Building Classes Explained

All buildings in Australia are governed by the National Construction Code (NCC) (formerly the Building Code of Australia – BCA), which sets out the regulations and performance requirements that buildings must meet.
These requirements vary depending on the intended use of the building. These uses are defined as building classes.
There are ten main building classes (some with sub-classes) within the NCC. Typically, TechSpan buildings fall within one of the four classes outlined in more detail at the end of this article.

Building Classes Overview

Class 1

Class 1a – A single dwelling, being a detached house, or one or more attached dwellings, each separated by a fire-resisting wall (e.g. row house, terrace house, townhouse or villa unit).
Class 1b – A boarding house, guest house, hostel or similar with a total floor area not exceeding 300m², accommodating no more than 12 people, and not located above or below another dwelling or building (other than a private garage).

Class 2
A building containing two or more sole-occupancy units, each being a separate dwelling.

Class 3
A residential building (other than Class 1 or 2) that provides long-term or transient accommodation for unrelated persons (e.g. boarding houses, hostels, backpacker accommodation, or the residential part of hotels, motels, schools or detention centres).

Class 4
A dwelling within a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 building, where it is the only dwelling in the building.

Class 5
An office building used for professional or commercial purposes (excluding Classes 6, 7, 8 or 9).

Class 6
A shop or building for the retail sale of goods or services directly to the public (e.g. café, restaurant, kiosk, hairdresser, showroom or service station).

Class 7

Class 7a – A car park building.
Class 7b – A building used for the storage or display of goods or produce for wholesale.

Class 8
A laboratory or building where a process is carried out for trade, sale or gain (e.g. production, assembly, repair, packing or manufacturing).

Class 9
A building of a public nature.

Class 9a – A healthcare building (including associated laboratories).
Class 9b – An assembly building (e.g. schools, halls or public spaces).
Class 9c – An aged care building.

Class 10

A non-habitable building or structure.

Class 10a – A private garage, carport, shed or similar structure.

What Building Class is My TechSpan Building?

Class 7b — Storage Buildings
Buildings used for the storage or display of goods or produce for wholesale.
Typical examples: warehouses and storage facilities.

Class 8 — Processing & Factory Buildings
Buildings used for manufacturing, processing or workshop activities.
Typical examples: factories, workshops, packing and processing facilities.

Class 9b — Assembly Buildings
Buildings where people gather for educational, recreational or community purposes.
Typical examples: school COLAs and covered outdoor learning areas.

Class 10a — Carports & Sheds
Non-habitable structures such as garages and sheds.
Typical examples: machinery sheds and multipurpose farm sheds.