AS 1684

GUIDE TO THE USE OF AS 1684

USER GUIDE
External Wall Heights
from 3.0m to 3.6 m 4
User Guides are available from WoodSolutions.com.au June 2012

(The Code clause and table references given below apply to Part 2 and Part 3 unless specifically noted)

Background Note: The modified (reduced) bracing capacity (kN/m) should be

Figure 1.1 and Clause 1.6.6 in AS 1684 Parts 2 and 3 require used in conjunction with Table 8.23 (Table 8.24 in Part 3) when
determining the uplift force at the end of bracing walls.
a maximum external wall height (floor to ceiling) of 3000
mm. The span table supplements to the code, on the other
hand, provide stud sizes for heights up to 4800 mm where • Clause 8.3.6.10 Fixing of bottom of bracing walls
permitted for the relevant size and grade of stud. requires consideration of the uplift at ends of bracing
walls which in turn is a function of wall height. Table 8.23
The overriding 3000 mm height limitation was included in (Table 8.24 in Part 3) therefore requires extension to cater
the Code to ensure that other design assumptions and for walls up to 4800 mm high.
requirements inherent in the Code would not be
Note: This extension was also required irrespective of the
compromised. These included the basis for determination of
information in this guide note for walls to 3600 mm.
the racking and overturning forces and the resistance of
nominal connections and bracing materials including uplift
at ends of bracing walls and the magnitude of shear forces. • Clause 9.6.4 The net wind uplift pressures in Table 9.5
and the uplift forces in Tables 9.6 to 9.11 (Tables 9.6 to
It was recognised that if the Code could be extended to cater 9.10 in Part 3) may be influenced by the overturning
for wall heights up to 3600 mm (the old 12 ft ceilings), that forces on the building (see note to Table 9.5). The
this would increase its value particularly with respect to overturning forces are caused by a combination of both
renovations and extensions to older housing stock. direct uplift and the lateral forces on the building. The
taller the building, then the higher the overturning forces
will be.

Sensitivity Checks An investigation of the overturning forces indicated that

Prior to determining the "rules" that would permit the Code the equivalent net uplift pressures were significantly
to be applied to 3600 mm high walls, a sensitivity check was higher for taller buildings (3600 mm high external walls).
carried out to determine the effect these higher walls would
have on the remainder of the code. • Clause 9.7 andTable 9.26 Shear Forces. No change is
required to this clause as the method for calculating the
The parameters that were investigated included the shear force requires the force obtained from Table 9.26
following:- to be multiplied by the projected height of the building
which will automatically take into account greater wall
• Clause 8.3.4 Total racking force is a function of area heights.
of elevation and racking pressures (the maximum wall • Clause 9.7.6 and Table 9.29 Shear forces on external
height assumed to generate the pressures given in non-load-bearing walls. Additional notes to Table 9.29
Tables 8.1 to 8.5 was 2700 mm even though it was are required to cater for external wall heights of 3300
permitted to be used for walls up to 3000 mm high). mm and 3600 mm.
The pressures in Tables 8.1 to 8.5 are a function of the
building geometry such as height to width ratio. • Appendix G The bracing force values given in the
tables in this Appendix are only applicable to wall heights
It was found that increasing the assumed external wall of 2700mm. It is not appropriate to apply a simple %
heights from 2700 mm to 3600 mm increased a increase to cater for wall heights from 3000 mm to 3600
significant percentage of the pressures on the projected mm, therefore this Appendix should not be used for walls
areas of elevation. higher than 3000mm.

• Clause 8.3.6.4 - Wall capacity and height

modification. An increase from 4200 mm to 4800 mm
was considered appropriate as the span table output
extends to this height to cater for internal walls in
houses with cathedral ceilings.

MASTER BUILDERS
A U S T R A L I A
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 AS 1684 USER GUIDE 4
Recommended Procedure for Wall Heights 2. Racking Force
3000 mm to 3600 mm
The total racking force shall be determined from Clause
1. Member Sizes 8.3.4 but for external wall heights above 3000 mm up to
3600 mm, the lateral pressures determined from Tables
0 0
Single or Upper Storey Construction 8. 2 to 8.5 for roof pitches 5 to 20 shall be increased by
The size of studs, plates and lintels in external load-bearing walls 10%.
can be determined directly from the relevant span tables in the
supplements to AS 1684 Part 2 and Part 3. Note:- Pressures for other roof pitches or for vertical surface
elevations (Table 8.1) do not require to be increased.
Lower Storey of Two Storey Construction
The span tables in the supplements to AS 1684 Part 2 and Part 3 Determine the capacity of bracing walls greater than
only extend to a maximum wall height of 3000 mm. Stud sizes 2700 mm high from Table 8.19. For 4800 mm high
for wall heights greater than 3000 mm will therefore need to be walls, the bracing wall capacity/height multiplier is 0.56.
specifically engineered. This can be easily achieved using
published computer software such as 'Timber Solutions".

3. Fixing of Bottom of Bracing Walls

Include the following additional lines in Table 8.23 of Part 2 and Table 8.24 of Part 3:-

Wall Uplift force at ends of bracing walls (kN)

Height For modified bracing wall capacity rated at (kN/m)
(mm) 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 8.0
3300 1.7 3.3 5.0 6.6 8.3 9.9 12 13 15 17 18 20 26
3600 1.8 3.6 5.4 7.2 9.0 11 13 14 16 18 20 22 29
3900 2.0 3.9 5.9 7.8 9.8 12 14 16 18 20 21 23 31
4200 2.1 4.2 6.3 8.4 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 34
4800 2.4 4.8 7.2 9.6 12 14 17 19 23 24 26 29 38

4. Wind Uplift Forces

In Clause 9.6.4, the wind uplift forces calculated by multiplying the net uplift pressure by the area of roof contributing to
tie-down, shall be determined from Table 9.5 using the following net uplift pressures for the tie-down positions described:-

Part 2 Non-cyclonic
Connection/tie-down position Net uplift pressure (kPa)
Wind classification
N1 N2 N3 N4
Sheet Tile Sheet Tile Sheet Tile Sheet Tile
Roof roof roof roof roof roof roof roof
Single or upper storey floor frame - - 0.25 - 1.2 0.8 2.4 2.0
to supports
Lower storey wall frame to floor - - 0.25 - 1.2 0.8 2.4 2.0
Frame or slab
Lower storey floor frame to - - - - - - 1.4 1.0
supports

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 AS 1684 USER GUIDE 4
Part 3 Cyclonic
Connection/tie-down position Net uplift pressure (kPa)
Wind classification
C1 C2 C3
Sheet Tile Sheet Tile Sheet Tile
roof roof roof roof roof roof
Single or upper storey floor frame to supports 1.5 1.3 2.93 2.7 4.3 4.3
Lower storey wall frame to floor frame or slab 1.5 1.3 2.93 2.7 4.3 4.3
Lower storey floor frame to supports 0.6 0.5 2.0 1.8 4.3 4.3

Note:- The uplift forces given in Tables 9.6 to 9.10 shall not be used for determination of uplift forces however, they could be recalculated using
the net uplift pressures given above.

5. Shear Forces on External Non-load-bearing Walls

Add the following NOTES to Table 9.29 to cater for 3300 mm and 3600 mm high walls:-

NOTES:
For 3300 mm high external walls, multiply the above values by 1.2.
for 3600 mm high external walls, multiply the above values by 1.3.

6. Appendix G

Appendix G shall not be used to determine racking forces for wall heights from 3000 to 3600 mm.

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 AS 1684
GUIDE TO THE USE OF AS 1684

USER GUIDE
External Wall Heights
from 3.0m to 3.6 m 4
User Guides are available from WoodSolutions.com.au June 2012

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