January CEO Update - Adrian Piani

As this is my first CEO update for the year, I want to share our priorities and the important work underway.

We are preparing to release the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 preview and remain focused on developing educational materials to help practitioners understand the changes. This year, we will continue work that positions the NCC for success over the longer term. Priorities include supporting the Government’s housing agenda, supporting the Modernising the National Construction Code project being led by Treasury, and progressing initiatives that improve productivity and building quality.

We will continue to progress the national voluntary certification scheme for manufacturers of modern methods of construction. This is a priority for Building Ministers and an important opportunity to address regulatory barriers and support faster, more efficient delivery of new homes.

Alongside these major projects, we will review our digital systems, including the ABCB website, to identify areas for improvement.

Public consultation on streamlining and modernising the NCC is now open, giving stakeholders a valuable opportunity to help shape future changes to how the NCC is used and developed.

This consultation aims to improve the NCC and building regulations through a more streamlined, easy-to-use and cost-effective regulatory system, while maintaining high standards for building quality and safety. It also considers governance, complexity, usability, accessibility, and how innovation can support more diverse housing supply.

Read the discussion paper and submit your feedback by 27 February 2026 on Treasury’s Streamlining and Modernising the National Construction Code consultation page.

We are preparing the preview of NCC 2025. The preview will help practitioners familiarise themselves with upcoming changes before adoption commences from 1 May 2026, noting that adoption remains a matter for each jurisdiction.

Building Ministers agreed that NCC 2025 will include the following key changes:  

• Improved water management in commercial and apartment buildings
• Enhanced carpark fire safety provisions
• Commercial energy efficiency reforms, including mandatory onsite solar photovoltaic systems
• Condensation mitigation measures. 

Ministers also confirmed that there will be no additional residential changes in NCC, except for essential safety and quality updates. The 7‑star energy efficiency requirements introduced in NCC 2022 will continue.

To support practitioners in understanding and applying the NCC 2025 provisions, we will run a series of NCC 2025 webinars after the 1 May 2026 publication. These sessions will walk through the key amendments, highlight what has changed, and provide opportunities for questions from practitioners and other industry stakeholders.

We will also publish updated education resources following the 1 May release, including new and updated handbooks, guidance materials and other tools to help practitioners navigate the new provisions with confidence.

This year we will review and enhance our digital systems, including improvements to the ABCB website, to make it easier for practitioners to access guidance, technical resources and NCC content.

We will also be exploring how artificial intelligence, and other digital tools can support the development, communication and usability of NCC provisions. Building Ministers have highlighted the potential for AI to streamline processes and reduce regulatory burden.

As the Modernising the National Construction Code project progresses, we will action any outcomes relating to AI, digitisation and improved usability of the NCC. Our role will be to translate these outcomes into practical improvements that better support tradies, small businesses, households and industry more broadly.

These initiatives will allow us to test how new technologies can help practitioners more easily navigate and understand their regulatory obligations, strengthening the support we provide across the building and construction sector.

Late last year, we held the annual meeting with Conformity Assessment Bodies, which reinforced our ongoing work to strengthen the scheme. The meeting provided a constructive forum for collaboration and discussion among scheme participants. 

Insights from this meeting will inform the next phase of our review to ensure CodeMark remains robust, efficient and responsive to industry needs. We will continue to engage with stakeholders as we consider recommendations for future enhancements.

Recently the Board reviewed how the transition to lead free plumbing products is progressing.

The Board confirmed that from 1 May 2026 manufacturers will only be allowed to produce Lead Free WaterMark certified plumbing products, where required by the NCC.

To support the Government's housing goals, and to make sure there are enough lead free products available, the Board has agreed to extend the time during which existing WaterMark certified products can still be installed. These products can now be used until 1 May 2028. This extension gives industry time to sell remaining stock and helps achieve a consistent national approach to introducing the lead free requirements.

The Board also acknowledged the manufacturers who have already updated their products ahead of the 1 May 2026 deadline. Their early transition will help meet the growing demand for lead free products.

Further detail on this decision is available in the Public record: Board Meeting December 2025 on the ABCB website.