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26 Jun 2024

Australian Building Codes to Incorporate Measures Enhancing Climate Resilience

Australian Building Codes to Incorporate Measures Enhancing Climate Resilience

Building Ministers across Australia have agreed to add climate resilience as a key objective of the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) starting in 2025. This decision is a significant step towards creating more resilient buildings capable of withstanding increasingly extreme weather events.

The move responds to recommendations from the 2020 National Natural Disaster Arrangements Royal Commission and is expected to lead to the development of new standards that will enhance buildings' ability to withstand severe weather conditions. This initiative aims to reduce the displacement of Australians during natural disasters, lower rebuilding costs, and accelerate community recovery.

Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, emphasized the importance of this decision, stating that stronger houses will give Australian families a better chance at reducing the impact of natural disasters. The ABCB will collaborate with industry, government, and community stakeholders to ensure that future changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) are cost-effective, practical, and fit for purpose.

In addition to climate resilience, the Building Ministers addressed the carbon footprint of construction. They agreed to include a voluntary pathway for commercial buildings to calculate and report on embodied carbon in the 2025 NCC, and the ABCB has been tasked with investigating the incorporation of a minimum standard for embodied carbon in the 2028 NCC.

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) welcomed this decision, highlighting its potential to reduce insurance premiums and improve community recovery after disasters. Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt, emphasized that this decision complements existing resilience initiatives, including the $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund.

The Building Ministers also agreed to consider a national scheme to support the safety and reliability of building products, which could potentially generate an economic benefit of up to $2.4 billion per year. These new measures represent a significant step towards creating a more resilient built environment in Australia, providing greater security for homeowners, reducing long-term costs, and contributing to more sustainable construction practices.

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