NCC 2025 in South Australia: which edition applies

NCC 2025: what the adoption page says for South Australia

The ABCB page on NCC 2025 state and territory adoption states: "NCC 2025 was published on 1 May 2026." For South Australia it lists two dates: "BCA: 1 May 2027" and "PCA: 1 May 2026". BCA is the Building Code of Australia, which the page describes as NCC Volume One and Volume Two; PCA is the Plumbing Code of Australia, NCC Volume Three.

The same page adds a qualification in its own words: "Some NCC requirements may apply at different times or not at all due to state or territory variations." It also says "Visit your jurisdiction's website for more information", and for South Australia it links to the PlanSA Building Code page.

That qualification is the reason this note stops short of saying which edition governs any particular house. Transitional arrangements, and the edition that applies to an application lodged or approved on a given date, are not reproduced here. The relevant authority assessing the building work decides that.

How NCC 2022 structures energy efficiency for a house

Part H6 of NCC 2022 Volume Two sets two Performance Requirements. H6P1 covers thermal performance: the total heating load, cooling load and thermal energy load of the habitable rooms and conditioned spaces must not exceed the limits in Specification 44. H6P2 covers energy usage, including a limit on the energy value of the building’s domestic services measured against a stated reference set of equipment.

H6D2 gives the Deemed-to-Satisfy routes. Under H6D2(1), H6P1 is satisfied either by complying with S42C2 using house energy rating software and S42C4(1), or by complying with Parts 13.2 (building fabric), 13.3 (external glazing and shading), 13.4 (building sealing) and 13.5 (ceiling fans) of the ABCB Housing Provisions. Under H6D2(2), H6P2 is satisfied either by complying with S42C3 using house energy rating software and S42C4(2), or by complying with Parts 13.6 and 13.7 of the Housing Provisions "for a building with a total floor area not greater than 500 m²".

Part 13.1, and the South Australian replacement of 13.1.2

Clause 13.1.1 of the Housing Provisions lists what Section 13 contains: building fabric (Part 13.2), external glazing (13.3), building sealing (13.4), ceiling fans (13.5), whole-of-home energy usage (13.6) and services (13.7). Clause 13.1.2 makes the Section subject to the Governing Requirements of NCC Volume Two and to the State and Territory variations, additions and deletions in the Schedules.

The South Australian schedule contains an instruction for this clause: "Delete clause 13.1.2 and insert SA 13.1.2 as follows". SA 13.1.2(1) repeats the national text. SA 13.1.2(2) adds: "In South Australia, for the purposes of Section 13, a sunroom or the like is deemed to be a Class 10a building and must comply with 13.2.7." The variation carries the reference "2019: SA Note to Part 3.12".

Clause 13.2.7 deals with attached Class 10a buildings. It requires that a Class 10a building attached to a Class 1 building either have an external fabric that achieves the required level of thermal performance for a Class 1 building, or be separated from the Class 1 building with construction having that level of thermal performance. Clause 13.2.1(2) states that 13.2.7 applies to a Class 1 building with an attached Class 10a building.

The variation does not define what counts as "the like". Whether a particular glazed room, enclosed verandah or extension falls within it is a question for the assessing authority, not one settled here.

Part 13.6: whole-of-home energy usage

Part 13.6 is marked "New for 2022". Clause 13.6.1(1) applies it to a Class 1 building and to a Class 10a building with a conditioned space, and 13.6.1(2) states that it "must be applied as directed in H6D2(2)" — that is, as one of the two Deemed-to-Satisfy routes for energy usage described above.

Clause 13.6.2(1) requires that the net equivalent energy usage of the building must not exceed an allowance. The usage side is built from a floor area factor multiplied by a main space conditioning and main water heater efficiency factor (taken from the ABCB Standard for Whole-of-Home Efficiency Factors), plus swimming pool pump and spa pump energy usage where present, less the installed capacity of on-site photovoltaics. The allowance is the floor area factor multiplied by an energy factor from Table 13.6.2b, which is set out by climate zone.

The notes to Table 13.6.2a state that total floor area "is measured within the inside face of the external walls of the Class 1 building and includes any conditioned, attached Class 10a building." This note does not state which climate zone applies to any Adelaide address.

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What the South Australian schedules list, and what this page does not answer

As published on the ABCB site and read on 28 September 2026, the South Australian schedule to the NCC 2022 Housing Provisions lists entries under Parts 4.2, 9.2, 10.2 and 13.1, and referenced documents. The South Australian schedule to Volume Two lists entries under A6, H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H7, H9, H10, referenced documents, and a footnote on other legislation affecting buildings. Neither index lists an entry for Part H6 or Part 13.6.

That is a description of the indexes, not a statement that nothing else in South Australia bears on these provisions. The edition that applies to an application, the transitional position, the climate zone, and whether a particular room is "a sunroom or the like" are matters for the relevant authority assessing the building work.

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