Online CPD:
Seismic Bracing of Non-Structural Walls and Ceilings in Australian Commercial Construction

Free formal CPD | 1 Point | 50 minutes | Self-paced | Certificate issued automatically on completion

About This Module

Non-structural elements - partition walls, suspended ceilings, services and fixtures - account for 70–80% of post-earthquake repair costs and their failure causes 61% of all injuries in an earthquake event. Yet non-structural bracing remains one of the most inconsistently specified and poorly understood parts of commercial construction documentation.

This CPD module walks architects and engineers through the regulatory framework, design considerations and compliance pathways for bracing non-structural walls and ceilings under the National Construction Code (NCC), AS 1170.4 and AS 2785 - with a focus on the risks of relying on site-fabricated, unverified restraint solutions.

How It Works

  1. Read - Work through the presentation at your own pace. Every slide is available on this page; there's no time limit and no need to complete it in one sitting.

  2. Assess - Once you've finished, complete the short knowledge check. It's designed to test understanding of the key concepts, not catch you out.

  3. Certify - Pass the assessment and your CPD attendance certificate is generated automatically, ready to download and log against your CPD record.

What You'll Learn

  • Why the NCC's Building Code B1 structural provisions extend to non-structural bracing, and what AS 1170.4 and AS 2785 require

  • How partition walls must be designed to accommodate vertical, in-plane and out-of-plane movement

  • Why site-fabricated splay braces carry unverified capacity - and what that means for your compliance position

  • The three accepted suspended-ceiling fixing methods and when each applies

  • What quasi-static testing and international certification (ICC-ESR, OSHPD OPM) actually demonstrate about a bracing system

  • Queensland-specific compliance: Form 15 certification and the role of the RPEQ

  • Real-world performance evidence, including the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquake case studies

Relevant Professional Competencies

Mapped to the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects (AACA):

Practice Management - PC1, PC12, PC16 Detailed Design & Documentation - PC39, PC41, PC45, PC46 Design Delivery & Construction Phase Services - PC54, PC56

Architects should confirm formal CPD point recognition against their own state or territory board's requirements. Engineers can log this module as a self-directed CPD activity under Engineers Australia's CPD framework.

1: read the cpd presentation
2: begin the assessment