Joint Location & Spacing (Movement) Building Codes & Rules

- Joint Location & Spacing : Tools™ simplifies the National Construction Code (NCC) with interactive graphics, including deemed to comply & best practices.

Openings

≥ 900 x 900

Wall

Height

Joint

Size

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (b)

≤ 5m^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (b)}

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (b)

≤ 1.2m^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (b)}

Openings

< 900 x 900

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (a)

< 6m^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (a)} Articulation Joints not required

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (a)

≤ 6m^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (a)}

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (a)

230 / 470

4.5m^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (a)}

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2)

≥ 10^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2)}

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (d)

Change of

Wall Thickness^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (d)}

Change of

Wall Height

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (c)

> 20%^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (c)}

Lower

Wall

Height

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (e)

Align with Slab or Footing Construction & Movement Joints^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (e)}

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4 (v)

≥ 25%

Chase depth^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4 (v)}

Joint Anatomy

Masonry Veneer

Sealant Joint Design

Articulation Joints

From corners^[1]^[2][3]
≥ 230mm for Veneer Walls
≥ 470mm from corner for Cavity Walls
≥ 2m from Wall end or external corner to be an effective Articulation Joint^[4]
Required for Masonry on Concrete Slabs to AS 2870^[5]
excluding A or S Soil Classes^[6]
Perform the function of Contraction (Concrete, Cal-sil Blocks) & Expansion (Brickwork) Joints^[7]
Spacing requirements vary dependant on Soil Class & Masonry Finish^[8][9]
Not allowed adjacent to arched openings^[10]

Articulation Joint RULES

NCC 2022 V2

Class 1 & 10

NCC 2022, B1D4, F3D5, H1D5 & 5.6.8

May 2023

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4 (i)

AS 4773.1:2015, 13.3 (a)

Articulation Joint spacing to
AS 3700:2018^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4 (i)}
AS 4773.1:2015^{AS 4773.1:2015, 13.3 (a)}

NCC 2022 HP, 4.2.2

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (1)

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4 (i)

AS 4773.1:2015, 13.3 (a)

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (3)

CCAA TN61 , 5

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (a)

AS 4773.1:2015, 13.3 (f)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4 (vii)

From corners^{NCC 2022 HP, 4.2.2}^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (1)NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8}
≥ 230mm for Veneer Walls
≥ 470mm from corner for Cavity Walls
≥ 2m from Wall end or external corner to be an effective Articulation Joint^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4 (i)}
Required for Masonry on Concrete Slabs to AS 2870^{AS 4773.1:2015, 13.3 (a)}
excluding A or S Soil Classes^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (3)}
Perform the function of Contraction (Concrete, Cal-sil Blocks) & Expansion (Brickwork) Joints^{CCAA TN61 , 5}
Spacing requirements vary dependant on Soil Class & Masonry Finish^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (a)AS 4773.1:2015, 13.3 (f)}
Not allowed adjacent to arched openings^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.4 (vii)}

Movement in Buildings

NCC Compliance (Masonry)

Masonry must allow for Structural Movement to AS 3700^[1]
Alternate pathways allowed for Class 1 & 10^[2]

Housing Provision Limitations (Unreinforced Masonry)

NCC 2022 V1

Class 1 & 10

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (1)

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (2)

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (3)

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (6)

Masonry Veneer, Cavity Brick, Single Leaf limitations^{NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (1)NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (2)NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (3)NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (6)}
≤ N3 Wind Class
A, S or M Soil Classification to AS 2870
Footings & Slabs comply with NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D4
Walls & components comply with NCC 2022 HP, 5.6 & 5.7
Not in an Alpine Area
No earthquake design requirements to AS 1170.4, Appendix A

Compliance Pathways

NCC 2022 V1

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (a)

NCC 2022 Vol 1, F3D5 (1)

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (1)

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (2)

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (3)

Class 2 to 9 must comply with AS 3700^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (a)NCC 2022 Vol 1, F3D5 (1)}
Class 1 & 10 projects can follow 2 pathways to compliance^{NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (1)NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (2)NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5 (3)}
AS 3700, or
AS 4773.1 & 4773.2, or
NCC 2022 Housing Provisions (unreinforced types only)
For a DtS pathway, you need to fully comply with 1 or the other, not mix from both

NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (a)

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5

Masonry must allow for Structural Movement to AS 3700^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, B1D4 (a)}
Alternate pathways allowed for Class 1 & 10^{NCC 2022 Vol 2, H1D5}

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (f)

Change of Wall Material^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (f)}

CCAA TN61 , 5

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (a)

2m to 4.5m^{CCAA TN61 , 5}

230 / 470 to 4.5m^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8 (2) (a)}

Expansion & Contraction Joints

Expansion Joints allow for material growth (Clay Brickwork expands over time)^[1]
Contraction Joints allow for material shrinkage (Concrete, Cal-sil Blocks contracts over time)^[2]
Articulation Joints perform the function of Contraction & Expansion Joints^[3]

Contraction Joint RULES

NCC 2022 V1

All Building Classes

NCC 2022, B1D4, F3D5, H1D5

May 2023

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.2

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.2 (b)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.1 (b)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.1 (c)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.1 (e)

Masonry to be designed & constructed to NCC H1D5, Part 5, & AS 3700
Unreinforced Concrete or Cal-sil Masonry
Material shrinks over time
≤ 10mm joint opening movement^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.2}
Joints required
In straight walls as per table^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.2 (b)}
> 20% increase in wall height^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.1 (b)}
Wall thickness changes (excluding Engaged Piers)^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.1 (c)}
> 25% Chase depth^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.1 (c)}
change in material or masonry type^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.2.1 (e)}

Expansion Joint RULES

NCC 2022 V3

All Building Classes

NCC 2022, B1D4, F3D5, H1D5

May 2023

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.2 (b)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.2

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (c)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (e)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (b)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (c)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (f)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (d)

AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1

Masonry to be designed & constructed to NCC H1D5, Part 5, & AS 3700
Unreinforced Clay Brickwork
Material expands over time
≤ 15mm joint closing movement^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.2 (b)}
≥ 5mm ultimate design width
Brickwork expansion properties vary by style & manufacturer
Joint spacing as per manufacturer's recommendation^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.2}
Joints required
≤ 4.5m from all corners^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (c)}
> 20% increase in wall height^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (e)}
Wall thickness changes (excluding Engaged Piers)^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (b)}
> 25% Chase depth^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (c)}
Change in material or masonry type^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (f)}
Aligned with Construction or Control Joints^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1 (d)}
Joints not required below a DPC if
≤ 600mm Wall height at the Joint location^{AS 3700:2018, 4.8.3.1}

NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8

Informative

Expansion Joints allow for material growth (Clay Brickwork expands over time)^{NCC 2022 HP, 5.6.8}
Contraction Joints allow for material shrinkage (Concrete, Cal-sil Blocks contracts over time)^Informative
Articulation Joints perform the function of Contraction & Expansion Joints^Informative