Part A0 Application

To comply with the NCC, a solution must achieve compliance with the Performance Requirements.

A solution may be partly a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution and partly a Performance Solution. However, no matter what method is chosen, building proponents need to always meet the Performance Requirements of the NCC.

Performance Requirements outline the levels of accomplishment different buildings must attain. The Performance Requirements are the only NCC hierarchy levels that must be satisfied.

There are three options to comply with the Performance Requirements: Deemed-to-Satisfy Solutions, Performance Solutions or a combination of both.

A building proponent may decide to meet the Performance Requirements via a route which is not included in a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution. This is referred to as a Performance Solution.

A Performance Solution only complies with the NCC when the Assessment Method used satisfactorily demonstrates compliance with the Performance Requirements. If a Performance Solution is demonstrated to be at least equivalent to a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision, the Performance Solution is deemed to have achieved compliance with the relevant Performance Requirement.

Options are available for people wishing to use a Performance Solution to meet a Performance Requirement.

For example, building proponents who wish to know what has to be done to satisfy the fire-safety Performance Requirements of a particular building can either follow the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions or adhere to a Performance Solution. For a Performance Solution they might, for example, refer to:

• the International Fire Engineering Guidelines (Edition 2005) published by the Australian Building Codes Board; or
• the Fire Brigade Intervention Model (FBIM) as developed by the Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) to assist with determining fire brigade response times.

Such alternative guidelines may be endorsed by the Board as appropriate and safe yardsticks.

They are examples of Performance Solutions at work and demonstrate the flexibility of the NCC.

Deemed-to-Satisfy Solutions are solutions which are deemed to satisfy the Performance Requirements and make up the bulk of the NCC. If any designer, builder or the like, does not want to develop a new means of achieving compliance with the Performance Requirements, they can choose to use a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution. A Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is a method of satisfying the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the NCC.

Assessment Methods are the means by which a building proponent proves that a solution achieves the Performance Requirements.

NCC Assessment Methods include:

• a method which accords with the requirements of ;
• a Verification Method listed in the NCC (refer to , , , , , , , , , , , and in the NCC); or
• a Verification Method which is not listed in the NCC.

The third form of a Verification Method might include:

• calculations, using analytical methods or mathematical models;
• tests, using a technical procedure, either on site or in a laboratory, to directly measure the extent Performance Requirements are achieved; or
• any other method, including an inspection (and inspection report).

The Assessment Methods described above are applicable to the assessment of Performance Solutions or Deemed-to-Satisfy Solutions to determine that they comply with the relevant Performance Requirements, as appropriate.

All Verification Methods must be acceptable to the appropriate authority.

Sometimes, appropriate authorities—such as the local council etc—also use Assessment Methods to determine whether an application has met all requirements. For instance, when processing a building permit, authorities might check to see that a qualified expert has offered an opinion, and, most importantly, found the application to comply with the NCC. This is just one of many options available to such authorities.

You will notice that the NCC refers to Applications and Limitations. These terms are merely used to show when a Performance Requirement applies or does not apply.

The term “to the degree necessary” also appears frequently. This phrase is used to show that provisions can differ according to various elements which appropriate authorities may take into consideration when assessing building applications.

For instance, it could be argued that if the fire compartment of a building is quite small then perhaps it is not necessary to install a fire-hose reel system. This is borne out by the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision of which states that such a system is only compulsory in a building having a floor area greater than 500 m².

So, there are different ways of satisfying NCC requirements. Sometimes, however, the route to understanding compliance can be daunting and a little confusing. This Guide is intended to provide you with a better understanding of the NCC.

The defined terms are located in . They define specific terms used within Volume One of the NCC.

No NCC provision can be considered in isolation. Any departure from the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions for a Performance Solution needs to be assessed against the relevant Performance Requirements within the relevant NCC Section or Part. Additionally, the proposed Performance Solution may also impact on other Performance Requirements in other Sections or Parts. Thus, these additional Performance Requirements need to be considered in relation to the subject Performance Solution (Alternative Solution). A0.7 sets out the method of determining which Performance Requirements are relevant.

It is important that an holistic approach is used when determining the appropriate Performance Requirements.