the BCA?
• Australia has a coveted record in the performance of its building
regulations and the safety of its buildings
• History indicates that our building regulations are effective
• The fundamental design concepts of most of the BCA are derived
from building codes in place prior to the BCA

What is the Origin of the BCA?
• In addition – research has underpinned the development of new
provisions to produce a more effective code
• Therefore – the content of the BCA is derived from a combination of
time proven historical regulation and research-based modern
regulation

What are the Goals of BCA?
• The goals of the BCA are stated in the Introduction to each Volume
of the Code
• In essence – the goals are to deliver minimum necessary standards
of safety (including structural safety and safety from fire),
health, amenity and sustainability within buildings for the benefit of
the community
Background to the BCA Operation of the BCA Application of the BCA

What are the Goals of BCA?
• It is important to mention that these stated goals are applied so that
the content of the BCA extends no further than is necessary in the
public interest – is cost effective – easily understood – and not
needlessly onerous

Presentation of the BCA

How is the BCA Presented?
• The BCA is presented in two Volumes
• A reason for this outcome is to correlate with the historic operation of
industry
• In essence, industry has tended to operate either within a “housing”
sector or a “commercial” sector
• The BCA endeavours to follow this division

How is the BCA Presented?
• Volume One contains requirements for the design and construction
of commercial buildings; i.e. Class 2 - 9 buildings, plus some Class
10 matters. See Part A0.2
• Volume Two contains requirements for the design and construction
of domestic buildings; i.e. Class 1 and 10 buildings, plus some Class
10 structures. See Part 1.0.2

Classification of
Buildings

What is a Class of Building?
• The Class – or Classification – of a building/structure is determined
by the purpose for which it is designed, constructed or adapted to be
used.
• As the purpose of buildings vary – the BCA has different
requirements for different classes of buildings

Classes of Buildings
• Part A3 of the BCA provides detailed descriptions of various classes
of buildings.
• The classifications and typical examples include:
– Class 1a single dwellings / houses
– Class 1b small guest / boarding houses
– Class 2 dwellings / apartments (above others)
– Class 3 hotels / motels (unrelated persons)
– Class 4 a single dwelling in a Class 5 to 9

– Class 5 offices – not Class 6 to 9
– Class 6 retail shops
– Class 7a carparks
– Class 7b storage / display warehouses
– Class 8 a laboratory or factory
– Class 9a health-care building
– Class 9b assembly building

– Class 9c aged care building
– Class 10a non-habitable building (e.g. a carport/ garage)
– Class 10b structure – swimming pool – fence
– Class 10c a private bushfire shelter
• Buildings can have multiple classifications
• Each part of a building must be classified separately, except that if
not more than 10% of floor area of the part in which it is located,
the major classification may apply (exclusions apply – See A3.3).

Contents of the BCA

Content of Volume One
• The content of Volume One is divided into:
– Sections – from A to J
– Sections are divided into Parts
– Parts contain Objectives, Functional Statements, Performance
Requirements and Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
– Some Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions refer to Specifications

SECTIONS
PARTS
SPECIFICATIONS
PERFORMANCE
REQUIREMENTS
DEEMED-TO-SATISFY
PROVISIONS
Content of Volume One
OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONAL STATEMENTS

Sections of Volume One
• Section A – General Provisions (not performance-based)
• Section B – Structure
• Section C – Fire Resistance
• Section D – Access and Egress
• Section E – Services and Equipment
And…

Sections of Volume One
• Section F – Health and Amenity
• Section G – Ancillary Provisions
• Section H – Special Use Buildings
• Section I – Maintenance
• Section J – Energy Efficiency

Content of Volume Two
• The content of Volume Two is presented in three Sections:
– Section 1 – General Requirements
– Section 2 – Performance Requirements
– Section 3 – Acceptable Construction (DTS Provisions)

SECTION 1
Contains information on the operation and
application of BCA
SECTION 2
SECTION 3
Contains all Performance Requirements
for Volume Two
Contains Acceptable Construction or the
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
Content of Volume Two

ACCEPTABLE
CONSTRUCTION
OR
ACCEPTABLE
CONSTRUCTION
PRACTICE
ACCEPTABLE
CONSTRUCTION
MANUALS
Acceptable Construction

Acceptable Construction
• Acceptable Construction Manuals can include Australian Standards
or other reference documents
• Acceptable Construction Practice will generally reflect traditional
construction techniques

13 Parts of Section 3
• Part 3.0 How to Use Section
• Part 3.1 Site Preparation
• Part 3.2 Footings and Slabs
• Part 3.3 Masonry
• Part 3.4 Framing
• Part 3.5 Roof and Wall Cladding
• Part 3.6 Glazing

Parts of Section 3 cont…
• Part 3.7 Fire Safety
• Part 3.8 Health and Amenity
• Part 3.9 Safe Movement and Access
• Part 3.10 Additional Construction Requirements
• Part 3.11 Structural Design Manuals
• Part 3.12 Energy Efficiency

Variations and Additions
to the BCA

Why are there Variations?
• Variations occur when a State or Territory chooses to vary
something in the BCA due to geographic, climatic, policy or
technical reasons
• For example, NSW varies Part H1 because it has long standing
regulations applying specifically to a place of public entertainment
and wishes to retain them

Why are there Additions?
• Additions occur if States or Territories add something not covered
in the BCA – often due to consolidation of regulations
• E.g. Tasmania Appendix has specialist buildings not covered by
the BCA
• Variations and additions are law in the States and Territories that they
apply to

Part A1.6 (Volume One)
A1.6 Application of the BCA to a particular State or Territory
For application within a particular State or Territory, the BCA comprises:
(a) Sections A to J (inclusive); and
(b) the variations, deletions and additions to Sections A to J
applicable to that State or Territory specified in the relevant
Appendix

How are Variations Identified?
• In Volume One variations or additions are identified by italicised
references located adjacent to the respective BCA provision e.g.
Vic D1.4 (d)
• The wording of the variations and additions for Volume One are
contained in the separate document Volume One – Appendices

How are Variations Identified?
• In Volume Two State and Territory variations are presented in
coloured boxes located immediately after the respective provisions
• Additions are presented in Appendix A at the rear of Volume Two
under the respective State or Territory name

Defined terms
in the BCA

Defined Terms
• Defined terms used in the BCA are written in italics and defined in
Part A1.1 of Volume One or Part 1.1.1 of Volume Two
• Volume Two also has specific definitions at the front of some Parts
• It is important not to assume the meaning of a defined term
• This presentation also uses italics to identify defined terms
Background to the BCA Application of the BCAOperation of the BCA

For Example…
• Extract of Part D1.11:
– (a) Horizontal exits must not be counted as required exits –
– (i) between sole-occupancy units; or
• Extract of Part A1:
– Horizontal exit means a required doorway between two parts of a
building separated from each other by a fire wall
Background to the BCA Application of the BCAOperation of the BCA

The Structure
of the BCA

The Structure of the BCA
• The content of the BCA is structured in four levels – as shown
on the next slide
• This multi-level structure is similar to that of other international
performance-based building codes
• While there are four levels – only one level is mandatory

• Objectives – considered to reflect community expectations
• Functional Statements – describe how a building achieves
the Objectives
• These two layers provide guidance when interpreting the content and
intent of the BCA
• These two layers should not be used to assess compliance
with the BCA

• Performance Requirements – state mandatory levels of
performance for Building Solutions
• Building Solutions – are solutions that comply with Performance
Requirements and may be a Deemed-to-Satisfy solution or an
Alternative Solution or a combination of both

An Example!
• Consider the regulation of wet areas in housing – see Part 2.4 of
Volume Two
O2.4.1 Wet areas - “The Objective is to safeguard the occupants from
illness or injury and protect the building from damage caused by
the accumulation of internal moisture arising from the use of wet
areas in a building.”

The Example Continued…
•A description of how to achieve this Objective is provided in the
corresponding Functional Statement
F2.4.1 Wet areas - “A building is to be constructed to avoid the
likelihood of:
(a) the creation of any unhealthy or dangerous conditions; or
(b) damage to building elements
caused by dampness or water overflow from bathrooms, laundries
and the like.”

• These Guidance provisions set the scene for the mandatory
Performance Requirement for wet areas, which states;
P2.4.1 – “To protect the structure of the building and to maintain the
amenity of the occupants, water must be prevented from
penetrating:
(a) behind fittings and linings; or
(b) into concealed spaces,
of sanitary facilities, bathrooms, laundries and the like.”

• The BCA then provides Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions to comply
with the Performance Requirement, and for wet areas this is found in
Part 3.8.1.0 and Part 3.8.1.1. Part 3.8.1.0 states;
• 3.8.1.0 – “Performance Requirement P2.4.1 is satisfied for wet areas
in Class 1 and 10 buildings if they are waterproof or water resistant in
accordance with AS3740 – Waterproofing of wet areas within
residential buildings”

Complying with
the BCA

Complying with the BCA
• Part A0.4, Volume One states “a Building Solution will comply with
the BCA if it satisfies the Performance Requirements”
• If a Deemed-to-Satisfy solution is used – compliance is achieved
• If an Alternative Solution is used – it must be assessed for
compliance with the Performance Requirements

Assessment Methods
• Methods for assessing Building Solutions are listed in;
– Part A0.9 of Volume One
– Part 1.0.9 of Volume Two
• The Certifying Authority will be required to assess compliance;
however the applicant will be required to demonstrate compliance
has been achieved

Assessment Methods
• Part A0.9 lists four Assessment Methods
• 1. Evidence of Suitability as described in;
– Part A2.2 - Volume One (See next slide)
– Part 1.2.2 - Volume Two
• 2. Verification Methods or similar
• 3. Comparison with Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision
• 4. Expert Judgement

Evidence of Suitability
• Evidence of Suitability are listed in;
– Part A2.2 of Volume One
– Part 1.2.2 of Volume Two
• These processes are generally third party mechanisms that may
be used to assist in either the development or assessment of
Building Solutions

Part A2.2 – Evidence of Suitability
• A report issued by a Registered Testing Authority
• A current Certificate of Conformity / Certificate of Accreditation
• A certificate from an appropriately qualified person
• Product certification from a Joint Accreditation System of Australia
and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) accredited body
• Any other form of documentary evidence

Product Certification
• An effective product certification scheme underpins a performance-
based building code such as the BCA
• In product certification schemes, suitably qualified third-party bodies
evaluate products and certify compliance with specified
requirements of the BCA
• A scheme called CodeMark was developed and was launched in
September 2005

CodeMark Certification Scheme

Operation of CodeMark
• The CodeMark Certification Scheme –
– covers both Australia and New Zealand
– is jointly managed by the ABCB and the New Zealand Department
of Building and Housing
– is coordinated by the Joint Accreditation Scheme of Australia and
New Zealand (JAS-ANZ)

Operation of CodeMark
• JAS-ANZ accredits suitably qualified Certification Bodies to assess
a product and to issue a CodeMark certificate i.e. a Certificate of
Conformity
• Legislation implemented by respective governments requires
Certifying Authorities to accept CodeMark certification

Amending the BCA

How Often is the BCA Amended?
• The BCA is amended annually and becomes law on 1 May each
year
• Revised editions of the BCA are made available three months prior to
adoption on May 1

How is the BCA Amended?
• Amendments to the BCA may occur as a result of –
– The Proposal for Change (PFC) process; or
– The project work of the ABCB
• However, before a change can be included in the BCA it must be
subject to impact analysis to determine the potential impacts of the
proposed changes.
• The level of impact analysis will depend on the complexity of the
proposal.

• The ABCB has three levels of impact analysis. The first of these is
the Proposal for Change (PFC) process.
• PFC’s can be submitted by any individual or organisation.
• Consideration of PFC’s is undertaken by the Building Codes
Committee (BCC) and can subsequently feed into the development of
the ABCB Work Program.

• Following the completion and consideration of a PFC, regulatory
impact analysis is initiated.
• Regulation impact analysis is conducted in two stages –
– Preliminary Impact Assessments (PIA);
– Regulation Impact Statement (RIS).

• A Preliminary Impact Assessment (PIA) is an early stage analysis
of the impacts associated with a proposal. Where the impacts are
minor, no further analysis is required.
• A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) is undertaken when it is
deemed that a proposal is likely to have significant impacts. A RIS
will present a detailed cost-benefit analysis of proposals to amend the
BCA, and recommend the proposal with the highest net benefits.

• Proposed changes to the BCA are made available for public
comment, prior to its publication each year.
• Where appropriate, received input from the public comment period is
used to develop pre-publication drafts, which are to be approved by
the Board.
• Comments received on the proposal will be documented and
presented to the BCC for review and recommendation to the Board
• If approved, the amendment will usually be included in the program
for the next edition of the BCA

Part 2 – Key Messages
• The BCA is a performance-based document setting minimum
standards for design and construction of buildings
• Performance Requirements are mandatory
• The benefits of a performance-based code include –
– improved cost-effectiveness
– improved constructability
– opportunities for innovation

• The BCA comes in two Volumes
– Volume One for Class 2 to 9 buildings
– Volume Two for Class 1 and 10 buildings
• Proposed designs can be assessed using Assessment Methods
listed in the BCA
• A CodeMark certificate is a Certificate of Conformity
• The BCA is amended annually

To What Does the BCA Apply?
• The application of the BCA is determined by each State or Territory
• Generally – the BCA applies to the construction of all new
buildings
• The BCA can also apply to additions and alterations to existing
buildings
• The BCA, or parts of it, can also apply to proposals to change the
use of a building

Other Regulations May Apply
• It is important to note that the BCA may be only one legislative
standard applicable to a particular use of building
• Practitioners need to be aware of all other legislation relevant to
particular projects

Examples of Other Regulations
• Some examples include;
– planning
– environmental
– workplace health and safety
– licensing / registration of use e.g. hotel
– flammable liquid storage
– health care buildings

Non-regulatory
handbooks

Non-regulatory Handbooks
• As well as developing the BCA – the ABCB also produces non-
regulatory handbooks
• These documents provide guidance and advice

Reasons for Handbooks
• Some issues are not appropriate for regulation at present
• To provide information on how to address issues covered by BCA
• To promote national approach
• To promote a responsible industry

Examples of Handbooks
• Examples of current handbooks include:
– Condensation in Buildings
– Using On-Site Renewable and Reclaimed Energy Sources
– Energy Efficiency Provisions for Electricians and Plumbers
– Applying Energy Efficiency Provisions to New Building Work
Associated with Existing Class 2 to 9 Buildings
– Durability in Buildings
– Landslide Hazards

Using Volume One of the BCA

Using Volume One
• Designers should initially read through Section A of Volume One in
order to gain a general understanding of the operation of the BCA
• A complying design can then be achieved by simply applying the
subsequent provisions of the BCA

Using Volume One
• In applying the BCA, the processes used will vary depending on
whether the design will incorporate Alternative Solutions
• It is important to understand that designers have the option to either
follow an Alternative Solution path or a Deemed-to-Satisfy path or a
combination of both

Using Volume One
• Many Performance Requirements and Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
have limited application i.e. not all provisions apply to all designs
• Designers need to check if the provision being considered applies to
the proposed building
• Use a holistic approach to ensure all relevant provisions are
considered

Using Volume One
• The ABCB has produced a Guide to Volume One that provides
background and explanatory information to requirements of the BCA
• The Guide may assist in understanding the relationships between
Parts of the BCA and is a valuable aid when interpreting provisions. It
also expands on some of the examples used in the BCA, e.g.
“Classification of Buildings”

Applying Section A
• As discussed – Section A contains information on the operation
and application of the BCA
• It includes definitions and classifications of buildings and structures
• It also includes a schedule of documents adopted by reference
• Section A sets the rules to apply the BCA and therefore is not
performance-based

Referenced Documents
• Specification A1.3 lists various documents, such as Australian
Standards, adopted as Deemed-to-Satisfy means of complying with
Performance Requirements
• These documents are generally referenced by edition dates and
amendment numbers

Referenced Documents (extract)

Referenced Documents
• It is important to note that only the referenced edition is acceptable
as being Deemed-to-Satisfy
• Other editions of referenced documents, or documents not appearing
on the list, may be accepted as Alternative Solutions

Applying Section B
• The structural requirements of Section B apply generically rather than
to nominated classifications of buildings or structures
• It is important to note that some Deemed-to-Satisfy referenced
documents may have limitations to their application

Applying Sections C to J
• While Section B is quite generic – Sections C to J contain specific
requirements for specific buildings
• Therefore – a designer will now need to make some basic decisions
• If a designer elects to design to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions the
following steps are taken

• Step one: determine the classification of the proposed building as
per Part A3
– Remember classification is not a performance-based component
of design
• Step two: assess the rise in storeys of the building – See Part C1.2
– While there are exclusions, generally the rise in storeys is the
greatest number of storeys above ground level

• Step three: apply Table C1.1 to determine the required Type of
construction –
– Type A: most fire resistant – ‘non-combustible’ construction
– Type B: less fire resistant
– Type C: least fire resistant – ‘combustible’ construction

Table C1.1 Type of Construction Required

• Step four: check the maximum fire compartment size in Table C2.2
plus Part C2.5 for Class 9a and 9c
• If the proposed size does not comply; consider another Type of
construction, or design in accordance with Part C2.3, or formulate an
Alternative Solution

• Designers have now identified three basic criteria; for example:
– Class 5 office building
– Rise in storeys of 9
– Type A construction required
• The BCA also contains particular requirements for buildings with an
effective height of more than 25 metres

• Step Five: follow the BCA requirements through Sections C to J
provision by provision
• Always document decisions and the outcome of applying each
provision
• Assume it will be necessary to explain all decisions taken in
developing or assessing a particular design proposal
• Check for State and Territory variations and additions

• As seen – the initial Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Section C can
be used to develop a Deemed-to-Satisfy design
• However – two of these initial steps can also be the subject of
performance-based design – i.e. the rise in storeys and Type of
construction provisions

Performance-based Designs
• As we know – if a designer elects not to use the Deemed-to-Satisfy
path to develop a complying design – the BCA allows a
performance-based design to be developed
• This performance-based design process is addressed in detail
in Module Two

Using Volume Two of the BCA

Using Volume Two
• Designers should initially read through Section 1 of Volume Two in
order to gain a general understanding of the operation of the BCA
• The general approach of following a performance-based design or a
Deemed-to-Satisfy based design applies to designs using Volume
Two

Using Volume Two
• Differences in using Volume Two relate to the layout of the
document rather than its application
• As discussed before – practitioners using Volume Two are given
more choices as Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions can be either;
– acceptable construction manuals or
– acceptable construction practice

Explanatory Information
to Assist Users of
the BCA

To Assist Practitioners…
• The ABCB publishes a Guide to Volume One that provides
explanatory information on the intent of provisions
• Similar explanatory information can be found in shaded boxes
located throughout Volume Two
• The BCA is available in either hard copy, PDF or on-line

• The BCA may not be the only design standard applicable to your
project
• Before using the BCA read Section A of Volume One or Section 1 of
Volume Two
• Only use the nominated editions of reference documents for
Deemed-to-Satisfy designs
• The ABCB has developed a Guide to the BCA to assist interpretation

Summary
• The BCA contains mandatory Performance Requirements for the
design and construction of buildings
• To become law the BCA is adopted by each State and Territory
through their respective building regulations

Summary Continued…
• The goals of the BCA are to deliver minimum necessary standards of
safety (including structural safety and safety from fire), health,
amenity and sustainability within buildings for the benefit of the
community
• The BCA contains minimum necessary standards that achieve
these goals

Recap of Structure of the BCA

• The Performance Requirements of the BCA must be met by a
Building Solution that may be a Deemed-to-Satisfy solution or an
Alternative Solution or a combination of both
• If an Alternative Solution is used – it must be assessed for
compliance with the Performance Requirements

• The applicant seeking approval is responsible for demonstrating
that compliance has been achieved
• Assessment of compliance may be demonstrated by using an
Assessment Method listed in the BCA

• When preparing or assessing a design always document decisions
and the outcome of applying each BCA provision
• Assume it will be necessary to explain your decisions in the future
• Last of all – use the BCA for the purpose it was intended i.e. to
provide flexibility in building design.

We hope you enjoyed the show
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Module 1 - Introduction to the BCA

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