Part A4 Referenced documents
Introduction to this Part
This Part explains how documents referenced in the NCC are adopted and applied. The NCC itself does not contain details of every design and construction requirement for a building or plumbing or drainage system. As such, the NCC calls upon or “references” other documents with this information. These are called NCC referenced documents. Examples of such documents are Australian Standards, ABCB protocols, ABCB standards and other publications.
There are multiple types of referenced documents. A primary referenced document is one referenced in Schedule 2 of the NCC. A secondary referenced document is one referenced in a primary referenced document. Other referenced documents are referenced by secondary and subsequently referenced documents.
Governing Requirements
A4G1
Referenced documents
2019: A4.0
TAS A4G1 Referenced documents2019: A4.0
- All Tasmanian legislative documents referenced within the PCA are taken to be the latest published versions thereof unless noted otherwise.
Applications
A4G1 applies to documents referenced in the ABCB Housing Provisions in the same way as for documents referenced within any other part of the NCC.
Exemptions
If the secondary or other referenced document is also a primary referenced document, A4G1(5) does not apply.
A4G2
Differences between referenced documents and the NCC
2019: A4.1
The NCC overrules any difference between the NCC (including the ABCB Housing Provisions) and a primary referenced document, including any secondary referenced document.
Applications
A4G2 applies to documents referenced in the ABCB Housing Provisions in the same way as for other documents referenced by Volumes One, Two or Three of the NCC.
A4G3
Adoption of referenced documents
2019: A4.2
The NCC does not require compliance with requirements in relation to the following matters where they are prescribed in a referenced document:
- The rights, responsibilities or obligations between the manufacturer, supplier or purchaser.
- The responsibilities of any tradesperson or other building operative, architect, engineer, authority, or other person or body.
- The submission for approval of any material, building component, form or method of construction, to any person, authority or body other than those empowered under State or Territory legislation to give that approval.
- The submission of a material, product, form of construction or design to any person, authority or body for opinion.
- Any departure from the NCC, rule, specification or provision at the sole discretion of the manufacturer or purchaser, or by arrangement or agreement between the manufacturer and purchaser.
Applications
A4G3 applies to documents referenced in the ABCB Housing Provisions in the same way as for documents referenced within Volumes One, Two or Three of the NCC.
Explanatory information
Schedule 2 is only mandatory to Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, Specifications and Verification Methods. However, referenced documents are only applicable to the NCC provision that references the document.
A proponent undertaking a Performance Solution can use any element or edition of any document, if they help satisfy the Performance Requirements. They do not need to use the documents listed in Schedule 2.
Schedule 2 lists the specific edition of the Standard or other document adopted, including any amendments considered appropriate for Schedule 2, the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, Specifications or Verification Methods. Other editions of (or amendments to) the referenced document are not adopted and have no standing under the NCC.
A primary referenced document may refer to a secondary referenced document. A4G1(5) stipulates that the secondary referenced document is the edition of the document that existed at the time of publication of the primary referenced document. When another edition of (or amendment to) a secondary referenced document is released, subject to the exemption to A4G1, that edition (or amendment) is not adopted for the purposes of the primary referenced document.
A4G3 means that contractual matters or clauses defining responsibilities of various parties, and matters not appropriate for adoption in the NCC are not included when a document is called up in the NCC.