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AS 2870 vs NCC

LiamJS

Structural
Joined
Jun 26, 2025
Messages
8
There are discrepancies between AS 2870 and NCC for the footing heights provided in tables. Why is the reason?
 
Anyone there using the standards? Which one do you adapt as deemed to comply?
 
What are the actual disrepancies? Which tables in particular are you talking about?
 
Last edited:
Liam, you're probably better posting in AS/NZS (au/nz) Code Issues
More information with table numbers would be helpful.
 
Thank you for your answers.

For example :
Stiffened Raft Class S Articulated Full Masonry: AS2870 Figure 3.1=500mm vs NCC 2019 Table 3.2.5.4b = 400mm

Another example:
Stiffened Raft Class M Full Masonry: AS2870 Figure 3.1=950mm vs NCC 2019 Table 3.2.5.5a = 800mm

There are others but I gave two examples. Another thing is that the standard is in "Pending Revision" status, and this makes things more confusing.
 
I saw AS/NZS (au/nz) Code Issues part. Next time I will post there.
 
I confess that I had no idea those tables are in the NCC. I have always just used AS 2870.
 
What makes sense to me is that AS 2870 is deemed to comply; NCC is minimum which no engineering solution can go below it.

However, I need clear statements about these somewhere in AS 2870 or in NCC to be sure. I couldn't find.
 
The NCC and Australian Standards are written by different groups who have different opinions and different goals.

Regarding the tables, I remember the divergence started with AS2870-2011. If you look at the earlier versions of AS2870 then they should be the same. You would have to confirm this, but I remember there being some big drought in the eastern states which caused cracking of walls on clay sites and this led to AS2870 designs becoming heavier. I think the NCC may have disagreed with the change and left it as is.

Most companies I know kept the original design that they had been using for decades and didn't follow the upgrade.

What makes sense to me is that AS 2870 is deemed to comply; NCC is minimum which no engineering solution can go below it.
Both the NCC tables and AS2870 are deemed to comply. Therefore following those tables is not mandatory.

Hope this helps.
 

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