The State Government is introducing building requirements for new homes that promise to boost energy efficiency and raise new liveability standards.
Announcing the move, PlanSA said that from October next year, new home designs would be more accessible by including improved entries, wider doors and corridors and step-free access aimed at making it easier for people with disability and older South Australians to find suitable housing and for all South Australians to visit family and friends.
PlanSA said the new designs would reinforce bathroom and toilet walls during construction as well as reduce the cost of modifications such as installing handrails, enabling residents to continue living in their homes as they age.
Additionally, a new energy efficiency standard in homes would reduce energy use and lower power bills for homeowners and rental tenants, predicted to offset initial construction costs.
“The majority of new homes will need to achieve a 7-star energy efficiency rating, up from 6 stars, seeking to lower greenhouse gas emissions and provide year-round comfort in the home,” PlanSA said.
“These new requirements were agreed nationally at the Building Ministers’ Meeting and have now been included in the building rules under the National Construction Code (NCC 2022), which commences in May 2023, with transitional arrangements in place for these provisions to commence in October 2023,” it said.
The implementation date for the new energy efficiency and livability requirements has been chosen as 1 October 2024.
PlanSA acknowledged the current pressures on the construction and building sectors, including market capacity, supply chain disruption and workforce uncertainty, and the additional rebuilding pressures following the River Murray floods.
The decision to implement the National Construction Code’s new provisions had been formed in conjunction with housing industry, climate, disability and ageing sector stakeholders and follows a period of considerable consultation.
