Schedule 3 Definitions

NCC 2019 Volume Two Amendment 1

Definitions

Note: States and Territories may vary or add to the definitions contained in Schedule 3 at the relevant State or Territory Appendix.

In the NCC unless the contrary intention appears—

Accessible means having features to enable use by people with a disability.

Accessway means a continuous path of travel (as defined in AS 1428.1) to, into or within a building.

Accredited Testing Laboratory means—

an organisation accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) to undertake the relevant tests; or
an organisation outside Australia accredited to undertake the relevant tests by an authority recognised by NATA through a mutual recognition agreement; or
an organisation recognised as being an Accredited Testing Laboratory under legislation at the time the test was undertaken.

Activity support level means the degree to which occupants can undertake activities with respect to the likely and .

Explanatory information:

This term is used to articulate whether the height of a room or space is sufficient and by what degree. This is achieved by having regard to the room or space's intended use by occupants, through consideration of the defined terms 'activity traits' and 'occupant traits'.

Activity traits , for the purposes of Volume One, means the features of the activities that will be undertaken in a or space.

Activity traits , for the purposes of Volume Two, means the features of the activities that will be undertaken in a room or space.

Explanatory information:

This term is used to describe the characteristics of the activities that will be undertaken in a room or space.

For example, the activities likely to be undertaken in a bedroom, and the associated features are—

sleeping — a person laying horizontally; and
resting — a person laying horizontally or sitting upright on the bed; and
leisure activities, such as reading a book — a person sitting upright on the bed, with enough space to stretch their arms vertically; and
dressing/changing clothes — a person standing with enough space to stretch their arms vertically.

Administering body means the body responsible for administering the .

Aged care building means a Class 9c building for residential accommodation of aged persons who, due to varying degrees of incapacity associated with the ageing process, are provided with and 24 hour staff assistance to evacuate the building during an emergency.

Air-conditioning , for the purposes of of Volume One, means a that actively cools or heats the air within a space, but does not include a that directly

cools or heats cold or hot rooms; or
maintains specialised conditions for equipment or processes, where this is the main purpose of the service.

Alarm zone , for the purposes of Specification E2.2d of Volume One, means an area of a building protected by one or more smoke alarms connected to one alarm circuit.

Alpine area means an area given in and in for specific locations, and is—

likely to be subject to significant snowfalls; and
in New South Wales, A.C.T. or Victoria more than 1200 m above the Australian Height Datum; and
in Tasmania more than 900 m above the Australian Height Datum.

Figure 1 Alpine areas

Note:

This map is approximate only and altitude above Australian Height Datum must be used to determine whether the building falls into an alpine area region.

Table 1 Alpine areas where snow loads are significant

Location	Map identifier
Kiandra (NSW)	1
Mount Kosciuszko (NSW)	2
Perisher Valley (NSW)	3
Thredbo (NSW)	4
Cabramurra (NSW)	5
Charlotte Pass Village (NSW)	6
Diggers Creek (NSW)	7
Guthega Village (NSW)	8
Mount Blue Cow (NSW)	9
Mount Selwyn (NSW)	10
Perisher Range (NSW)	11
Rules Point (NSW)	12
Sawpit Creek (NSW)	13
Smiggin Holes (NSW)	14
Smiggin Range (NSW)	15
Three Mile Dam (NSW)	16
Wilsons Valley (NSW)	17
Falls Creek (Vic.), including Summit Area, Sun Valley and Village Bowl	18
Mount Baw Baw (Vic.)	19
Mount Buffalo (Vic.), including Chalet, Dingo Dell and Tatra	20
Mount Buller (Vic.), including Baldy and Village	21
Mount Hotham (Vic.), including Davenport and Village Centre	22
Dinner Plain (Vic.)	23
Lake Mountain (Vic.)	24
Mount Stirling (Vic.)	25
Ben Lomond Ski Field (Tas.)	26/td>
Cradle Valley (Tas.)	27
Great Lake Area (Tas.)	28
Mount Field Ski Field (Tas.)	29

Explanatory information:

Alpine areas are located in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

Alpine areas are areas 1200 m or more above Australian Height Datum (AHD) for New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria, and 900 m or more above AHD for Tasmania, as shown in Figure 1.

Alpine areas are considered to receive significant snowfalls (snowfalls that result in an average snow accumulation on the ground of 175 mm or greater). Regions in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria between 600–1200 m AHD are considered to be sub- alpine areas and may receive significant snowfalls, however unlike alpine areas the snow is unlikely to accumulate.

It is recommended that the appropriate authority be consulted to determine whether the building is located in an alpine area . AS/NZS 1170.3 also contains further detail in the identification of alpine areas and the altitude of the alpine regions of Australia.

In the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra is not designated as an alpine area as snow loads are not considered significant.

Alteration , in relation to a building, includes an addition or extension to a building.

Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP) means flat or profiled aluminium sheet material in composite with any type of materials.

Amenity means an attribute which contributes to the health, physical independence, comfort and well-being of people.

Ancillary element means an element that is secondary to and not an integral part of another element to which it is attached.

Annual greenhouse gas emissions means the theoretical amount of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the energy used annually by a building's , excluding kitchen exhaust and the like.

Appropriate authority means the relevant authority with the statutory responsibility to determine the particular matter.

State and Territory variations

For Volume One see (NSW, Appropriate authority)

For Volume Two see (NSW, Appropriate authority)

Appropriate Authority , for the purposes of Schedule 7, means the relevant authority with the statutory responsibility to determine the particular matter satisfies the relevant .

Explanatory information:

The Appropriate Authority is typically the building surveyor or building certifier charged with the statutory responsibility to determine building compliance and issue the building permit / approval and occupancy certificate / approval.

Appropriately qualified person means a person recognised by the as having qualifications and/or experience in the relevant discipline in question.

Approved disposal system means a system for the disposal of sewage, sullage or stormwater approved by an authority having jurisdiction.

Articulated masonry means masonry construction in which special provisions have been made for movement by articulation.

Assembly building means a building where people may assemble for—

civic, theatrical, social, political or religious purposes including a library, theatre, public hall or place of worship; or
educational purposes in a school, early childhood centre, preschool, or the like; or
entertainment, recreational or sporting purposes including—
1. a discotheque, nightclub or a bar area of a hotel or motel providing live entertainment or containing a dance floor; or
2. a cinema; or
3. a sports stadium, sporting or other club; or
transit purposes including a bus station, railway station, airport or ferry terminal.

State and Territory variation

State and Territory variation

For Volume One see (NSW, Assembly building) and (SA, Assembly building)

Assessment Method means a method that can be used for determining that a or complies with the .

Atrium means a space within a building that connects 2 or more and—

is enclosed at the top by a floor or roof (including a glazed roof structure); and
includes any adjacent part of the building not separated by an appropriate barrier to fire; but
does not include a stairwell, rampwell or the space within a shaft; and
for the purposes of (a) a space is considered enclosed if the area of the enclosing floor or roof is greater than 50% of the area of the space, measured in plan, of any of the storeys connected by the space.

Atrium well means a space in an bounded by the perimeter of the openings in the floors or by the perimeter of the floors and the .

Automatic means designed to operate when activated by a heat, smoke or fire sensing device.

Available safe egress time (ASET) means the time between ignition of a fire and the onset of untenable conditions in a specific part of a building. This is the calculated interval between the time of ignition of a fire and the time at which conditions become such that the occupant is unable to take effective action to escape to a place of safety.

Average daylight factor means the ratio of the illumination level within a room provided by daylight to the level of daylight outside the building during overcast conditions.

Average recurrence interval , applied to rainfall, means the expected or average interval between exceedances for a 5 minute duration rainfall intensity.

Average specific extinction area means the for smoke as determined by AS 5637.1.

Backflow prevention device means an air gap, break tank or mechanical device that is designed to prevent the unplanned reversal of flow of water or into the water service or a water supply.

Backpressure means a reversal of water flow caused by the downstream pressure becoming greater than the supply pressure.

Backsiphonage means a reversal of flow of water caused by negative pressure in the distributing pipes of a water service or supply.

Backstage means a space associated with, and adjacent to, a in a Class 9b building for scenery, props, equipment, dressing rooms, or the like.

Battery system means one or more chemical cells connected in series, parallel or a combination of the two for the purpose of electrical energy storage.

Blockage means an obstruction within a system.

Boiler means a vessel or an arrangement of vessels and interconnecting parts, wherein steam or other vapour is generated, or water or other liquid is heated at a pressure above that of the atmosphere, by the application of fire, the products of combustion, electrical power, or similar high temperature means, and—

includes superheaters, reheaters, economisers, boiler piping, supports, mountings, valves, gauges, fittings, controls, the boiler settings and directly associated equipment; but
excludes a fully flooded or pressurised system where water or other liquid is heated to a temperature lower than the normal atmospheric boiling temperature of the liquid.

Breaking surf means any area of salt water in which waves break on an average of at least 4 days per week but does not include white caps or choppy water.

Explanatory information:

Breaking surf normally occurs in areas exposed to the open sea. Breaking surf does not normally occur in sheltered areas, such as that which occurs around Port Phillip Bay, Sydney Harbour, Swan River, Derwent River and similar locations.

Burnout means exposure to fire for a time that includes , full development, and decay in the absence of intervention or automatic suppression, beyond which the fire is no longer a threat to building elements intended to perform or fire separation functions, or both.

Carpark means a building that is used for the parking of motor vehicles but is neither a nor used for the servicing of vehicles, other than washing, cleaning or polishing.

Cavity means a void between 2 leaves of masonry, or in masonry veneer construction, a void between a leaf of masonry and the supporting frame.

Cavity wall , for the purposes of in Volume One and in Volume Two, means a wall that incorporates a drained cavity.

Certificate of Accreditation means a certificate issued by a State or Territory accreditation authority stating that the properties and performance of a building material or method of construction or design fulfil specific requirements of the BCA.

Certificate of Conformity means a certificate issued under the ABCB scheme for products and systems certification stating that the properties and performance of a building material or method of construction or design fulfil specific requirements of the NCC.

Certification body means a person or organisation operating in the field of material, product, form of construction or design certification that has been accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAZ-ANZ), and is accredited for a purpose other than as part of the CodeMark Australia Certification Scheme or .

Characteristic means the occupant data to be used in the modelling of access solutions which define how an occupant interacts with a building, i.e. occupant movement speeds, turning ability, reach capability, perception of luminance contrast and hearing threshold.

Clad frame means timber or metal frame construction with exterior timber or sheet wall cladding that is not sensitive to minor movement and includes substructure masonry walls up to 1.5 m high.

Climate zone means an area defined in and in for specific locations, having energy efficiency provisions based on a range of similar climatic characteristics.

Figure 2 Climate zones for thermal design

Notes:

This map can be viewed in enlargeable form on the ABCB website at www.abcb.gov.au.
A Zone 4 area in South Australia, other than a council area, at an altitude greater than 300 m above the Australian Height Datum is to be considered as Zone 5.
These areas have been defined in an enlarged format on the following maps produced by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure:

Adelaide Hills Council Climate Zone Map

Barossa Council Climate Zone Map

Regional Council of Goyder Climate Zone Map

These maps can be viewed on the Government of South Australia website at www.sa.gov.au.
Locations in climate zone 8 are in alpine areas .

Table 2 Climate zones for thermal design—Various locations

Location	*Climate zone*	Location	*Climate zone*	Location	*Climate zone*	Location	*Climate zone*
Australian Capital Territory				Canberra	7
New South Wales
Albury	4	Byron Bay	2	Lord Howe Island	2	Sydney West	6
Armidale	7	Cobar	4	Moree	4	Tamworth	4
Batemans Bay	6	Coffs Harbour	2	Newcastle	5	Thredbo	8
Bathurst	7	Dubbo	4	Nowra	6	Wagga Wagga	4
Bega	6	Goulburn	7	Orange	7	Williamtown	5
Bellingen Shire - Dorrigo Plateau	7	Grafton	2	Perisher Smiggins	8	Wollongong	5
Bellingen Shire - Valley & seaboard	2	Griffith	4	Port Macquarie	5	Yass	6
Bourke	4	Ivanhoe	4	Sydney East	5
Broken Hill	4	Lismore	2
Northern Territory
Alice Springs	3	Elliot	3	Renner Springs	3
Darwin	1	Katherine	1	Tennant Creek	3
Queensland
Birdsville	3	Gladstone	2	Mount Isa	3
Brisbane	2	Hervey Bay	2	Normanton	1	Townsville	1
Bundaberg	2	Hughenden	3	Rockhampton	2	Warwick	5
Cairns	1	Longreach	3	Roma	3	Weipa	1
Cooktown	1	Mackay	2	Southport	2
Cunnamulla	3			Toowoomba	5
South Australia
Adelaide	5	Kingscote	6	Marree	4	Port Lincoln	5
Bordertown	6	Leigh Creek	5	Mount Gambier	6	Renmark	5
Ceduna	5	Lobethal	6	Murray Bridge	6	Tarcoola	4
Cook	4	Loxton	5	Oodnadatta	4	Victor Harbour	6
Elliston	5	Naracoorte	6	Port Augusta	4	Whyalla	4
Tasmania
Burnie	7	Flinders Island	7	Launceston	7	Rossarden	7
Bicheno	7	Hobart	7	New Norfolk	7	Smithton	7
Deloraine	7	Huonville	7	Oatlands	7	St Marys	7
Devonport	7	King Island	7	Orford	7	Zeehan	7
Victoria
Anglesea	6	Bright	7	Horsham	6	Swan Hill	4
Ararat	7	Colac	6	Melbourne	6	Traralgon	6
Bairnsdale	6	Dandenong	6	Mildura	4	Wangaratta	7
Ballarat	7	Echuca	4	Portland	6	Warrnambool	6
Benalla	6	Geelong	6	Sale	6	Wodonga	6
Bendigo	6	Hamilton	7	Shepparton	4
Western Australia
Albany	6	Cocos Island	1	Kalgoorlie- Boulder	4	Port Hedland	1
Balladonia	4	Derby	1	Karratha	1	Wagin	4
Broome	1	Esperance	5	Meekatharra	4	Wyndham	1
Bunbury	5	Exmouth	1	Northam	4
Carnarvon	3	Geraldton	5	Pemberton	6
Christmas Island	1	Halls Creek	3	Perth	5

Combustible means—

applied to a material — combustible as determined by AS 1530.1; and
applied to construction or part of a building — constructed wholly or in part of combustible materials.

Common wall , for the purposes of Volume One, means a wall that is common to adjoining buildings.

Common wall , for the purposes of Volume Two, means a wall that is common to adjoining buildings other than Class 1 buildings.

Condensation means the formation of moisture on the surface of a building element or material as a result of moist air coming into contact with a surface which is at a lower temperature.

Conditioned space , for the purposes of Volume One, means a space within a building, including a ceiling or under-floor supply air plenum or return air plenum, where the environment is likely, by the intended use of the space, to have its temperature controlled by .

Conditioned space , for the purposes of Volume Two, means a space within a building that is heated or cooled by the building’s , excluding a non- in which a heater with a capacity of not more than 1.2 kW or 4.3 MJ/hour is installed.

Containment protection means the installation of a at the of a water supply to a site.

Contaminant means any substance (including gases, liquids, solids or micro-organisms), energy (excluding noise) or heat, that either by itself or in combination with the same, similar or other substances, energy or heat, changes or is likely to change the physical, chemical or biological condition of water.

Construction activity actions means actions due to stacking of building materials or the use of equipment, including cranes and trucks, during construction or actions which may be induced by floor to floor propping.

Controlled fill means material that has been placed and compacted in layers with compaction equipment (such as a vibrating plate) within a defined moisture range to a defined density requirement.

Cooling load means the calculated amount of energy removed from the cooled spaces of the building annually by artificial means to maintain the desired temperatures in those spaces.

Critical radiant flux (CRF) means the critical heat flux at extinguishment (CHF in kW/m²) as determined by AS ISO 9239.1.

Cross-connection means any actual or potential connection between a water supply and any .

Curtain wall means a non- that is not a .

Damp-proof course (DPC) means a continuous layer of impervious material placed in a masonry wall or pier, or between a wall or pier and a floor, to prevent the upward or downward migration of water.

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions means provisions which are deemed to satisfy the .

Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution means a method of satisfying the .

Defined flood event (DFE) means the flood event selected for the management of flood hazard for the location of specific development as determined by the .

Defined flood level (DFL) means the flood level associated with a relative to a specified datum (see ).

Figure 3 Identification of defined flood level, flood hazard level and freeboard

Design fire means the quantitative description of a representation of a fire within the .

Design scenario means the specific scenario of which the sequence of events is quantified and a analysis is conducted against.

Design wind speed means the design gust wind speed for the area where the building is located, calculated in accordance with AS/NZS 1170.2 or AS 4055 (see for wind classes).

Table 3 Wind classes

Non-cyclonic Region A and B	Cyclonic Region C and D
N1, N2, N3	C1
N4, N5, N6 (these wind classes are covered by Volume Two Part 3.0, Structural provisions).	C2, C3, C4 (these wind classes are covered by Volume Two Part 3.0, Structural provisions).

Notes:

Wind classification map identifying wind regions is contained in Volume Two Part 3.0 (see Figure 2.0.1 ).
Information on wind classes for particular areas may be available from the appropriate authority.
“N” = non-cyclonic winds and “C” = cyclonic winds.

Designated bushfire prone area means land which has been designated under a power of legislation as being subject, or likely to be subject, to bushfires.

State and Territory variations

For Volume One see (NSW, Designated bushfire prone area)

For Volume Two see (NSW, Designated bushfire prone area)

Detention centre means a building in which persons are securely detained by means of the built structure including a prison, remand centre, juvenile , holding cells or psychiatric .

Direct fix cladding wall , for the purposes of in Volume One and in Volume Two, means a wall with cladding attached directly to the wall framing without the use of a drained cavity.

Discontinuous construction means the following:

A wall having a minimum 20 mm cavity between 2 separate leaves, and—
1. for masonry, where wall ties are used to connect leaves, the ties are of the resilient type; and
2. for other than masonry, there is no mechanical linkage between the leaves, except at the periphery.
A staggered stud wall is not deemed to be discontinuous construction.

Display glazing means used to display retail goods in a shop or showroom directly adjacent to a walkway or footpath, but not including that used in a café or restaurant.

Domestic services means the basic engineering systems that use energy or control the use of energy; and—

includes—
1. heating, air-conditioning, mechanical ventilation and artificial lighting; and
2. pumps and heaters for swimming pools and spa pools; and
3. heated water systems; but
excludes cooking facilities and portable appliances.

Drainage means any sanitary , liquid trade waste or stormwater system.

Drinking water means water intended primarily for human consumption but which has other domestic uses.

Explanatory Information:

See also the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Early childhood centre means any premises or part thereof providing or intending to provide a centre-based education and care service within the meaning of the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (Vic), the Education and Care Services National Regulations and centre-based services that are licensed or approved under State and Territory children's services law, but excludes education and care primarily provided to school aged children in outside school hours settings.

State and Territory variations

For Volume One see (Tas, Early childhood centre) and (Vic, Early childhood centre)

Effective height means the vertical distance between the floor of the lowest included in the calculation of and the floor of the topmost (excluding the topmost if it contains only heating, ventilating, lift or other equipment, water tanks or similar service units).

Electric passenger lift means a power-operated lift for raising or lowering people in a car in which the motion of the car is obtained from an electric motor mechanically coupled to the hoisting mechanism.

Electricity network substation means a building in which high voltage supply is converted or transformed and which is controlled by a licensed network service provider designated under a power of legislation.

Electrohydraulic passenger lift means a power-operated lift for raising or lowering people in a car in which the motion of the car is obtained from the action of liquid under pressure acting on a piston or ram, the pressure being generated by a pump driven by an individual electric motor.

Envelope , for the purposes of Section J in Volume One, means the parts of a building’s that separate a or from—

the exterior of the building; or
a non-conditioned space including—
1. the floor of a rooftop plant room, lift-machine room or the like; and
2. the floor above a carpark or warehouse; and
3. the common wall with a carpark, warehouse or the like.

Envelope , for the purposes of and in Volume Two, means the parts of a building’s that separate artificially heated or cooled spaces from—

the exterior of the building; or
other spaces that are not artificially heated or cooled.

Equivalent means equivalent to the level of health, safety and amenity provided by the .

Evacuation route means the continuous path of travel (including , and the like) from any part of a building, including within a in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part, to a .

Evacuation time means the time calculated from when the emergency starts for the occupants of the building to evacuate to a .

Exit means—

any, or any combination of the following if they provide egress to a road or open space:
1. An internal or external stairway.
2. A ramp.
3. A fire-isolated passageway.
4. A doorway opening to a road or open space.
A horizontal exit or a fire-isolated passageway leading to a horizontal exit.

Expert Judgement means the judgement of an expert who has the qualifications and experience to determine whether a or complies with the .

Explanatory Information:

Contemporary and relevant qualifications and/or experience are necessary to determine whether a Performance Solution complies with the Performance Requirements. The level of qualification and/or experience may differ depending on the complexity of the proposal and the requirements of the regulatory authority. Practitioners should seek advice from the authority having jurisdiction or appropriate authority for clarification as to what will be accepted.

State and Territory variation

For Volume Three see (Tas, Expert Judgement)

External wall , for the purposes of Volume One, means an outer wall of a building which is not a .

External wall , for the purposes of Volume Two, means an outer wall of a building which is not a .

Extra-low voltage means a not exceeding 50 V AC or 120 V ripple-free DC.

Fabric means the basic building structural elements and components of a building including the roof, ceilings, walls, glazing and floors.

Farming means—

cultivating, propagating and harvesting plants or fungi or their products or parts, including seeds, spores, bulbs or the like, but does not include forestry; or
maintaining animals in any physical environment for the purposes of—
1. breeding them; or
2. selling them; or
3. acquiring and selling their bodily produce such as milk, wool, eggs or the like; or
a combination of (a), and (b),
but does not include forestry or maintaining animals for sport or recreational purposes.

State and Territory variation

For Volume One see (SA, Farming)

Farm building means a Class 7 or 8 building located on land primarily used for —

that is—
1. used in connection with farming; or
2. used primarily to store one or more farm vehicles; or
3. a combination of (i) and (ii); and
in which the total number of persons accommodated at any time does not exceed one person per 200 m² of floor area or part thereof, up to a maximum of 8 persons; and
with a total floor area of not more than 3500 m².

State and Territory variation

For Volume One see (SA, Farm building)

Farm shed means a single Class 7 or 8 building located on land primarily used for —

that is—
1. used in connection with farming; or
2. used primarily to store one or more farm vehicles; or
3. a combination of (i) and (ii); and
occupied neither frequently nor for extended periods by people; and
in which the total number of persons accommodated at any time does not exceed 2; and
with a total floor area of more than 500 m² but not more than 2000 m².

State and Territory variation

For Volume One see (SA, Farm shed)

Farm vehicle means a vehicle used in connection with .

State and Territory variation

For Volume One see (SA, Farm vehicle)

Finished ground level , for the purposes of Part 3.2 in Volume Two, means the ground level adjacent to footing systems at the completion of construction and landscaping.

Fire brigade means a statutory authority constituted under an Act of Parliament having as one of its functions, the protection of life and property from fire and other emergencies.

Fire brigade station for the purposes of and in Volume One, means a state or territory government operated premises which is a station for a .

Fire compartment means—

the total space of a building; or
when referred to in—
1. the Performance Requirements — any part of a building separated from the remainder by barriers to fire such as walls and/or floors having an appropriate resistance to the spread of fire with any openings adequately protected; or
2. the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions — any part of a building separated from the remainder by walls and/or floors each having an FRL not less than that required for a fire wall for that type of construction and where all openings in the separating construction are protected in accordance with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the relevant Part.

Fire growth means the stage of fire development during which the and the temperature of the fire are generally increasing.

Fire hazard means the danger in terms of potential harm and degree of exposure arising from the start and spread of fire and the smoke and gases that are thereby generated.

Fire hazard properties means the following properties of a material or assembly that indicate how they behave under specific fire test conditions:

Average specific extinction area, critical radiant flux and Flammability Index, determined as defined in Schedule 3.
Smoke-Developed Index, smoke development rate and Spread-of-Flame Index, determined in accordance with Schedule 6.
Group number and smoke growth rate index (SMOGRA_RC), determined in accordance with Specification C1.10 of Volume One.

Fire intensity means the rate of release of calorific energy in watts, determined either theoretically or empirically, as applicable.

Fire-isolated passageway means a corridor, hallway or the like, of , which provides egress to or from a or or to a road or .

Fire-isolated ramp means a ramp within a enclosure which provides egress from a .

Fire-isolated stairway means a stairway within a and includes the floor and roof or top enclosing structure.

Fire load means the sum of the net calorific values of the contents which can reasonably be expected to burn within a , including furnishings, built-in and removable materials, and building elements. The calorific values must be determined at the ambient moisture content or humidity. (The unit of measurement is MJ.)

Fire-protected timber means timber building elements that comply with Volume One Specification C1.13a.

Fire-protective covering means—

13 mm fire-protective grade plasterboard; or
12 mm cellulose cement flat sheeting complying with AS/NZS 2908.2 or ISO 8336; or
12 mm fibrous plaster reinforced with 13 mm x 13 mm x 0.7 mm galvanised steel wire mesh located not more than 6 mm from the exposed face; or
other material not less fire-protective than 13 mm fire-protective grade plasterboard, fixed in accordance with the normal trade practice for a fire-protective covering.

Fire-resistance level (FRL) means the grading periods in minutes determined in accordance with Schedule 5, for the following criteria—

structural adequacy; and
integrity; and
insulation,
and expressed in that order.

Note

Note

A dash means that there is no requirement for that criterion. For example, 90/–/– means there is no requirement for an FRL for integrity and insulation, and –/–/– means there is no requirement for an FRL.

Fire-resisting , for the purposes of Volume One, applied to a building element, means having an FRL appropriate for that element.

Fire-resisting , for the purposes of Volume Two, applied to a or other part of a building, means having the FRL for that or other part.

Fire-resisting construction , for the purposes of Volume One, means one of the Types of construction referred to in Part C1 of Volume One.

Fire safety engineering means application of engineering principles, rules and based on a scientific appreciation of the fire phenomenon, often using specific design scenarios, of the effects of fire and of the reaction and behaviour of people in order to—

save life, protect property and preserve the environment and heritage from destructive fire; and
quantify the hazards and risk of fire and its effects; and
mitigate fire damage by proper design, construction, arrangement and use of buildings, materials, structures, industrial processes and transportation systems; and
evaluate analytically the optimum protective and preventive measures, including design, installation and maintenance of active and passive fire and life safety systems, necessary to limit, within prescribed levels, the consequences of fire.

Fire safety system means one or any combination of the methods used in a building to

warn people of an emergency; or
provide for safe evacuation; or
restrict the spread of fire; or
extinguish a fire,
and includes both active and passive systems.

Fire-source feature means—

the far boundary of a road, river, lake or the like adjoining the allotment; or
a side or rear boundary of the allotment; or
an external wall of another building on the allotment which is not a Class 10 building.

Fire wall means a wall with an appropriate resistance to the spread of fire that divides a or building into .

Fixed wired , for the purposes of Specification E2.2d in Volume One, means a system of electrical wiring (either AC or DC), in which cables are fixed or supported in position.

Flammability Index means the index number as determined by AS 1530.2.

Flashing means a strip or sleeve of impervious material dressed, fitted or built-in to provide a barrier to moisture movement, or to divert the travel of moisture, or to cover a joint where water would otherwise penetrate to the interior of a building.

Flashover , in relation to , means a of 1 MW.

Flight means that part of a stair that has a continuous series of , including of , not interrupted by a or floor (for Volume Two, see ).

Explanatory information for Volume Two:

A flight is the part of a stair that has a continuous slope created by the nosing line of treads. The length of a flight is limited to restrict the distance a person could fall down a stair. Quarter landings, as shown in Figure 4 , are considered sufficient to halt a person’s fall and therefore are considered for the purposes of Volume Two not to be part of the flight .

Figure 4 Identification of stair flights — Plan view

Flood hazard area means the (whether or not mapped) encompassing land lower than the which has been determined by the .

State and Territory variations

For Volume One see (Vic, Flood hazard area)

For Volume Two see (Vic, Flood hazard area)

Flood hazard level (FHL) means the flood level used to determine the height of floors in a building and represents the plus the (see ).

Floor area , for the purposes of Volume One, means—

in relation to a building — the total area of all storeys; and
in relation to a storey — the area of all floors of that storey measured over the enclosing walls, and includes—
1. the area of a mezzanine within the storey, measured within the finished surfaces of any external walls; and
2. the area occupied by any internal wall or partitions, any cupboard, or other built-in furniture, fixture or fitting; and
3. if there is no enclosing wall, an area which has a use that—
  1. contributes to the fire load; or
  2. impacts on the safety, health or amenity of the occupants in relation to the provisions of the BCA; and
in relation to a room — the area of the room measured within the finished surfaces of the walls, and includes the area occupied by any cupboard or other built-in furniture, fixture or fitting; and
in relation to a fire compartment — the total area of all floors within the fire compartment measured within the finished surfaces of the bounding construction, and if there is no bounding construction, includes an area which has a use which contributes to the fire load; and
in relation to an atrium — the total area of all floors within the atrium measured within the finished surfaces of the bounding construction and if no bounding construction, within the external walls.

Floor area , for the purposes of Volume Two, means in relation to a room, the area of the room measured within the finished surfaces of the walls, and includes the area occupied by any cupboard or other built-in furniture, fixture or fitting (see ).

Figure 5 Identification of floor area of a room

Foundation means the ground which supports the building (see ).

Figure 6 Identification of foundation

Fractional effective dose (FED) means the fraction of the dose (of thermal effects) that would render a person of average susceptibility incapable of escape.

Explanatory information:

The definition for FED has been modified from the ISO definition to be made specific for Schedule 7 . The use of CO or CO₂ as part of FED is not part of that Verification Method. This is because the ability to measure CO in a repeatable test varies by two orders of magnitude for common cellosic fuel.

Freeboard means the height above the as determined by the , used to compensate for effects such as wave action and localised hydraulic behaviour.

State and Territory variations

For Volume One see (Vic, Freeboard)

For Volume Two see (Vic, Freeboard)

Fully developed fire means the state of total involvement of the majority of available combustible materials in a fire.

Glazing , for the purposes of in Volume One, means a transparent or translucent element and its supporting frame located in the , and includes a other than a .

Glazing , for the purposes of and in Volume Two, means a transparent or translucent element and its supporting frame located in the external of the building, and includes a other than a .

Green Star means the building sustainability rating scheme managed by the Green Building Council of Australia.

Going means the horizontal dimension from the front to the back of a tread less any overhang from the next tread or above (see ).

Group number means the number of one of 4 groups of materials used in the regulation of and applied to materials used as a finish, surface, lining, or attachment to a wall or ceiling.

Habitable room means a room used for normal domestic activities, and—

includes a bedroom, living room, lounge room, music room, television room, kitchen, dining room, sewing room, study, playroom, family room, home theatre and sunroom; but
excludes a bathroom, laundry, water closet, pantry, walk-in wardrobe, corridor, hallway, lobby, photographic darkroom, clothes-drying room, and other spaces of a specialised nature occupied neither frequently nor for extended periods.

Hazard Rating means a rating of either , or determined in accordance with Specification B5.1 in Volume Three, for any .

Health-care building means a building whose occupants or patients undergoing medical treatment generally need physical assistance to evacuate the building during an emergency and includes—

a public or private hospital; or
a nursing home or similar facility for sick or disabled persons needing full-time care; or
a clinic, day surgery or procedure unit where the effects of the predominant treatment administered involve patients becoming non-ambulatory and requiring supervised medical care on the premises for some time after the treatment.

Heated water means water that has been intentionally heated. It is normally referred to as hot water or warm water.

Heating load means the calculated amount of energy delivered to the heated spaces of the building annually by artificial means to maintain the desired temperatures in those spaces.

Heat release means the thermal energy produced by combustion (kJ).

Heat release rate (HRR) means the rate of thermal energy production generated by combustion (kW (preferred) or MW).

High Hazard means any condition, device or practice which, in connection with a water supply, has the potential to cause death.

High wind area means a region that is subject to more than N3 or C1 (see ).

Horizontal exit means a doorway between 2 parts of a building separated from each other by a .

Hours of operation means the number of hours when the occupancy of the building is greater than 20% of the peak occupancy.

House energy rating software , for the purposes of Volume One, means software accredited under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme.

House energy rating software , for the purposes of Volume Two—

applied to V2.6.2.2—means software accredited or previously accredited under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme and the additional functionality provided in non-regulatory mode; and
applied to 3.12.0.1—means software accredited under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme.

Explanatory information:

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) refers to the Australian governments' scheme that facilitates consistent energy ratings from software tools which are used to assess the potential thermal efficiency of dwelling envelopes.

Housing Provisions means the requirements for Class 1 and 10 buildings contained in Volume Two of the National Construction Code as published by the Australian Building Codes Board.

Illuminance means the luminous flux falling onto a unit area of surface.

Illumination power density (W/m²) means the total of the power that will be consumed by the lights in a space, including any lamps, ballasts, current regulators and control devices other than those that are plugged into socket outlets for intermittent use such as floor standing lamps, desk lamps or work station lamps, divided by the area of the space.

Explanatory information:

Illumination power density relates to the power consumed by the lighting system and includes the light source or luminaire and any control device. The power for the lighting system is the illumination power load. This approach is more complicated than the lamp power density approach but provides more flexibility for a dwelling with sophisticated control systems.
The area of the space refers to the area the lights serve. This could be considered a single room, open plan space, verandah, balcony or the like, or the total area of all these spaces.

Inclined lift means a power-operated device for raising or lowering people within a carriage that has one or more rigid guides on an inclined plane.

Individual protection means the installation of a at the point where a water service connects to a single fixture or appliance.

Insulation , in relation to an FRL, means the ability to maintain a temperature on the surface not exposed to the furnace below the limits specified in AS 1530.4.

Integrity , in relation to an FRL, means the ability to resist the passage of flames and hot gases specified in AS 1530.4.

Internal wall , for the purposes of Volume One, excludes a or a party wall.

Internal wall , for the purposes of Volume Two, excludes a , or party wall.

Interstitial condensation means the of moisture on surfaces between material layers inside the building component.

JAS-ANZ means the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand.

Lamp power density (W/m²) means the total of the maximum power rating of the lamps in a space, other than those that are plugged into socket outlets for intermittent use such as floor standing lamps, desk lamps or work station lamps, divided by the area of the space.

Explanatory information:

Lamp power density is a simple means of setting energy consumption at an efficient level for Class 1 and associated Class 10a buildings.
Lamp refers to the globe or globes that are to be installed in a permanently wired light fitting. The maximum power of a lamp is usually marked on the fitting as the maximum allowable wattage.
The area of the space refers to the area the lights serve. This could be considered a single room, open plan space, verandah, balcony or the like, or the total area of all these spaces.

Landing means an area at the top or bottom of a or between two .

Latent heat gain means the heat gained by the vapourising of liquid without change of temperature.

Lightweight construction means construction which incorporates or comprises—

sheet or board material, plaster, render, sprayed application, or other material similarly susceptible to damage by impact, pressure or abrasion; or
concrete and concrete products containing pumice, perlite, vermiculite, or other soft material similarly susceptible to damage by impact, pressure or abrasion; or
masonry having a width of less than 70 mm.

Loadbearing means intended to resist vertical forces additional to those due to its own weight.

Loadbearing wall , for the purposes of Part 3.2 in Volume Two, means any wall imposing on the footing a load greater than 10 kN/m.

Loss means either: physical damage, financial loss or loss of .

Low Hazard means any condition, device of practice which, in connection with a water supply, would constitute a nuisance by colour, odour or taste but does not have the potential to injure or endanger health.

Low rainfall intensity area means an area with a 5 minute rainfall intensity for an of 20 years of not more than 125 mm/hour.

Explanatory information:

Rainfall intensity figures can be obtained from Tables 3.5.3.1a to 3.5.3.1h in Volume Two

Low-rise, low-speed constant pressure lift means a power-operated low-rise, low-speed device for raising or lowering people with limited mobility on a carriage that is controlled by the application of constant pressure to a control.

Low-rise platform lift means a power-operated device for raising or lowering people with limited mobility on a platform, that is controlled automatically or by the application of constant pressure to a control.

Low voltage means a exceeding , but not exceeding 1000 V AC or 1500 V DC.

Luminance contrast means the light reflected from one surface or component, compared to the light reflected from another surface or component.

Massive timber means an element not less than 75 mm thick as measured in each direction formed from solid and laminated timber.

Medium Hazard means any condition, device or practice which, in connection with a water supply, has the potential to injure or endanger health.

Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) means the Minimum Energy Performance Standards for equipment and appliances established through the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012.

Mixed construction means a building consisting of more than one form of construction, particularly in double-storey buildings.

Mezzanine means an intermediate floor within a room.

Mould means a fungal growth that can be produced from conditions such as dampness, darkness, or poor ventilation.

NABERS Energy for Offices means the National Australia Built Environment Rating Systems for office energy efficiency, which is managed by the New South Wales Government.

Network Utility Operator means a person who—

undertakes the piped distribution of drinking water or non-drinking water for supply; or
is the operator of a sewerage system or a stormwater drainage system.

Explanatory information:

Explanatory information:

A Network Utility Operator in most States and Territories is the water and sewerage authority licensed to supply water and receive sewage and/or stormwater. The authority operates or proposes to operate a network that undertakes the distribution of water for supply and undertakes to receive sewage and/or stormwater drainage. This authority may be a licensed utility, local government body or council.

State and Territory variation

For Volume Three see (Tas, Network Utility Operator)

Non-combustible means—

applied to a material — not deemed combustible as determined by AS 1530.1 — Combustibility Tests for Materials; and
applied to construction or part of a building — constructed wholly of materials that are not deemed combustible.

Non-drinking water means water which is not .

Occupant traits , for the purposes of Volume One, means the features, needs and profile of the occupants in a or space.

Occupant traits , for the purposes of Volume Two, means the features, needs and profile of the occupants in a room or space.

Explanatory information:

This term is used to describe the characteristics of the occupants and their associated requirements in relation to a room or space.

For example, in relation to a bedroom, the following occupant characteristics and associated requirements should be considered:

Characteristics: height, mobility and how often the space will be used.
Requirements: a sleeping space and a space to undertake leisure activities.

Occupiable outdoor area means a space on a roof, balcony or similar part of a building—

that is open to the sky; and
to which access is provided, other than access only for maintenance; and
that is not open space or directly connected with open space.

On-site wastewater management system means a system installed on premises that receives and/or treats wastewater generated on the premises and applies the resulting effluent to an or re-use system.

State and Territory variation

For Volume Three see (Tas, On-site wastewater management system)

Open-deck carpark means a carpark in which all parts of the parking are cross-ventilated by permanent unobstructed openings in not fewer than 2 opposite or approximately opposite sides, and—

each side that provides ventilation is not less than ¹/₆ of the area of any other side; and
the openings are not less than ½ of the wall area of the side concerned.

Open space means a space on the allotment, or a roof or similar part of a building adequately protected from fire, open to the sky and connected directly with a public road.

Open spectator stand means a tiered stand substantially open at the front.

Other property means all or any of the following—

any building on the same or an adjoining allotment; and
any adjoining allotment; and
a road.

Outdoor air means air outside the building.

Outdoor air economy cycle is a mode of operation of an system that, when the thermodynamic properties are favourable, increases the quantity of used to condition the space.

Outfall means that part of the disposal system receiving from the drainage system and may include a natural water course, kerb and channel, or soakage system.

Overflow devices means a device that provides relief to a water service, sanitary and system, or stormwater system to avoid the likelihood of .

Panel wall means a non- , in frame or similar construction, that is wholly supported at each .

Patient care area means a part of a normally used for the treatment, care, accommodation, recreation, dining and holding of patients including a and .

Performance-based design brief (PBDB) means the process and the associated report that defines the scope of work for the performance-based analysis, the technical basis for analysis, and the criteria for acceptance of any relevant as agreed by stakeholders.

Performance Requirement means a requirement which states the level of performance which a or must meet.

Performance Solution means a method of complying with the other than by a .

Perimeter of building , for the purposes of in Volume Two, means the external envelope of a building.

Personal care services means any of the following:

The provision of nursing care.
Assistance or supervision in—
1. bathing, showering or personal hygiene; or
2. toileting or continence management; or
3. dressing or undressing; or
4. consuming food.
The provision of direct physical assistance to a person with mobility problems.
The management of medication.
The provision of substantial rehabilitative or development assistance.

Piping , for the purposes of in Volume One or Part 3.12 in Volume Two, means an assembly of pipes, with or without valves or other fittings, connected together for the conveyance of liquids and gases.

Pliable building membrane means a water barrier as classified by AS/NZS 4200.1.

Plumbing means any water , roof , sanitary system or heating, ventilation and air-conditioning .

Plumbing or Drainage Solution means a solution which complies with the and is a—

Point of connection —

for a heated water service means the point where the water heater connects to the cold water service downstream of the isolation valve; and
for sewage disposal means the point where the on-site drainage system connects to the Network Utility Operator's sewerage system or to an on-site wastewater management system; and
for stormwater disposal means the point where the on-site drainage system connects to the Network Utility Operator's stormwater system or to an approved disposal system; and
for a water service means the point where the service pipe within the premises connects to the Network Utility Operator's property service or to an alternative water supply system.

Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) means the Predicted Mean Vote of the thermal perception of building occupants determined in accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55.

Pressure vessel means a vessel subject to internal or external pressure. It includes interconnected parts and components, valves, gauges and other fittings up to the first point of connection to connecting piping, and—

includes fire heaters and gas cylinders; but
excludes—
1. any vessel that falls within the definition of a boiler; and
2. storage tanks and equipment tanks intended for storing liquids where the pressure at the top of the tank is not exceeding 1.4 kPa above or 0.06 kPa below atmospheric pressure; and
3. domestic-type hot water supply heaters and tanks; and
4. pressure vessels installed for the purposes of fire suppression or which serve a fire suppression system.

Primary building element , for the purposes of Volume One, means a member of a building designed specifically to take part of the loads specified in and includes roof, ceiling, floor, stairway or ramp and wall framing members including bracing members designed for the specific purpose of acting as a brace to those members.

Primary building element , for the purposes of Part 3.1.4 in Volume Two, means a member of a building designed specifically to take part of the building loads and includes roof, ceiling, floor, stairway or ramp and wall framing members including bracing members designed for the specific purpose of acting as a brace to those members.

Explanatory information:

The loads to which a building may be subjected are dead, live, wind, snow and earthquake loads. Further information on building loads can be found in the AS 1170 series of Standards.

State and Territory variation

For Volume Two see (Qld, Primary building element)

Private bushfire shelter means a structure associated with, but not attached to, or part of a Class 1a dwelling that may, as a last resort, provide shelter for occupants from immediate life threatening effects of a bushfire.

Private garage , for the purposes of Volume One, means—

any garage associated with a Class 1 building; or
any single storey of a building of another Class containing not more than 3 vehicle spaces, if there is only one such storey in the building; or
any separate single storey garage associated with another building where such garage contains not more than 3 vehicle spaces.

Private garage , for the purposes of Volume Two, means—

any garage associated with a Class 1 building; or
any separate single storey garage associated with another building where such garage contains not more than 3 vehicle spaces.

Product means and items within the scope of the PCA including but not limited to:

Materials, fixtures and components used in a plumbing or drainage installation.
Appliances and equipment connected to a plumbing or drainage system.

Product Technical Statement means a form of documentary evidence stating that the properties and performance of a building material, product or form of construction fulfil specific requirements of the NCC, and describes—

the application and intended use of the building material, product or form of construction: and
how the use of the building material, product or form of construction complies with the requirements of the NCC Volume One and Volume Two; and
any limitations and conditions of the use of the building material, product or form of construction relevant to (b).

Professional engineer means a person who is—

if legislation is applicable — a registered professional engineer in the relevant discipline who has appropriate experience and competence in the relevant field; or
if legislation is not applicable—
1. registered in the relevant discipline on the National Engineering Register (NER) of the Institution of Engineers Australia (which trades as 'Engineers Australia'); or
2. eligible to become registered on the Institution of Engineers Australia's NER and has appropriate experience and competence in the relevant field.

State and Territory Variations

For Volume Three see (Tas, Professional engineer)

Public corridor means an enclosed corridor, hallway or the like which—

serves as a means of egress from 2 or more sole-occupancy units to a required exit from the storey concerned; or
is required to be provided as a means of egress from any part of a storey to a required exit.

R-Value (m².K/W) means the thermal resistance of a component calculated by dividing its thickness by its thermal conductivity.

Rapid roller door means a door that opens and closes at a speed of not less than 0.5 m/s.

Rainwater harvesting system means a installation that comprises—

any plumbing that connects a rainwater tank to any drinking water or non-drinking water outlets; and
any top-up line that conveys drinking water from a Network Utility Operator's water supply to a rainwater tank.

Recognised expert means a person with qualifications and experience in the area of or in question recognised by the authority having jurisdiction.

Explanatory information:

A recognised expert is a person recognised by the authority having jurisdiction as qualified to provide evidence under A5.3(5). Generally, this means a hydraulic consultant or engineer, however the specific requirements are determined by the authority having jurisdiction.

Under A5.3(5), a report from a recognised expert may be used as evidence of suitability that a product listed on the WaterMark Schedule of Excluded Products, or a plumbing or drainage system, complies with a Performance Requirement or Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision.

State and Territory variation

For Volume Three see (Tas, Recognised expert)

Reference building , for the purposes of Volume One, means a hypothetical building that is used to calculate the maximum allowable and determine the for the proposed building.

Reference building , for the purposes of Volume Two, means a hypothetical building that is used to determine the maximum allowable and for the proposed building.

Reflective insulation means a building membrane with a reflective surface such as a reflective foil laminate, reflective barrier, foil batt or the like capable of reducing radiant heat flow.

Explanatory information for Volume Two:

Typical R-Values achieved by adding reflective insulation are given in the explanatory information accompanying Figures 3.12.1.1 , 3.12.1.3 and 3.12.1.4 . Information on specific products may be obtained from reflective insulation manufacturers.
The surface of reflective insulation may be described in terms of its emittance (or infra-red emittance) or in terms of its reflectance (or solar reflectance). Generally, for the surface of a particular reflective insulation –
emittance + reflectance = 1.
Some types of reflective insulation may also serve the purposes of waterproofing or vapour proofing.

Regulated energy means the energy consumed by a building's minus the amount of generated and used on .

Reinforced masonry means masonry reinforced with steel reinforcement that is placed in a bed joint or grouted into a core to strengthen the masonry.

Renewable energy means energy that is derived from sources that are regenerated, replenished, or for all practical purposes cannot be depleted and the energy sources include, but are not limited to, solar, wind, hydroelectric, wave action and geothermal.

Required means to satisfy a or a of the NCC as appropriate.

Required safe egress time (RSET) means the time required for safe evacuation of occupants to a place of safety prior to the onset of untenable conditions.

Residential aged care building means a Class 3 or 9a building whose residents, due to their incapacity associated with the ageing process, are provided with physical assistance in conducting their daily activities and to evacuate the building during an emergency.

Residential care building means a Class 3, 9a or 9c building which is a place of residence where 10% or more of persons who reside there need physical assistance in conducting their daily activities and to evacuate the building during an emergency (including any or ) but does not include a hospital.

Resident use area means part of a Class 9c building normally used by residents, and—

includes sole-occupancy units, lounges, dining areas, activity rooms and the like; but
excludes offices, storage areas, commercial kitchens, commercial laundries and other spaces not for the use of residents.

Resistance to the incipient spread of fire , in relation to a ceiling membrane, means the ability of the membrane to insulate the space between the ceiling and roof, or ceiling and floor above, so as to limit the temperature rise of materials in this space to a level which will not permit the rapid and general spread of fire throughout the space.

Explanatory information:

Resistance to the incipient spread of fire refers to the ability of a ceiling to prevent the spread of fire and thermally insulate the space between the ceiling and the roof or floor above. "Resistance to the incipient spread of fire" is superior to "fire-resistance" because it requires a higher standard of heat insulation.

The definition is used in Volume Two for separating floors/ceilings for a Class 1a dwelling located above a non-appurtenant private garage.

Rise in storeys means the greatest number of calculated in accordance with .

Riser means the height between consecutive treads and between each and continuous tread.

Roof light , for the purposes of and in Volume One, and Parts 2.6, 3.8.4 and 3.12 in Volume Two, means a skylight, or the like installed in a roof—

to permit natural light to enter the room below; and
at an angle between 0 and 70 degrees measured from the horizontal plane.

Rolled fill means material placed in layers and compacted by repeated rolling by an excavator.

Safe place means—

a place of safety within a building—
1. which is not under threat from a fire; and
2. from which people must be able to safely disperse after escaping the effects of an emergency to a road or open space; or
a road or open space.

Sanitary compartment means a room or space containing a closet pan or urinal (see ).

Figure 7 Identification of a sanitary compartment

Sarking-type material means a material such as a or other flexible membrane of a type normally used for a purpose such as waterproofing, vapour management or thermal reflectance.

School includes a primary or secondary , college, university or similar educational establishment.

Self-closing , for the purposes of Volume One, applied to a door, means equipped with a device which returns the door to the fully closed position immediately after each opening.

Self-closing , for the purposes of Volume Two, applied to a door or , means equipped with a device which returns the door or to the fully closed and latched position immediately after each manual opening.

Sensible heat gain means the heat gained which causes a change in temperature

Separating element means a barrier that exhibits fire , , , or a combination of these for a period of time under specified conditions (often in accordance with AS 1530.4).

Separating wall means a wall that is common to adjoining Class 1 buildings (see ).

Figure 8 Separating wall

Note:

In Volume Two may also be known as a party wall and typically is required to be fire-resisting construction (see Parts 3.7.2 and 3.7.3 )

Service , for the purposes of in Volume One, means a mechanical or electrical system that uses energy to provide , mechanical ventilation, heated water supply, artificial lighting, vertical transport and the like within a building, but which does not include—

systems used solely for emergency purposes; and
cooking facilities; and
portable appliances.

Service station means a garage which is not a and is for the servicing of vehicles, other than only washing, cleaning or polishing.

Shaft means the walls and other parts of a building bounding—

a well, other than an atrium well; or
a vertical chute, duct or similar passage, but not a chimney or flue.

Shower area means the area affected by water from a shower, including a shower over a bath.

Single leaf masonry means outer walls constructed with a single thickness of masonry unit.

Site means the part of the allotment of land on which a building stands or is to be erected.

Sitework means work on or around a , including earthworks, preparatory to or associated with the construction, , demolition or removal of a building.

Small-scale Technology Certificate means a certificate issued under the Commonwealth Government's Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.

Small-sized, low-speed automatic lift means a restricted use power-operated device for the infrequent raising or lowering of people with limited mobility on a platform that is controlled automatically but has the capability of being electrically isolated by a key-lockable control.

Smoke-and-heat vent means a vent, located in or near the roof for smoke and hot gases to escape if there is a fire in the building.

Smoke-Developed Index means the index number for smoke as determined by AS/NZS 1530.3.

Smoke development rate means the development rate for smoke as determined by testing flooring materials in accordance with AS ISO 9239.1.

Smoke growth rate index (SMOGRA_RC) means the index number for smoke used in the regulation of and applied to materials used as a finish, surface, lining or attachment to a wall or ceiling.

Solar admittance means the fraction of incident irradiance on a that adds heat to a building's space.

Sole-occupancy unit means a room or other part of a building for occupation by one or joint owner, lessee, tenant, or other occupier to the exclusion of any other owner, lessee, tenant, or other occupier and includes—

a dwelling; or
a room or suite of rooms in a Class 3 building which includes sleeping facilities; or
a room or suite of associated rooms in a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building; or
a room or suite of associated rooms in a Class 9c building, which includes sleeping facilities and any area for the exclusive use of a resident.

Spandrel panel , for the purposes of Section J of Volume One, means the opaque part of a façade in curtain wall construction which is commonly adjacent to, and integrated with, .

Spiral stairway means a stairway with a circular plan, winding around a central post with steps that radiate from a common centre or several radii (see and ).

Spread-of-Flame Index means the index number for spread of flame as determined by AS/NZS 1530.3.

Sprinkler alarm switch , for the purposes of Specification E2.2d of Volume One, means a device capable of sending an electrical signal to activate an alarm when a residential sprinkler head is activated (e.g. a flow switch).

Stage means a floor or platform in a Class 9b building on which performances are presented before an audience.

Stairway platform lift means a power-operated device for raising or lowering people with limited mobility on a platform (with or without a chair) in the direction of a stairway.

Standard Fire Test means the Fire-resistance Tests of Elements of Building Construction as described in AS 1530.4.

Storey means a space within a building which is situated between one floor level and the floor level next above, or if there is no floor above, the ceiling or roof above, but not—

a space that contains only—
1. a lift shaft, stairway or meter room; or
2. a bathroom, shower room, laundry, water closet, or other sanitary compartment; or
3. accommodation intended for not more than 3 vehicles; or
4. a combination of the above; or
a mezzanine.

Structural adequacy , in relation to an FRL, means the ability to maintain stability and adequate capacity as determined by AS 1530.4.

Structural member means a component or part of an assembly which provides vertical or lateral support to a building or structure.

Surface water means all naturally occurring water, other than sub-, which results from rainfall on or around the or water flowing onto the .

Swimming pool means any excavation or structure containing water and principally used, or that is designed, manufactured or adapted to be principally used for swimming, wading, paddling, or the like, including a bathing or wading pool, or spa.

Tapered tread means a stair tread with a walking area that grows smaller towards one end.

Thermal comfort level means the level of thermal comfort in a building expressed as a sensation scale.

Total R-Value (m².K/W) , for the purposes of Volume One, means the sum of the R-Values of the individual component layers in a composite element including any building material, insulating material, airspace, thermal bridging and associated surface resistances.

Total R-Value (m².K/W) , for the purposes of Volume Two, means the sum of the R-Values of the individual component layers in a composite element including any building material, insulating material, airspace and associated surface resistances.

Total System Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) , for the purposes of Volume One, means the fraction of incident irradiance on a or a that adds heat to a building’s space.

Total System Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) , for the purposes of Volume Two, means the fraction of incident irradiance on or a that adds heat to a building’s space.

Total System U-Value (W/m².K) , for the purposes of Volume One, means the thermal transmittance of the composite element allowing for the effect of any airspaces, thermal bridging and associated surface resistances.

Total System U-Value (W/m².K) , for the purposes of Volume Two, means the thermal transmittance of the composite element allowing for the effect of any airspaces and associated surface resistances.

Treatment area means an area within a such as an operating theatre and rooms used for recovery, minor procedures, resuscitation, intensive care and coronary care from which a patient may not be readily moved.

Uncontrolled discharge means any unintentional release of fluid from a and system and includes leakage and seepage.

Unique wall , for the purposes of in Volume One and in Volume Two, means a wall which is neither a nor a .

Unobstructed opening , for the purposes of Part 3.6 in Volume Two, means a glazed area that a person could mistake for an open doorway or clearway and walk into the glazed panel.

Unreinforced masonry means masonry that is not reinforced.

Vapour pressure means the pressure at which water vapour is in thermodynamic equilibrium with its condensed state.

Ventilation opening means an opening in the , floor or roof of a building designed to allow air movement into or out of the building by natural means including a permanent opening, an openable part of a , a door or other device which can be held open.

Verification Method means a test, inspection, calculation or other method that determines whether a complies with the relevant .

Vessel , for the purposes of Volume One and Part 3.8.1 in Volume Two, means an open, pre-formed, pre-finished concave receptacle capable of holding water, usually for the purpose of washing, including a basin, sink, bath, laundry tub and the like.

Visibility means the maximum distance at which an object of defined size, brightness and contrast can be seen and recognised.

Voltage means a difference of potential, measured in Volts (V) and includes and .

Waffle raft means a stiffened raft with closely spaced ribs constructed on the ground and with slab panels supported between ribs.

Wall-glazing construction , for the purposes of Section J in Volume One, means the combination of wall and components comprising the of a building, excluding—

display glazing; and
opaque non-glazed openings such as doors, vents, penetrations and shutters.

Ward area means that part of a for resident patients and may contain areas for accommodation, sleeping, associated living and nursing facilities.

Water control layer means a or the exterior cladding when no is present.

WaterMark Conformity Assessment Body (WMCAB) means a conformity assessment body registered with and accredited by the to conduct evaluations leading to certification and contracted with the to issue the .

WaterMark Certification Scheme means the ABCB scheme for certifying and authorising and .

WaterMark Licence means a licence issued by a .

WaterMark Schedule of Excluded Products means the list maintained by the of excluded from the .

WaterMark Schedule of Products means the list maintained by the of included in the , and the specifications to which the can be certified.

Explanatory Information:

The WaterMark Schedule of Products and the WaterMark Schedule of Excluded Products can be viewed on the ABCB website at www.abcb.gov.au.

Waterproof means the property of a material that does not allow moisture to penetrate through it.

Water resistant means the property of a system or material that restricts moisture movement and will not degrade under conditions of moisture.

Water sensitive materials means materials that have an inherent capacity to absorb water vapour and include timber, plasterboard, plywood, oriented strand board and the like.

Watertight means will not allow water to pass from the inside to the outside of the component or joint and vice versa.

Wet area means an area within a building supplied with water from a water supply system, which includes bathrooms, showers, laundries and and excludes kitchens, bar areas, kitchenettes or domestic food and beverage preparation areas.

Winders means treads within a straight that are used to change direction of the stair (see ).

Window includes a , glass panel, glass block or brick, glass louvre, glazed sash, glazed door, or other device which transmits natural light directly from outside a building to the room concerned when in the closed position.

Yield means the mass of a combustion product generated during combustion divided by the mass loss of the test specimen as specified in the .

Zone protection means the installation of a at the point where a water service is connected to multiple fixtures or appliances, with no installed as downstream of this point.