When it comes to building with steel in Australia, compliance isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Steel framing must meet strict requirements for structural strength, durability, wind performance and overall safety. These requirements influence everything from the loads a building must withstand to the size of its steel members, bracing, connections and fixings.
For builders, architects and homeowners choosing light gauge steel, understanding the standards that govern steel framing helps ensure a project meets the requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) and is designed for the conditions it will face.
Bushfire-prone sites can also have additional construction requirements, including those under AS 3959, depending on the project and Bushfire Attack Level.
The Australian Standards That Apply to Steel Framing
There isn’t one Australian Standard that covers every part of a steel frame.
Instead, several standards work together. Some determine the loads acting on the building, while others govern how the steel members, structural systems and connections are designed to resist those loads.
| Standard | What It Covers |
| AS/NZS 4600:2018 | Cold-formed steel structures |
| NASH Residential and Low-Rise Steel Framing | Residential and low-rise steel framing |
| AS 4100:2020 | Steel structures |
| AS/NZS 1170.0:2002 | General principles for structural design actions |
| AS/NZS 1170.1:2002 | Permanent, imposed and other actions |
| AS/NZS 1170.2:2021 | Wind actions |
| AS 4055:2021, incorporating Amendment 1:2024 | Wind loads for housing |
| AS 3566.1:2002 | Self-drilling screws |
The NCC recognises AS 4100, AS/NZS 4600 and the NASH Residential and Low-Rise Steel Framing Standards as Deemed-to-Satisfy pathways for relevant forms of steel construction.
AS/NZS 4600: Cold-Formed Steel Structures
AS/NZS 4600 is one of the most important standards for light gauge steel framing.
Cold-formed steel is relatively thin steel formed into structural shapes such as studs, tracks, joists and other framing members. It is widely used in wall frames, floor systems and roof structures.
AS/NZS 4600 provides the engineering rules used to determine whether these cold-formed steel members and their connections have sufficient structural capacity.
It considers how thin steel behaves under forces such as compression, tension and bending, including forms of buckling that can occur in cold-formed sections. The 2018 edition also introduced additional guidance around fire design.
Why Is AS/NZS 4600 Important?
It helps determine whether the actual steel sections used in a frame are strong enough for the job.
For example, it can influence the thickness and profile of a wall stud, the capacity of a floor joist and the design of the connections transferring loads between different parts of the frame.
View AS/NZS 4600:2018 at Standards Australia
NASH Standard: Residential and Low-Rise Steel Framing
The NASH Standard was developed specifically for residential and low-rise steel-framed buildings.
Part 1 establishes design criteria relating to structural adequacy and serviceability for residential and commercial low-rise steel-framed buildings.
The supporting NASH Handbook goes further, covering the structural design of floor, wall, roof and bracing systems, as well as connections, durability, fabrication and construction practices.
This makes NASH particularly relevant to the types of light gauge steel framing commonly used in houses and other low-rise buildings.
Why Is the NASH Standard Important?
AS/NZS 4600 provides broad engineering rules for cold-formed steel, while NASH applies those principles specifically to residential and low-rise steel framing.
It helps engineers consider how the complete framing system works together rather than looking at an individual steel section in isolation.
The NCC recognises both Part 1 and Part 2 of the NASH Standard as Deemed-to-Satisfy pathways for relevant steel-framed construction.
View the NASH Residential and Low-Rise Steel Framing Standard
AS 4100: Steel Structures
AS 4100 covers structural steel more broadly.
This becomes relevant where a light gauge steel-framed building also contains conventional structural steel members such as beams, columns or other supporting elements.
AS 4100 provides requirements for designing steel structures so that members and connections have sufficient strength, stability and serviceability for the loads imposed on them.
Why Is AS 4100 Important?
A building does not necessarily use only one type of steel.
A light gauge wall and roof framing system may interact with heavier structural steel elsewhere in the design. AS 4100 provides the structural design framework for those steel elements, while AS/NZS 4600 addresses the cold-formed framing.
Standards Australia describes AS 4100 as a benchmark for the design of steel structures.
View AS 4100:2020 at Standards Australia
AS/NZS 1170.0: General Principles
Before a frame can be designed, engineers need to establish what loads and combinations of loads the structure must safely withstand.
AS/NZS 1170.0 provides the general framework for doing this.
It establishes the principles used when assessing structural actions and combinations of actions, including how structures are checked against different limit states.
Why Is AS/NZS 1170.0 Important?
Buildings do not normally experience one load at a time.
A frame may need to carry its own weight while also resisting occupancy loads and wind. AS/NZS 1170.0 helps engineers consider appropriate combinations of these forces rather than designing for each one independently.
View AS/NZS 1170.0:2002 at Standards Australia
AS/NZS 1170.1: Permanent and Imposed Actions
AS/NZS 1170.1 deals with the loads arising from the building itself and from how it will be used.
Permanent actions can include the weight of structural components, roofing, ceilings and other fixed materials.
Imposed actions relate to loads that can change during the life of the building, such as people, furniture, stored items and activities within the building.
Why Is AS/NZS 1170.1 Important?
These loads directly affect how strong the framing needs to be.
A floor system supporting a particular occupancy, for example, needs to be engineered for the loads expected during normal use. Those requirements can influence member sizes, spans, spacing and supporting structures.
View AS/NZS 1170.1:2002 at Standards Australia
AS/NZS 1170.2: Wind Actions
AS/NZS 1170.2 determines the wind actions that structures need to withstand.
Wind design considers more than simply whether an area is “windy”. Factors can include regional wind speeds, terrain, surrounding shielding, topography, building height, shape and pressure acting on different surfaces.
The 2021 revision updated regional boundaries and wind-design provisions and introduced a climate change multiplier to allow for future adjustments to design wind speeds, particularly in regions affected by tropical cyclones.
Why Is AS/NZS 1170.2 Important?
Wind can create pressure, suction and uplift across a building.
That can affect roof trusses, wall frames, bracing, tie-downs and the connections transferring loads all the way through the structure.
This is especially important in Western Australia, where conditions can vary greatly between Perth and northern or cyclonic areas.
View AS/NZS 1170.2:2021 at Standards Australia
AS 4055: Wind Loads for Housing
AS 4055:2021, incorporating Amendment 1:2024, provides a more specific method for determining wind classifications and wind loads for houses that fall within its scope.
This is where classifications such as N1 to N6 and C1 to C4 come into the design process.
Why Is AS 4055 Important?
A home’s wind classification affects how its structure needs to resist wind forces.
A higher wind classification can mean greater requirements for bracing, connections, tie-downs and other parts of the framing system.
AS 4055 therefore helps turn the conditions of the building site into practical design requirements for the house.
View AS 4055:2021 at Standards Australia
AS 3566.1: Self-Drilling Screws
Steel framing relies heavily on connections, which means the fasteners joining steel components together are critical.
AS 3566.1 establishes general requirements and mechanical properties for self-drilling screws used in building and construction.
Why Is AS 3566.1 Important?
A steel frame is only as reliable as the connections transferring loads between its members.
Using an appropriate screw is therefore not a minor construction detail. The fastener must be suitable for its intended application, while the number and placement of screws must follow the framing and engineering design.
View AS 3566.1:2002 at Standards Australia
How Do These Standards Work Together?
The easiest way to understand the standards is to look at the role each one plays.
AS/NZS 1170.0, AS/NZS 1170.1, AS/NZS 1170.2 and AS 4055 help determine what forces the building needs to withstand.
AS/NZS 4600, the NASH Standard and AS 4100 help determine how the steel structure is designed to safely resist those forces.
AS 3566.1 covers important components used to connect the framing together.
Together, they turn the building design and site conditions into an engineered framing system.
Who Regulates Steel Framing and What Does “Regulated by the NCC” Mean?
The National Construction Code establishes the minimum technical requirements for buildings in Australia.
The Australian Building Codes Board develops and maintains the NCC, but it does not contain every detailed engineering calculation itself. Instead, it references Australian Standards and other technical documents that provide the detailed requirements.
Western Australia adopted NCC 2025 from 1 May 2026. However, transitional provisions can mean an earlier Building Code remains applicable to some projects, depending on when the building permit application is made and the relevant WA requirements.
The NCC is given legal effect through legislation in each state and territory.
In Western Australia, the Building Commissioner and Building and Energy have regulatory responsibilities across the building industry.
Why does this matter? Because saying a frame is simply “built to Australian Standards” is not enough. The standards need to be correctly applied to the actual building, location, loads, wind conditions and compliance pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Main Australian Standard for Light Gauge Steel Framing?
AS/NZS 4600 is one of the primary standards for cold-formed and light gauge steel structures. The NASH Residential and Low-Rise Steel Framing Standards also provide specific requirements for applicable residential and low-rise buildings.
What Standard Determines the Loads on a Steel Frame?
The AS/NZS 1170 series covers structural design actions. This includes general design principles, permanent and imposed loads and wind actions.
What Australian Standard Covers Wind Loads for Houses?
AS 4055 covers wind loads for housing within its scope, while AS/NZS 1170.2 provides the broader requirements for determining wind actions on structures.
Does Steel Framing Have to Comply With the NCC?
Yes. The completed building must meet the applicable NCC requirements. The NCC recognises AS 4100, AS/NZS 4600 and the NASH Residential and Low-Rise Steel Framing Standards as Deemed-to-Satisfy pathways for relevant forms of steel construction.
Are Steel Frames Suitable for Cyclonic Areas in WA?
Yes. Steel framing can be engineered for cyclonic conditions, but the members, bracing, roof system, connections and tie-downs must be designed for the wind actions applicable to the site.
Steel Framing Designed for Western Australian Conditions
Australian Standards aren’t simply a checklist of numbers. Each one performs a different job in determining how a steel-framed building should be designed and how it must perform.
For light gauge steel, that means considering everything from the loads acting on the building and the wind conditions at the site through to member capacity, bracing, connections and fasteners.
Steel Frames WA designs and manufactures light gauge steel framing for projects throughout Western Australia. If you’re planning a steel-framed build, contact our team to discuss the structural and framing requirements for your project.
