Verification methods for structural performance

The Australian National Construction Code (NCC) has recently introduced a verification method for strength BV1 and a verification method for robustness BV2. BV1 requires the reliability indices established for permanent, imposed, wind, snow and earthquake to be equal to a set of target indices provided for in the NCC. BV2 introduces the ‘notional removal of structural elements’ as a verification method for robustness. The paper reports on issues encountered in actual applications. The stringency levels of acceptability are high for some applications and there are some issues with the interpretation of the rules in their present forms. The verification methods are capable of a wide range of usage and their stringency should be set at appropriate levels depending on applications.