Wire (Balustrade) Building Codes & Rules

- Wire Balustrade Tools™ simplifies the National Construction Code (NCC) with interactive graphics, including deemed to comply & best practices.

Top Rail

Supporting Rail

Post Clearance

Vertical Wire Spacing

Horizontal Wire Barrier

Horizontal Wire Spacing

Vertical Wire Barrier

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D21 (c) (iii)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.6 (4) (c)

≤ 900^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D21 (c) (iii)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.6 (4) (c)}

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)

760^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)}

To surface below

Continuous

Vertical Wire

System Only

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D19 (1)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (4)

^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D19 (1)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (4)}

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D17 (1)

Balustrades Required

≥1m fall to surface below^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D17 (1)}
Stairs & Ramps
Decks, Balconies & Verandahs
Retaining Walls or other falls forming a Deliniated Access Path to a Building

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D18 (1)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (2) (b) (i)

≥ 1m^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D18 (1)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (2) (b) (i)}

FFL

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)

150^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)}

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D18 (1)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (2) (b) (i)

≥ 1m^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D18 (1)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (2) (b) (i)}

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)

> 4m^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)}

To surface below

Fixings

Seal to prevent water ingress^[1]

Fixings

NCC 2022 V2

Tools™ Best Practice

Chemset 316 stainless steel Bolt Fixings^{Tools™ Best Practice}
Form fillet around threaded rod
While clearing excess Chem-set, or
Sealant
Turn up membrane
Seal packer to membrane
Seal washer to plate

Tools™ Best Practice

Seal to prevent water ingress^{Tools™ Best Practice}

Non-Climbable Zone

4m or more fall risk must include an NCZ^[1]

Non-climbable Zone (NCZ)

NCC 2022 V3

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 D3D20 [2019 D2.16a]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)

4m or more fall risk must include an NCZ with no footholds including brackets, hinges, hardware^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)}
150 to 760mm above finished level^{NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)}

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)

4m or more fall risk must include an NCZ^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20 (1)}

Wire Cable Spacing

Continuous Vertical Wire

NCC 2022 V1

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Tables D3D21b & 11.3.6 (4)

[NCC 2019 Tables D2.16c & 3.9.2.2]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D21 (c)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.6 (4) (a)

Continuous vertical or nearly vertical sloped wire^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D21 (c)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.6 (4) (a)}
≤ 2.5mm Ø Stainless Steel Wires
7x7 or 7x19 Wire Lay
Supporting rails
≤ 900mm spacing
Must not deflect to cause decreased Wire Tension
Changes in wire direction to pass around a pulley block without permanent deformation of wire

Horizontal & Vertical Wire

NCC 2022 V3

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Tables D3D12c & 11.3.6b

[NCC 2019 Tables D2.16d & 3.9.2.3]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D21 (c)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.6 (4) (a)

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D21 (a) (i)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.6 (2) (a)

Stainless Steel wires
Horizontal wire construction in compliance with
Required tension^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D21 (c)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.6 (4) (a)}, or
To be within the allowable deflection, see Allowable Deflection table^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D21 (a) (i)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.6 (2) (a)}
2kg mass suspended midspan to measure
Non-continuous vertical wire construction in compliance with
Required tension, see Tension Rules table

Structural Glass Panel

Tools™ Best Practice

≥ 1.05 m^{Tools™ Best Practice}

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D17 (1)

NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.3 (1) (a)

≥ 1m^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D20NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.4 (8) (a)}

≤ 4m^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D17 (1)NCC 2022 HP, 11.3.3 (1) (a)}

Manufacturer's Recommendation

≥ 40^{Manufacturer's Recommendation}

Manufacturer's Recommendation

≥ 40^{Manufacturer's Recommendation}

Tools™ Best Practice

≥ 1.05 m^{Tools™ Best Practice}