News: NCC and 7 Star implementation
The National Construction Code is changing – find out how this impacts your new Orbit Homes build.
From May 1st 2024 the National Construction Code (NCC) implements new Australia-wide minimum standards governing Liveable Housing design and Energy Efficiency. The new changes to the Building Code have a significant cost impact on all new home builds.
How will the changing standards shape your new Orbit Home post implementation?
The National Construction Code will set a new standard for accessible living and energy efficient housing. These changes will re-shape the way in which we design and build our homes.
As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to cut emissions targets and establish a pathway towards Net Zero all new homes will be required to meet a minimum energy rating of 7 stars. This is an increase over the previously mandated 6 star energy rating. Increasing your new homes energy efficiency from 6 stars to 7 stars will result in a more energy efficient, comfortable home saving on running costs and be better for our planet.
Being mindful of how you intend to use and live in your home you will begin to see the added benefits of increased energy efficiency on your way of living while also being aware of your home’s surrounds, solar orientation, window positioning, glazing to wall ratio and zoning.
Energy Efficiency standards will now implement a Whole of Home assessment (WHO) to ensure your home operates using the most energy efficient appliances. Orbit Homes’ included solar package means that you will have the freedom to select from our entire range of appliances no matter your thermal energy rating.
The changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) aim to make homes more liveable by providing step free paths to entry, wider doorways, corridors and recessed shower bases. Liveable housing design is about changing the way we design homes to make them easier to use and more adaptable to the changing needs of the occupants.
At Orbit Homes, we are committed to ensuring that every aspect of your living space is designed for comfort and convenience. That's why, for the past ten years, we have prioritized accessibility by maintaining step-free access in our garages and specification shower bases. We believe that true comfort begins with the ease of movement throughout your home, and our dedication to keeping key areas barrier-free reflects this commitment.
Anticipated Building Code Revisions Stemming from Liveable Housing
- A safe continuous and step free path of travel and entry into the home. All garages are step free as standard to provide a safe and efficient point of entry to your main living areas.
- Internal doors and corridors that facilitate comfortable and unimpeded movement between habitable spaces. Doorways to ground floor habitable rooms, laundry and accessible wet areas are a minimum 870mm wide.
- A toilet on the ground floor that provides easy access. Ensuring easy access to a ground floor toilet is a standard feature in all our home designs, offering convenient accessibility to a WC situated on the ground level.
- One hobless and step free shower base. An inclusion in our ‘premium’ specification across all home designs.
- Reinforced walls to required wet areas insuring safe installation of grabrails at a later date. We are dedicated to ensuring that our products are future-proofed to serve countless generations of happy families to come.
You can be confident that your newly built Orbit home is equipped for accessible living, drawing from our 45 years of experience and unwavering design integrity. Relax knowing that we are industry leaders in new home building standards, ready to support you every step of the way on your journey to a new home.
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Current prices across all our homes will be increasing on Monday 15th April 2024. Pay a deposit before 5pm Sunday 14th April and lock in current prices for 12 months.
This applies to your quoted list price for the house design you have chosen, façade cost, standard inclusions and promotion when you pay your initial deposit and sign a contract in the agreed timeframe.