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Windloads for Housing

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Why are wind ratings important?

  1. Every site for every building in Australia should be assessed for wind load requirements according to AS/NZS 1170.2 Wind Actions or AS 4055 Wind Loads for Housing (a simplified document for housing).
  2. The wind loads are a deciding factor for the type of window and door system that will be used as they need to structurally withstand the loads that are present on the site.
  3. The two loads are Serviceability Limit State (SLS) and Ultimate Limit State (ULS). They are given in AS 2047 or calculated from AS/NZS 1170.2 or, if the construction is housing, AS 4055 can be used to obtain the N or C ratings.
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Ultimate Limit State

ULS - To satisfy the ultimate limit state, the structure must not collapse when subjected to the peak design load for which it was designed.

SLS - Serviceability Limit State

To satisfy the serviceability limit state criteria, a structure must remain functional for its intended use subject to routine /everyday loading, and as such the structure must not cause occupant discomfort under routine conditions.

Every site for every building in Australia should be assessed for wind load requirements and should be stated on the approved build plans as a 'N 1-6' or 'C 1-4' rating

Understanding wind loads & their potential to impact on a building will help us design & specify appropriate products to ultimately

  • Safeguard people from injury caused by structural failure.
  • Safeguard people from loss of amenity caused by structural behaviour.
  • Protect other property from physical damage caused by structural failure, and
  • Safeguard people from injury that may be caused by failure of, or impact with, glazing.

There are two Australian Standards that are used to determine wind loads for a building: AS 1170.2 Structural Design Actions and AS 4055 Wind Loads for Housing. As its name suggests AS 4055 may only be used to determine wind loads for “housing” which has a specific meaning under the code – only building classes 1 & 10 (a house and a garage/carport) within specific geometric limits may use AS 4055: all other building classes 2 through 9 must use AS 1170.2.

AWS has developed a range of windows and doors suitable for extreme weather environments, Cyclone regions C & D

Read more about Wind Loads Standards...


Tag Cyclone Landscape