GL ASS & WINDOWS
COMPLIANCE
NEW BARRIER REQUIREMENTS AS 1288: 2021 By Russell Harris & Dr Pouya Abtahi
INTRODUCTION
SUMMARY OF KEY CHANGES
The National Construction Code 2022 (NCC 2022) was released by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) on 1 October 2022 and is now available for use, subject to various transition arrangements imposed by the ABCB as well as individual states and territories. Generally speaking, except for the livable housing, condensation and energy provisions, the NCC will become mandatory in most jurisdictions from the 1 May 2023. Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania will adopt NCC 2022 on 1 May 2023, and Western Australia will adopt on 1 May 2024. South Australia, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory have made no formal announcement yet as to an adoption date. Transition periods for other parts of the NCC, such as energy efficiency, condensation mitigation, and livable housing provisions, will come into effect on 1 October 2023. Until the adoption date in each jurisdiction, NCC 2019 Amendment 1 remains in force and can be used and referenced.
The aim of the 2021 revision of AS 1288 was primarily to clarify existing requirements and reduce the likelihood of misinterpretation of the barrier provisions within the Standard. Additionally, the 2021 revision introduced a number of changes and new requirements designed to:
The latest edition of the NCC references several Australian Standards which have also been revised or updated, including AS 1288 which was revised in 2021 to include, among other things, updates to balustrades and barriers in Section 7.
20
ISSUE 14
SUMMER 2022
Limit the use of monolithic toughened glass in barriers/balustrades above 5 m from ground level Glass barriers used to protect a height of more than 5 m are now required to use laminated glass (including annealed laminated, heat-strengthened laminated or toughened laminate). Monolithic toughened glass can no longer be used in these locations. Resolve ambiguity and clarify requirements for support conditions and interlinking handrails in structural glass barriers/balustrades The prescriptive solutions provided in Section 7 have been extensively revised. This includes a revision of the definition and application of ‘interlinking handrails’ to provide greater clarity and, specifically, to make it clear that all structural balustrades protecting a height of more than 1 m, including systems utilising spigots, standoffs and other point-fixed type mounting systems, must be designed in accordance with Section 3 General Design Criteria.
Introduce new test methods for glass balustrades, particularly for spigot supports and stand offs (point-fixed glazing) Alternatively, a new test methodology is introduced in Appendix H, which can be used in lieu of an engineered solution (in accordance with Section 3 outlined above) and allows performance verification of balustrade systems not covered by the DTS provisions. This new test method provides uniform, predictable and repeatable procedures for balustrade testing applicable for balustrades in all building classes. Clarify loading requirements for glass balustrades in various building classes and applications Appendix J now includes specific load criteria from AS/NZS 1170.1, relevant to various use types across all building classes in the NCC. This makes it easier to determine the specific load combinations relevant to any given application, without the need to purchase additional Standards. It helps the user to select the relevant applied loads when using the DTS tables in Section 7 of AS 1288. Quantify acceptable post-breakage deflection of structural laminate glazing and include a new informative test methodology for design verification Structural glass barriers/balustrades protecting a fall of more than 1 m must be designed in accordance with serviceability limit states and maximum deflection limits outlined in clause 3.3.3. Maximum deflection under a 200 Newton force, applied post-breakage, is limited to 250 mm. Appendix I introduces a new informative post-breakage test for structural glass balustrades.
BUILTVIEW