close

Tell your friends about this article!

Friend's email address:
  For example, username@domain.com
Your email address:
  For example, username@domain.com
Subject:
Message:
Send the email
This message has been sent to you from Touchstone, Standards New Zealand's free electronic magazine. Standards New Zealand is the country's leading Standards body, developing and promoting Standards for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

When the message is sent, you'll automatically be copied on the message. The text immediately above will be added to the message automatically, identifying the message as coming from Touchstone.

close

Thanks

Your email has been sent

Title BannerTitle BannerTitle BannerTitle BannerTitle Banner

Touchstone

ISSN 1179-2426

Building

Public comment starts soon for timber-framed buildings Standard NZS 3604 

The review of the foremost Standard in New Zealand for the building and construction industry, Timber framed buildings, NZS 3604:1999, is well underway. Standards New Zealand expects to issue the draft revised NZS 3604 for public comment soon. Public comment will close in mid-to-late February 2010 and publication is scheduled for late 2010/early 2011.

Revision includes major changes

There have been major changes proposed in sections 3, 4, 5, and 10 in NZS 3604 as follows. These proposed changes are within the agreed scope for the project.

  ...[more]

Scaffolding – couplers and accessories – revised Standard published

Standards New Zealand has published the latest revision of AS/NZS 1576.2:2009 Scaffolding – Couplers and accessories. Scaffolding suppliers, building consultants, and engineers use AS/NZS 1576.2:2009 to ensure the proper operation of couplers and accessories for light, medium, heavy, and special duty scaffolding.

The testing appendices have been revised and new tests have been included for bending load capacity for end-to-end couplers, determination of slip resistance using a check coupler, horizontal load test on castors, and a test for a check coupler combination with a load bearing coupler.

Changes from the last revision are as follows:

  • wedge-tightened couplers are now allowed (aligning with BS-EN 74-1:2005)
  • couplers that meet the performance requirements of BS EN 74-1 for similar type couplers are deemed to comply with this Standard without the need for type retesting
  • end-to-end couplers are not to be used to resist direct tensile forces between the joined tubes
  • a bending load capacity has replaced slip performance for end-to-end couplers
  • new suppliers' documentation that includes servicing procedures
  • new tests for determination of slip resistance and horizontal loads on castors.

BRANZ Guideline November 2009

H1 and masonry thermal mass

For H1 compliance, designers using concrete or concrete masonry construction must decide if:

  • the masonry wall is providing thermal mass by being directly exposed to the interior, which allows the R-value of the wall to be lower, or
  • if the thermal mass of the masonry is isolated from the interior where a wall is strapped and lined.
  ...[more]

DRAFT STANDARDS FOR COMMENT

Free to download from our website: www.standards.co.nz

DR 09060 CP Water supply – Backflow preventions devices – Part 2: Registered air gaps and registered break tanks (Revision of AS 2845.2-1996)

To specify design and marking requirements for registered break tanks and air gaps used as backflow prevention devices for the protection of water distribution systems.
Public comment on this draft closes on 17 December 2009

DR 09067 CP Amendment 2 to AS/NZS 3500.1:2003 – Plumbing and drainage – Part 1: Water services

  ...[more]

STANDARD WITHDRAWN

  • NZS/AS 1576.2:1991 Scaffolding – Couplers and accessories
    Superseded by AS/NZS 1576.2:2009

STANDARDS IN DEVELOPMENT

Installing insulation – Amendment 1

Committee: P4246 A1
Project Manager: Vicki Allison
Estimated Publication Date: April 2010
Comments: The committee met in mid-October to continue their review of the public comment submissions. Due to a number of concerns with reflective pliable membranes the committee has decided to remove the section on installation of these materials from the Standard. Public comment on removing this section closed on 8 December.

WS-013 Review of domestic wastewater systems

  ...[more]