Core Filled Reinforced Masonry Building Codes & Rules

- Learn key principles for building solid masonry walls that prevent leaks, dampness, and condensation. Maximise durability and performance with expert tips.

Tools™ Best Practice

Storm Mould^{Tools™ Best Practice}

Sealant to Frame & Reveal
Colour matched Rivet fix to Frame

Masonry Durability

Informative

Interior Finish^Informative

Lining on Furring as Specified
Board insulation system

Sub-Head sealed to Lintel

Ceiling Finish

CMU

Durability

Location affects the risk for corrosion^[1]

Durability RULES

NCC 2022 V6

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 B1D4, F3D5, H1D5, H2D4, & HP 5

[2019 B1.4, 3.3.1-3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.3.5-3.3.6]

May 2023

AS 3700:2018, 5.2

NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)

Masonry to be designed & constructed to the NCC^{AS 3700:2018, 5.2}
Tables & map below for durability class of^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)}
Masonry
Mortar
Built-in components (eg. Ties & Lintels)
Environments
Mild
≥ 50km from the coast and not industrial
Variations due to climate, refer to map
Moderate
≤ 50km from the coast
≥ 1km from non-surf coast
≥ 10km from surf coast
Light industrial pollution
Industrial
≤ 1km from districts emitting acidic pollution
Marine
1km to 10km from a surf coast
100m to 1km from a non-surf coast (Salt lake or harbour)
Severe Marine
≤ 1km from a surf coast
≤ 100m from a non-surf coast (Salt lake or harbour)
Sides of the Wall
Internal
Above DPC & housed within the building
Interior leaf of Cavity or reverse Brick Veneer
Exterior Coated
Above DPC & protected by building elements such as roof, eaves or coping, and weather-resistant coated
Below DPC or in touch with the ground and shielded by an impermeable membrane
Aggressive environments
Type SR cement should be used where there is risk of sulfate attack from the groundwater
Contact with freshwater or non-saline weathering considered as Marine
Contact with salt or contaminated water considered as Severe Marine
Tool all joints to give a dense water shedding finish

AS 3700:2018, 5.3

Location affects the risk for corrosion^{AS 3700:2018, 5.3}

RC Slab

Tooled Joint

Deflection Gap & Tie to

Structural Engineer's Detail

Sealant

DPC

Grout

Weatherproof

Finish Coat

Cement Plaster

Base Coat

NCC 2022 HP, 4.2.9 (a)

≥20^{NCC 2022 HP, 4.2.9 (a)}

Lintel Block

Sealant Joint

Manufacturer's Recommendation

CMAA 2019 CM01, 10.1

Control Joint Filling^{Manufacturer's RecommendationCMAA 2019 CM01, 10.1}

≥ 6mm Sealant depth
1:2 (Depth : Width) Sealant Joint
Use compatible Sealant material, Backing Rod & Primer
Absorbent bituminous materials are prohibited
Apply sealant towards the end of construction to reduce panel displacement

Rebate

AS 4773.2:2015, 4

AS 4773.2:2015, 12.3

Grout^{AS 4773.2:2015, 4AS 4773.2:2015, 12.3}

≤ 12mm Aggregate
Site-mix composition
1 : 2 : 4 (Cement : Sand : Aggregate)
Pre-mixed composition
20Mpa Compressive Strength
300kg Cement / m³
N20 Grade
Clean surfaces before commencing
Compact grout by vibration or rodding to fill all voids

AS 4773.2:2015, 12.1.3

AS 4773.2:2015, 12.1.4

Reinforcement

Vertical^{AS 4773.2:2015, 12.1.3}
Hook or engage top end Wall Reinforcement with Bond Beam Reinforcement
Horizontal^{AS 4773.2:2015, 12.1.4}
Grout fully into position
At H or U-shaped Lintel blocks or
Knock out Bond Beam Block clear of webs

Fabric Ma 03

Starter Bar Overlap

Informative

Flexible Ties^Informative

Install stabilising Ties at Control Joints & adjoining structural elements

AS 4773.2:2015, 12.1.2

Starter Bar^{AS 4773.2:2015, 12.1.2}

Use same size as vertical Reinforcement

AS 4773.2:2015, 12.1.2

≥450^{AS 4773.2:2015, 12.1.2}

Tools™ Best Practice

Sub Sill^{Tools™ Best Practice}

≥ 3mm past both ends of sill extension
Sealed End Caps

Mortar

M3 or M4 class for Reinforced Masonry^[1]

Mortar DURABILITY

NCC 2022 V6

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 H1D5, HP 5.6.3, & 5.6.4

[2019 3.3.1-3.3.3, 3.3.5-3.3.6]

May 2023

AS 3700:2018, E7

AS 3700:2018, E5

Manufacturer's Recommendation

NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)

Masonry to be designed & constructed to the NCC^{AS 3700:2018, E7}
Densely pack materials when measuring volume
Use Water Thickener in accordance with Manufacturer's Instructions^{AS 3700:2018, E5}
Scratch test mechanically, using a "Scratch Tool"^{Manufacturer's Recommendation}
≥ 3 test areas, agreed by parties concerned
0.5 to 10m² area per scratch test
Replace tip after 200 tests, keep records
5 measurements per test area with the average depth calculated
Report to include^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)}
Date of construction & location
Test date
Mapping and identification of each measurement
Scratch measurements indicated individually
Computed Scratch index per joint

AS 4773.2:2015, 3.1

M3 or M4 class for Reinforced Masonry^{AS 4773.2:2015, 3.1}

Weatherproofing

Weatherproof at all External Walls & Window Reveals before installing window assembly^[1]
Mortar Joints^[2][3]
Tooled
No holes & cracks
Coated Surface^[4][5]
Bagged or rendered

Paint Application RULES

NCC 2022 V2

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 B1D4, F3D5, H1D5, H2D4, & HP 5

[2019 B1.4, 3.3.1-3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.3.5-3.3.6]

May 2023

AS 4773.2:2015, 11.7.1 (a)

AS 4773.2:2015, 11.7.1 (b)

Manufacturer's Recommendation

NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)

Masonry to be designed & constructed to the NCC^{AS 4773.2:2015, 11.7.1 (a)}
3^{AS 4773.2:2015, 11.7.1 (b)} coats 100% Acrylic-based exterior quality Paint, or
1^{Manufacturer's Recommendation} coat of Cement-based paint
Plus 2 finishing coats of 100% Acrylic-based exterior quality gloss Paint
Apply by roller or brush according to Manufacturer's instructions^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)}

Textured Finishes & Other Coating RULES

NCC 2022 V2

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 B1D4, F3D5, H1D5, H2D4, & HP 5

[2019 B1.4, 3.3.1-3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.3.5-3.3.6]

May 2023

AS 4773.2:2015, 12.4

AS 4773.2:2015, 12.4 (d)

NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)

Masonry to be designed & constructed to the NCC^{AS 4773.2:2015, 12.4}
Elastic Polymers for enhanced aesthetics & excellent Weatherproofing^{AS 4773.2:2015, 12.4 (d)}
Incorporate waterproofing membrane
Water-repellent clear coating
≥ 1.5m^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)} weatherproof overhang

External Paint Finish

NCC 2022 V1

Taylor Quality Requirement

3 coats elastomeric paint finish required for precast concrete or concrete (non-clad) walls^{Taylor Quality Requirement}
Warning Acrylic or mineral paint finish does not meet this requirement

CMAA 2019 CM01, 13

AS 3700:2018, 4.7.4

AS 4773.2:2015, 12.4

Weatherproof at all External Walls & Window Reveals before installing window assembly^{CMAA 2019 CM01, 13}
Mortar Joints^{AS 3700:2018, 4.7.4AS 3700:2018, 4.7.4}
Tooled
No holes & cracks
Coated Surface^{AS 4773.2:2015, 12.4AS 4773.2:2015, 12.4}
Bagged or rendered

Lintels

10mm clearance from heads or frame^[1]
≥ 300mm bearing length^[2]
Double U or H blocks^[3], or
Knock-out Bond Beam Block clear of webs^[4]

Reinforced Masonry Lintel RULES

NCC 2022 V3

Class 1 & 10

NCC 2022 B1D4, F3D5, H1D5, H2D4, HP 5, & HP 6.3.5

[2019 B1.4, 3.3.1-3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.3.5-3.3.6]

May 2023

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1

NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)

Masonry to be designed & constructed to the NCC^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1}
Reinforcement to withstand wind uplift, see Tables^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)}

AS 4773.2:2015, 8.3.3

CMAA 2019 CM01, 6

AS 4773.2:2015, 8.3.2 (a)

AS 4773.2:2015, 8.3.2 (b)

10mm clearance from heads or frame^{AS 4773.2:2015, 8.3.3}
≥ 300mm bearing length^{CMAA 2019 CM01, 6}
Double U or H blocks^{AS 4773.2:2015, 8.3.2 (a)}, or
Knock-out Bond Beam Block clear of webs^{AS 4773.2:2015, 8.3.2 (b)}

Tolerance

≤ 10mm from plumb in 1 storey^[1]
≤ 25mm from plumb in total Wall height^[2]

Masonry TOLERANCE

NCC 2022 V3

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 B1D4, F3D5, H1D5, H2D4, & HP 5

[2019 B1.4, 3.3.1-3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.3.5-3.3.6]

May 2023

AS 3700:2018, 12.5.3

NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)

Masonry to be designed & constructed to the NCC^{AS 3700:2018, 12.5.3NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)}
≤ 25mm from plumb in total Wall height
≤ 15mm deviation from cavity width
≤ 15mm Slab Edge overhang
≤ ± 3mm deviation from Mortar bed thickness
≤ ± 5mm deviation from Perpend thickness

AS 3700:2018, 12.5.3

≤ 10mm from plumb in 1 storey^{AS 3700:2018, 12.5.3}
≤ 25mm from plumb in total Wall height^{AS 3700:2018, 12.5.3}

Articulation Joint

Vertical, full height, & free of Mortar^[1][2]
Prohibited above garage door openings^[3][4]

Articulation Joint LOCATION

NCC 2022 V2

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 B1D4, F3D5, H1D5, H2D4, & HP 5

[2019 B1.4, 3.3.1-3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.3.5-3.3.6]

May 2023

AS 3700:2018, 7.2

NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)

Masonry to be designed & constructed to the NCC^{AS 3700:2018, 7.2}
Articulation Joints to be placed where potential cracking due to movement of the footing^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (.)}
Wall height transitions
> 20% of its smaller height
Transitions in Wall thickness
≤ 4.5m from Corners
≥ 470mm for Cavity Walls
≥ 230mm for Veneer Walls
> 900 x 900mm openings
≤ 5m CTS joint spacing, from edge of opening
≥ 1.2m away from opening
Aligned with Construction & Control Joints
Flexible Sealant to all Joints
Paintable
Backing rod to maintain recommended thickness

AS 4773.2:2015, 7.2

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4

Vertical, full height, & free of Mortar^{AS 4773.2:2015, 7.2AS 4773.2:2015, 7.2}
Prohibited above garage door openings^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4}