BCGBC4010A Apply structural principles to residential low-rise constructions

BCA requirements

Earthquake areas

Acceleration coefficients between 0.12 and 0.15
Footings
Additional requirements specify that:
•	stumps must be steel, timber or reinforced concrete
•	bracing stumps must comply with AS 1684 Part 2, 3 or 4
•	floor beams must be fixed to the top of stumps with M10 diameter bolts or equivalent fixing
•	bottom plates of framed structures fixed to a concrete slab or strip footing must be fixed with M10 bolts or masonry anchors no more than 1.2 m centres
•	concrete strip footings must be continuously reinforced with two layers of reinforcement comprising two 12 mm diameter bars per layer and tied with R6 ligatures at centres not more than 2.5 times the depth of the footing
•	raft slabs must incorporate monolithic edge beams.

Framed walls
The additional information separates details for metal and timber framing.
Metal framing must:
•	not be less than 1.2 mm thick (other than bracing)
•	have wall plates that are continuous between cross walls or spliced to maintain strength.
Timber framing must:
•	be fixed with timber framing connectors nailed with not less than three 2.8 mm diameter x 30 mm long nails to each fixing plate of the connector
•	be constructed of seasoned timber, fixed with at least two 2.8 mm diameter nails, machine nailed through the top or bottom wall plate into the stud
•	use wall plates that are continuous between cross walls or spliced to maintain strength.

Unreinforced masonry
The five additional requirements for unreinforced masonry pertain to:
•	internal or external walls (eg mortar mix)
•	bricks (eg how they are laid)
•	reinforcement (eg size and where they are placed)
•	continuous reinforcement (eg where they are placed)
•	top wall plates detailing how they must be fixed.
For more information refer to the BCA, Section 3.10.2.3.

Veneers
Veneers that comprise an external leaf or masonry connected to internal walls of timber or metal framing must be fixed in accordance with AS 3700.

Roof framing
Additional requirements specify that roof framing:
•	must be fixed with timber framing connectors nailed with three or more 2.8 mm diameter x 30 mm long nails to each fixing plate of the connector
•	must incorporate roof bracing to transfer all horizontal loads directly to cross walls.

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