Planter Box Building Codes & Rules

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

Over Flashing

Pressure Flashing

Blockwork Wall

Exposed Walls

Fully waterproofed to prevent failure of the internal Planter Box Membrane
Terminate Membrane with Capping to provide protection for exposed top surface

Planter Box Walls

NCC 2022 V2

Concrete Wall
≥ r 12mm arrised edge all external corners
Concrete Wall to structural engineers' details
Blockwork Wall
Elastomeric coating to rendered planter wall Capping
Blockwork Wall to structural engineers' details
Trim render short of Slab & Seal
Sawn Reglet
20mm deep & filled with compatible Sealant
PVC coated Flashing sealed & mechanically fastened into Sawn Reglet
Membrane termination under Flashing
Polyester Bandage over Flashing to properly seal all gaps

Fully waterproofed to prevent failure of the internal Planter Box Membrane
Terminate Membrane with Capping to provide protection for exposed top surface

Site Tools

Reinforcement

Membrane

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.5.2

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13

≥ 1:100^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.5.2AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13}

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.5.2

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13

≥ 1:100^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.5.2AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13}

Bond Breaker

≥ 12mm depth for Bond Breakers at Floor/Wall Junction & intersections

Fillet

40x40mm Sheet Membrane^[1]
15x15mm Liquid Membrane^[2]

Fillet RULES

NCC 2022 V4

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 F1D5, H2D8, & HP10.2 [2019 F1.4, 3.8.1.2, 3.8.1.3]

May 2023

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.7

NCC 2022 Vol 1, F1D5

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H2D8

NCC 2022 HP, 10.2.1

Building elements in Wet Areas to be Waterproof or Water-resistant to the NCC^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.7NCC 2022 Vol 1, F1D5NCC 2022 Vol 2, H2D8}
Membrane transitions from horizontal to vertical, or vertical to vertical planes, require the implementation of a Fillet, Cove, or Bond Breaker^{NCC 2022 HP, 10.2.1}
40 x 40mm Fillet or cove for Sheet Membrane
15 x 15mm Fillet or Bond Breaker for Liquid Membrane

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.7

40x40mm Sheet Membrane^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.7}
15x15mm Liquid Membrane^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.7}

Membrane

≥ 100mm from top of the soil surface^[1]
Class III^[2] Membrane has High Extensibility & allows for even thickness

Movement

NCC 2022 V1

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 F1D5, H2D8, & HP10.2 [2019 F1.4, 3.8.1.2, 3.8.1.3]

May 2023

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.3

NCC 2022 Vol 1, F1D5

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H2D8

NCC 2022 HP, 10.2.1

Building elements in Wet Areas to be Waterproof or Water-resistant to the NCC^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.3NCC 2022 Vol 1, F1D5NCC 2022 Vol 2, H2D8}
Membrane system shall be Class I, Class II or Class III Movement in accordance to AS 4654.1
Movement Risks are^{NCC 2022 HP, 10.2.1}
Deflection or Shrinkage before, during & after installation
Temperature or Moisture changes
Joint Movement

Membrane Application

NCC 2022 V1

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13

AS 4654.1:2012, A2

≥ 100mm from top of the soil surface^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13}
Class III^{AS 4654.1:2012, A2} Membrane has High Extensibility & allows for even thickness

Cavity to Habitable Room

Membrane

Substrate

PVC Conduit

Finished Floor

Fillet around

Starter Bar

Leak Control

Flange

Membrane Height

Compatible

Sealant

Fall

Drainage

Outlet

Substrate

Membrane

Fillet Surround

to Penetration

Cast in Clamp

Floor Waste

Pressure or Over Flashing

Fall

Fillet

Drainage Cell

Capping

Geo-Filter Fabric

Fall

Inspection

Opening

Fillet

Wall

Over

Flashing

Fall

- copy

Install Protection Board to

minimise root damage to

the Membrane

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13

≥ 100^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13}

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13

Account for Mulch thickness when measuring the actual Soil Level^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13}

Geo-Filter Fabric to

turn up & secure

Membrane

Fill Level

Fall

Protection Board

Fillet

Leak Control

Flange

Penetrations

Conduit size to suit contents
All Joints watertight

Conduit size to suit contents
All Joints watertight

Overflow Relief

Suitable overflow with Screw Cap for inspection
Finish height to be below upper edge of Membrane

Overflow Relief

NCC 2022 V1

All Building Classes

AS 4654.2 2012, 2.13

14 Sep 2012 to Current

The Planter Box should be provided with a suitable Overflow & be designed for an appropriate rainfall intensity
Screw Cap for clearing access

Suitable overflow with Screw Cap for inspection
Finish height to be below upper edge of Membrane

Drainage

Vertical drainage slits to Overflow riser^[1]
Discharge to Storm Water System^[2]

Drainage RULES

NCC 2022 V1

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 F1D5, H2D8, & HP10.2 [2019 F1.4, 3.8.1.2, 3.8.1.3]

May 2023

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13

NCC 2022 Vol 1, F1D5

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H2D8

NCC 2022 HP, 10.2.1

Building elements in Wet Areas to be Waterproof or Water-resistant to the NCC^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13NCC 2022 Vol 1, F1D5NCC 2022 Vol 2, H2D8}
Drainage Outlet to be connected to Storm Water System for proper discharge^{NCC 2022 HP, 10.2.1}
Membranes shall be sealed to Drainage Outlet
Pipe is perforated with vertical slots to function as drainage conduit
Geo-filter fabric extends up & is fixed to the Pipe above the Drainage Outlet
Finished base of Planter Box to be sloped with a gradual incline leading to Drainage Outlet

Planter Drainage

NCC 2022 V1

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13

Vertical drainage slits to Overflow riser^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13}
Discharge to Storm Water System^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.13}

Substrate Falls & Finish

≥ 1:100 to Drainage Outlet^[1]
CSP 2 -5 (Concrete Surface Profile)^[2]
Smooth Wood Float equivalent finish
Smooth & clean before waterproofing^[3]
No ribs, ridges or over-trowelling

Fall RULES

NCC 2022 V3

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 F1D5, H2D8, & HP10.2 [2019 F1.4, 3.8.1.2, 3.8.1.3]

May 2023

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.5.2

NCC 2022 Vol 1, F1D5

NCC 2022 Vol 2, H2D8

NCC 2022 HP, 10.2.1

Building elements in Wet Areas to be Waterproof or Water-resistant to the NCC^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.5.2NCC 2022 Vol 1, F1D5NCC 2022 Vol 2, H2D8}
Finished base of Planter Box to be sloped to ensure water efficiently drains towards the outlet^{NCC 2022 HP, 10.2.1}
≥ 1:100 Fall
Falls may be formed in the Structural Substrate or Screed
Only minimal residual water due to surface tension is acceptable

AS 4654.2:2012, 2.5.2

AS 3740:2021, 4.4.1

≥ 1:100 to Drainage Outlet^{AS 4654.2:2012, 2.5.2}
CSP 2 -5 (Concrete Surface Profile)^{AS 3740:2021, 4.4.1}
Smooth Wood Float equivalent finish
Smooth & clean before waterproofing^{AS 3740:2021, 4.4.1}
No ribs, ridges or over-trowelling