NCC 2016 Volume One
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Part A2 Acceptance of Design and Construction

Part A2 Acceptance of Design and Construction

A2.1 Suitability of materials

Every part of a building must be constructed in an appropriate manner to achieve the requirements of the BCA, using materials and construction being fit for the purpose for which they are intended including the provision of access for maintenance.

Intent

To explain the quality of work and materials needed to construct a building to meet BCA requirements.

A building must meet BCA requirements. This means that:

  • all people involved with construction must work skillfully in accordance with good trade practice; and
  • all materials must be of a quality to fulfil their function/s within the building.

only applies to matters normally covered by the BCA.

Example

Example

Permit authorities would ordinarily not apply to such matters as:

  • plastering—other than for fire rating, water proofing of wet areas, and noise insulation; or
  • painting—other than that required for weatherproofing an external wall.

While outlines quality of work and material demands, sometimes additional conditions may be required by:

  • other Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation; and
  • contracts that include either specific quality requirements, or requirements for specific materials and the like.

A2.2 Evidence of suitability

(a)

Subject to A2.3 and A2.4, evidence to support that the use of a material, form of construction or design meets a Performance Requirement or a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision may be in the form of one or a combination of the following:

(i)

A report issued by a Registered Testing Authority, showing that the material or form of construction has been submitted to the tests listed in the report, and setting out the results of those tests and any other relevant information that demonstrates its suitability for use in the building.

(iii)

A certificate from a professional engineer or other appropriately qualified person which—

(A)

certifies that a material, design, or form of construction complies with the requirements of the BCA; and

(B)

sets out the basis on which it is given and the extent to which relevant specifications, rules, codes of practice or other publications have been relied upon.

(iv)

A current certificate issued by a product certification body that has been accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ).

(v)

* * * * *

(vi)

Any other form of documentary evidence that correctly describes the properties and performance of the material or form of construction and adequately demonstrates its suitability for use in the building.

(b)

Evidence to support that a calculation method complies with an ABCB protocol may be in the form of one or a combination of the following:

(i)

A certificate from a professional engineer or other appropriately qualified person which—

(A)

certifies that the calculation method complies with a relevant ABCB protocol; and

(B)

sets out the basis on which it is given and the extent to which relevant specifications, rules, codes of practice and other publications have been relied upon.

(ii)

Any other form of documentary evidence that correctly describes how the calculation method complies with a relevant ABCB protocol.

(c)

Any copy of documentary evidence submitted, must be a complete copy of the original report or document.

Intent

To detail evidence which may support a claim that a material, construction or design achieves a Performance Requirement or Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision, or that a calculation method complies with an ABCB protocol.

is subject to compliance with and .

Fire-resistance level—A2.3

If a proposal uses a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision which requires a building element to have an FRL, then may be used to provide evidence to support the proposal. However this alone is not enough. The FRL must be determined in accordance with .

Early Fire Hazard Index—A2.4

If a proposal uses a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision which requires a building element to have an Early Fire Hazard Index, then may be used to provide evidence to support the proposal. Again, this alone is not enough. In this case, the Early Fire Hazard Index must be determined in accordance with .

represents the minimum level of documentary evidence needed to show that a material, construction or design meets BCA requirements. There will be times when this evidence will need to be produced and sighted. The evidence can be required by:

  • an appropriate authority;
  • a party to a construction contract; or
  • a person certifying compliance with the BCA.

There is an onus, on any party submitting such evidence, to clearly indicate what is required from that evidence. If a building proponent does not produce exactly what is required, the evidence may be rejected.

Sources of supporting evidence

There are several specifically named sources of evidence available for use. However, other sources of evidence may be used if the appropriate authority is satisfied that they are suitable.

Registered Testing Authority—

This source of evidence relates to materials or construction.

A report from this source must:

  • show that the material or construction has been submitted to specifically listed tests;
  • set out the test results; and
  • include any other information which demonstrates that the subject of the report is suitable for use.

Certificates of Conformity or Accreditation—

This source of evidence applies to materials, construction and designs.

Certificates issued by the ABCB scheme for products and systems certification are called Certificates of Conformity. They are issued for building products and systems that comply with the BCA. Certificates must be current and are not acceptable if expired.

Certification and accreditation authorities issue Certificates of Conformity or Accreditation. They are the basis of detailed technical evidence that the material, construction or design complies with BCA provisions.

Certificates may be for known building products, constructions, designs or new and innovative systems.

Professional engineer—

Evidence gained from this source applies to materials, construction and designs.

Approval can be gained by:

  • a professional engineer, as defined in the BCA, who is required to have ‘appropriate experience and competence’; or
  • any other person who is ‘appropriately’ qualified.

In both cases, the term ‘appropriately’ means a person whose qualifications satisfy an appropriate authority.

(Where evidence is requested by another party under a contract, ‘appropriate’ means in the opinion of that party).

The engineer or technical person should have suitable experience in the area/s being tested. For example, it would not be acceptable for a structural engineer to report on a mechanical ventilation matter. A recently graduated engineer would not report on a complex structural matter concerning a high-rise city building.

The Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand—

This source of evidence applies to materials, construction and designs. JAS-ANZ, as it is known, is the peak organisation for the accreditation of third-party certification bodies.

A certificate of conformity issued by any group (including Standards Australia) that bears accreditation from JAS-ANZ is an acceptable form of evidence.

allows for the use of alternative forms of documentary evidence to those included in , as long as they comply with certain specified conditions.

An example of this arises when an authority carries out an inspection of a building site. The inspection alone would not be acceptable as evidence. However, if the authority compiled a written report of the inspection then it may comply with the requirements of .

Although the BCA does not reference any particular surveillance testing of fire detection and fire alarm equipment, a number of suitable schemes are available in Australia that certify such equipment. If such a scheme is to be used, it is important that the scheme includes suitable measures to ensure the reliability and consistency of the equipment.

Calculation Methods—

There is significant reliance by industry on the use of calculation methods, including software programs, for demonstrating compliance with the BCA. While there is no formal recognition of specific methods, allows suitable evidence to be submitted to demonstrate that a calculation method (including a software program) complies with a relevant ABCB protocol that establishes the characteristics of a suitable calculation method.

All copies of documents provided as evidence must be unabridged copies of the originals. No part can be left incomplete. (See A2.2(c)).

A2.3 Fire-resistance of building elements

Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision requires a building element to have an FRL, it must be determined in accordance with Specification A2.3.

Intent

To state that, for the purposes of the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, Specification A2.3 must be used to provide a basis for determining the fire-resistance level (FRL) of a building element.

See section titled Suitability of materials . Refer to comments on fire-resistance of building elements.

In the case of a test report from a Registered Testing Authority, the report may be either:

  • the test report referred to in clause 2.15.2 of AS 1530.4 (also referred to as a full test report); or
  • the regulatory information report referred to in clause 2.15.3 of AS 1530.4 (also referred to as a short-form report).

In both cases the report must be an unabridged copy of the original report. A test certificate referred to in clause 2.15.4 of AS 1530.4 is not suitable for showing compliance with the BCA.

A2.4 Fire hazard properties

Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision requires a building component or assembly to have a fire hazard property it must be determined as follows:

Intent

To state that, for the purposes of the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, Specification A2.4 must be used to provide a basis for determining fire hazard properties.

See section titled Suitability of materials . Refer to comments on fire hazard properties which includes:

  • Flammability Index.
  • Spread-of-Flame Index.
  • Smoke-Developed Index.
  • A material's group number.
  • Smoke growth rate index.

also sets out which fire hazard properties must be determined in accordance with Clause 4 (b) of Specification C1.10, Specification A2.4 and which must be determined as defined in Part A1.

A2.5 Resistance to the incipient spread of fire

A ceiling is deemed to have the resistance to the incipient spread of fire to the space above itself if—

(a)

it is identical with a prototype that has been submitted to the Standard Fire Test and the resistance to the incipient spread of fire achieved by the prototype is confirmed in a report from a Registered Testing Authority which—

(i)

describes the method and conditions of the test and form of construction of the tested prototype in full; and

(ii)

certifies that the application of restraint to the prototype complies with the Standard Fire Test; or

(b)

it differs in only a minor degree from a prototype tested under (a) and the resistance to the incipient spread of fire attributed to the ceiling is confirmed in a report from a Registered Testing Authority which—

(i)

certifies that the ceiling is capable of achieving the resistance to the incipient spread of fire despite the minor departures from the tested prototype; and

(ii)

describes the materials, construction and conditions of restraint which are necessary to achieve the resistance to the incipient spread of fire.

Intent

To establish, for the purposes of the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, the method of determining the resistance to the incipient spread of fire.

The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the BCA contain a number of provisions requiring a ceiling to have a resistance to the incipient spread of fire to the space above itself. This provision sets out the method of determining the incipient spread of fire. The method is based on the method of determining the FRL of a building element and use of the Standard Fire Test.