New Structural Steel Requirements – NCC 2022
Posted
The NCC 2022 Volumes 1 & 2 will reference the new version of AS 4100: 2020 Steel Structures, requiring all material to be fabricated in accordance with AS/NZ 5131: 2016 Structural Steelwork – Fabrication and Erection.
It will apply to all structural steel work shown and sized on the structural design drawings, except cold form metal wall frames and roof trusses.
Under the Standard the fabricator must use a construction specification (including design, manufacturing and contractual considerations) and the nominated construction category of the building.
The construction category is determined by the engineer in the design phase, based on the known loading for the building. There are four categories increasing in strictness – CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4.
The process to create a construction specification, document, administer and fabricate in accordance with all requirements of the standard is an enormous task. Demonstrating that the fabricator has the competency to manage that process has been flagged by the Australian Steel Institute as a potential problem.
As part of the National Structural Steelwork Compliance Scheme, the Australian Steel Institute has prepared a full list of requirements to ensure fabricators are complying with AS/NZS 5131 so they may be certified by Steelwork Compliance Australia (SCA).
Master Builders is seeking clarification from government as to what documentary evidence will be required for the structural steel aspect of building work. This means that the builder should discuss this requirement with the building certifier prior to pricing works and seek documentary evidence that the fabricator is certified (and to the appropriate level) before placing a structural steel order.
