Menu
This information is provided as a guide only. Clients should satisfy themselves with the provisions of the National Construction Code (NCC).
Please note that buildings in bushfire prone areas may have special requirements and expert advice should be sought. Similarly some states and territories have special requirements and expert advice should be sought. Your building certifier should be able to assist you with this information.
The NCC2019 Volume 2 Section A6 describes how to determine a building classification. an extract of parts is below:
A6.1 Class 1 buildings
A Class 1 building includes one or more of the following sub-classifications:
(1) Class 1a is one or more buildings, which together form a single dwelling including the following:
(a) A detached house.
(b) One of a group of two or more attached dwellings, each being a building, separated by a fire-resisting wall, including a row house, terrace house, town house or villa unit.
(2) Class 1b is one or more buildings which together constitute—
(a) a boarding house, guest house, hostel or the like that—
(i) would ordinarily accommodate not more than 12 people; and
(ii) have a total area of all floors not more than 300 m2 (measured over the enclosing walls of the building or buildings); or
(b) four or more single dwellings located on one allotment and used for short-term holiday accommodation.
A6.2 Class 2 buildings
(1) A Class 2 building is a building containing two or more sole-occupancy units.
(2) Each sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 building is a separate dwelling.
A6.3 Class 3 buildings
A Class 3 building is a residential building providing long-term or transient accommodation for a number of unrelated persons, including the following:
(1) A boarding house, guest house, hostel, lodging house or backpacker accommodation.
(2) A residential part of a hotel or motel.
(3) A residential part of a school.
(4) Accommodation for the aged, children, or people with disability.
(5) A residential part of a health-care building which accommodates members of staff.
(6) A residential part of a detention centre.
(7) A residential care building.
A6.4 Class 4 buildings
Class 4 is a dwelling in a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building
A6.5 Class 5 buildings
A Class 5 building is an office building used for professional or commercial purposes.
A6.6 Class 6 buildings
A Class 6 building is a shop or other building used for the sale of goods by retail or the supply of services direct to the public, including—
(1 )an eating room, café, restaurant, milk or soft-drink bar; or
(2) a dining room, bar area that is not an assembly building, shop or kiosk part of a hotel or motel; or
(3) a hairdresser’s or barber’s shop, public laundry, or undertaker’s establishment; or
(4) a market or sale room, showroom, or service station.
A6.7 Class 7 buildings
A Class 7 building is a storage-type building that includes one or more of the following sub-classifications:
(1) Class 7a — a carpark.
(2) Class 7b — a building that is used for storage, or display of goods or produce for sale by wholesale.
A6.8 Class 8 buildings
A Class 8 building is a process-type building that includes the following:
(1) A laboratory.
(2) A building in which the production, assembling, altering, repairing, packing, finishing, or cleaning of goods or produce for sale takes place.
A6.9 Class 9 buildings
A Class 9 building is a building of a public nature that includes one or more of the following sub-classifications:
(1) Class 9a — a health-care building including any parts of the building set aside as laboratories, and includes a health-care building used as a residential care building.
(2) Class 9b — an assembly building including a trade workshop or laboratory in a primary or secondary school.
(3) Class 9c — a residential care building.
A6.10 Class 10 buildings and structures
A Class 10 building includes one or more of the following sub-classifications:
(1) Class 10a is a non-habitable building including a private garage, carport, shed or the like.
(2) Class 10b is a structure that is a fence, mast, antenna, retaining wall or free-standing wall or swimming pool or the like.
(3) Class 10c is a private bushfire shelter.
