February CEO Update - Adrian Piani

Over recent weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with a range of stakeholders. These discussions have been constructive and encouraging and have conveyed strong recognition of the work of the ABCB Office.

Stakeholders have reinforced their confidence in the value of the National Construction Code (NCC) and expressed a clear willingness to work collaboratively with us to support productivity across the sector. I’ve been particularly encouraged by the shared commitment to a collegiate approach that promotes the NCC as a framework that delivers benefits for industry and for all Australians.

During February we continued to progress various projects and prepare for release of NCC 2025 in May.

We are continuing work to support productivity in residential housing by improving how key NCC requirements are understood and applied in practice. 

As part of this work, we are progressing the simplification of R-value requirements for energy efficiency. This work is focused on reducing unnecessary complexity, improving clarity for practitioners and supporting more efficient design and construction outcomes, while maintaining the intent of the NCC.

We are also continuing to strengthen the practical guidance available to industry to support confident application of the NCC. Draft worked examples and case studies have been developed to help explain key requirements. We are also finalising further education and guidance material for the NCC 2025 release. These resources are designed to improve understanding and support more consistent and efficient delivery across the housing sector.

A reminder that the NCC 2025 preview is now available, giving practitioners early access to the draft provisions ahead of publication on 1 May 2026. Jurisdictions can consider adoption from this date. The preview PDFs can be accessed via the NCC website.

Thank you for your engagement with the ABCB. We’ll continue to keep you updated as projects progress.