Reference

The numbers you google mid-job — stairs, barriers, heights, falls, courses, fixings. Type to filter. Indicative only: always verify against the current NCC, the relevant Australian Standard and your state's variations before you build.

Australian Standards (commonly referenced in fit-out)

AS 1428.1 — Design for access and mobility
AS 1657 — Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways & ladders
AS 1170 — Structural design actions (loads)
AS 1288 — Glass in buildings — selection & installation
AS 2047 — Windows & external glazed doors
AS 3600 — Concrete structures
AS 1684 — Residential timber-framed construction
AS 3740 — Waterproofing of domestic wet areas
AS 1530 — Fire tests — building materials & structures
AS 4386 — Cabinetry — kitchen units & components

Standards are copyright to Standards Australia — buy them from the official store; this is a reference to the numbers, not the content.

Useful links

Standards Australia store — Buy the standards themselves (they're copyright — link, don't pirate).
NCC / BCA (ABCB) — The National Construction Code — free to read after a no-cost sign-up.
Bureau of Meteorology — Wind regions, rainfall intensity, climate data for set-out.
WorkSafe / SafeWork (your state) — Codes of practice, SWMS templates, height & silica guidance.

Rules of thumb

Common stock lengths: Timber/trim 5.4 / 4.8 / 3.6 / 2.4 m · SHS/RHS 6.5 / 8 m · plasterboard sheet 1200 × 2400/2700/3000 mm
Paint coverage: ≈ 10–12 m²/L per coat on a sealed surface (always check the data sheet).
Concrete bag yield: 20 kg pre-mix ≈ 0.0108 m³; ~92 bags per m³.
Tile wastage: Allow 10% standard, 15% for diagonal/large-format or patterned lays.
Stair comfort (AS 1657): Riser 115–190 mm · going 240–355 mm · 2R + G ≈ 550–700 mm.

About this tool

Reference is the searchable version of the numbers you'd otherwise google mid-job — stair and balustrade rules, ceiling heights, waterproofing falls, tiling, brick courses and fixings — plus a launch point for the Australian standards and code links an estimator reaches for most, such as AS 1428.1, AS 1657 and AS 1170, and links to the NCC/BCA and the Standards Australia store. Type to filter the quick-reference figures, or scroll down for the standards and links list. It's indicative only: always verify against the current NCC, the relevant Australian Standard and your state's variations before you build.

How to use it

Type a keyword, e.g. 'stair' or 'balustrade', into the search box.
Scan the filtered list of matching figures.
Cross-check the figure against the current NCC or standard for your job.
Scroll to the standards and links section for the NCC/BCA and Standards Australia store, or clear the search to browse the full reference again.

FAQ

Is this free?

Yes — the whole reference is free and unlimited.

Can I rely on these figures without checking anything else?

No — they're indicative only; always verify against the current NCC, the relevant Australian Standard and your state's variations.

Is anything uploaded when I search?

No — searching filters the list locally in your browser.

Can I read the full standards here?

No — standards are copyright; the links section points to the Standards Australia store and the free NCC/BCA site to read them properly.

What does it cover?

Stairs, barriers, ceiling heights, falls, brick and tile courses and fixings in the searchable reference, plus a list of commonly referenced Australian Standards and links to the NCC/BCA and Standards Australia store.

Indicative trade figures and references only — verify against the current standard. ← all tools