Australian Building Specifications Knowledgebase
Australian Building Specifications Knowledgebase
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- The Technical Specifications are arranged in logical sections relating to the principal trades in the order that they are engaged on a typical building site.
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Table of contents:- 1 Building Regulations and Standards
- 2 Usage
- 2.1 Copyright
- 3 Planning Design and Sustainability
- 4 Site Establishment and Preliminaries
- 4.1 Preliminaries and Documentation
- 4.1.1 Approvals and Insurances
- 4.1.2 Contract Drawings and Specifications
- 4.1.3 Risk Management
- 4.1.4 Safety and Emergency Procedures
- 4.1.5 Quality Assurance
- 4.1.6 Supervision
- 4.2 Amenities First Aid and Signage
- 4.2.1 First Aid Kits
- 4.2.2 Amenities
- 4.2.3 First Aid
- 4.2.4 Signage
- 4.3 Survey and Services
- 4.4 Temporary Fences and Barriers
- 4.4.1 Temporary Fencing
- 4.5 Site Clearance and Demolition
- 4.6 Scaffolding
- 4.7 Site Establishment and Preliminaries - Free Drawings
- 4.1 Preliminaries and Documentation
- 5 Earthworks and Site Drainage
- 5.1 Environmental Protection
- 5.2 Bulk Earthworks
- 5.2.1 Bulk Earthworks Inspections and Tests
- 5.2.2 Geotechnical Report
- 5.2.3 Civil Engineering Design
- 5.2.4 Existing Services
- 5.2.5 Stripping Site
- 5.2.6 Safety and Protection of Existing Structures
- 5.2.7 Temporary Shoring of Excavations
- 5.2.8 Benching
- 5.2.9 Moisture Content
- 5.2.10 Compaction
- 5.2.11 Bulk Earthworks and Site Grading
- 5.2.12 Drainage and Service Trenches
- 5.3 Site Drainage
- 5.3.1 Geotextiles for Filters and Drains
- 5.3.2 Pipes and Fittings for Site Drainage
- 5.3.3 Sub surface Drainage
- 5.3.4 Drainage Void
- 5.3.5 Protection Boards
- 5.3.6 Drainage Fill
- 5.3.7 Geocomposites
- 5.3.8 Site Drainage Inspections and Tests
- 5.4 Root Barrier
- 5.5 Earthworks and Site Drainage - Free Drawings
- 6 Retaining Walls
- 6.1 Retaining Walls Earthworks and Drainage
- 6.2 Reinforced soil structures and segmental gravity retaining walls
- 6.2.1 Reinforced Soil Structures and Segmental Gravity Retaining Walls - Materials
- 6.2.1.1 Surface Sealing Material
- 6.2.2 Constructing Geogrid Reinforced Soil Block
- 6.2.3 Constructing Segmental Gravity Retaining Walls
- 6.2.4 Constructing No fines Concrete
- 6.2.5 Constructing Bulk Fill Material
- 6.2.6 Constructing Surface Sealing Material and Catch Drain
- 6.2.7 Constructing Capping
- 6.2.8 Concrete Retaining Wall Blocks
- 6.2.9 Concrete Crib Blocks
- 6.2.10 Concrete Revetment Blocks
- 6.2.11 Permeable Blocks For Segmented Gravity Retaining Walls
- 6.2.12 No fines Concrete Infill
- 6.2.13 Soil Infill
- 6.2.14 Geogrids
- 6.2.15 Adhesive for Retaining Wall Capping
- 6.2.16 Bulk Fill Material for Retaining Walls
- 6.2.1 Reinforced Soil Structures and Segmental Gravity Retaining Walls - Materials
- 6.3 Reinforced Masonry Retaining Walls
- 6.3.1 Reinforced Masonry Retaining Walls - Materials
- 6.3.1.1 Bar Chairs
- 6.3.1.2 Concrete Jointing Accessories
- 6.3.1.3 Curing Compounds
- 6.3.1.4 Expansion Joints for Continuous Pours
- 6.3.1.5 Joint Material - AS 2870
- 6.3.1.6 Key Joint Form
- 6.3.1.7 Mortar
- 6.3.1.8 Reinforcement
- 6.3.1.9 Concrete for Retaining Walls
- 6.3.1 Reinforced Masonry Retaining Walls - Materials
- 6.4 Timber cantilever and crib retaining walls
- 6.5 Anchors and soil nailing
- 6.5.1 Ground Anchors
- 6.6 Retaining Walls - Free Drawings
- 7 Earthworks under residential concrete slab on ground
- 8 Concrete
- 8.1 Concrete Slab on Ground and Footings
- 8.1.1 Placing Finishing and Curing Concrete
- 8.1.2 Void formers
- 8.1.3 Fibre Reinforcement
- 8.1.4 Concrete for slab on ground and footings
- 8.1.5 Sand bedding for slab on ground
- 8.1.6 Vapour Barrier
- 8.1.7 Concrete Jointing Accessories
- 8.1.8 Expansion Joints for Continuous Pours
- 8.1.9 Curing Compounds
- 8.1.10 Key Joint Form
- 8.1.11 Formwork
- 8.1.12 Reinforcement
- 8.1.13 Bar Chairs
- 8.1.14 Reinforcement for Concrete Slab on Ground and Footings
- 8.2 Concrete Superstructures
- 8.3 Patching and leveling horizontal concrete surfaces
- 8.4 Concrete Fire Protection
- 8.5 Joint Material - AS 2870
- 8.6 Concrete - Free Drawings
- 8.1 Concrete Slab on Ground and Footings
- 9 Termite Protection
- 9.1 Termite Barrier Components in Concrete Footings or Concrete Slabs
- 9.2 Termite Barriers Consisting of Woven Stainless Steel Mesh
- 9.3 Termite Barrier Parging Material for Woven Stainless Steel Mesh
- 9.4 Termite Barriers Consisting of Composite Fibre Blanket and Plastic Membrane with Termiticide Impregnation
- 9.5 Termite Barriers Consisting of Graded Stone Particles
- 10 Drainage and Plumbing
- 10.1 Water Supply
- 10.1.1 Water Supply Materials
- 10.1.1.1 UPVC Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.2 Copper Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.3 Copper Alloy Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.4 Galvanized Steel Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.5 ABS Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.6 PB Polybutylene Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.7 PE Polyethylene Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.8 PE X Cross-linked Polyethylene Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.9 PP R Polypropylene Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.10 CPVC Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.11 Stainless Steel Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.12 Black Steel Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.13 Grey Cast Iron Water Supply Fittings
- 10.1.1.14 Ductile Iron Water Supply Pipes and Fittings
- 10.1.1.15 Elastomeric Rings for Water Supply
- 10.1.1.16 Elastomeric Gaskets for Water Supply
- 10.1.1.17 Silver Brazing Alloys for the Capillary Jointing of Copper or Copper Alloy Pipes for Water Supply
- 10.1.1.18 Silver Brazing Alloys for the Capillary Jointing of Stainless Steel Pipes for Water Supply
- 10.1.1.19 Soft Solders for Water Supply
- 10.1.1.20 Cement - AS 3972
- 10.1.1.21 Sand for Plumbing
- 10.1.1.22 Coarse aggregate for Plumbing
- 10.1.1.23 Concrete for Plumbing
- 10.1.1.24 Mortar for Plumbing
- 10.1.1.25 Rainwater Storage Tanks and Fittings for Water Supply
- 10.1.1.26 Underground Rainwater Tanks and Fittings with Ground level Access
- 10.1.1.27 Underground Rainwater Tanks and Fittings without Ground level Access
- 10.1.1.28 Stormwater Filtration
- 10.1.1.29 Chemical Admixtures
- 10.1.1 Water Supply Materials
- 10.2 Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage
- 10.2.1 Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Materials
- 10.2.1.1 Copper Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Pipes and Fittings
- 10.2.1.2 Copper Alloy Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Pipes and Fittings
- 10.2.1.3 UPVC Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Pipes and Fittings
- 10.2.1.4 Galvanized Steel Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Pipes and Fittings
- 10.2.1.5 Polypropylene Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Pipes and Fittings
- 10.2.1.6 Glass Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Pipes and Fittings
- 10.2.1.7 GRP Glass filament reinforced Thermosetting Plastic Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Pipes and Fittings
- 10.2.1.8 FRC Fibre reinforced Concrete Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Pipes and Fittings
- 10.2.1.9 Vitrified Clay Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Pipes and Fittings
- 10.2.1.10 Rubber Rings for Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage
- 10.2.1.11 Rubber Gaskets for Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage
- 10.2.1.12 Silver Brazing Alloys for Jointing of Copper or Copper Alloy Pipes for Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage
- 10.2.1.13 Solvent Cement for Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage
- 10.2.1.14 Septic Leach Drainage
- 10.2.1.15 Grey Water Recycling Systems
- 10.2.1.16 Wastewater Treatment Systems
- 10.2.1 Sanitary Plumbing and Sanitary Drainage Materials
- 10.3 Stormwater Drainage
- 10.4 Hot Water Supply and Systems
- 10.5 Bathroom Furniture and Plumbing Accessories
- 10.5.1 Commercial Toilet and Shower Partitions
- 10.5.2 Shower Heads
- 10.5.3 Water Closet Toilet Cisterns and Flush Valves
- 10.5.4 Taps for Basins Kitchen Sinks Ablution Troughs and Laundry Troughs
- 10.5.5 Urinal Fittings
- 10.5.6 Flow Controllers
- 10.5.7 Clothes Washing Machines
- 10.5.8 Dishwashers
- 10.5.9 Mechanical Water Saving Devices
- 10.5.10 Mechanical Water Recycling Devices
- 10.5.11 Lagging for Water Pipes
- 10.5.12 Fold-away Shower Seats
- 10.5.13 Fold-away Shower Seats for Disabled Use
- 10.5.14 Waste Outlets
- 10.5.15 Sinks
- 10.5.16 Laundry Tubs
- 10.5.17 Vanity Units
- 10.5.18 Shower Cubicles
- 10.5.19 Waterproofing Shower Cubicles
- 10.5.20 Baths
- 10.5.21 Spa Baths
- 10.6 Water and Sanitation for Villages in the Asia Pacific Region
- 10.1 Water Supply
- 11 Windows and Doors
- 11.1 Windows and Doors Materials
- 11.1.1 Aluminium Framed Windows and Doors
- 11.1.2 Steel Framed Windows and Sliding Doors
- 11.1.3 Timber Framed Windows
- 11.1.4 Louvre Windows
- 11.1.5 Timber Entrance Doors
- 11.1.6 Timber External Doors
- 11.1.7 Timber Internal Doors
- 11.1.8 Timber Wardrobe Doors
- 11.1.9 General Requirements for Door
- 11.1.10 Rescue Door Systems
- 11.1.11 Revolving Doors
- 11.1.12 Security Door Systems and Entrance Barriers
- 11.1.13 Shower Screens
- 11.1.14 Glazing
- 11.1.15 Decorative Glazing
- 11.1.16 Cyclone resistant glazing
- 11.1.17 Secondary Glazing Systems
- 11.1.18 Solar Tubes
- 11.1.19 Skylights
- 11.1.20 Glazed Roofing Systems
- 11.1.21 Seals
- 11.2 Windows and Doors - Free Drawings
- 11.1 Windows and Doors Materials
- 12 Structural Steelwork
- 13 Wall roof and floor framing
- 13.1 Timber Framing
- 13.1.1 Timber and Timber Products for Above ground Protected Framing
- 13.1.2 Passive Subfloor Ventilation
- 13.1.3 Timber and Timber Products General Requirements
- 13.1.4 Timber and Timber Products for In ground Use
- 13.1.5 Timber and Timber Products Above Ground Exposed
- 13.1.6 Hardwoods with Enhanced Performance
- 13.2 Cold Formed Steel Framing
- 13.2.1 Light Gauge Steel Framing
- 13.3 Wall Roof and Floor Framing - Free Drawings
- 13.1 Timber Framing
- 14 Carpentry Joinery Cladding and Flooring
- 14.1 Fire Resistance for Timber
- 14.2 Timber Products
- 14.3 Recycled Plastic Decking Boards
- 14.4 Joist Flashing for Timber Decks
- 14.5 Paving and Decking Support Systems
- 14.6 Timber and Timber Products for Cladding
- 14.7 Timber and Timber Products for Internal Flooring
- 14.8 Strand Woven Bamboo Internal Flooring
- 14.9 Timber and Timber Products for Panelling
- 14.10 Timber and Timber Products for External Joinery
- 14.11 Timber and Timber Products for Internal Joinery
- 14.12 Corrugated Fibre Reinforced Cellulose-Cement Products
- 14.13 Flat Fibre Reinforced Cellulose Cement Products
- 14.14 Decorated Thermosetting Laminated Sheet
- 14.15 uPVC Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride Sheet
- 14.16 GRP Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester sheet
- 14.17 Polycarbonate
- 14.18 Flashings
- 14.19 Timber Stairs
- 14.20 Prefabricated Timber Loft Ladders
- 14.21 Manufactured Stone Veneer Cladding
- 14.22 Sealants for Wet Areas
- 14.23 Adhesives for Wet Areas
- 14.24 Trim Angles for Wall Sheeting for Wet Areas
- 14.25 Screws for Fixing Fibre Cement Sheets for Wet Areas
- 14.26 Nails for Fixing Fibre Cement Sheets for Wet Areas
- 14.27 External Wall Insulated Cladding System
- 14.28 Carpentry Joinery Cladding and Flooring Inspections and Tests
- 15 Roof Cladding
- 16 Roof Plumbing
- 17 Masonry
- 17.1 Masonry and Masonry Units
- 17.1.1 Masonry Units
- 17.1.1.1 Definitions from AS 4455
- 17.1.2 AAC Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Pre-Fabricated Panels
- 17.1.3 AAC Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Masonry Units
- 17.1.4 Mud Bricks
- 17.1.5 Masonry Cement
- 17.1.6 Water Thickener
- 17.1.7 Sand for Masonry
- 17.1.8 Concrete Grout
- 17.1.9 Joint Material - AS 3700
- 17.1.10 Damp Proof Course
- 17.1.11 Flashings for Masonry
- 17.1.12 Slip Joint Material
- 17.1.13 Wall Ties
- 17.1.14 Steel Lintels and Arch Bars
- 17.1.15 Reinforced Concrete Lintels
- 17.1.16 Reinforced Hollow Masonry Lintels
- 17.1.17 Reinforced Masonry Bed Joint Lintels
- 17.1.18 Anchorages
- 17.1.19 Joint Reinforcement
- 17.1.20 Steel Mullions
- 17.1.1 Masonry Units
- 17.2 Masonry Repair and Remedial Tying
- 17.2.1 Remedial Ties
- 17.2.2 Crack Stitching
- 17.3 Masonry Fire Protection
- 17.4 Lightweight Concrete Masonry and Masonry Units units for exposed face applications
- 17.5 Remedial action to cure rising damp in Masonry
- 17.5.1 Chemical damp-proof course
- 17.6 Temporary Bracing of Masonry Walls under Construction
- 17.1 Masonry and Masonry Units
- 18 Ceiling and Wall lining
- 18.1 Plasterboard ceiling and wall lining
- 18.1.1 Gypsum Plasterboard
- 18.1.2 Plasterboard Suspended Ceiling Panels
- 18.1.3 Sealants for ceiling and wall lining
- 18.1.4 Adhesives
- 18.1.5 Angles in Wet Areas
- 18.1.6 Fasteners in Wet Areas
- 18.1.7 Acoustic Isolation Ties
- 18.1.8 Steel Framing Components
- 18.2 Cement Render
- 18.2.1 Lime
- 18.2.2 Sand for Render
- 18.2.3 Additives for Cement Render
- 18.2.4 Metal Lath
- 18.2.5 Latex Additive for Waterproofing and Enhanced Adhesion of Cement based Renders
- 18.1 Plasterboard ceiling and wall lining
- 19 Insulation
- 19.1 Reflective Pliable Building Membranes With At Least One Reflective Surface
- 19.2 Single Sheet Segmented Reflective Pliable Membrane for Installation Between Structural Members
- 19.3 Multiple Layered Segmented Reflective Pliable Membrane with Multiple Reflective Airspaces
- 19.4 Reflective Material Bonded to Rigid Insulation or Support to Form a Sheet
- 19.5 Reflective Material Bonded to Pliable Non-reflective Insulation
- 19.6 Reflective Material Bonded to the Inside of Wall Cladding Sheets
- 19.7 Reflective Material Bonded to the Underside of Metal Wall or Roof Sheets
- 19.8 Sheeps Wool Fibre Loose Fill Thermal Insulation
- 19.9 Sheeps Wool or Wool Blend Batts and Blanket Thermal Insulation
- 19.10 Cellulose Fibre Thermal Insulation
- 19.11 Rockwool Batts and Blanket
- 19.12 Fibreglass Batts and Blanket
- 19.13 Polyester Batts and Blanket Insulation
- 19.14 Expanded Polystyrene Board
- 19.15 Sprayed Polyurethane Foam Insulation
- 19.16 In-situ Set Urea-formaldehyde Foam Insulation
- 19.17 Lightweight Aggregate Hollow Concrete Block Wall Systems Incorporating Polystyrene Insulation
- 19.18 Thermal Paints and Coatings with Low Solar Absorptance and or Significant Thermal Resistance
- 19.19 Customised Wall Roof or Floor Systems Incorporating Insulation
- 19.20 Acoustic Insulation
- 20 Floor and Wall tiling
- 20.1 Suggested amendments to HB 197 Table 3
- 20.2 Slip Resistance of Pedestrian Surfaces
- 20.3 Ceramic Tiles
- 20.4 Trim
- 20.5 Adhesives for Floor and Wall Tiling
- 20.6 Mortar and Grout
- 20.7 Pigments
- 20.8 Sealants for Floor and Wall Tiling
- 20.9 Membranes
- 20.10 Inspections and Tests for Floor and Wall Tiling
- 21 Electrical Installation
- 21.1 Service Mains
- 21.2 Switch Box
- 21.3 Switchboard
- 21.4 Wiring
- 21.5 Internal Light Switches
- 21.6 External Light Switches
- 21.7 General Purpose Outlets
- 21.8 Compact Fluorescent Lamps
- 21.9 Incandescent Lamps
- 21.10 Fluorescent Tubes
- 21.11 Smoke Alarms
- 21.12 Earthing
- 21.13 Under Floor Heating Systems
- 21.14 Ceiling Heating Systems
- 21.15 Heated Towel Rails
- 21.16 Mirror Heating Mats
- 21.17 Inspections and Tests for Electrical Installations
- 22 Kitchens
- 23 Vehicular Doors, Tilt, Roller and Panel
- 24 Painting Coatings and Sealers
- 24.1 Painting and Coatings
- 24.1.1 Protective Coatings
- 24.1.2 Paints
- 24.1.3 Thermally regulated paints and coatings
- 24.1.4 Specialty Paints
- 24.1.5 Gloss Coatings
- 24.1.6 Graffiti Resistant Coatings
- 24.1.7 Pre paint cleaning solutions
- 24.1.8 Enhanced Fire Resistance
- 24.2 Trowel On Coatings
- 24.3 Sealants for Masonry Surfaces
- 24.4 Floor Coatings and Sealers
- 24.4.1 Floor Coatings
- 24.4.2 Non Slip Floor Coatings and Sealers
- 24.4.3 Surface Protection Coatings
- 24.5 Recommended Paint Schedules
- 24.1 Painting and Coatings
- 25 Resilient floor coverings
- 26 Carpets and soft furnishings
- 26.1 Carpets
- 27 Window and Door Shutters
- 28 Mechanical Ventilation and Services
- 28.1 Mechanical Ventilation Fans Combination light and heat exhaust systems
- 28.1.1 Solar Tubes without exhaust fans
- 28.1.2 Solar Tubes with exhaust fans and Exhaust Fans
- 28.1.3 Natural Ventilation Ducts
- 28.1.4 Odour Control Systems
- 28.1.5 Powered Ventilation
- 28.1.6 Active Sub Floor Ventilation
- 28.1.7 Thermal Insulation for Mechanical Services
- 28.1.8 Sealants Coatings Tapes and Adhesives for Thermal Insulation
- 28.1.9 Plant and Machinery bases
- 28.2 Built in Vacuum Systems
- 28.3 Lifts
- 28.3.1 Residential Lifts
- 28.3.2 Lifts for Limited Mobility
- 28.3.3 Stairway Lifts
- 28.3.4 Stairchair Lifts
- 28.3.5 Low-Rise Platforms for Passengers
- 28.3.6 Service Lifts
- 28.3.7 Test and Inspections for Residential Lifts
- 28.1 Mechanical Ventilation Fans Combination light and heat exhaust systems
- 29 Cleaning
- 29.1 Masonry Cleaning
- 29.2 Concrete Cleaning
- 30 Landscaping
- 30.1 Plants
- 30.2 Soils
- 30.3 Garden Edging
- 30.4 Drainage and Watering Systems
- 30.5 Green Roof Systems
- 30.6 Green Cladding Systems
- 30.7 Turf Stabilisation System
- 30.8 Plant Schedule
- 31 Fencing
- 31.1 Aluminium Fencing
- 31.2 Glass Fencing
- 31.3 Concrete Replica Stone Walls
- 31.4 Steel Fencing
- 31.5 PVC Fencing
- 31.6 Timber Fencing
- 32 Paving
- 32.1 Suggested amendments to HB 197 Table 3
- 32.2 General Paving
- 32.3 Segmental pavements
- 32.3.1 Segmental Paving Units
- 32.3.2 Segmental paving units for use in residential pedestrian situations not around pools
- 32.3.3 Segmental paving units for residential pedestrian situations around pools
- 32.3.4 Segmental paving units for residential driveways subject to light traffic
- 32.3.5 Segmental permeable paving units for rainwater detention subject to light traffic
- 32.3.6 Bedding Sand and Jointing Sand
- 32.3.7 Bedding aggregate for permeable pavements
- 32.3.8 Unbound Base Course Material
- 32.3.9 sealant
- 32.4 Asphalt Pavements
- 32.4.1 Asphalt
- 32.5 Bituminous Spray Sealed Pavements
- 32.6 Concrete Pavements
- 32.6.1 Misalignment Control
- 32.6.2 Sand Bedding
- 32.6.3 Stencils and Stamps
- 32.6.4 Pigments Colour Hardeners and Release Agents
- 32.6.5 Sealants
- 32.7 Clear Sealing for Segmental Concrete Pavements
- 33 Metalwork and Balustrades
- 33.1 Aluminium Balustrades
- 33.2 Anodic Oxidation Coatings for Aluminium
- 33.3 Steel Balustrades
- 33.4 Timber Balustrades
- 33.5 Glass Panels
- 33.6 Cantilevered glass balustrades
- 34 Public kerbs gutters footpaths etc
- 35 Usage

