Wind Region Map Australia Find your region.

How to use the wind zone map of Australia

1. Search for the property's street address in the map above.
2. Confirm that the selected location matches the building site.
3. Read the wind region code and check the surrounding mapped boundary.
4. Share the location and result with the person preparing the wind assessment.

Use the exact site when checking wind regions in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory or the ACT. A state name or broad coastal description cannot establish the classification for an individual property. For sites near a boundary, confirm the location and the relevant standard's boundary rules before finalising design.

Understanding wind regions A, B, C and D

The map displays regional codes including A0–A5, B1–B2, C and D. Keep the full code in your project records, including any number after the letter. These labels identify mapped regions; they do not state the wind pressure on a particular roof, wall or window.

Regions C and D relate to cyclonic wind design. A non-cyclonic location still needs a wind assessment: exposure and building form can produce significant design demands. Regional descriptions are a starting point for discussing the site, rather than a prediction of how often strong winds will occur at the address.

What does an N2 wind rating mean in Australia?

N2 is a non-cyclonic housing wind classification used within the AS 4055 framework. The N identifies the non-cyclonic classification series; the number distinguishes the class. N2 is not a region on the map, a terrain category or a building importance level.

For a house assessed as N2, the classification helps the design team select suitable structural details and products within their stated limits. An N3 design has different wind demands, so an N2 product specification should not simply be carried across. Cyclonic classes such as C1 and C2 have their own requirements and are not direct substitutes for an N class.

Start with the wind region lookup, then establish the site classification using the applicable assessment method. A shed, industrial building or fabric shelter may need an AS/NZS 1170.2 engineering assessment rather than a housing classification. Ask what standard and design assumptions sit behind any advertised wind rating.

Terrain, shielding and topography: why the site matters

Two properties in the same wind region can have different wind classifications. The surroundings and landform affect exposure, so a regional map needs to be considered alongside a site review. The assessment looks at factors including:

• Terrain: the character of the surrounding land, including open areas and built-up surroundings.
• Shielding: the influence of surrounding buildings where they meet the assessment method's criteria.
• Topography: the effects of landforms such as hills, ridges and escarpments.
• Building geometry: height, shape and roof form, which affect the wind actions being assessed.

Supply a site plan, building elevations and information about the surrounding land to help your engineer assess the proposed building.

AS/NZS 1170.2 and AS 4055: which applies?

AS/NZS 1170.2 addresses structural wind actions. AS 4055 provides a wind loads framework for housing within its scope, including limits on building geometry. A house does not automatically fall within those limits simply because it is residential. Confirm the design method with the engineer or building designer for the actual plans.

Check the NCC edition, referenced standards and state or territory variations applicable to the project. For example, the NCC includes Western Australian wind design variations that need consideration for affected sites.

How wind conditions can guide building design

Bring wind exposure into the concept design while the building's position, height, roof form and openings are still flexible. The regional result starts that discussion; the site assessment turns it into design actions. Comparing options early helps coordinate architectural choices with the structure needed to support them.

For example, an open rural site and a sheltered suburban site may share a regional code but require different details. Record the actual surroundings and landform for each proposal. The assessment should reflect those conditions rather than assume a typical suburban setting applies everywhere.

Building height, roof form and overhangs

Include roof pitch, ridge height, eaves and attached canopies in the early engineering review. These features affect how wind acts on the structure. A deep overhang or an open-sided canopy needs its own connection and support details, even when it is attached to an otherwise conventional building.

Ask the engineer to review the proposed form before fixing member sizes or ordering roof materials. A change to the roofline or an increase in height can affect the original design assumptions. Keep the architectural drawings and structural documentation aligned as those decisions develop.

Windows, large doors and internal pressure

Openings are part of the wind design. Wind entering through a large opening can increase internal pressure and change the loads on the roof and walls. Show roller doors, large glazed openings and open sides on the plans, and describe how they will operate so the engineer can establish the appropriate design cases.

Coordinate the specified windows and doors with their frames, supports and installation details. Enclosing an open shelter or adding a large door later changes the conditions the original design was based on, so have the alteration reviewed before work proceeds.

Roof fixings, bracing and a continuous load path

Wind forces need a connected route through the building into the ground. Roof cladding transfers loads to its supports, which connect to the main framing, walls or columns and foundations. The members and the connections between them need to work together.

Review roof fasteners, tie-downs, wall bracing and foundation connections as a coordinated system. A stronger roof sheet alone does not resolve an inadequate connection below it. For renovations, include the condition of existing fixings and any corrosion in the review, especially where new construction relies on old supports.

Building use, importance level and design life

The purpose of the building also informs structural design. Importance levels reflect the consequences of failure, including risks to occupants and the need for essential facilities to remain available. They help establish the design event considered in the assessment. An importance level is separate from an N2 wind rating.

Tell the engineer what the building will house, how it will be occupied and its intended design life. A storage shelter, public gathering space and emergency facility may have different design requirements even at the same address. Confirm those assumptions in the brief rather than adopting them from a generic product brochure.

Comparing sheds, shelters and product wind ratings

When comparing quotations, ask suppliers to identify the site and configuration covered by their engineering. Check that the proposed dimensions, open or enclosed sides, supports and anchorage match what will actually be built. A wind rating is useful only when its supporting design conditions are understood.

• Provide the mapped region and site assessment to each supplier.
• Confirm the building dimensions, intended use and openings.
• Identify who designs and supplies the foundations and anchors.
• Request installation requirements and project-specific engineering documentation.

If a structure is relocated, have its suitability checked for the new site. The existing rating does not establish that the exposure, ground conditions and anchorage at another address are suitable.