NCC 2016 Volume Two
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Part 3.12.3 Building Sealing

Part 3.12.3 Building Sealing

3.12.3 Application

(a)

This Part applies to—

(i)

a Class 1 building; and

(ii)

a Class 10a building with a conditioned space.

(b)

The provisions of (a) do not apply to the following:

(i)

A building in climate zones 1, 2, 3 and 5 where the only means of air-conditioning is by using an evaporative cooler.

(ii)

A permanent building ventilation opening that is necessary for the safe operation of a gas appliance.

(iii)

A Class 10a building used for the accommodation of vehicles.

Explanatory information

Explanatory information:
  1. An evaporatively cooled building in climate zones 4 and 6 needs to be sealed because of the likelihood of heating being needed during colder periods.
  2. Appropriate ventilation for gas appliances can be obtained from relevant legislation, reference standards and product installation manuals.

3.12.3.1 Chimneys and flues

The chimney or flue of an open solid-fuel burning appliance must be provided with a damper or flap that can be closed to seal the chimney or flue.

Explanatory information

Explanatory information:
  1. The requirements of this Part are to be read in conjunction with the fire safety requirements in Part 3.7.3.
  2. A solid-fuel burning device is a heater that burns material such as timber, coal and the like. This clause does not apply to gas and liquid fuel burning devices.

3.12.3.2 Roof lights

(a)

A roof light must be sealed, or capable of being sealed, when serving—

(i)

a conditioned space; or

(ii)

a habitable room in climate zones 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

(b)

A roof light required by (a) to be sealed, or capable of being sealed, must be constructed with—

(i)

an imperforate ceiling diffuser or the like installed at the ceiling or internal lining level; or

(ii)

a weatherproof seal; or

(iii)

a shutter system readily operated either manually, mechanically or electronically by the occupant.

3.12.3.3 External windows and doors

(a)

A seal to restrict air infiltration must be fitted to each edge of an external door, openable window and other such opening—

(i)

when serving a conditioned space; or

(ii)

in climate zones 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, when serving a habitable room.

(b)

A window complying with the maximum air infiltration rates specified in AS 2047 need not comply with (a).

(c)

A seal required by (a)—

(i)

for the bottom edge of an external swing door, must be a draft protection device; and

(ii)

for the other edges of an external swing door or the edges of an openable window or other such opening, may be a foam or rubber compressible strip, fibrous seal or the like.

3.12.3.4 Exhaust fans

An exhaust fan must be fitted with a sealing device such as a self-closing damper, filter or the like when serving—

(a)

a conditioned space; or

(b)

a habitable room in climate zones 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Explanatory information

Explanatory information:

An exhaust fan is considered to be adequately sealed if it is fitted with a filter such as the type commonly used in kitchen range hoods.

3.12.3.5 Construction of roofs, walls and floors

(a)

Roofs, external walls, external floors and any opening such as a window frame, door frame, roof light frame or the like must be constructed to minimise air leakage in accordance with (b) when forming part of the external fabric of—

(i)

a conditioned space; or

(ii)

a habitable room in climate zones 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

(b)

Construction required by (a) must be—

(i)

enclosed by internal lining systems that are close fitting at ceiling, wall and floor junctions; or

(ii)

sealed by caulking, skirting, architraves, cornices or the like.

Explanatory information

Explanatory information:
  1. A close fitting internal lining system is considered to include an allowance for minimum lining movement gaps at wall, floor and ceiling junctions.
  2. Caulking includes sealant, expanded foam or other gap filling material.

3.12.3.6 Evaporative coolers

An evaporative cooler must be fitted with a self-closing damper or the like when serving—

(a)

a heated space; or

(b)

a habitable room in climate zones 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.