What does classification under the National Construction Code( NCC) mean?
Classification of the use of a building is a vitally important design process and a mandatory requirement of Part A of the NCC (including the Building Code of Australia Volume One [BCA]).
The NCC specifies and sub-divides use of buildings into ‘purpose’ groups.?BCA Part A6 states (bold and underline added); “The NCC groups buildings and structures by the purpose for which they are designed, constructed or adapted to be used, …, by assigning each type of building or structure with a classification.â€.
When using the word purpose for use of a building, the BCA describes various purpose groups and purpose sub-groups as follows (terms taken directly from the BCA);
·??????accommodation purpose,
·??????business purpose,
·??????civic, theatrical, social, political or religious purpose,
·??????commercial purpose.
·??????educational purpose,
·??????entertainment, recreational or sporting purpose,
·??????farming purpose,
·??????forestry purpose,
·??????health-care purpose,
·??????parking or accommodation of motor vehicles?purpose,
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·??????professional purpose,
·??????transit purpose, and
·??????other uses for;
o??areas primarily used for an emergency purpose,
o??a room for judicatory purpose, and
o??a garage, tool shed, sanitary compartment, or the like, forming part of a building used for other purpose.
NCC classifications are of two types; ‘inclusory’ and ‘exclusory’.?Inclusory definitions are those that list examples of the description in the heading, but do not exclude any other use or purpose.?In my view the descriptions of Class 3, 6, 7, 8 & 9 buildings are ‘inclusive’ and Class 1, 2, 4, 5 & 10 are ‘exclusive’.?
Class 3 (and the seven sub-groups within ?Class 3) is a good example of an inclusory description as the NCC states (underline added); “a Class 3 building is a residential building providing long-term or transient accommodation for a number of unrelated persons, including the following…,â€.?The dominant and only mandatory part of this classification is that it must be; “a residential building providing long-term or transient accommodation for a number of unrelated personsâ€.
Exclusory definitions are narrowly limited to just the descriptors in the text.?The NCC Class 1, 2, 4, 5 & 10 provisions are worded in this way and a good example of this is for a Class 5 office building where the NCC states; “A Class 5 building is an office building used for professional or commercial purposesâ€, and only professional or commercial offices are included, with all other offices excluded.?So the office in a hospital is an office in a health-care building (i.e. used for a health-care purpose, not a commercial or professional purpose) and is part of the Class 9a hospital building.?Similarly, the principal’s office in a school is an office in a building used for an educational purpose, not used for a commercial or professional purpose and is part of the Class 9b school building.
Other relevant examples include an exclusively staff-use cafeteria in a building (or part) used for transit purposes, which is part of the Class 9b use, because it is not ; “a shop or other building used for the sale of goods by retail or the supply of services direct to the publicâ€.?However a public cafeteria in a hospital, and available to the public, is a Class 6 restaurant located within a Class 9a hospital.?
A typical suburban doctors surgery, or community health-care facility used for a health-care purpose, might not meet the definition of a Class 9a ‘health-care building’ because there is not over-night accommodation or patients do not receive medical care that makes them non-ambulatory and requires them to be on the premises for some time after the treatment, but it definitely is not an office used for a commercial or professional purpose as the facility serves patients for health-care purposes.?It may still be a Class 9 building (i.e. of a public nature) but because it is not specifically listed in the inclusory parts of the Classification, does not exactly fit the specific classification.?In this case the designers and certifiers have to interpret the application of the NCC and some jurisdictions have specific provisions to manage this (for example Regulation 13 of the Victorian Building Regulations 2018, see Building Regulations 2018 (legislation.vic.gov.au).?
I am interested in any other comments, opinions or interpretations on this vitally important part of the NCC.
Building Certification Manager at BCA Consultants (WA)
2 年Thanks for the post Stephen, it generates an interesting discussion, particularly around the class 5 professional offices classification and it’s applicability (or not) to medical practitioners tenancies/buildings. Given that the ABCB with their most recent guidance note on building classification (May 2022) indicate a class 5 may apply to such a use, is there a gap with the words used and the intent?
McKenzie Group
2 å¹´Hi Stephen, the article seems consistent with the English and Welsh Approved Document terminology 'purpose group' from which the NCC's origins can be traced. The Approved Documents give more detail and examples than the BCA on which purpose group is appropriate and includes clinics in the same category as health centres and surgeries. The ADs go on to give further detail on the differences between varying health care buildings and their corresponding building design considerations. In my experience, in Australia under the BCA, medical buildings that do not administer services that render occupants requiring assistance in evacuation are not classed as health care buildings, with class 5 being commonly adopted. I believe this is in part due to the BCA Guide definition of a health care building. Are you suggesting you would classify a medical building that isn't a health care building as a class 9b?
Director at TF Certifiers + Consultants
2 å¹´Agree with classification in hospital,etc. Non-patient care area. But the doctors surgery would be similar to a dentist. Used for Professional Purpose. Varying degree of capacity/illness/mobility etc in GP clinic allows for quicker evacuation.
Bachelor of Building Surveying at Central University of QLD
2 å¹´I classify your typical suburban doctors surgery as Class 5, the same as an office
Retired gentleman looking forward to next phase in life
2 å¹´My expectation that from any set of regulations, all relevant requirements impacting individual project circumstances cannot be fully described. The written regulations should permit an applicant to prepare and submit project details to the RBS for them to consider such. In your case, including confirmation of class of occupancy. Arguably, the process could be akin to a performance solution approach in that an expert opinion is prepared and ultimately accepted by the RBS. Records of all correspondence to be kept.