Consultation Hub

Consultation is the cornerstone of the Australian Building Codes Board's (ABCB) commitment to maintaining a contemporary and relevant National Construction Code (NCC). The consultation process also relates to our CodeMark and WaterMark product certification schemes. This hub is a place for you to find and participate in consultations that interest you.

Consultations will be displayed below once available. Alternatively, you can search for consultations by keyword or interest.

Open Consultations

See All Open Consultations

Closed Consultations

  • Auditing and Compliance Publication Framework

    The Building Confidence Report (BCR), published in 2018, identified there were regulatory and compliance deficiencies in the regulatory oversight of the construction of commercial buildings in Australia. Note the BCR defined commercial buildings as Class 2 – 9 buildings and we have continued... More

    Closed 31 January 2021

  • WMTS:051-2020 Bidet douche seats

    For Public Comment Technical Specification for the WaterMark Certification Scheme WaterMark Technical Specification WMTS-051:2020 Technical Specification for plumbing and drainage products, Bidet douche seats, incorporates amendments to the labelling and marking requirements for... More

    Closed 2 December 2020

  • Definition for building complexity

    The defined term for 'Building complexity' has been developed in response to a decision of the Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) that a definition be prepared regarding the design, construction and certification of complex buildings. This work has been undertaken by the Building Confidence... More

    Closed 1 November 2020

  • WMTS-522:2020

    For Public Comment Technical Specification for the WaterMark Certification Scheme WMTS-522:2020,incorporates amendments to allow an addition of similar products of alternate design to obtain certification. The amendments have also aligned with requirements of existing... More

    Closed 28 October 2020

  • WMTS:101-2020 Appliances (low hazard rating)

    For Public Comment Technical Specification for the WaterMark Certification Scheme The proposed amendments to WaterMark Technical Specification, WMTS-101:2020 Technical Specification for plumbing and drainage products, Appliances (low hazard rating), include amendments to Clause... More

    Closed 28 October 2020

See All Closed Consultations

We Asked, You Said, We Did

Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes

We asked

We sought your views on a definition to identify buildings with increased likelihood of non-compliance, and therefore consequences for occupants.

You said

You said the definition needed to be simplified and amended so that it could be understood and implemented with confidence.

We did

To make the definition clearer, we:

  • consolidated and replaced confusing criteria
  • simplified the presentation, and
  • used terminology from the NCC. 

See the What happens next section at the bottom of this page for more information.   

We asked

The Building Confidence Report (BCR) Implementation Team asked for your feedback about how:

  • reporting of auditing information could impact compliance with the National Construction Code, State and Territory legislation and Australian Standards;
  • how and when auditing information should be reported; and
  • your perceptions of the benefits and disadvantages of such reporting.

You said

We received 199 responses. Responses were positive about the impacts of reporting on auditing, with almost all respondents expressing that reporting on auditing would benefit industry, building owners, tenants and users. Two thirds of respondents expressed an interest in more, and more frequent, engagement by building regulators about auditing, in addition to formal reporting.

We did

The BCR Implementation Team used your feedback to inform the draft Auditing and Compliance Publication Framework, which is out for consultation from November 2020 - January 2021.

We asked

In March 2020, the Building Confidence Report (BCR) Implementation Team released a discussion paper asking for feedback on a draft National Model Code of Conduct for building surveyors.

You said

The Team received 44 responses to the discussion paper, which indicated you supported a national code of conduct for building surveyors. However, you suggested some changes, asked for clarifications and suggested additional obligations.

We did

In response to your feedback, obligations have been reduced and made clearer. A new obligation on transparency in contracting was added along with more examples and a glossary.  

View the Model Code on the ABCB website.