Free Resources

Free guides for restoration and cleaning professionals

Handbooks, fact sheets and codes from Australian and New Zealand government bodies, gathered in one place. Each one is openly licensed and links straight to the publisher. Use the filters to narrow the list by topic or by state.

Moisture and condensation

Building code rules differ by state and territory, and editions are amended. Before relying on any document here, confirm with your building surveyor or state building regulator which edition and amendments apply to your project.

CC BY 4.0PDFAU
NCC 2025 Condensation in Buildings Handbook (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
The ABCB Condensation in Buildings Handbook written for NCC 2025. It explains how condensation forms in buildings and how design manages it.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Condensation in Buildings Handbook (2023) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
The 2023 edition of the ABCB Condensation in Buildings Handbook, since followed by an NCC 2025 edition. It explains how moisture forms and travels in walls, roofs and subfloors.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Condensation in Buildings Handbook (2019) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
The 2019 edition of the ABCB Condensation in Buildings Handbook, since followed by later editions. It explains how condensation forms in buildings.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAUDraft proposal — not in force
PCD 2025: Condensation mitigation placemat (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
Background reading only: a one-page condensation mitigation summary the ABCB released with the NCC 2025 Public Comment Draft. It describes proposals put out for comment, not the adopted code.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAUDraft proposal — not in force
PCD 2025: Condensation mitigation (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
Background reading only: an ABCB paper supporting the NCC 2025 Public Comment Draft on condensation mitigation. It describes proposals put out for comment, not the adopted code.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAUDraft proposal — not in force
PCD 2025: Housing energy efficiency, thermal breaks (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
Background reading only: an ABCB paper supporting the NCC 2025 Public Comment Draft on thermal breaks in housing. It describes proposals put out for comment, not the adopted code.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAUDraft proposal — not in force
PCD 2025: Improving waterproofing and water shedding provisions (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
Background reading only: an ABCB paper supporting the NCC 2025 Public Comment Draft on waterproofing and water shedding. It describes proposals put out for comment, not the adopted code, and is not a benchmark for assessing a leak.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
Condensation (YourHome) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (YourHome)
A plain-language explanation of where condensation forms in a home and how design and airflow change it. A good first read before you talk to an owner about repeat damp.
© Commonwealth of Australia (YourHome, DCCEEW), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
Glazing (YourHome) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (YourHome)
Explains window and glazing choices and how they affect cold surfaces. Useful when moisture keeps showing up at windows.
© Commonwealth of Australia (YourHome, DCCEEW), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
Cladding systems (YourHome) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (YourHome)
Describes common cladding systems and how each deals with weather. It helps you picture what sits behind a wall before you open it.
© Commonwealth of Australia (YourHome, DCCEEW), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
Concrete slab floors (YourHome) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (YourHome)
Covers how concrete slab floors are built in houses. Relevant when moisture rises from the ground or gets trapped under floor coverings.
© Commonwealth of Australia (YourHome, DCCEEW), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
Insulation (YourHome) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (YourHome)
Explains insulation types and where they go. Useful for seeing how insulation changes surface temperatures and moisture behaviour.
© Commonwealth of Australia (YourHome, DCCEEW), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
Design for climate (YourHome) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (YourHome)
Shows how climate zones shape home design. Gives context for why drying conditions and mould risk differ between regions.
© Commonwealth of Australia (YourHome, DCCEEW), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webQld
SILO climate data (Long Paddock) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Government (Long Paddock)
Free historical climate data for Australian locations. Handy for checking what the weather did around a loss, bearing in mind the accuracy notes on the site.
Queensland Government (Long Paddock SILO), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
A guide to preventing structural damage (foundations and clay soils) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Building and Construction Commission
A guide for owners on foundations and clay soils. It helps you separate soil movement and drainage problems from other causes of cracking and damp.
Queensland Building and Construction Commission, licensed CC BY 4.0 Australia. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Vinyl planks, tiles and hybrid flooring used in wet areas (fact sheet) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Building and Construction Commission
A 2023 QBCC fact sheet on these floor coverings in wet areas. Useful when you assess a floor after a bathroom or laundry leak.
Queensland Building and Construction Commission, licensed CC BY 4.0 Australia. Checked 14 October 2026.

Ventilation and indoor air

CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Indoor Air Quality Verification Methods Handbook (NCC 2022) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB handbook on the NCC 2022 indoor air quality verification methods. It explains how those methods assess indoor air quality.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
Ventilation and airtightness (YourHome) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (YourHome)
Covers natural and mechanical ventilation and how airtight a house is. Helps you decide how far to open up or seal a building during and after drying.
© Commonwealth of Australia (YourHome, DCCEEW), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
Heating and cooling (YourHome) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (YourHome)
Explains heating and cooling systems for homes. Useful context when you plan air movement and humidity control.
© Commonwealth of Australia (YourHome, DCCEEW), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Warm water systems handbook (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB handbook on warm water systems in buildings, covering plumbing design and bacteria risk.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Advisory note: protection of openable windows (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB advisory note on the protection of openable windows, covering the risk of falls from upper floors.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Housing energy efficiency handbook (NCC 2022) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB handbook on the NCC 2022 housing energy efficiency provisions, covering insulation, sealing and ventilation in houses.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Energy efficiency NCC Volume Two handbook (2019) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
The 2019 edition of the ABCB energy efficiency handbook for NCC Volume Two, an earlier edition of this guidance.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
2022 residential energy efficiency: overview of provisions (slides) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB slide deck summarising the NCC 2022 residential energy efficiency changes.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.

Timber, floors and framing

CC BY 4.0webQld
Wood properties and uses of Australian timbers (80 species pages) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Eighty Business Queensland pages on the properties and uses of Australian timbers, linked through their index. Helps you identify a floor or frame species and think through how it will react to moisture.
© State of Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
About Construction timbers in Queensland (2018) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
An introduction to the Construction timbers in Queensland reference books. Read it first to see how the two books and their tables are laid out.
© State of Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Amendments to Construction timbers in Queensland (2020) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Lists the 2020 changes to the timber reference books. Check it so you do not quote a superseded figure.
© State of Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Construction timbers in Queensland, Book 1: Definitions (2020) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Defines the terms used for timber grades, durability and use. Handy when a report or a client uses a term you need to pin down.
© State of Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Construction timbers in Queensland, Book 2: Properties and specifications (2020) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Sets out species properties, durability classes and uses. A strong reference when you need to know what a damaged floor or frame is made of.
© State of Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Timber deck and balcony construction (defect guide) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Building and Construction Commission
A QBCC guide to timber deck and balcony construction. It helps you spot construction faults that let water in before you blame the weather.
Queensland Building and Construction Commission, licensed CC BY 4.0 Australia. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Non-completion Technical Procedure Manual (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Building and Construction Commission
A QBCC technical manual on unfinished building work, including particleboard and timber flooring exposed to weather. Useful when a floor was rained on during construction.
Queensland Building and Construction Commission, licensed CC BY 4.0 Australia. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Advisory note: Class 2 and 3 buildings, concessions for timber framing (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB advisory note on concessions for timber framing in apartment and other multi-unit residential buildings.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
Lightweight framing, including timber framing (YourHome) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (YourHome)
A plain explanation of lightweight and timber framing. It gives you a picture of how walls are built before you cut one open.
© Commonwealth of Australia (YourHome, DCCEEW), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
Construction systems (YourHome) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (YourHome)
An overview of the construction systems used in houses. Useful for explaining to a client why a floor or wall is built the way it is.
© Commonwealth of Australia (YourHome, DCCEEW), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Subterranean termites in Queensland (2019) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
A Queensland fact sheet on subterranean termites. Helps you tell termite damage from moisture damage in timber.
© State of Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Subterranean termite baiting systems (2019) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
A Queensland fact sheet on baiting systems. Useful background when a client asks what treatment is already on site.
© State of Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Subterranean termite infestation in buildings (2019) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
A Queensland fact sheet on termite infestation in buildings. Helps you recognise signs while you inspect wet or damaged timber.
© State of Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 3.0PDFNZ
Guide to tolerances, materials and workmanship in new residential construction (2015) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (NZ)
A New Zealand guide that includes subfloors and flooring. Useful for judging whether a floor or wall fault is a build issue or damage.
© Crown Copyright 2015, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, CC BY 3.0. Checked 14 October 2026.

Flood and storm resilience

CC BY 4.0webQld
Repairing a house after a flood (Business Queensland) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works
Business Queensland guidance on repairing a house after a flood. A practical reference when you scope flood repairs with an owner.
© State of Queensland (Department of Housing and Public Works), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
A contractor's guide to rebuilding after a flood (2020) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Building and Construction Commission
A QBCC guide written for builders rebuilding after a flood. It shows what the rebuild trades expect from a restorer's handover.
Queensland Building and Construction Commission, licensed CC BY 4.0 Australia. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Design Guidance for Flood Resilient Homes (June 2026) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works
The June 2026 Queensland design guidance for flood resilient homes. A current reference for material and layout choices when a flooded house is rebuilt. It is a very large file.
© State of Queensland (Department of Housing and Public Works), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Industry Guidance for Flood Resilient Homes (A3), Resilient Homes Fund (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Department of Energy and Public Works
A one-sheet industry guide from the Queensland Resilient Homes Fund. Quick to scan when you talk through rebuild options.
© State of Queensland (Department of Energy and Public Works), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Flood Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes v1.1 (2024) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Reconstruction Authority
QRA guidance on materials and details for flood resilient homes. Helpful when advising what to reinstate after a flood.
© State of Queensland (Queensland Reconstruction Authority), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Cyclone Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes (2019) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Reconstruction Authority
QRA guidance on building for cyclones. Background on wind and water entry when storm damage is the loss.
© State of Queensland (Queensland Reconstruction Authority), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFQld
Storm Tide Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes (2019) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Queensland Reconstruction Authority
QRA guidance on building for storm tide. Relevant for coastal salt-water losses.
© State of Queensland (Queensland Reconstruction Authority), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Community Recovery Handbook (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
A handbook on community recovery after disasters. Helps you understand the wider recovery process your clients are going through.
© Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.

Healthy Homes (NZ)

No copyright (NZ legislation)PDFNZ
Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019 (consolidated PDF, 25 September 2025) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office
The legal text of the Healthy Homes Standards for New Zealand rentals. A primary source for landlord and tenant jobs involving heating, insulation, ventilation and moisture. This link is a dated consolidation, so check for a newer version.
New Zealand legislation: no copyright under section 27 of the Copyright Act 1994. Source: Parliamentary Counsel Office. Checked 14 October 2026.

Building codes

CC BY 4.0webAU
NCC 2025 ABCB Housing Provisions Standard (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
The online edition of the NCC 2025 ABCB Housing Provisions Standard, published by the ABCB on its NCC site.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0webAU
NCC 2025 Volume Two (Class 1 and 10) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
The online edition of NCC 2025 Volume Two, covering houses and small outbuildings, published by the ABCB on its NCC site.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Upgrading Existing Buildings handbook (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB handbook on upgrading buildings that were constructed to earlier requirements.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Embodied carbon handbook (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB handbook on embodied carbon in building materials and construction.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Prefabricated, modular and offsite construction handbook (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB handbook on prefabricated, modular and offsite construction, written for NCC 2022.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Sound transmission and insulation in buildings handbook (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB handbook on sound transmission and insulation in floors and walls.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Bushfire Verification Methods Handbook (NCC 2022) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Australian Building Codes Board
An ABCB handbook on the NCC 2022 bushfire verification methods.
© Commonwealth of Australia and the States and Territories of Australia (ABCB), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
No copyright (NZ legislation)PDFNZ
Building Regulations 1992, including Building Code Schedule 1 (consolidated PDF, 15 January 2026) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office
The New Zealand Building Regulations with the Building Code. The legal text behind the moisture and ventilation clauses. This link is a dated consolidation, so check for a newer version.
New Zealand legislation: no copyright under section 27 of the Copyright Act 1994. Source: Parliamentary Counsel Office. Checked 14 October 2026.

Asbestos and worker safety

CC BY 4.0PDFVic
After a fire: Asbestos hazards (Publication 1719.3) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
EPA Victoria
An EPA Victoria publication on asbestos hazards after a fire. Useful context before you disturb fire-damaged materials in older buildings.
© State of Victoria (EPA Victoria), CC BY 4.0. Checked 14 October 2026.
CC BY 4.0PDFAU
Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants (November 2025) (opens the publisher’s site in a new tab)
Safe Work Australia
Safe Work Australia's list of workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants. The reference behind many air-quality and respiratory protection decisions on site.
Safe Work Australia, licensed CC BY 4.0 (logo excluded). Checked 14 October 2026.

How we choose free resources

Open licences only: We list a publication only when it carries a Creative Commons Attribution licence, a CC0 dedication, or is legislation with no copyright. Anything with non-commercial, no-derivatives or unclear terms is left out.
Linked to the official source: Every card goes to the publisher’s own site. CARSI does not copy or host the files. Some links are to a particular edition, so check the publisher’s site for later versions and amendments.
Checked on the read date: Each card shows the day we last checked the item and its licence. Publishers update and withdraw documents, so confirm the current version on their site before you rely on it.
No affiliation: CARSI is not affiliated with, endorsed by or partnered with any publisher listed here. Licences cover the publisher’s own text only, and logos, trade marks, photographs and third-party material are excluded. These resources are general information, not legal or engineering advice.