AS 2699: built-in components for masonry construction

AS 2699 is the three-part Australian Standard for built-in components in masonry construction: the wall ties, connectors, and lintels that get cast or embedded into a brick or block wall. It is the standard the NCC calls up as the deemed-to-satisfy path for these items, so a built-in component on a residential masonry job is compliant when it meets the relevant part of AS 2699 and is installed per the corrosion-class and duty-class rules.

The three parts

Part	Scope	Typical components
AS 2699.1:2020	Wall ties	Veneer ties, cavity ties (light/medium/heavy duty), remedial ties
AS 2699.2	Connectors and accessories	Masonry connectors, brackets, ties for engaging walls to other elements
AS 2699.3	Lintels and shelf angles	Steel lintels and shelf angles built into masonry

Each part sets the durability, dimensional, and performance requirements for its component family.

How NCC calls it up

NCC 2022 Volume Two, Housing Provisions Part 5.6 (Masonry) references AS 2699 as the deemed-to-satisfy specification for built-in components in a Class 1 masonry wall (verified 2026-05-29, per wall ties live article). AS 3700 (the masonry structures design standard) and AS 4773 (masonry in small buildings) sit beside AS 2699: AS 3700/4773 cover how the masonry is designed and built, AS 2699 covers the components built into it.

What the standard sets

The substance most builders meet is in Part 1 (wall ties), which sets two parallel classifications:

Duty class (load capacity)

AS 2699.1:2020 grades wall ties by the load they can transfer between the masonry leaf and the structure:

Light duty for low-wind brick veneer.
Medium duty for higher-wind sites and cavity walls.
Heavy duty for the highest-load applications.

The NCC’s Housing Provisions Table 5.6.5a/5.6.5b set the required duty class for the wind classification and wall type.

Corrosion class (material durability)

AS 2699.1:2020 Table 3.1 grades ties by corrosion resistance, matched to the site exposure (verified 2026-05-29, live wall ties per AS 2699.1:2020 + NCC HP Table 5.6.5d):

Standard galvanising (Z600 / HDG300) for inland sites.
Heavy galvanising (HDG470, ~65 µm) or Grade 304L stainless for moderate coastal (1 to 10 km from breaking surf, corrosion class R3).
Grade 316L stainless or engineered polymer for severe coastal (within 1 km of breaking surf, corrosion class R4).

Specify the wrong corrosion class and the ties fail over the building’s life; the wall starts to bow or shed bricks years after handover.

Parts 2 and 3 in brief

AS 2699.2 (connectors and accessories) covers masonry connectors, brackets, and similar accessories used to engage a masonry leaf to another structural element (e.g. a steel post or concrete frame). Same logic as Part 1: duty and durability classifications matched to load and exposure.
AS 2699.3 (lintels and shelf angles) covers the steel lintels and shelf angles cast or built into masonry openings, with durability and dimensional requirements suited to their cast-in exposure.

For most Class 1 residential jobs, Part 1 is the one that comes up day to day; Parts 2 and 3 are encountered on engineered or multi-storey jobs.

For a builder

Specify the part on the order. “Wall ties to AS 2699.1:2020” tells the supplier what to ship and what corrosion class to confirm.
Match the corrosion class to the site. Coastal jobs cost more in tie material; budgeting standard galv on a coastal site and discovering 316L is required at order is a real cost surprise.
Confirm the certificate. AS 2699 components are typically supplied with a manufacturer’s compliance certificate referencing the standard. Keep it with the job records.
Coordinate the engineer. On engineered masonry jobs the engineer’s spec is the source of truth for the duty class; the AS 2699 standard is the path it satisfies.

References

Standards Australia, AS 2699.1:2020 Built-in components for masonry construction, Part 1: Wall ties (verified 2026-05-29).
Australian Building Codes Board, NCC 2022 Housing Provisions (Part 5.6 Masonry; verified 2026-05-29).
See live wall ties article for the duty-class and corrosion-class tables in detail.