Overview
This unit will give you the opportunity to examine and apply the National Construction Code (NCC) and associated legislation to Building Class 2 to 9 projects. You will learn about statutory controls and assessment; enforcement proceedings; how Australian Standards, government Acts and other industry codes interact with the NCC; and the application of the principles of performance-based legislation. You should have completed an introductory construction legislation unit to ensure adequate level of entry knowledge. Students who have successfully completed BLSV13021 should not enrol in this unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: BLAR11051 Construction Legislation 1 or BLAR12034 Building Legislation 1. Students who have successfully completed BLSV13021 should not enrol in this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 3 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
| Assessment Task | Part Weighting (% of assessment) |
Assessment Security Level | Gen AI Guidance Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Assessment 1 (25% of unit ) | |||
| CASE STUDY (Case Study) | 100% of 25% | Low | AI Integration (Authentic Professional Use) |
| 2. Assessment 2 (25% of unit ) | |||
| CASE STUDY (Case Study) | 100% of 25% | Low | AI Integration (Authentic Professional Use) |
| 3. Assessment 3 (50% of unit ) | |||
| INTERACTIVE ORAL ASSESSMENT (Interactive Oral Assessments) | 100% of 50% | High | No Gen AI Use |
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Academic Progression Policy and Procedure
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student Feedback
Some assignment questions may be interpreted in multiple ways, which can lead to minor confusion despite supporting critical thinking.
Provide additional clarification for assessment tasks, such as brief explanatory notes or examples, to guide interpretation while maintaining the open-ended nature of the questions.
Feedback from Student Feedback
Students value the detailed and in-depth feedback provided, which offers clear guidance for improvement.
Continue the current approach to providing comprehensive and constructive feedback, as it effectively supports student learning and progression.
Feedback from Student Feedback
Students would benefit from more real-life applications and clearer explanations of NCC provisions to support interpretation and understanding.
Increase the use of real-world examples and expand explanatory content in study guides to strengthen students’ ability to interpret and apply NCC provisions effectively.
Feedback from Staff Feedback
The unit content requires updating to reflect the latest edition of the National Construction Code.
Unit materials should be updated to incorporate NCC 2025 to ensure content remains current, accurate, and aligned with contemporary industry standards.
- Interpret and apply the National Construction Code (NCC) for Building Class 2 to 9 projects
- Assess design documentation for compliance with building legislation including Workplace Health and Safety, and Disability Discrimination laws, and Australian Standards
- Analyse and apply the enforcement provisions under current building legislation to a compliance scenario.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
|
1.
Assessment 1
(25% of unit )
Case Study
|
|||
|
2.
Assessment 2
(25% of unit )
Case Study
|
|||
|
3.
Assessment 3
(50% of unit )
Interactive Oral Assessments
|
|||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
Textbooks
NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE COMPLETE SERIES
- (2025)
- Authors: The Australian Building Codes Board
- The Australian Building Codes Board
- Canberra Canberra , ACT , Australia
- ISBN: NA
- Binding: Hardcover
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom app on your smart phone or access to Zoom on your laptop
- ArchiStar
- Microphone and headset (and preferably a camera) to participate in Zoom sessions
- Microsoft Word or PDF software for preparation of assessment items in the appropriate format
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.mirzaei@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Nov 2026Module/Topic
Introduction to NCC Volume 1 and Enabling Legislation
Chapter
1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Nov 2026Module/Topic
Structural Requirements for Buildings
Chapter
2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Nov 2026Module/Topic
Fire Resistance of Building Structures and Building Elements
Chapter
3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Nov 2026Module/Topic
Preventing Fire Spread Through Compartmentation and Separation
Chapter
4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 07 Dec 2026Module/Topic
Provision for Escape and Emergency Evacuation in Buildings
Chapter
5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 is due on Monday of Week 5.
CASE STUDY Due: Week 5 Monday (7 Dec 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 6
Begin Date: 14 Dec 2026Module/Topic
Building Services and Equipment
Chapter
6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Mid-Term Break
Begin Date: 21 Dec 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 04 Jan 2027Module/Topic
Weatherproofing and Sanitary Facilities
Chapter
7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 11 Jan 2027Module/Topic
Internal Amenity and Comfort in Buildings
Chapter
8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 18 Jan 2027Module/Topic
Ancillary Provisions
Chapter
9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 is due on Monday of Week 9.
CASE STUDY Due: Week 9 Monday (18 Jan 2027) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 10
Begin Date: 25 Jan 2027Module/Topic
Livable housing design
Chapter
10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 01 Feb 2027Module/Topic
Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Chapter
11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 08 Feb 2027Module/Topic
Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3 is due on Thursday of Week 12.
INTERACTIVE ORAL ASSESSMENT Due: Week 12 Thursday (11 Feb 2027) 11:59 pm AEST
Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Feb 2027Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1. Assessment 1 ( 25% of unit )
Case Study
Assessment 1 is a Case Study-based assessment requiring students to apply their knowledge of the National Construction Code (NCC) and state-based building legislation to real-world construction scenarios. The task requires students to demonstrate their ability to interpret, apply, and communicate compliance requirements across different project stages and building types. Assessment 1 is aligned with Unit Learning Outcomes 1 and 2, which are as below:
- Unit Learning Outcomes 1: Interpret and apply the National Construction Code (NCC) for Building Class 2 to 9 projects
- Unit Learning Outcomes 2: Assess design documentation for compliance with building legislation including Workplace Health and Safety, and Disability Discrimination laws, and Australian Standards
Gen AI Guidance Levels: AI Integration (Authentic Professional Use): Gen AI is integrated into this task as authentic professional use, and you remain responsible for your final work.
It is essential that your submission is entirely your own. If you use any sources, they must be appropriately cited in accordance with the CQU Harvard referencing style, as outlined in the CQU Harvard referencing guide.
Additional guidance and information about the assessment requirements can be found on the unit's Moodle site.
Week 5 Monday (7 Dec 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit via Moodle Learning Site
Week 7 Monday (4 Jan 2027)
via Moodle Learning site. Students will be advised if a delay emerges.
The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Clarity and succinctness of expression.
- Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
- Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
- Original thought.
- Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
- Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this unit and appropriate application of this knowledge.
For further information, please refer to the marking rubric provided in the assessment brief.
- Interpret and apply the National Construction Code (NCC) for Building Class 2 to 9 projects
- Assess design documentation for compliance with building legislation including Workplace Health and Safety, and Disability Discrimination laws, and Australian Standards
2. Assessment 2 ( 25% of unit )
Case Study
Assessment 2 is a Case Study-based assessment requiring students to analyse a complex multi-storey mixed-use building case study to evaluate fire safety, egress, and compliance requirements under the National Construction Code (NCC) Volume 1. Students will apply advanced understanding of construction classification, fire resistance levels, compartmentation, and egress provisions to assess the building’s conformity with statutory performance requirements. The task requires interpretation of NCC clauses, determination of appropriate Fire Resistance Levels (FRLs), and evaluation of compliance pathways, including acceptable test evidence and documentation standards. Through this assessment, students will demonstrate their ability to critically apply building code knowledge to identify non-compliance issues, propose compliant design solutions, and justify decisions with reference to regulatory frameworks and industry best practices. Assessment 2 is aligned with Unit Learning Outcomes 1, 2, and 3, which are as below:
- Unit Learning Outcomes 1: Interpret and apply the National Construction Code (NCC) for Building Class 2 to 9 projects
- Unit Learning Outcomes 2: Assess design documentation for compliance with building legislation including Workplace Health and Safety, and Disability Discrimination laws, and Australian Standards
- Unit Learning Outcomes 3: Analyse and apply the enforcement provisions under current building legislation to a compliance scenario.
Gen AI Guidance Levels: AI Integration (Authentic Professional Use): Gen AI is integrated into this task as authentic professional use, and you remain responsible for your final work.
It is essential that your submission is entirely your own. If you use any sources, they must be appropriately cited in accordance with the CQU Harvard referencing style, as outlined in the CQU Harvard referencing guide.
Additional guidance and information about the assessment requirements can be found on the unit's Moodle site.
Week 9 Monday (18 Jan 2027) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit via Moodle Learning Site
Week 11 Monday (1 Feb 2027)
via Moodle Learning site. Students will be advised if a delay emerges.
The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Clarity and succinctness of expression.
- Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
- Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
- Original thought.
- Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
- Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
- Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this unit and appropriate application of this knowledge.
For further information, please refer to the marking rubric provided in the assessment brief.
- Interpret and apply the National Construction Code (NCC) for Building Class 2 to 9 projects
- Assess design documentation for compliance with building legislation including Workplace Health and Safety, and Disability Discrimination laws, and Australian Standards
- Analyse and apply the enforcement provisions under current building legislation to a compliance scenario.
3. Assessment 3 ( 50% of unit )
Interactive Oral Assessments
Assessment 3 is an interactive oral assessment, in which students respond verbally to a hypothetical case study and to questions from the examiner. This assessment requires students to analyse a complex multi-storey mixed-use building case study to evaluate fire safety, egress, and compliance requirements under the National Construction Code (NCC) Volume 1. Students will apply advanced understanding of construction classification, fire resistance levels, compartmentation, and egress provisions to assess the building’s conformity with statutory performance requirements. The task requires interpretation of NCC clauses, determination of appropriate Fire Resistance Levels (FRLs), and evaluation of compliance pathways, including acceptable test evidence and documentation standards. Through this assessment, students will demonstrate their ability to critically apply building code knowledge to identify non-compliance issues, propose compliant design solutions, and justify decisions with reference to regulatory frameworks and industry best practices. Students receive a hypothetical case study before the oral assessment so they can prepare. During the oral assessment, they present their understanding and answer follow-up questions without notes beyond any permitted material. The examiner may ask students to justify, clarify or apply their answers to the case study. Assessment 3 is aligned with Unit Learning Outcomes 2, and 3, which are as below:
Unit Learning Outcomes 2: Assess design documentation for compliance with building legislation including Workplace Health and Safety, and Disability Discrimination laws, and Australian Standards
Unit Learning Outcomes 3: Analyse and apply the enforcement provisions under current building legislation to a compliance scenario.
Gen AI Guidance Levels: No Gen AI Use.
This assessment is exempt from the 72-hour submission grace period.
It is essential that your responses are entirely your own. If you use any sources while preparing, you should be able to name them and explain how you used them. Any sources referred to during the viva must be identified clearly.
Additional guidance and information about the assessment requirements, including oral assessment format, timing, scheduling and marking criteria, can be found on the unit's Moodle site.
Week 12 Thursday (11 Feb 2027) 11:59 pm AEST
Oral assessment held in Week 12, booked through Moodle.
Exam Week Friday (19 Feb 2027)
The mark will be returned before the certification of grades.
The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Clarity, fluency and succinctness of verbal expression.
- Adequate coverage of the topics discussed.
- Use of supporting evidence where appropriate, with sources identified clearly during the viva.
- Original thought and independent reasoning.
- Professional delivery, including structure, pace, tone and appropriate use of technical terminology.
- Ability to respond to the examiner's questions, justifying and clarifying answers.
- Where appropriate, use of diagrams, illustrations or other visual aids that support your responses.
- Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this unit and appropriate application of this knowledge to the case study.
For further information, please refer to the marking rubric provided in the assessment brief.
- Assess design documentation for compliance with building legislation including Workplace Health and Safety, and Disability Discrimination laws, and Australian Standards
- Analyse and apply the enforcement provisions under current building legislation to a compliance scenario.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
