Public record: Board Meeting 2025 - 2

The Australian Building Codes Board met on 27 May 2025 to consider a range of matters related to the application of the National Construction Code (NCC) and future work program.

Meeting opening and administrative matters

• The meeting opened with Acknowledgement of Country.
• The Board noted attendance, apologies, and disclosure of interests and any potential or actual conflicts related to matters on the agenda.
• The Board dealt with administrative matters, received reports from the Chair and Chief Executive Officer and received jurisdictional updates.

Fire-activated restraining devices (Fire Bolts)

The Board noted the important concerns and positions stated by fire services (NSW and Victoria in particular) and acknowledged appreciation for the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC) in bringing the matter of fire bolts to the attention of building regulators and the ABCB Office.

The Board considered the current application of the NCC to fire doors with fire activating devices, such as fire bolts.

The NCC currently applies to fire doors with fire activating devices in two ways. When the fire compartment is tenable, the fire door is to provide an exit. When the fire compartment is overcome by fire, the door is to be a barrier to prevent fire spread.

Fire doors with fire activating devices are designed, manufactured and tested to allow the door to be a barrier against fire spread from one compartment to another. While the NCC does not directly specify fire bolts, the NCC does apply in so far as they, and other elements such as intumescent seals, help the door maintain its fire-resistant properties and prevent fire spread when the compartment approaches temperatures commensurate with flashover.

There is currently no Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) Provision or Performance Requirement in the NCC that requires fire doors to remain operable at elevated temperatures when they are operating as a barrier to fire.

However, the Board recognised there are varying opinions in relation to interpretation of the NCC with respect to fire doors with fire bolts incorporated.

Considering there are varying opinions and the importance of the fire-services positions, the Board agreed for the ABCB Office to quickly convene a group of relevant parties to undertake further work. This is to cover the fire services’ scenarios and positions and their basis; questions of whether fire doors with fire bolts clearly meet NCC requirements; bring together of available evidence in states’ and territories’ regulatory practice, as well as relevant international experience; and additional fire engineering analysis that may be required.

The Board noted that Performance Solutions are an available compliance avenue for forms of construction that do not meet the DtS Provisions of the NCC. Where practitioners in their judgment conclude that fire-activated restraining devices do not meet the DtS Provisions, a Performance Solution might be used to permit their use. 

Photoluminescent exit signs

The Board noted correspondences from Industry regarding photoluminescent exit signs. 

The Board noted that NCC Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions permit the use of photoluminescent exit signs and that the issues raised related primarily to compliance with the NCC, rather than the provisions.

The Board further noted there is no evidence yet that differences in DtS Provisions (i.e. for photoluminescent versus internally illuminated exit signs) have led to incidences of injury in emergent situations and that they are comparable to other international standards.

Lead free transition

The Board noted the ABCB Office will continue regular engagement with industry and continue to report progress of the transition to 1 May 2026 when lead free plumbing products will be required.

Activities to be delivered by the ABCB Office in support include more regular, detailed reporting for the Board in the last 12 months of transition (of the 3-year transition period); evolving communications activities of the ABCB Office, including through state and territory regulators and trade publications; and developing consistent responses to emerging issues.

Tropical cyclone Alfred

The Board received an update regarding Tropical Cyclone Alfred, taken from the James Cook University (JCU) Cyclone Testing Station reporting and the impact of the weather event on buildings in affected communities. The ABCB Office will provide a report to the Building Codes Committee and ABCB Resilience Board Subcommittee for consideration in future work.

The Board noted the opportunities to investigate and respond to emerging issues and prioritisation of disaster events and responses.

The Board extended its sincere gratitude for Stephen Kip’s tenure of service with the Board. Throughout his tenure Stephen has made invaluable contributions to the Board and greater construction industry. His unwavering dedication, sound judgement and deep understanding of the challenges facing the industry has enabled the Board to navigate all matters of policy towards greater outcomes for the industry.