COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Structural Design Principles in Residential & Commercial Construction course. This program is designed to equip you with the foundational knowledge and applied understanding of structural design practices across both residential and commercial projects. Structural design plays a critical role in ensuring the safety, stability, and serviceability of built environments, and it requires close collaboration between structural engineers, architects, builders, and other stakeholders from concept through to construction delivery.
This course begins by exploring the purpose and scope of structural design within the building industry. Participants will examine how structural principles differ between residential and commercial settings, including variations in materials, construction systems, and performance requirements. The interplay between architectural intent and engineering feasibility is introduced to highlight the need for integrated design solutions that meet both aesthetic and functional goals.
The framework of structural design in Australia is underpinned by rigorous codes and standards. This section focuses on the National Construction Code (NCC) Volumes 1 and 2 and the relevant Australian Standards including AS 1170 for structural actions, AS 3600 for concrete, AS 4100 for steel, and AS 1684 for timber framing. Understanding these standards is essential to ensure structural compliance, regulatory approval, and design integrity throughout the project lifecycle.
Participants will then delve into fundamental concepts of structural mechanics. Key topics include load paths, stress-strain behaviour, and the different types of forces that act on structures—axial, bending, shear, and torsion. A solid grasp of these principles allows professionals to understand how loads travel through a structure and how design decisions affect structural performance.
Accurate consideration of structural loads is crucial in any building design. This section introduces permanent (dead) loads, variable (live) loads, and environmental actions such as wind, snow, and seismic forces. Participants will explore how load combinations are derived and applied using factored methods to ensure adequate safety margins under worst-case scenarios.
Foundation performance is directly influenced by site conditions. This section covers soil classification, reactivity, and settlement, with emphasis on how these factors affect footing and slab design. The design and selection of strip footings, raft slabs, piers, and piles are addressed with reference to site-specific considerations and geotechnical input.
Structural systems differ markedly between residential and commercial construction. Participants will review typical residential systems such as loadbearing walls, timber floor joists, trussed roofs, and slab-on-ground foundations. In contrast, commercial systems such as reinforced concrete frames, tilt-up panels, post-tensioned slabs, and long-span steel structures are discussed for their capacity to accommodate higher loads and greater spans.
The design of individual structural elements begins with beams. This section focuses on the calculation of shear forces, bending moments, and deflections, and how to select appropriate beam types across timber, steel, and concrete. Both simply supported and continuous span configurations are examined.
Column design is addressed through an understanding of axial loading, buckling, and slenderness ratios. Participants will explore how bracing systems interact with columns and how loads are transferred through vertical elements across multiple floors.
Slab and floor systems are a central element in building design. This section includes one-way and two-way slabs, ribbed and flat slab designs, and suspended floor configurations. Issues such as deflection control, vibration limits, and live load distribution are explored in relation to occupant comfort and structural durability.
Walls provide both vertical support and lateral stability. Participants will study shear walls, bracing systems, and diaphragm action to understand how walls contribute to resisting lateral loads such as wind or seismic events. Techniques for preventing racking, displacement, and overturning are examined in detail.
Roof framing systems are explored through the lens of structural efficiency and load distribution. The design of timber and steel trusses, tie-down systems, and uplift resistance is addressed, along with the transfer of roof loads to supporting structural elements.
Strong, reliable connections are essential to overall stability. This section covers the structural behaviour of bolted, welded, nailed, and cast-in connections, including the performance of moment-resisting joints, pinned supports, and transfer structures in complex buildings.
Material selection significantly affects design outcomes. Participants will evaluate the structural properties of concrete, steel, timber, and masonry in relation to durability, fire performance, cost, and environmental impact. Considerations of sustainability and embodied carbon are also introduced to support responsible material selection.
Fire resistance is a vital part of structural design. This section addresses the fire rating of structural components, use of passive fire protection systems, and the role of performance-based solutions aligned with AS 1530 and related testing standards.
Renovations and extensions introduce additional structural complexity. Participants will learn how to assess and reinforce existing structures, manage temporary support requirements, and accommodate new loads in retrofit scenarios.
Quality assurance and inspection protocols are critical to achieving a structurally sound build. This final section highlights key inspection stages during formwork, reinforcement, concrete pouring, and framing. Participants will also learn how to identify structural non-conformances and implement corrective actions.
By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of the principles, practices, and codes that govern structural design in residential and commercial construction—enabling them to contribute to structurally sound, code-compliant, and professionally coordinated building projects.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Structural Design in the Built Environment
- Purpose of structural design in building projects
- Differences between residential and commercial structural systems
- Key stakeholders: structural engineers, architects, and builders
2. Australian Codes and Standards for Structural Design
- Overview of the National Construction Code (NCC) Volumes 1 & 2
- Key Australian Standards: AS 1170 (actions), AS 3600 (concrete), AS 4100 (steel), AS 1684 (timber)
- Ensuring code compliance throughout the design process
3. Fundamental Concepts of Structural Mechanics
- Load paths and force transfer in building systems
- Axial, bending, shear, and torsional forces
- Basic stress-strain behaviour of materials
4. Structural Loads and Design Actions
- Dead loads, live loads, imposed and environmental loads
- Wind loads, snow loads, and earthquake loads
- Load combinations and factored design methods
5. Soil Mechanics and Foundation Considerations
- Understanding soil types and site classifications
- Effects of soil movement, reactivity, and settlement
- Foundation types: strip footings, slabs, piles, and piers
6. Structural Systems in Residential Construction
- Loadbearing walls, timber or steel floor joists, and roof trusses
- Slab-on-ground construction and waffle pod systems
- Single vs double-storey residential frameworks
7. Structural Systems in Commercial Buildings
- Reinforced concrete frames, tilt-up panels, and steel portal frames
- Composite slab systems and post-tensioned floors
- Core walls, shear walls, and long-span solutions
8. Design of Structural Elements: Beams
- Simply supported vs continuous beams
- Calculating bending moments, deflections, and shear forces
- Beam selection: timber, steel, or reinforced concrete
9. Design of Structural Elements: Columns
- Axial load capacity and slenderness ratios
- Braced vs unbraced frames and column buckling
- Load transfer from upper to lower floors
10. Structural Slab and Floor Systems
- One-way and two-way slab designs
- Ribbed slabs, flat slabs, and suspended floors
- Live load deflection limits and floor vibration considerations
11. Structural Wall Systems and Lateral Stability
- Loadbearing vs non-loadbearing wall functions
- Shear walls, bracing walls, and diaphragm action
- Preventing racking, overturning, and displacement
12. Roof Structures and Framing Design
- Timber and steel truss design principles
- Wind uplift considerations and tie-down requirements
- Load distribution to supporting walls and beams
13. Connections and Structural Joints
- Moment-resisting vs pinned joints
- Design of bolted, nailed, welded, or cast-in connections
- Transfer beams and movement joints in multi-storey buildings
14. Material Selection in Structural Design
- Structural properties of timber, steel, masonry, and concrete
- Durability, fire resistance, cost, and availability
- Sustainability considerations and embodied carbon
15. Structural Design for Fire Resistance
- Fire rating requirements for structural elements
- Passive fire protection: fire collars, sprayed coatings, and cladding
- Performance solutions and testing standards
16. Structural Considerations in Renovations and Alterations
- Assessing load impacts from new walls, floors, or extensions
- Temporary supports during demolition or retrofitting
- Reinforcement strategies for existing structures
17. Quality Assurance and Structural Inspections
- Inspection points during footing, formwork, steel fixing, and concrete pours
- Pre-pour checklists and site supervisor responsibilities
- Identifying defects and structural non-conformances
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.