The NCC Performance Hierarchy shows that a Building or Plumbing and Drainage Solution can achieve compliance with the Performance Requirements by using an Performance Solution (Alternative Solution) or a Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Solution.
Assessment Methods, which are located within the General Requirements of the NCC are used to determine whether a solution complies with the relevant NCC Performance Requirements.
Assessment Methods
The NCC contains four Assessment Methods. Any combination of them can be used to determine that a Building or Plumbing and Drainage Solution complies with the Performance Requirements.
- Evidence of Suitability requires evidence, as described in A2.2, to support claims that a material, form of construction or design meets the Performance Requirements or DTS Provisions.
- Verification Methods are tests, inspections, calculations or other methods, which determine whether a proposed Building or Plumbing and Drainage Solution complies with the relevant Performance Requirements. Verification Methods are not limited to using those in the NCC. Another Verification Method may be used if the appropriate authority is satisfied that it establishes compliance with the NCC. However, in making a decision, the appropriate authority may have regard to the relevant Verification Methods or DTS Provisions provided within the NCC.
- Comparison with the DTS Provisions allows a comparison between the DTS Provision and a proposed Building or Plumbing and Drainage Solution. If it can be demonstrated to the appropriate authority that the Solution complies in an equivalent or superior way to the DTS Provisions, then it can be deemed to meet the relevant Performance Requirements.
- Expert Judgement is the judgement of a person who has the qualifications and experience necessary to determine whether a Building or Plumbing and Drainage Solution complies with the Performance Requirements. Where physical criteria are unable to be tested or modelled by calculation, the opinion of a technical expert may be accepted.