National Construction Code (NCC) 2025

The National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 was released on 1 May 2026 by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). It has three volumes.

When will the NCC 2025 start in Queensland?

The start date in Queensland for NCC 2025 has been pushed back to 1 May 2027. That gives everyone a bit of breathing space to get across the changes and plan properly before it kicks in.

This extended transition period provides builders, designers, certifiers, engineers and suppliers with extra time to understand the new requirements. It also allows for time to update:

Business systems,
Educate staff, and
include the changes into future projects without disrupting projects already in the design or construction phase.

Minister for Housing & Public Works Sam O’Connor has confirmed a minimum 12-month transition period for any future NCC changes.

“We are very reluctant to be adopting future changes – they’ll only be happening in situations where they make sense,” he said at Master Builders’ Brisbane Industry Leaders Lunch on 11 June.

“From the NCC 2025, that's to do with waterproofing and weather shedding and some of those practical changes for commercial buildings. But we'll make sure that if there are any changes, there is a transition period so that you don't experience the mess that you experienced with NCC 2022. It is completely unacceptable for builders to have to go through that. We want to make sure that you have the certainty that you need to adapt and to plan, and that will be in legislation.”

What is new in the NCC 2025 compared to NCC 2022?

All the current Queensland variations from NCC 2022 will carry over into NCC 2025. On top of that, Queensland has flagged a few new changes, including:

Volume 1: dropping the extra requirements for reserving space and capacity for gas systems in certain commercial buildings. It covers space heating, hot water for food prep and amenities, and gas‑heated pools and spas.

Volume 3: keeping the existing Queensland rules for polyethylene drinking water pipes.

NCC 2025 is largely an evolution of the existing Code. It does not introduce new obligations for detached housing. It focuses on refining existing requirements, clarifying technical provisions and improving consistency across the Code.

What changes do we know about in NCC 2025?

Class 1 buildings

Most builders will notice relatively minor changes for Class 1 buildings. These include:

Improvements to waterproofing provisions,
Clearer guidance on moisture management and condensation control,
Refinements to the installation of vapour-permeable membranes and sarking, and
Better alignment with recently updated Australian Standards.

The Code also improves the clarity of Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions. It makes them easier to interpret and apply during design and construction.

Commercial construction – Class 2-9 buildings in NCC 2025

The largest changes can be found within these Classes. NCC 2025:

Strengthens energy efficiency requirements by introducing improved building envelope performance,
Enhanced glazing provisions,
More efficient lighting controls,
Updated HVAC performance requirements and,
For many new commercial buildings, requirements supporting rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installations and
Greater electrification of building services.

These measures are meant to reduce operational energy consumption and contribute to Australia's emissions reduction targets.

Fire safety in NCC 2025

This has been enhanced, particularly in relation to commercial car parks. The new Code introduces:

Increased fire resistance requirements for certain structures
Expanded sprinkler protection
Updated provisions for automated vehicle parking systems
Improved emergency lighting and
Clearer wayfinding signage to assist occupant evacuation during emergencies.

Waterproofing, water ingress and condensation in NCC 2025

Additional changes focus on:

Reducing water ingress and improving long-term building durability
Revised waterproofing provisions
Improved detailing around external wall systems and
Clearer guidance on condensation management.

These are intended to minimise moisture-related defects. These continue to be one of the most common causes of building failures and warranty claims.

Performance solutions in NCC 2025

NCC 2025 also strengthens these requirements by:

Placing greater emphasis on robust documentation
Engineering justification, verification methods and
Evidence of suitability.

Designers and building certifiers will be expected to demonstrate that alternative solutions satisfy the Performance Requirements using documented and verifiable assessment methods. This should result in greater consistency and confidence in compliance outcomes.

What else do I need to know about the NCC 2025 in Queensland?

The Queensland Development Code (QDC) and the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code (QPWC) will also continue to apply. They’ll still modify parts of the NCC.

Making use of the breathing space

For Queensland builders, the delayed implementation provides an excellent opportunity to prepare. Businesses should use the transition period to

Review construction practices
Update standard details
Revise specifications and quality assurance procedures, and
Educate staff on the new requirements.

We recommend becoming familiar with NCC 2025 well before its commencement. The industry will be better positioned to deliver compliant, higher-quality buildings if we do. All while reducing the risk of defects, approval delays and contractual issues once the Code becomes mandatory.