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National Construction Code 2025

NCC 2025 - Major changes

National Construction Code 2025

NCC 2025 - Major changes

What NCC 2025 means for your residential building business

A preview of the National Construction Code NCC 2025 was released 1 February 2026 by the Australian Building Codes Board. All three volumes can be viewed at the Australian Building Codes Board website.

NCC 2025 is primarily focused on the commercial building sector. However, there are new standards, processes and assessment methods that affect all buildings that the residential industry must stay across to remain compliant.

All three Volumes of the NCC contain changes, with new content and referenced standards in key areas including:

  • Condensation management  
  • Governing requirements 
  • Commercial energy efficiency   
  • Waterproofing of balconies and podiums and carparks of apartments.  

HIA is dedicated to supporting our members with the latest NCC updates. Explore our easy-to-read resources explaining the new condensation management and waterproofing rules, updated or newly introduced Australian Standards and the basics of the new NCC.

Key focus topics of NCC 2025

Condensation management

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Australian Standards

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Waterproofing

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National Construction Code 2025 explained

Explore our builder-focused resources to get a fast understanding of NCC 2025. Stay informed with HIA's industry experts and ensure you're complaint with the National Construction Code in your state or territory. These handy explainers are free for members.

Condensation National Construction Code (NCC) National Construction Code 2025
Understanding the control layer’s role in condensation management
NCC 2025 Housing Provisions Part 10.8 and Part F8 of NCC Volume One contain substantial changes to the condensation management requirements. Part of these changes are new requirements for ‘control layers’ within the external wall ...
Feb 26
4 mins
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Australian Standards National Construction Code (NCC) National Construction Code 2025
AS 4055:2021 changes to wind loads for housing
AS 4055:2021 (Amdt 1) Wind loads for housing contains several updates that align the housing standard for compatibility with related wind loading design standard AS/NZS 1170.2 Structural design actions Part 2: Wind actions.
Feb 26
2 mins
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Condensation National Construction Code (NCC) National Construction Code 2025
Condensation management NCC 2025 – does my external wall need a cavity?
Wall cavities are commonly used for waterproofing and moisture management to provide drainage and airflow to remove excess moisture. The Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Housing Provisions of NCC 2025 will require the use of cavities to ma...
Feb 26
3 mins
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National Construction Code 2025 National Construction Code (NCC) Australian Standards
Alternative Referenced Document Register NCC 2025
NCC 2025 provides a new Alternative Referenced Document Register (ARDR) which provides options for practitioners to use more recent editions of referenced documents.
Feb 26
3 min
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Insulation National Construction Code 2025
New DTS cladding alternative – Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS)
NCC 2025 now references AS 5346:2023 which has created a new DTS pathway for EIFS systems under Part H1 Structure and simplified compliance.
Feb 26
3 mins
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Standards Regulations Plumbing National Construction Code 2025
Transition to lead-free plumbing products extended
One of the major changes in NCC 2022 includes limits on the allowable lead content in plumbing products, particularly those in contact with drinking water like taps, spouts, mixers, etc. Recently ABCB announced an extension to the...
Feb 26
2 min
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Condensation National Construction Code 2025
NCC 2025 roof ventilation changes for condensation management
NCC 2025 updates roof ventilation rules in cooler climate zones, increasing airflow needs and changing vent areas for steeper pitched roofs.
Feb 26
3 mins
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National Construction Code 2025 Condensation Walls National Construction Code (NCC)
NCC 2025 condensation management changes
NCC 2025 increases minimum requirements for wall and roof ventilation to reduce condensation risk, with greater impacts in colder climate zones.
Jan 26
3 mins
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Construction National Construction Code 2025 National Construction Code (NCC)
Changes to NCC 2025 Assessment Methods for Performance Solutions
Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) have changes to the assessment of some Performance Solutions which are proposed to take effect one year after the adoption of NCC 2025.
Jan 26
2 mins
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Australian Standards National Construction Code 2025
New and amended NCC 2025 referenced standards
Changes to NCC 2025 include several new and amended NCC referenced standards. These are incorporated into the NCC through its normal revision cycle.
Jan 26
4 mins
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National Construction Code (NCC) National Construction Code 2025 Waterproofing
External waterproofing NCC 2025 Volume One changes explained
NCC 2025 Volume One contains new water management provisions that involve a full restructure of Performance Requirements, new defined terms which change the scope of water managed by the part and new Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Provis...
Jan 26
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Australian Standards National Construction Code (NCC) National Construction Code 2025
Amended AS 1684 Residential timber framing in NCC 2025
AS 1684 Residential timber framing – Part 2 (non-cyclonic) Part 3 (cyclonic) and Part 4 (simplified non-cyclonic) have been amended and adopted in NCC 2025.
Jan 26
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NCC 2025 adoption dates

Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Victoria
South Australia
Queensland
Tasmania
Western Australia
Northern Territory

Projects with Building Approval after 1 May 2026 and before 1 November 2026 may comply with either:

  • NCC 2022 and the ACT 2022 Appendix, or
  • NCC 2025 and the ACT 2025 Appendix.

Projects with Building Approval after 1 November 2026 must comply with NCC 2025 and the ACT 2025 Appendix.

Additional transition periods

The ACT Government is investigating further transitional arrangements beyond 1 November 2026 for substantially progressed projects (i.e. projects with Development Approval or Works Approval).

New South Wales is yet to confirm adoption dates for NCC 2025.

Victoria is yet to confirm adoption dates for NCC 2025. 

South Australia is yet to confirm adoption dates for NCC 2025.

Queensland is yet to confirm adoption dates for NCC 2025. 

Tasmania is not adopting NCC 2025.*

* Tasmania announced in December 2024 that they will defer implementation of changes to the NCC.

Western Australia is yet to confirm adoption dates for NCC 2025.

Additional transition periods 

Western Australia building regulations recognise the edition of the Building Code that was in effect 12 months before the time the application for the building permit is made.*

* Western Australia, See r31A (2) Applicable building standards generally (transition period).

Northern Territory is yet to confirm adoption dates for NCC 2025.

Additional transition periods

Builders will need to speak with their building certifier about the application of Section 51 of the Building Act to their current and proposed projects.*

*Northern Territory Section 51(1) and (2) of the Building Act do provide transitional provisions for the application of new regulations (including NCC amendments). Under this is section, the application of new regulations does not apply to work where a building permit has been issued, or where substantial progress was made on the design of the building prior to the commencement of the new regulation.

HIA’s advocacy on NCC 2025:

HIA were one of the only industry bodies to provide detailed submissions in response to all major proposals and their accompanying analysis.

NCC's 2025 proposed residential changes are more moderate when compared to the far-reaching impacts of NCC 2022. HIA had argued some reforms were underdeveloped, higher cost or too impractical to be applied by industry.

HIA's advocacy resulted in numerous improvements and concessions to proposals released to public comment for efficiency in commercial buildings, condensation management and waterproofing proposals that are progressing. Significantly, electric vehicle charging and embodied emissions proposals will not progress as part of the finalised NCC 2025 content.

HIA has called on states and the ABCB to better support implementation beyond the NCC publication. Enhancing its guidance offering, learning materials and addressing key points of contention and ambiguity are necessary next steps.