Masonry for small buildings (Construction)

AS 4773.1:2015 sets out acceptable construction practices for clay, concrete or calcium silicate masonry in small buildings such as houses and garages (being typically Class 1a and Class 10 structures) – however, it may extend to small commercial warehouses and the like.

This Standard supplements, and is a companion document to, AS 4773.1:2015 Masonry for Small Buildings (Design).

This Standard does not though cover masonry constructed from autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks, bricks, or units which is captured by a separate Australian Standard AS 5416.

What’s included

AS 4773.2:2015 contains twelve sections:

Section 1: Deals with the scope of the standard, references and the definitions / explanations of components and systems, including limitations of building geometries
Section 2: Deals with the specifics of masonry unit sizes and construction types, and the durability requirements in different proximity zones
Section 3: Deals with mortar components and mixes; and durability requirements according to different proximity zones
Section 4: Deals with the use of grouting to cover reinforcement or fill masonry cores
Section 5: Deals with built-in components in masonry, such as wire-ties, lintels and flashings, including durability requirements according to different proximity zones
Section 6: Deals with required sub-floor construction outcomes, including ventilation, according to different climate zones
Section 7: Deals with control joint specifics in masonry construction, such as articulation, contraction and expansion joints
Section 8: Deals with the support and installation of lintels and the construction of arches
Section 9: Deals with the construction of masonry veneer walls, where the masonry is non-structural: including flashing and allowances for sub-frame shrinkage
Section 10: Deals with the minimum construction requirements of cavity masonry walls, including duty ratings for cavity wall ties and roof anchorage details
Section 11: Deals with the construction requirements of unreinforced single-leaf masonry walls
Section 12: Deals with reinforced masonry walls, either grout-filled (cores or cavities) or damp-proof reinforcing methods. This section typically applies to concrete block construction methods.

The Standard also contains two appendices:

Appendix A informs drawing and specification requirements for masonry units per AS4773.1
Appendix B is an outline for cleaning masonry with cleaning compounds / methods, or acids.

This Standard is a primary referenced document for masonry work under the National Construction Code (NCC) Volume Two as a Deemed-to-Satisfy means of complying with the NCC.

Related Australian Standards

AS 1170 Structural Design Actions series
AS 1316 Masonry cement
AS 1478 Chemical admixtures for concrete, grout and mortar series
AS 2699 Built-in components for masonry construction series
AS 2904 Damp-proof courses and flashings
AS 4455.1:2008 Masonry units, pavers, flags and segmental retaining wall units (Masonry Units)
AS 4773.1:2015 Masonry in small buildings (Design).