Read time: 2 minutes
About the ABCB
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is a joint initiative of the Commonwealth and state and territory governments in Australia. It is a standards writing body responsible for the development of the National Construction Code (NCC), comprising of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA). The first edition of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) was produced in 1988.
The ABCB was established by an Inter-Government Agreement (IGA) that was first signed by the Commonwealth, states and territories on 1 March 1994. The ABCB reports to the Australian Government Minister and state and territory ministers responsible for building and plumbing regulatory matters, also known as the Building Ministers' Meeting (BMM).
The ABCB's mission
The ABCB’s mission is to address safety and health, amenity and accessibility, and sustainability, in the design, construction and performance of buildings in a nationally consistent manner. This is achieved through an effective and contemporary NCC, assisted through education and industry engagement.
Role of the ABCB Office
The ABCB Office’s primary role is to execute its work program agreed by the Board and Building Ministers, in accordance with an Inter-Government Agreement. The ABCB is supported by technical committees (Building Codes Committee and Plumbing Codes Committee) as well as specialist working groups (where required), which provide advice to the Office and the Board.
The ABCB is responsible for:
- updating and maintaining the NCC
- administering and managing the WaterMark and CodeMark Australia schemes
- providing clarification on NCC content
- consultation and liaison
- managing research projects relevant to the NCC
- providing advice on policy development as directed by the BMM and the Board
- managing and co-ordinating technical committees
- supporting practitioners through education and professional development resources
- other matters as determined by BMM and the Board.
Information sourced from the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).
Further reading
Disclaimer
This content is provided by the Australian Institute of Architects for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. It is not legal, financial, insurance, or other advice and you should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in circumstances where loss or damage may result. The Institute endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. Using this website and content is subject to the Acumen User Licence.