Story perspectives

New Building Standards Overhauled: Focus on Safety and Cost

9/29/2025

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Summary

Story summary

New Building Standard (NBS) ratings will be eliminated, per Minister Penk, due to broad, inconsistent scope.
EPBs now include concrete over three storeys and unreinforced masonry.
A risk-based system aims to lower costs for owners while ensuring safety.
Remediation: under-three-storey small-town unreinforced masonry will not require remediation, but façades must be secured; ~2900 EPBs may be removed, 80 retrofits; councils may extend deadlines to 15 years.

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Story summary

New Building Standard (NBS) ratings will be eliminated, per Minister Penk, due to broad, inconsistent scope.
EPBs now include concrete over three storeys and unreinforced masonry.
A risk-based system aims to lower costs for owners while ensuring safety.
Remediation: under-three-storey small-town unreinforced masonry will not require remediation, but façades must be secured; ~2900 EPBs may be removed, 80 retrofits; councils may extend deadlines to 15 years.