GENERAL

IMPO

RTA

NT

CHA

NG

ES

NCC 2019 KEY CHANGES

For more information on industry standards, best practices and structures not covered in this flyer, visit our website for FREE technical manuals, or call our technical hotline if you have any enquiries.

| Telephone: +61 2 8448 5500 | Email: technical@cmaa.com.au

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The National Construction Code (NCC) provides the minimum necessary requirements applicable to new buildings throughout Australia.

Performance requirements under the NCC must be satisfied through either: • Performance Solutions;• Deemed-To-Satisfy (DTS) Solutions; or • A combination of the two.

There are numerous ways to achieve compliancy. The most typical conservative ways of achieving DTS solutions are by following: • Acceptable Construction Practices; or • Australian Standards referenced within the

NCC.

Designers can also choose to follow Australian Standards as Performance Solutions over DTS solutions, however this compliance process may require experts’ judgement and additional verification.

This flyer indicates the important changes to DTS requirements surrounding masonry and differences when compared with relevant industry-approved Australian Standards.

• For Volume 2, new sections specific to

masonry veneer & isolated masonry

piers have been added, with numerous additional provisions detailing the construction requirements for the systems.

• Acceptable Construction Manual references for both volumes:

⁘ ‘Earth Wall Construction’ now referencing AS 4678 – Earth Retaining Structures;

⁘ AS 3700 (2018) – Masonry Structures; and

⁘ AS 4773 series – Masonry in Small Buildings (for Volume 2).

VOLU

ME 1

VOLU

ME 2

VOLU

ME 1+2

NCC ACCEPTABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE

AUSTRALIAN STANDARD/ INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION

All external cladding of Type A and Type B commercial buildings* needs to be deemed non-combustible.

Properties of concrete blocks make them non-combustible. Use manufacturer documentation to supersede testing requirements.

Acceptable construction practice only applies to wind speeds up to N3 classification.

NEW condensation management and modelling methods apply to all masonry walls except single-leaf walls.

For designs outside this range, follow AS 3700 or AS 4773.

Masonry veneer and cavity walls automatically incorporate a cavity to satisfy the new requirements.

Wind Speed

Condensation Management

All reinforced masonry elements need to be horizontally tied for the element to be considered reinforced masonry.

AS 3700 (2018) deemed that if the grout annulus surrounding the reinforcement provides adequate bonding, then horizontal ties are not required.

Expert judgement can be used to provide certification which mitigates the use of horizontal ties in accordance with AS 3700 so the element can be considered as reinforced masonry.

REVIEWED BY MASONRYINDUSTRY

NCC 2019 KEY CHANGESThe National Construction Code (NCC) provides the minimum necessary requirements applicable to new buildings throughout Australia. The NCC is prescribed by a governing body, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), and can be accessed for free here.

Performance requirements under the NCC must be satisfied through either Performance Solutions, Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Solutions or a combination of the two.

There are numerous ways to achieve compliancy. Following Acceptable Construction Practices in the NCC and particular Australian Standards which are referenced within the NCC are considered the most typical conservative ways of achieving DTS solutions.

This flyer indicates the important changes to DTS requirements surrounding masonry and differences when compared with relevant industry-approved Australian Standards.

Designers can also choose to follow Australian Standards as Performance Solutions over DTS solutions, however this compliance process may require experts’ judgement and additional verification.

IMPORTANT CHANGES• For Volume 2, new sections specific to masonry veneer & isolated masonry piers have been added, with

numerous additional provisions detailing the construction requirements for the systems.• Acceptable Construction Manual references for both volumes:

• ‘Earth Wall Construction’ now referencing AS 4678 – Earth Retaining Structures;• AS 3700 (2018) – Masonry Structures; and• AS 4773 series – Masonry in Small Buildings (for Volume 2).

GENERAL

All external cladding of Type A and Type B commercial buildings* needs to be deemed non-combustible.

Acceptable construction practice only applies to wind speeds up to N3 classification.

NEW condensation management and modelling methods apply to all masonry walls except single-leaf walls.

Method of manufacture and inherent proper-ties of concrete blocks make them non-com-bustible. Use manufacturer documentation to super-sede testing requirements.

For designs outside this range, follow AS 3700 or AS 4773.

Masonry veneer and cavity walls automati-cally incorporate a cavity to satisfy the new requirements.

Fire Rating

Wind Speed

Condensation Management

VOLUME 1

VOLUME 2

VOLUME 1+2

Vertical Reinforcement

Restraint

All reinforced masonry elements need to be horizontally tied for the element to be considered reinforced masonry.

AS 3700 (2018) deemed that if the grout an-nulus surrounding the reinforcement provides adequate bonding, then horizontal ties are not required.

Expert judgement can be used to provide certification which mitigates the use of hor-izontal ties in accordance with AS 3700 so the element can be considered as reinforced masonry.

NCC ACCEPTABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE

AUSTRALIAN STANDARD/INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION

*Volume 1 covers class 2-9 buildings which are generally high-rise or commercial buildings while Volume 2 covers class 1 and 10 residential buildings.For more information, visit: Australian Building Codes Board’s Building Classifications and What Type of Building is it.

REVIEWED BY MASONRYINDUSTRY

NCC 2019 KEY CHANGESThe National Construction Code (NCC) provides the minimum necessary requirements applicable to new buildings throughout Australia. The NCC is prescribed by a governing body, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), and can be accessed for free here.

Performance requirements under the NCC must be satisfied through either Performance Solutions, Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Solutions or a combination of the two.

There are numerous ways to achieve compliancy. Following Acceptable Construction Practices in the NCC and particular Australian Standards which are referenced within the NCC are considered the most typical conservative ways of achieving DTS solutions.

This flyer indicates the important changes to DTS requirements surrounding masonry and differences when compared with relevant industry-approved Australian Standards.

Designers can also choose to follow Australian Standards as Performance Solutions over DTS solutions, however this compliance process may require experts’ judgement and additional verification.

IMPORTANT CHANGES• For Volume 2, new sections specific to masonry veneer & isolated masonry piers have been added, with

numerous additional provisions detailing the construction requirements for the systems.• Acceptable Construction Manual references for both volumes:

• ‘Earth Wall Construction’ now referencing AS 4678 – Earth Retaining Structures;• AS 3700 (2018) – Masonry Structures; and• AS 4773 series – Masonry in Small Buildings (for Volume 2).

GENERAL

All external cladding of Type A and Type B commercial buildings* needs to be deemed non-combustible.

Acceptable construction practice only applies to wind speeds up to N3 classification.

NEW condensation management and modelling methods apply to all masonry walls except single-leaf walls.

Method of manufacture and inherent proper-ties of concrete blocks make them non-com-bustible. Use manufacturer documentation to super-sede testing requirements.

For designs outside this range, follow AS 3700 or AS 4773.

Masonry veneer and cavity walls automati-cally incorporate a cavity to satisfy the new requirements.

Fire Rating

Wind Speed

Condensation Management

VOLUME 1

VOLUME 2

VOLUME 1+2

Vertical Reinforcement

Restraint

All reinforced masonry elements need to be horizontally tied for the element to be considered reinforced masonry.

AS 3700 (2018) deemed that if the grout an-nulus surrounding the reinforcement provides adequate bonding, then horizontal ties are not required.

Expert judgement can be used to provide certification which mitigates the use of hor-izontal ties in accordance with AS 3700 so the element can be considered as reinforced masonry.

NCC ACCEPTABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE

AUSTRALIAN STANDARD/INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION

*Volume 1 covers class 2-9 buildings which are generally high-rise or commercial buildings while Volume 2 covers class 1 and 10 residential buildings.For more information, visit: Australian Building Codes Board’s Building Classifications and What Type of Building is it.

*Volume 1 covers class 2-9 buildings which are generally high-rise or commercial buildings while Volume 2 covers class 1 and 10 residential buildings. For more information, visit:

Australian Building Codes Board’s Building Classifications and What Type of Building is it.

Fire safety

Vertical Reinforcement

Restraint

Shaded regions are outside the scope of the NCC.

Bundaberg

Carnarvon

Perth

REVIEWED BY MASONRY INDUSTRY

For more information on industry standards, best practices and structures not covered in this flyer, visit our website for FREE technical manuals, or call our technical hotline if you have any enquiries.

| Telephone: +61 2 8448 5500 | Email: technical@cmaa.com.au

cmaa.com.au

Image: Highbury GroveArchitect: RITZ&HOUGASSIAN

Photographer: Tom Blachford

DISCLAIMER: The information given is intended for general guidance and does not replace the services of professional advisers on specific projects.

AUSTRALIAN STANDARD/ INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATION

NCC ACCEPTABLE CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE

VOLU

ME 2 – N

EW M

ASO

NRY VEN

EER/ISOLATED

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SON

RY PIERS SECTION

S

Minimum compressive strength has been increased to: • 6.2MPa for solid or cored units.• 15MPa for hollow units.

Simplified maximum span limit with less lintel types and design options provided.

Restricts masonry carried on lintels to 110mm thick and 3m in height.

Raked joints must not be raked deeper than 10mm or used in saline environments or areas subject to heavy industrial air pollution.

In wind areas of N2 or above, medium duty ties must be specified with more stringent maximum spacing specifications:• 400mm vertically • 450-600mm horizontally

Refer to AS 4773.1 Clause 3.2 for minimum compressive strength of masonry units:Solid / Cored Units:• 3MPa for non-loadbearing masonry• 5MPa for loadbearing masonryHollow Units:• 10MPa for unreinforced masonry• 15MPa for reinforced masonry

AS 4773.1 provides a detailed list of maximum opening widths for common lintels, under various load types available.

AS 4773.1 also only restricts the overhang of masonry carried to 25mm, allowing for higher design flexibility.

In addition to the NCC acceptable practices, Standards specify raking shall not be closer than 20mm to any hollow in hollow unit masonry, and not used for ungrouted hollow masonry.

AS 4773.2 provides guidance for light duty wall ties in cyclonic regions. It allows for higher design flexibility while still being conservative, achieving greater time and cost savings.

Unconfined Unit Compressive

Strength (for Isolated Piers)

Lintels

Raking

Wall ties

Hollow Units (grouted)

Cross section

Min 20mm

Max

Max

Wall Tie Location

Max 450-600mm

Max 400mm