Comments on Building Codes for Australia

1. General
a. Name of Country: Australia
b. Name of Codes: AS1170.4 Structural design Actions Part 4: Earthquake Actions in Australia
--- in English
--- in Original Language
c. Issued by: Standards Australia
d. Enforcement Year: Published in 2007 and enforced in 2008
2. Structural Design Method
a. Format: (please check)
Working Stress Design : Allowable Stress Actual Stress
Ultimate Strength Design: Ultimate Member Strength Required Member Strength
5 Limit State Design
: Ultimate Lateral Strength Required Lateral Strength
Other Design Method :
(comment)
b. Material Strength (Concrete and Steel):
Ultimate strength design is used in the material design Standards in Australia

c. Strength Reduction Factors:

Different strength reduction factors are used depending on the action and material type with values in the
range 0.6-0.9.
d. Load Factors for Gravity Loadings and Load Combination:
0.9xDead Load + Ultimate Earthquake Force
1.2xGravity Load + Ultimate Earthquake Force
Gravity Load = Dead Load+ 0.3x Live Load

e. Typical Live Load Values:

Office Buildings
:
Residential Buildings:

4 kN/m2
1.5 kN/m2

f. Special Aspects of Structural Design Method

In case that your code is performance-based, please describe the fundamental seismic performance
requirement.
Design philosophy is to protect life and prevent collapse whilst allowing damage at the Ultimate Limit
State Event.

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