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Touchstone

ISSN 1179-2426

Building

NZS 3604:2011 and SNZ HB 3604:2011 – updated Qs and As

Issue 34 – December 2011

Standards New Zealand has updated questions and answers (Qs and As) about NZS 3604:2011 Timber-framed buildings and SNZ HB 3604:2011 Timber-framed buildings: Selected extracts from NZS 3604:2011.

  ...[more]

Building Controls Update No 124 – confirmation of May 2011 changes to seismicity and foundation details for Canterbury

Issue 34 – December 2011

The Chief Executive of the Department of Building and Housing (the Department) has confirmed the urgent changes made to the Building Code documents for Structure (B1) on 19 May 2011. Read the reasons for this decision (www.dbh.govt.nz/b1-structure-urgent-changes-results) on the Department's website.

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Building Controls Update No 125 – 'Guidance on barrier design' published

Issue 34 – December 2011

The Department of Building and Housing (the Department) has published Guidance on barrier design (www.dbh.govt.nz/guidance-information#barrier) that covers a range of materials now used for the construction of barriers. The new Guidance provides a clear guide on how to achieve the relevant Building Code performance criteria for barriers.

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NZ Wood Timber Design Awards 2011 – winners announced

Issue 34 – December 2011

The showcase Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) arts and media building won two major awards – commercial engineering and commercial architectural excellence – in the NZ Wood Timber Design Awards announced on 11 October 2011.

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Peddle Thorp Architects win concrete sustainability award

Issue 34 – December 2011

The transformation of an Auckland building from a 1970s throwback to contemporary downtown landmark earned Peddle Thorp Architects the 2011 Supreme Concrete3 Sustainability Award. The team revitalised the multistorey office building at 21 Queen Street, preserving its concrete frame and core while creating vibrant and thoroughly modern spaces inside and out.

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BRANZ Guideline November 2011 – choosing nails and screws for framing and cladding

Issue 34 – December 2011

BRANZ has had a few calls about Note 5 in Tables 4.1 and 4.3 of NZS 3604:2011. Note 5 refers you to clause 4.4.4, which states that, for fastenings in contact with timber treated to H3.2 or higher with copper preservatives, use Tables 4.1 and 4.3 for your choice. This is because the clause sets a minimum type of fixing (304 stainless steel) for H3.2 or higher when the timber is treated with copper azole (CuAz) or alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ). So the choice it is directing you to is this:

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BRANZ Guideline November 2011 – H1 calculations and skylights

Issue 34 – December 2011

BRANZ has received a question about using the NZS 4218:2009 calculator (available on the BRANZ website) where skylights are used but the skylight doesn't show up in the summary sheet for the reference building.

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Major amendment to the BS code of practice for temporary works in the construction industry

Issue 34 – December 2011

The revised Standard BS 5975:2008+A1:2011 provides guidance on the controls to apply to all aspects of temporary works in the construction industry. It also offers guidance on design, specification, construction, use, and dismantling of falsework. Below are the key changes.

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NEW JOINT STANDARDS

AS/NZS 3666.1:2011 Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control – Part 1: Design, installation, and commissioning

Specifies minimum requirements for the design, installation, and commissioning of air-handling and water systems of buildings for the purposes of microbial control. It does not include requirements for refrigerated room airconditioners and nonducted split systems.
Supersedes AS/NZS 3666.1:2002

AS/NZS 3666.2:2011 Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control – Part 2: Operation and maintenance

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JOINT STANDARDS WITHDRAWN

  • AS/NZS 3666.1:2002 Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control – Design, installation and commissioning
    Superseded by AS/NZS 3666.1:2011
  • AS/NZS 3666.2:2002 Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control – Operation and maintenance
    Superseded by AS/NZS 3666.2:2011
  • AS/NZS 3666.3:2000 Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control – Performance-based maintenance of cooling water systems
    Superseded by AS/NZS 3666.3:2011

STANDARDS IN DEVELOPMENT

Amendment 2 to NZS 4229:1999 Concrete masonry buildings not requiring specific engineering design

Committee: P4229
Project Manager: Rachel Mahony
Estimated Publication Date: April 2012
Comments: Standards New Zealand has restarted an amendment project which originally commenced in 2006. The project had been put on hold so that changes to the seismic zones in NZS 3604:2011 could be included in NZS 4229. The Committee held a teleconference in late November and is currently reviewing suggested updates to the draft before it is released for public comment.

WS-013 Review of domestic wastewater systems

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