NCC 2019 Volume Three
Search the National Construction Code editions
Classification
Building class 1a Building class 1b Building class 2 Building class 3 Building class 4 Building class 5 Building class 6 Building class 7a Building class 7b Building class 8 Building class 9a Building class 9b Building class 9c Building class 10a Building class 10b Building class 10c

Filter

Classification
Building class 1a Building class 1b Building class 2 Building class 3 Building class 4 Building class 5 Building class 6 Building class 7a Building class 7b Building class 8 Building class 9a Building class 9b Building class 9c Building class 10a Building class 10b Building class 10c
Section B Water services

Section B Water services

Part B1 Cold water services

Delete B1.4(1) and insert SA B1.4(1) and (2) as follows:

SA B1.4 General requirements

(1)

The design, construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration and maintenance of cold water services must be in accordance with the following:

(a)

AS/NZS 3500.1 with the following additions:

(i)

After 16.4, insert clause 16.4.1 as follows:

16.4.1

A reduction of the hazard ratings listed in table 16.4 may be permitted following a risk assessment of the design and installation of the rainwater tank and other environmental factors in accordance with clause 16.4.2; and

(ii)

After 16.4.1, insert clause 16.4.2 as follows:

16.4.2

For buried and partly buried rainwater tanks without connection to a drinking water supply or with direct or indirect connections to a drinking water supply, a dual-check valve may be used in lieu of a testable device for containment and zone protection where it has been determined by risk assessment that—

(a)

the risk to tank rainwater quality from air pollution is low; and

(b)

the risk to tank rainwater quality from groundwater and/or surface water contamination is low. In assessing this risk the permeability of the tank and piping materials and joints to groundwater contaminants should be addressed; and

(c)

precautions in the design and installation of the rainwater collection system have been taken to reduce impacts to tank rainwater quality from the roof collection and delivery system. Such measures include, but are not restricted to, appropriate materials, gutter guards, filters, first flush devices, dry inlets, guards to exclude vermin and mosquitoes, and the quality of tank maintenance programs; and

(d)

precautions in the design and installation of the rainwater tank have been taken to reduce impacts to tank rainwater quality from groundwater and surface water pollution. Such measures include, but are not limited to—

(i)

location and topography; and

(ii)

structural integrity of the tank including installation factors such as bedding, embedment, compaction and geotechnical specifications; and

(iii)

water tightness of tank including all penetrations, connections, access covers and joints; and

(iv)

ingress of vermin through the overflow e.g. by provision of a reflux valve, self-sealing valve, trap check valve; and

(v)

the risk assessment results must be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction; or

(2)

Where a water service from a rainwater tank is permitted to interconnect with the water service from a water main supply, the following applies to Class 1 buildings and extensions or additions to Class 1 buildings where the roof area is not less than 50 m2. The supply to a fixture, appliance or water outlet shall be maintained by a device/mechanism that facilitates a seamless automatic switching from one water service supply to another and vice versa without the need for manual intervention.

Part B2 Heated water services

Delete B2.2 and insert SA B2.2 as follows:

SA B2.2 Water Heater in a heated water supply system

(1)

In an established Class 1 building connected to a reticulated gas supply or a new Class 1 or Class 10 building, a water heater must be one of the following types:

(a)

A natural gas or LPG water heater, either instantaneous, continuous flow or storage, that has an energy rating of 5 stars or more

(b)

A natural gas or LPG boosted solar water heater, with a total tank volume of not more than 700 litres, that is eligible for any number (one or more) of STCs.

(c)

An electric boosted solar water heater or electric heat pump water heater (air source or solar boosted), with a single tank, that:

(i)

for systems with a tank volume of 400 litres or more and not more than 700 litres, is eligible for at least 38 Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) in Zone 3 as defined by the Clean Energy Regulator [CER] and / or eligible for at least 36 STCs in CER Zone 4, or

(ii)

for systems with a tank volume of more than 220 litres and less than 400 litres, is eligible for at least 27 STCs in CER Zone 3 and / or eligible for at least 26 STCs in CER Zone 4, or

(iii)

for systems with a tank volume of not more than 220 litres, is eligible for at least 17 STCs in CER Zone 3 and / or eligible for at least 16 STCs in CER Zone 4.

(d)

A wood combustion water heater, with no additional heating mechanisms, with a total tank volume of not more than 700 litres.

(e)

A wood combustion boosted solar water heater, with no additional heating mechanisms, with a total tank volume of not more than 700 litres.

(2)

In an established Class 1 building that is not connected to a reticulated gas supply, a water heater must be one of the following types:

(a)

a water heater complying with the requirements set out in Section SA B2.2 (1), or

(b)

an electric water heater with a rated hot water delivery of no greater than 250 litres, or

(c)

an electric instantaneous water heater, having a water storage capacity no greater than one litre and total electrical input no greater than 15.0 kW.

(3)

Sections SA B2.2 (1) and (2) do not apply to:

(a)

Water heaters serving buildings other than Class 1

(b)

Repairs to water heaters including:

(i)

Like for like replacements that are the result of manufacturer, supplier or installer warranty arrangements

(ii)

Replacement of a single major component of a solar or electric heat pump water heater (for example, a heat pump compressor/evaporator unit, a solar collector, or a storage tank).

(c)

Secondary electric water heaters of up to 55 litres rated delivery, which do not serve a shower or bath

(d)

Temporary electric water heaters of up to 55 litres rated delivery, for a period not exceeding 60 days, pending installation of a complying water heater

(e)

An electric or gas vented (gravity fed) water heater, located in a roof space of an established Class 1 building, of no greater than 250 litres rated hot water delivery

(f)

A gas water heater installed entirely within a fully enclosed roof space, room or attached garage of an established Class 1 building, providing the water heater has an energy rating of 3 stars or more.

Explanatory information: Connection to a reticulated gas supply

Explanatory information: Connection to a reticulated gas supply

A property is connected to a reticulated gas supply if it has a piped connection to a gas distribution system and this connection is capable of supplying gas to gas equipment and/or appliances.

A property is not connected to a reticulated gas supply if:

  • It does not have a piped connection to a gas distribution system; or
  • It has a piped connection to a gas distribution system but this connection is not capable of supplying gas to gas equipment and/or appliances (for example, if the supply has been physically disconnected at the meter by the gas network operator).

Reticulated gas includes:

  • Reticulated natural gas; or
  • Reticulated compressed gas of some other type (including LPG, SNG or TLP gas).

Explanatory information:

Explanatory information:

Gas Water Heaters

The energy ratings for natural gas and LPG water heaters are available at:

http://www.aga.asn.au/product_directory

Solar Water Heaters and Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters

STCs are Small-scale Technology Certificates. References to Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) refer equally to STCs. The number of STCs is provided for each eligible model of solar water heater and electric heat pump water heater at:

http://ret.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/Hot-Water-Systems/Eligible-Solar-Water-Heaters/eligible-swhs

The STC values specified in Section SA B2.2 for either CER Zones 3 or 4 may be used to demonstrate compliance, regardless of the actual zone in which the water heater is to be installed.

SA B2.9 General requirements

(1)

The design, construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration and maintenance of a heated water service must be in accordance with the following:

(a)

AS/NZS 3500.4 with the following variations:

(i)

After clause 1.11.2(b) insert (c), (d), (e) and (f) as follows:

(c)

Heated water services in buildings constructed after 19 October 1995 shall have temperature control in accordance with items (a) and (b).

(d)

All new solar water installations (including solar heater replacements) shall be in accordance with items (a) and (b).

(e)

Where an existing building is altered, or extend in such a way that sanitary fixtures used primarily for personal hygiene purposes are installed in a location where, before the alteration or extension, no such fixture existed, the delivery temperature at the fixture shall be in accordance with items (a) and (b).

(f)

Where a water heater is replaced, a temperature control device is required where such a device was in place prior to the installation of the replaced water heater. The device must meet the requirements of items (a) and (b).

(ii)

After clause 1.11.2 Note 4 insert Note 5 as follows:

5:

5:

A duty of care should be exercised by installers to explain to clients the merits of temperature control for heated water delivered to existing sanitary fixtures used primarily for personal hygiene purposes.

(iii)

Substitute clause 5.8(c) as follows:

5.8(c)

All new or replacement unvented storage water heaters shall be fitted with new temperature/pressure relief and expansion control valves.

(iv)

Substitute clause 5.11.2.1 as follows:

5.11.2.1

The drain lines from the outlet of the temperature/pressure-relief valve and the expansion control valve on an individual water heater shall not be interconnected; and

(v)

Substitute clause 5.11.3(e) as follows:

5.11.3(e)

All drain lines shall discharge separately over a gully, tundish or other visible approved outlet.