Part 1 available for public comment

The Steel structures Standard, NZS 3404, has been used for steel design and construction since the first edition in 1989.  It has already been updated twice, first in 1992, and then in 1997.  Standards New Zealand is now reviewing the Standard again, and NZS 3404 will be divided into seven parts.  The Department of Building and Housing (DBH) sponsored the revision, in combination with voluntary committee support from industry.

The seven interelated parts will ensure the provisions in NZS 3404, and the knowledge that underpins them, can be more easily accessed by the relevant end users.  The parts will cover: materials, fabrication, and construction; structural analysis; general design of members and connections; design of composite members; design for fire; design for fatigue; and design for earthquakes. 

This revision will update NZS 3404 in line with current technologies and practices, and will further align the document with the joint Australian/New Zealand Standard on structural design actions (AS/NZS 1170 Structural design actions set).

New Part 1 for Steel structures Standard NZS 3404 – public comment

The first part, DZ3404 Steel structures – Part 1: Materials, fabrication, and construction, is available for public comment.  The closing date for comment is 21 January 2009.  Download a free copy of DZ3404.1

Part 1 brings all the construction and fabrication material into a stand-alone document for users.  There was a real need to incorporate feedback from users, clarify good practice, and provide a body of commonly accepted knowledge.  Significant new provisions have been added.

Part 1 outlines minimum requirements for the selection of materials, corrosion protection systems, and the fabrication, erection, and construction of steel structures.  It applies to building structures, crane support girders, highway, railway and pedestrian bridges, and composite steel and concrete beams and columns.  Users include architects, builders, building control authorities, building inspectors, coatings applicators, fabricators, regulators, steel distributors, steel constructors, and structural engineers.

It is intended that DBH will reference Part 1 in the Compliance Document for the New Zealand Building Code, Clause B1 Structure, B1/VM1, and Clause B2 Durability, B2/AS1.

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