NCC 2019 Volume One Amendment 1
Part J3 Building sealing

Part J3 Building sealing

J3.0 Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

(a)

Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance RequirementJP1 is satisfied by complying with—

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(b)

Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2.2(3) and A2.4(3) as applicable.

Intent

To clarify that the requirements of and will be satisfied if a building complies with to .

See comments for Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of .

J3.1 Application of Part

The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of this Part apply to elements forming the envelope of a Class 2 to 9 building, other than—

(a)

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

(b)

a permanent building opening, in a space where a gas appliance is located, that is necessary for the safe operation of a gas appliance; or

(c)

a building or space where the mechanical ventilation required by Part F4 provides sufficient pressurisation to prevent infiltration.

Intent

To clarify that the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of do not apply to certain buildings and areas within certain buildings.

does not apply where the only conditioning is provided by an evaporative cooler or to openings necessary for the safe operation of a gas appliance.

A building that is conditioned by heating or refrigerative cooling needs to be sealed to conserve energy but one that is conditioned by evaporative cooling does not need to be sealed as windows or doors would need to be opened anyway in order to provide the relief for the ventilation air. However, if the building is in climate zones 4, 6, 7 or 8, or has a refrigerative cooler, then it has to be sealed because of the likelihood of heating during colder periods or to avoid the loss of cooled air when the refrigerated cooler is running.

The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of do not apply to Class 8 electricity network substations as these buildings are not required to be air-conditioned for the purposes of . See the definition for air-conditioning. The air-conditioning systems of these buildings are instead designed to maintain the efficient operation of sensitive electrical equipment.

Ventilation for safe operation of a gas appliance is not covered by the BCA, but is addressed by other legislation. Appropriate ventilation for gas appliances can be obtained from the relevant legislation, reference standards and product installation manuals.

Unique to this Part is that as air-conditioned buildings are often pressurised by the introduction of outside air through a mechanical supply system, it may not be necessary to seal the building to the same degree as for an un-pressurised building.

J3.2 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.

Intent

To provide energy efficiency requirements to chimneys and flues.

The requirements of this Part are to be read in conjunction with the fire safety requirements in .

A solid-fuel burning device is a heater that burns material such as timber, coal and the like. This provision does not apply to gas and liquid fuel burning devices.

J3.3 Roof lights

(a)

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

(i)
(ii)

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

Intent

To provide energy efficiency requirements for the sealing of roof lights.

Roof lights that are openable must be sealed when closed in order to restrict the loss of conditioned air to the outside environment. It is assumed that most of the habitable rooms in residential type buildings in the cooler climate zones will be heated by installed or portable heaters. However if a non-habitable room is conditioned, either cooled or heated, then it must also be sealed. For the hotter climate zones, the roof lights need be sealed only if conditioning is being installed.

J3.4 Windows and doors

(a)

A door, openable window or the like must be sealed—

(i)

when forming part of the envelope; or

(ii)

in climate zones 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.

(b)

The requirements of (a) do not apply to—

(i)

a window complying with AS 2047; or

(ii)

a fire door or smoke door; or

(iii)

a roller shutter door, roller shutter grille or other security door or device installed only for out-of-hours security.

(c)

A seal to restrict air infiltration—

(i)

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

(ii)

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

(d)

An entrance to a building, if leading to a conditioned space must have an airlock, self-closing door, rapid roller door, revolving door or the like, other than—

(i)

where the conditioned space has a floor area of not more than 50 m2; or

(ii)

where a café, restaurant, open front shop or the like has—

(A)

a 3 m deep un-conditioned zone between the main entrance, including an open front, and the conditioned space; and

(B)

at all other entrances to the café, restaurant, open front shop or the like, self-closing doors.

(e)

A loading dock entrance, if leading to a conditioned space, must be fitted with a rapid roller door or the like.

Intent

To provide energy efficiency requirements for the sealing of windows and doors.

Prior to BCA 2010, louvres were exempt from the sealing requirement. This is no longer the case.

An external door opening to a conditioned space must also have a device to prevent significant amounts of conditioned air being continuously lost. This only applies to conditioned spaces greater than 50 m2. Devices that may be installed to comply with this requirement may include an airlock, self-closing door, or revolving door. Provisions for people with a disability should also be considered when selecting the device.

There are a couple of exemptions to these requirements, such as for roller shutter doors or the like, that are used for out-of-hours security purposes only, i.e. when conditioning is not operating. Another exemption has been granted for the main entrance to a café, restaurant or open front shop that has a 3 m non-conditioned zone. Where staff are carrying trays of food or drink it may be unsafe to require an airlock, self-closing door or sliding door.

J3.5 Exhaust fans

(a)

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

(i)
(ii)

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

Intent

To provide energy efficiency requirements for the sealing of exhaust fans.

The sealing of exhaust fans applies to the same spaces and in the same climate zones as described for roof lights. It also only applies to “miscellaneous” exhaust fans, such as smaller fans used for domestic kitchen exhaust. The provisions do not apply to smoke exhaust fans and the like. The term “miscellaneous” is comparable with the use of this term in AS 1668.1 for certain air-handling systems.

A miscellaneous exhaust fan is considered to be adequately sealed if it is fitted with a self-closing damper or similar sealing device.

J3.6 Construction of ceilings, walls and floors

(a)

Ceilings, walls, 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—

(i)

the envelope; or

(ii)

in climate zones 4, 5, 6, 7 or 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 at junctions and penetrations with—

(A)

close fitting architrave, skirting or cornice; or

(B)

expanding foam, rubber compressible strip, caulking or the like.

(c)

The requirements of (a) do not apply to openings, grilles or the like required for smoke hazard management.

Intent

To provide energy efficiency requirements for the sealing of roofs, walls and floors.

The sealing of roofs, walls and floors applies to the same spaces and in the same climate zones as described for roof lights. For the purposes of , caulking includes sealant, expanded foam or other gap filling material.

The acceptable solution of a "close fitting internal lining system" is considered to include an allowance for minimum gaps in internal linings for thermal movement at wall, floor and ceiling junctions.

J3.7 Evaporative coolers

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

(a)

when serving a heated space; or

(b)

in climate zones 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.

Intent

To provide energy efficiency requirements for the sealing of evaporative coolers when not in use.

Similarly to exhaust fans, an evaporative cooler represents a large opening in the building envelope. This opening needs sealing when the evaporative cooler is not in use, such as in the winter when a heating system may be operating.