Designing ceiling installations for earthquake action

The VBA is aware that ceilings in buildings may not be designed to meet the requirements of AS 1170.4 – 2007 Structural design actions Part 4: Earthquake actions in Australia.

Volume One, Clause B1.2 (c) (ii) and Volume Two, Clause 3.11.3 (c) (iv) of the National Construction Code require buildings to be designed to resist seismic loads calculated to AS 1170.4 - 2007 Structural design actions Part 4: Earthquake actions in Australia as appropriate.

Section 8 of the Standard requires ceilings to be designed to resist earthquake forces, except where they are located within domestic structures less than 8.5m tall and “Importance Level One” structures. The Standard also applies to walls, partitions and other non-structural elements.

Designers, contractors, installers, builders and building surveyors are reminded that the requirements of AS 1170.4 – 2007 need to be considered when designing ceilings, walls, partitions and other non-structural elements within a building.