NCC 2019 Volume Two
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Part 2.4 Health and amenity

Part 2.4 Health and amenity

Explanatory information:

Explanatory information:

Objective

O2.4.1 Wet areas

The Objective is to safeguard the occupants from illness or injury and protect the building from damage caused by the accumulation of internal moisture arising from the use of wet areas in a building.

O2.4.2 Room heights

The Objective is to safeguard the occupants from injury or loss of amenity caused by inadequate height of a room or space.

O2.4.3 Facilities

The Objective is to—

  1. safeguard occupants from illness caused by infection; and
  2. safeguard occupants from loss of amenity arising from the absence of adequate personal hygiene facilities; and
  3. enable occupants to carry out laundering; and
  4. provide for facilities to enable food preparation; and
  5. enable unconscious occupants of sanitary compartments to be removed from the compartment; and

O2.4.4 Light

The Objective is to safeguard occupants from injury, illness or loss of amenity due to—

  1. isolation from natural light; and
  2. lack of adequate artificial lighting.

O2.4.5 Ventilation

The Objective is to safeguard occupants from illness or loss of amenity due to lack of air freshness.

O2.4.6 Sound insulation

The Objective is to safeguard occupants from illness or loss of amenity as a result of undue sound being transmitted between adjoining dwellings.

Functional Statements

F2.4.1 Wet areas

A building is to be constructed to avoid the likelihood of—

  1. the creation of any unhealthy or dangerous conditions; or
  2. damage to building elements,

caused by dampness or water overflow from bathrooms, laundries and the like.

F2.4.2 Room heights

A building is to be constructed to provide height in a room or space suitable for the intended use.

F2.4.3 Facilities

A building is to be provided with suitable—

  1. space and facilities for personal hygiene; and
  2. space or facilities for laundering; and
  3. space and facilities for the preparation and cooking of food; and
  4. space or other means to permit an unconscious occupant to be removed from a sanitary compartment; and
  5. means for the sanitary disposal of waste water.

Application:

F2.4.3 only applies to a Class 1 building.

F2.4.4 Light

  1. A habitable room within a building is to be provided with openings to admit adequate natural light consistent with its function or use; and
  2. A space within a building used by occupants is to be provided with artificial lighting consistent with its function or use which, when activated in the absence of suitable natural light, will enable safe movement.

F2.4.5 Ventilation

A space used by occupants within a building is to be provided with adequate ventilation consistent with its function or use.

F2.4.6 Sound insulation

A building element which separates dwellings is to be constructed to prevent undue sound transmission between those dwellings.

Performance Requirements

P2.4.1 Wet areas

To protect the structure of the building and to maintain the amenity of the occupants, water must be prevented from penetrating—

(a)

behind fittings and linings; or

(b)

into concealed spaces,

of sanitary facilities, bathrooms, laundries and the like.

P2.4.2 Room heights

A room or space must be of a height that does not unduly interfere with its intended function.

P2.4.3 Personal hygiene and other facilities

(a)

Suitable sanitary facilities for personal hygiene must be provided in a convenient location within or associated with a building, appropriate to its function or use.

(b)

* * * * *

Blank clause

This clause has been deliberately left blank.

(c)

Laundering facilities or space for laundering facilities and the means for sanitary disposal of waste water must be provided in a convenient location within or associated with a building, appropriate to its function or use.

(d)

A food preparation facility must be provided which includes—

(i)

a means for food rinsing, utensil washing and the sanitary disposal of associated waste water; and

(ii)

a means for cooking food; and

(iii)

a space for food preparation.

(e)

A sanitary compartment must be constructed with sufficient space or other means to enable an unconscious occupant to be removed from the compartment.

Application:

Application:

P2.4.3 only applies to a Class 1 building.

Explanatory information:

Explanatory information:

For the purposes of P2.4.3(c), waste water includes water that is soiled as a result of clothes washing, mopping floors and other domestic cleaning processes.

P2.4.4 Lighting

(a)

A habitable room must be provided with windows, where appropriate to the function or use of that part of the building, so that natural light, when available, provides an average daylight factor of not less than 2%.

(b)

Artificial lighting must be installed to provide an illuminance of not less than 20 lux appropriate to the function or use of the building to enable safe movement by occupants.

Application:

Application:

P2.4.4(b) only applies—

  1. to sanitary compartments, bathrooms, shower rooms, airlocks, laundries and the like; and
  2. if natural light of a suitable standard is not available.

Explanatory information:

Explanatory information:

P2.4.4(a) nominates a minimum average daylight factor for rooms provided with natural light. Note that Verification Method V2.4.4 provides a method by which the average daylight factor may be calculated.

To comply with P2.4.4(b), the level of artificial light must enable safe movement by occupants, appropriate to the use of the building. For example, in a movie room a lower level of lighting may be appropriate while a movie is being screened, however at the beginning and end of the movie when occupants are entering and exiting the movie room the minimum lighting level of 20 lux may be appropriate.

P2.4.5 Ventilation

(a)

A space within a building used by occupants must be provided with means of ventilation with outdoor air which will maintain adequate air quality.

(b)

A mechanical air-handling system installed in a building must control—

(i)

the circulation of objectionable odours; and

(ii)

the accumulation of harmful contamination by micro-organisms, pathogens and toxins.

(c)

Contaminated air must be disposed of in a manner which does not unduly create a nuisance or hazard to people in the building or other property.

P2.4.6 Sound insulation

(a)

Walls separating dwellings must provide insulation against the transmission of airborne sound sufficient to prevent illness or loss of amenity to the occupants.

(b)

Walls separating a bathroom, sanitary compartment, laundry or kitchen in a dwelling from a habitable room (other than a kitchen) in an adjoining dwelling, must provide insulation against impact generated sound sufficient to prevent illness or loss of amenity to the occupants.

(c)

The required sound insulation of walls must not be compromised by the incorporation or penetration of a pipe or other service element.

State and Territory Variations

State and Territory Variations

In Northern Territory P2.4.6 is replaced with the following:

P2.4.6 Sound insulation

  1. Walls separating dwellings must provide insulation against the transmission of airborne and impact generated sound sufficient to prevent illness or loss of amenity to the occupants.
  2. The required sound insulation of walls must not be compromised by the incorporation or penetration of a pipe or other service element.

P2.4.7 Condensation and water vapour management

Risks associated with water vapour and condensation must be managed to minimise their impact on the health of occupants.

Application:

Application:

P2.4.7 only applies to a Class 1 building.

Verification Methods

V2.4.2 Room or space height

(a)

Compliance with P2.4.2 is verified where the height of a room or space provides an appropriate activity support level that does not unduly interfere with its intended function.

(b)

For a room or space in (a), the activity support level must consider the dimensions of—

(i)

doors, ramps, barriers, stairs and windows; and

(ii)

fixed fittings and domestic services; and

(iii)

fixed and moveable equipment or furniture; and

(iv)

occupant circulation spaces.

Explanatory information:

Explanatory information:

The intent of P2.4.2 is the height of a room or space is sufficient for the intended use of the room or space. ‘Intended use’ recognises that the height required in a room or space is directly related to the room or space's intended function.

V2.4.2 is a means to verify that the height of a room or space is suitable for the intended use, and therefore meets the requirement of P2.4.2.

In relation to the intended function of a room or space, the activities that are likely to be undertaken by occupants in the room of space, as well the features of the activities, are relevant considerations when determining a suitable height.

For example, if the intended use of a room is a gymnasium, then gymnastic activities are likely to be undertaken in the room. These activities often involve jumps and flips which require significant space in order to be undertaken safely.

In terms of the occupants, their features and needs are also relevant when determining a suitable height. For example, occupant features and needs would differ between rooms or spaces intended as a child’s play area, and rooms or spaces intended for adult’s indoor cricket.

The method requires the consideration of occupant characteristics and activity characteristics through the defined terms ‘activity traits’, ‘occupant traits’ and ‘activity support level’. Refer to Schedule 3 for more information on these terms.

When determining the activity support level, the method requires consideration of the relevant dimensions of items likely to be located in the room or space, as well as occupant circulation spaces.

Some of these considerations are—

  • stairs and ramps, since the height of the room of the space will change relative to the occupant during incline and decline; and
  • fixed fittings such as lights that may protrude from the ceiling and wash-basins; and
  • domestic services such as air-conditioners, heaters, ceiling fans and heated water systems; and
  • fixed equipment such manufacturing or processing equipment, permanent signage or displays and lifts; and
  • moveable equipment such as whitegoods; and
  • fixed furniture such as built-in wardrobes and permanent seating; and
  • moveable furniture such as wardrobes, desks and beds; and
  • occupant circulation spaces so that occupants can move comfortably and safety around the room or space.

For example, the location and dimensions of a wash-basin is a relevant consideration in determining the activity support level of a bathroom. This is because an occupant will typically need to access the wash-basin whilst standing, which will influence the necessary height of the space.

Another example is the consideration of moveable equipment such as a refrigerator in a kitchen. If the intended use of a space is a kitchen, then it would be unrealistic to determine a sufficient height for the room without considering the height of a typical refrigerator that would be located in the room.

V2.4.4 Verification of suitable natural light

Compliance with P2.4.4(a) is verified for the provision of natural light in all habitable rooms when the average daylight factor for each window is determined in accordance with the following formula:

v2_FigV224a1_2019.svg

W = the net area of the light transmitting area of the window (m2); and

A = the total area of the internal wall, floor and ceiling surfaces (m2); and

T = the diffuse light transmittance of the window; and

θ = visible sky angle in degrees, measured in a vertical plane normal to and from the centre of the window; and

R = the area-weighted average reflectance of area A.

Explanatory information:

Explanatory information:

V2.4.4 is equivalent to FV4.3 in Volume One of the NCC. Guidance on the use of FV4.3 can be found in the Guide to Volume One of the NCC, and is applicable to the use of V2.4.4.

V2.4.5 Verification of suitable indoor air quality

For a Class 1 building, compliance with P2.4.5(a) and P2.4.5(b)(i) is verified when it is determined that the building under typical conditions in use is provided with sufficient ventilation with outdoor air such that contaminant levels do not exceed the limits specified in Table V2.4.5.

Table V2.4.5 Maximum contaminant limits for acceptable indoor air quality

Pollutant

Averaging Time

Maximum Air Quality Value

Carbon dioxide, CO2

8 hours

850 ppm Note 1

Carbon monoxide, CO

15 minutes

90 ppm

Carbon monoxide, CO

30 minutes

50 ppm

Carbon monoxide, CO

1 hour

25 ppm

Carbon monoxide, CO

8 hours

10 ppm

Formaldehyde, CH2O

30 minutes

0.1 mg/m3

Nitrogen dioxide, NO2

1 year

40 μg/m3 (0.0197 ppm) Note 2

Nitrogen dioxide, NO2

1 hour

200 μg/m3 (0.0987 ppm) Note 2

Ozone, O3

8 hour, daily maximum

100 μg/m3 (0.0473 ppm)

Particulate matter, PM2.5

1 year

10 μg/m3

Particulate matter, PM2.5

24 hour (99th percentile)

25 μg/m3

Particulate matter, PM10

1 year

20 μg/m3

Particulate matter, PM10

24 hour (99th percentile)

50 μg/m3

Total volatile organic compounds

1 hour

500 μg/m3

Notes to Table V2.4.5 :

  1. Based on body odour metric (i.e. 450 ppm above ambient CO2 level of 400 ppm and demand control ventilation provisions in AS 1668.2).
  2. Based on pressure of 101.325 kPa and temperature of 25 degrees (i.e. the conversion is mg/m3 = ppm (molecular weight/24.4)).

V2.4.6 Sound insulation

Compliance with P2.4.6(a) and (c) to insulate against transmission of airborne sound through walls separating dwellings is verified when it is measured in-situ that the wall has a weighted standardised level difference with spectrum adaptation term (DnT,w + Ctr) not less than 45 when determined under AS/NZS ISO 717.1.

State and Territory Variations

State and Territory Variations

V2.4.6 does not apply in Northern Territory.

V2.4.7 Verification of condensation management

Compliance with P2.4.7 is verified when modelling that assesses the effects of—

(a)

indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity conditions; and

(b)

heating and cooling set points; and

(c)

rain absorption; and

(d)

wind pressure; and

(e)

solar radiation; and

(f)

material hygrothermal properties,

determines that moisture will not accumulate—

(g)

interior to the primary water control layer within a building envelope; or

(h)

on the interior surface of the water control layer.