Building
Timber framed buildings – notification for the revision of NZS 3604:1999
Parts of NZS 3604:1999, the key Standard for building timber framed houses in New Zealand, need to be brought up to date. We are seeking feedback from stakeholders by 12 December 2008, to ensure as many issues as possible have been identified, prior to starting the revision.
NZS 3604 is widely used by designers, builders, engineers, and the building industry. Ninety-three per cent of timber framed houses in New Zealand are built to the Standard. It provides practical guidance on how to design and build houses to meet the New Zealand Building Code requirements, without the need for specific engineering design.
We will soon start a project to revise NZS 3604 and will be calling for nominations to the technical committee. We will collate all feedback received from stakeholders, and present this to the technical committee for discussion during the project.
The key objectives of the revision of NZS 3604 are to:
Performance of windows Standard – revised
Standards New Zealand has published a revised Specification for performance of windows, NZS 4211:2008, to update and replace the 1985 version. This Standard is used for testing windows as they would be supplied ex factory, to the site.
The Standard’s processes and procedures for testing and materials have been significantly updated. The revision clarifies how to apply the Standard, and aligns it with the AS/NZS 1170 series, Structural design actions. The Department of Building and Housing intends to commence its process for referencing this Standard in Compliance Documents for the New Zealand Building Code.
Thermal insulation – housing and small buildings – public comment
DZ4218 Thermal insulation – Housing and small buildings (previous title: Energy efficiency – small building envelope), is available for you to comment on. The closing date for comment is 2 February 2009.
Download a free copy of DZ4218.
This revision of NZS 4218:2004 aims to align the Standard with the New Zealand Building Code Clause H1, and to improve the Standard's usability and robustness. In the New Zealand climate, good passive solar design incorporating appropriate areas of glazing and thermal mass, combined with a well-insulated thermal envelope, can significantly reduce the energy requirements to heat and cool buildings.
PVC-U pipes and fittings Standard – public comment
The draft Standard DR08216 PVC-U pipes and fittings for drain, waste, and vent application (Revision of AS/NZS 1260:2002), is available for you to comment on. The closing date for comment is 30 December 2008.
Download a free copy of DR08216.
Specifies requirements for PVC-U pipes and fittings for sewer, drain, waste, and vent applications above ground or below ground and intended to be used where the pipeline is operating under gravity flow and the operating pressure is low. The Standard includes requirements for both plain and structured wall pipes and fittings.
Note: Pipes manufactured to this Standard should only be used and installed in accordance with AS 2032, AS/NZS 2566.1, AS 3500 and NZS 7643.
Concrete structures for the storage of liquids – revision update
A revision of NZS 3106 will give up-to-date guidance for designing concrete structures used to store liquid, by:
- providing the relevant loading values, as described through the AS/NZS 1170 Standard series
- providing up-to-date guidance and requirements to acknowledge seismic considerations.
The revised Standard will provide guidance for users to meet the requirements of the New Zealand Building Code on concrete structures that will store liquid, and will support safe and serviceable tank designs.
The public comment period for this draft Standard is to begin late 2008. To be notified when this Standard is revised, subscribe to our ‘Keep me up to date’ service.
Cement Standards – to be revised
A project for the amendment of NZS 3122:1995 Specification for Portland and blended cements (General and special purpose) and the revision of NZS 3123:1974 Specification for Portland pozzolan cement (type PP cement) is in the early stages of nominating and forming the technical committee. The estimated publication date is August 2009.
To be notified when these Standards are revised, subscribe to our ‘Keep me up to date’ service.
Methods of testing Portland and blended cements – new amendments
We have published four new amendments to the various methods of the Standard for testing Portland and blended cements, AS 2350. The amendments are: Amendment 1 to method 3, Amendment 1 to method 4, Amendment 1 to method 8, and Amendment 1 to method 16.
Download these amendments for free from www.standards.co.nz. (Note that a charge applies for hard copies of amendments.)
House piles, by Kevin Hing
Reprinted with permission from New Zealand Timber Preservation Council Woodmark Update, Edition 4, September 2008, to clarify how to use NZS 3605 correctly.
NZS 3605:2001 is the New Zealand Standard for timber piles and poles used in construction. It sets out the requirements for anchor, braced, cantilever, and ordinary piles to comply with NZS 3604:1999 Timber framed buildings. Both sawn and round piles and poles are covered by this Standard.
The main feature I wish to draw your attention to is to point out that for sawn piles there is a distinction between ordinary piles and anchor piles. Ordinary piles are required to carry a vertical load. Anchor piles need to resist lateral loads with or without bracing depending on circumstances.
Ordinary piles are graded to No.1 Framing visual grade under NZS 3631 New Zealand timber grading rules. These piles are most commonly available and used in timber foundation systems.
Building Standards recently referenced in legislation
The Department of Building and Housing (DBH) recently referenced the following building Standards in the Building (Product Certification) Regulations 2008, effective from 30 October 2008:
- General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems, ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996. To order ISO/IEC Guide 65 call our customer services team on 0800 782 632.
- Quality management systems – Guidelines for quality plans, ISO 10005, Second Edition 2005-06-01.
- Cement plasters for walls, ceilings and soffits, NZS 4251.1:2007.
- Masonry construction: Materials and workmanship, NZS 4210:2001.
- Masonry veneer wall cladding, SNZ HB 4236:2002.