National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 Amendment 1- WA
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has published an amendment for the 2022 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC). The NCC 2022 Amendment 1 will be adopted on 1 May 2025. From 1 May 2025, all building permit applications made for new private swimming pools in Western Australia will need to comply with National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 Amendment 1.
These changes have been heavily driven by SPASA’s advocacy efforts over the last two years.
Note: the NCC 2022 Amendment 1 is available from the ABCB website as a separate document, as it isn’t part of NCC online yet.
WA Key Changes for the Swimming Pool and Spa Industry
Amendment 1 includes WA State Variations that offer additional compliance options for users of the NCC that may be more readily achievable using WA building practices and products.
For swimming pool covers and blankets, the deemed-to-satisfy clause WA H9D3 in Volume Two of Amendment 1 requires the cover or blanket to comply with AS 5348:2022 instead of the Smart Approved Watermark Scheme. Building permit applications for private swimming pools (including spa pools) must include documentation that demonstrates compliance with AS 5348:2022.
When installing a swimming pool associated with an existing building, Part 2.6 and Part 3.12.5 of NCC 2019 Volume Two Amendment 1 may apply instead of Part H6 of NCC 2022 Volume Two.
This change considers the impact of the ‘whole-of-home energy usage’ requirements introduced to Part H6 of NCC 2022.
Existing building is a defined term, which means: for the purposes of Part H6, an existing Class 1 building or an existing attached Class 10 part that was not required to comply with the energy efficiency requirements of NCC 2022 or any later edition.
Effectively there is no change for swimming pools where the existing dwelling is, or was, not required to comply with NCC 2022 (typically these would be dwellings subject to a building permit application made prior to 1 May 2025).
For swimming pools associated with a dwelling required to comply with NCC 2022 (dwellings where a building permit application for the dwelling was made on or after 1 May 2025), Part H6 of Volume Two applies and building permit applications for these swimming pools must include documentation that demonstrates compliance with Part H6 of NCC 2022. Please see the below extract from the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Whole-of-Home Efficiency Factors Standard:
The NCC 2022 residential energy efficiency provisions introduce a whole-of-home (WOH) approach. This provides a holistic assessment of the energy performance of a dwelling, covering both thermal performance and domestic services. To meet the WOH requirements, the net equivalent energy usage of a dwelling must not exceed a certain allowance.
The net equivalent energy usage of a dwelling is calculated by multiplying the applicable WOH efficiency factor by the applicable floor area factor, adding swimming pool and spa pump energy usage, and subtracting the installed capacity of any photovoltaics (PV). The applicable WOH efficiency factors are determined by the combination of the domestic services (i.e. heating, cooling and heated water equipment).
Access to Australian Standards for SPASA members
Your SPASA membership provides you with a special offer from Standards Australia to purchase five standards at a substantially discounted price. Find out more here: https://www.spasa.com.au/members-and-industry/member-services/standards-australia
Further information & resources
You can read the full information regarding the amendment here: https://www.abcb.gov.au/editions/ncc-2022
To explore the code please head to the NCC website: https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/
Program - Implementation of NCC 2022 and residential energy efficiency – information webinar
Industry Bulletin 147 - Western Australian State Variation NCC 2022 Buildings in wind Regions B and D
Industry Bulletin 168 - New Western Australian State variations to the National Construction Code 2022
Industry Bulletin 169 - Building Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2025: Bushfire requirements for Class 9 vulnerable use buildings
Industry Bulletin 170 - Updated Building Act forms for building surveyors – BA3 and BA18
NCC 2022 Amendment 1 is available on the ABCB website
NCC 2022 seminars and webinars - Australian Building Codes Board - YouTube
NCC-related material - Resource library | ABCB
If you have any further queries please contact the Building and Energy Standards team at be.standards@demirs.wa.gov.au