The Australian National Construction Code NCC (2025) and Australian Standards AS3959:2018 and AS1530.8.1:2018 are concerned with improving the quality of Australian buildings and the health and safety of their occupants. In the weep hole niche, the important issues are adequate ventilation of the wall cavity and the ability to withstand attack from bushfire.

Basic Weephole Compliance
National Construction Code (2025)

The NCC (2025) provides direction relating to weephole requirements such as size, ventilation area, spacing and location of weepholes for drainage and ventilation in the construction of masonry buildings. It is important to note that requirements can change depending on the specific characteristics of each building. For example, requirements can differ between different building classifications, bushfire-prone areas and so on. As a result, there is no “one size fits all” approach that can be followed to ensure compliance for all situations. The following lists areas that should be considered in all circumstances, but might not apply in all circumstances. Please consult with your Building Certifier for the requirements that are specific to your building or project.

  • Weepholes should be a minimum of 50mm in height, by the width of a vertical mortar joint (NCC:2025, ABCB Housing Provisions, Part 5.7.5)
  • Weepholes should be located directly above the flashing or damp proof course (NCC:2025, ABCB Housing Provisions, Part 5.7.5)
  • Weepholes should be at not more than 1.2m centres (NCC:2025, ABCB Housing Provisions, Part 5.7.5)
  • In many cases, weepholes might be required to be closer together than 1.2m to meet a drained and ventilated cavity wall openings requirement of 1000mm2/m for condensation management and may be required at the base and top of the cavity (NCC:2025, ABCB Housing Provisions, Part 10.8.1).  This requirement can very very project specific particularly if unusual sized bricks or weepholes are being used.
  • Weepholes in masonry walls are required to comply with AS3700 or AS4773 (depending on the type of building)
  • Weepholes are required to comply with AS3959 (Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas) which may place additional requirements on weepholes
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All products in the Weepa range, when correctly installed, according to Specifiers' plans and approved by a Building Certifier, can be used to meet these requirements.

Bushfire Compliance
NCC (2025) Australian National Construction Code 

The NCC (2025) spells out performance requirements for acceptable construction materials in bushfire-prone areas, referencing compliance with Australian Standard AS3959:2018 as one means of meeting this requirement.

"Construction in bushfire prone areas
(1) The requirements of (2) only apply in a designated bushfire prone area.
(2) Performance Requirement H7P5 is satisfied for a Class 1 building, or a Class 10a building or deck associated with a Class 1 building, if it is constructed in accordance with— 
(a) AS 3959; or
(b) NASH Standard – Steel Framed Construction in Bushfire Areas."
(NCC (2022) Volume Two Section H7D4)  

Weepa relies on AS3959:2018 and its associated testing standard AS1580.8.1 or AS1530.8.2 as a means of compliance for our bushfire range.

Bushfire Compliance
AS3959:2018 - Australian Standard for construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas

This standard is important because it shows you how to work out which BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) applies to your project.  

Once this is established, it defines the particular requirements you will need to meet for your weepholes for that BAL level, for example, what metal material the weep hole needs to be screened with and the aperture size of the screen. 

For innovative products like ours, AS3959:2018 refers you to the Testing Standard AS1530.8.1:2018 or AS1530.8.2:2018 for compliance based on performance based criteria (see below).

Bushfire Compliance 
AS1530.8.1:2018 and AS1530.8.2:2018 - Australian Standard for Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures

This standard sits alongside AS3959:2018 and sets out testing methods which simulate different levels of bushfire attack (BAL). Innovative products such as ours need to pass testing to AS1530.8.1:2018 or AS1530.8.2:2018 at a certified fire testing laboratory and are compliant by performance based testing.

For installation during construction:

The New Generation Bushfire Weepa (23-NGBW) has been tested by BRANZ, an accredited AS1530.8.1:2018 laboratory, to meet all BAL levels up to BAL-A40. Certificate Number FP11420-001-C1
(If you have installed another Weepa since 1st May, 2019 and need to meet BAL-A29 and BAL-A40, please contact our friendly Customer Service Team on 07 3844 3744 for help with a solution.)

The High Performance Bushfire Weepa (11-HPBW) has been tested by BRANZ, an accredited AS1530.8.1:2018 laboratory, to meet all BAL levels up to BAL-A19. Certificate Number FP11420-002-C1

The 70mm Bushfire Weepa (15-NABW) is an identical but shortened version of the High Performance Bushfire Weepa which has been tested by BRANZ, and accredited AS1530.8.1:2018 laboratory, to meet all BAL levels up to BAL-A19 when used in masonry construction. (Please consult your certifier.) Certificate Number FP11420-001-C1

The Stainless Steel Weepa (19-TSSW) has been tested by BRANZ, an accredited AS1530.8.2:2018 laboratory, to meet all BAL levels up to BAL-FZ. Certificate Number FP13836-02-C1

The 50mm Stainless Steel Weepa (20-SSSW) has been tested by BRANZ, an accredited AS1530.8.2:2018 laboratory, to meet all BAL levels up to BAL-FZ. Certificate Number FP13836-04-C1

The Hybrid-FZ Bushfire Weepa (27-HFZW) has been tested by BRANZ, an accredited AS3959:2018 laboratory, to meet all BAL levels up to BAL-FZ. Certificate Number FP20686-01-C2 Issue 1.

For retrofit to existing homes:

The Protector Weep Hole Screen (21-SSWS) has been tested by BRANZ, an accredited AS1530.8.2:2018 laboratory, to meet all BAL levels up to BAL-FZ. Certificate Number FP13836-03-C1

The Protector Weep Hole Screen (21-SSWS) when installed together with the Termite Protector Weep Hole Screen (22-TPWS) has been tested by BRANZ, an accredited AS1530.8.1:2018 laboratory, to meet BAL levels up to BAL-40. Certificate Number FP11420003—C1

This information is a guide for the different construction requirements for weepholes in each level. It is not a replacement for NCC (2022), AS3959:2018, AS1530.8.1:2018 or AS1530.8.2:2018 which should be referred to directly and in their entirety. For specific project advice always consult your Building Certifier.