By QED Consulting Engineers — structural & civil engineers, Notting Hill, Melbourne
"NCC compliant" means your structural design meets the National Construction Code and the Australian Standards it references — for loads, concrete, steel, timber and footings — and is verified before a building surveyor issues your permit. It's a phrase you'll see everywhere in building, so here's what it actually involves.
What is the NCC?
The National Construction Code (NCC) is Australia's primary set of building requirements, setting the minimum standards for safety, health, amenity and sustainability. For structural work, the NCC sets performance requirements and points to a series of Australian Standards that show how to meet them.
The key structural standards
Structural design typically draws on standards such as:
- AS 1170 — structural design actions (the loads a building must resist: dead, live, wind, snow, earthquake)
- AS 2870 — residential slabs and footings
- AS 3600 — concrete structures
- AS 4100 — steel structures
- AS 1684 — residential timber framing
- AS 4600 — cold-formed (light gauge) steel structures
Designing to the right standards for your materials and building type is what makes a design genuinely compliant.
Deemed-to-Satisfy vs Performance Solution
The NCC offers two compliance pathways. A Deemed-to-Satisfy solution follows the prescribed standards directly — the common route for most homes. A Performance Solution demonstrates compliance with the NCC's performance requirements another way, often using engineering analysis, which is useful for unusual or complex structures. Both are valid; the right one depends on your project.
Who checks compliance?
Your structural engineer designs to the NCC and relevant standards and certifies the structural design. Your building surveyor then assesses the overall building work and issues the permit. Compliance isn't a box-tick — it's what gives you confidence the building is safe and that your permit and insurance hold up.
At QED, NCC-compliant design is the baseline for everything we do, from residential to commercial and industrial projects across Melbourne.
Want compliant, permit-ready structural design? Talk to a Melbourne structural engineer.
Frequently asked questions
What does NCC compliant mean? It means the design meets the National Construction Code and the Australian Standards it references for your materials and building type, verified before a permit is issued.
What standards apply to structural design in Australia? Common ones include AS 1170 (loads), AS 2870 (footings/slabs), AS 3600 (concrete), AS 4100 (steel), AS 1684 (timber) and AS 4600 (cold-formed steel).
What's the difference between Deemed-to-Satisfy and a Performance Solution? Deemed-to-Satisfy follows the prescribed standards directly; a Performance Solution demonstrates compliance another way, often via engineering analysis, for unusual or complex designs.
Who checks that a structural design is NCC compliant? The structural engineer designs and certifies it; the building surveyor assesses the building work and issues the permit.
