AS 3600 is the standard behind the concrete in your home. On a new house its most visible role is in the slab and footings, where it works hand in hand with the residential standard, AS 2870.
What AS 3600 actually means
AS 3600 sets out how concrete structures are designed — how the concrete and the steel reinforcing inside it work together to carry load, resist cracking and last. It covers the principles that a residential slab design in AS 2870 draws upon: concrete strength, reinforcement, cover and durability.
Where it applies in your new home
For most homeowners, AS 3600 shows up in the slab: the concrete grade specified, the reinforcement designed into it, and the cover of concrete over that steel. It reaches you through the engineer's slab design and the delivery docket on pour day.
What VG Inspect checks against it
At the pre-pour inspection — before any concrete is placed — an inspector verifies the reinforcement size, spacing and cover against the engineered design, and checks that the concrete grade on the delivery docket matches what the engineer specified. Reinforcement in the wrong position, inadequate cover, or the wrong concrete grade all affect how the slab performs, and the pre-pour is the only moment they can be seen.
What it does and doesn't cover
AS 3600 covers the design of the concrete and its reinforcement. The site-specific residential slab design — matched to your soil reactivity — is the domain of AS 2870, and the reinforcing steel itself is covered by AS/NZS 4671. Together they define a slab that suits your block.
A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector (QBCC Licence 1318443) verifies your slab against its engineered design at pre-pour, and reports the same day so nothing holds up your pour. Call 07 3180 8041 or book a pre-pour inspection online.