This article has been updated to reflect the changes made to the Wind Regions on the 2021 Australian Standards, AS/NZS 1170.2:2021.
What wind rating does your shed need to be? Are Action farm sheds wind rated for your region?
When building sheds in rural areas, it is important not to overlook environmental factors such as wind speeds, terrain and topography,.
So, you will need to consider:
- The wind region you are situated in
- The terrain category
- Other factors such as topographic effect and importance level.
Read on to learn more about each of these factors and how to ensure your shed is wind rated for your region.
And find out if Action farm sheds designs are wind rated for your region.
Wind Ratings For Farm Sheds
Identifying the wind region that your farm shed is located in is an important step. This wind region will impact the engineering and cost of your project – and the longevity of your shed.
There are four wind regions in Australia:
- A: This encompasses Australian inland areas and most of the southern coastline, and is usually non-cyclonic. This includes sub categories 0 – 5 which are determined by factors like wind direction and proximity to the coastline.
- B: Also considered non-cyclonic or “intermediate”, this region lies within 50km – 100km of the coastline above 30° Latitude. It does not include the southern coast. This region was adjusted in 2021 to include sub-regions B1 and B2:
B1 is between 25-30° latitude and within a smoothed 200km distance from the coastline, and B2 is above 25° latitude and within a smoothed 100km distance from coastline
- C: A cyclonic region above 25° Latitude and within 50kms of the coast.
- D: A very specific cyclonic area along the west coast of Australia.
Often there are a number of other details to consider along with wind regions. This is usually the case if your shed is in a cyclone region or the site is exposed.
These include:
- Terrain Categories
- Topographic Effect – this is the effect of wind on a structure due to its location
- Shielding Factor
- Importance Level – this measures the level of consequences in the event of a building failure
Terrain Categories
The terrain of a region impacts the ways in which the wind flows towards and over sheds and buildings.
There are several terrain categories in Australia:
- 1: Open and exposed terrain with zero or few obstructions. This category may apply to sheds in very remote areas.
- 2: Open terrain with scattered obstructions that are 1.5m to 10m in height, such as farmland.
- 2.5: Semi-rural areas with some trees and buildings.
- 3: Usually refers to urban areas with numerous obstructions such as buildings and trees.
As you might expect, sheds in the first two categories are likely to be more vulnerable to wind speeds than in the other two.
Topographic Effect & Shielding Factor
The other factors influencing wind ratings are topography and shielding.
The topographic effect refers to the maximum surface slope of the land.
The shielding factor refers to the ways in which the various obstructions impact on the building (such as their location and whether they are upwind or downwind).
Are Action Farm Shed Designs Wind Rated For Your Region?
Yes! You can rest assured that every Action shed is individually assessed, designed and engineered to meet the unique requirements for your site location – including wind rating.
We hope you have found this article on wind ratings for farm sheds helpful!
If you have any other questions about farm shed designs and wind ratings, our building consultants would be happy to help.
Our Learning Hub includes more articles and resources to help you with your farm shed research – check it out here.
