NZS 3604:2011 revision updates

Current status: review of public comments

• Public consultation closed at 5pm, 22 September 2026.
• Comments will be processed and grouped by themes.
• The standards committee will begin reviewing public comments on 13 October 2026.

What NZS 3604 covers

NZS 3604 provides acceptable solutions for the design and construction of timber-framed buildings in New Zealand. Builders, designers, engineers, building consent authorities, apprentices and students use it.

The new revision will include corrections, clarifications and gaps identified since 2011, along with new science, technology, regulatory requirements and knowledge.

Why we are revising the standard

We are revising the standard to:

• reflect current building practices and construction methods
• include new technical research and evidence
• respond to regulatory and market changes
• include lessons from the Canterbury earthquakes
• improve clarity and ease of use
• update solutions for modern construction materials and techniques.

Proposed changes

Proposed changes in the revision include:

• additional framing provisions for three-storey construction
• construction details supporting improved thermal performance 
• foundation solutions for a wider range of ground conditions 
• stairwell framing and isolated internal masonry walls 
• alignment with commonly available timber sizes and grades 
• incorporation of more than 200 corrections and clarifications 
• incorporates updated wind maps and findings from the Canterbury earthquakes.

Why NZS 3604 is so important

It underpins most New Zealand housing

NZS 3604 applies to approximately 93% of New Zealand light timber-framed buildings. 

It provides a recognised pathway to Building Code compliance

NZS 3604:2011 is referenced, with modifications, through six Acceptable Solutions including B1/AS1 for Building Code clause B1 Structure and B2/AS1 for Durability. Following it is therefore an established way of demonstrating compliance for buildings within its scope, although alternative compliance pathways remain available.

It avoids unnecessary specific structural design

The standard provides prescribed, proven solutions for foundations, framing layouts, member sizes, spans, bracing, fixings and connectors. For ordinary buildings and sites that fall within its scope, designers and builders can select appropriate solutions without requiring specific design for every structural element. This makes design, documentation, construction and consenting more straightforward and cost-effective. 

It creates a common technical language across the sector

Builders, architects, designers, engineers, building consent authorities, manufacturers, suppliers, students and apprentices all work from the same recognised requirements and construction details. This supports greater consistency between design, consent, construction and inspection, and makes NZS 3604 a core reference for trade and tertiary training. 

It reflects New Zealand’s particular conditions

NZS 3604’s structural solutions address New Zealand-specific environmental conditions, including wind, earthquakes, snow and ground conditions. The current revision also considers research and regulatory changes following the Canterbury earthquakes, including foundation requirements for moderately liquefiable and moderately expansive ground. 

It supports confidence, quality and consumer protection

By setting minimum requirements and established construction methods, NZS 3604 gives designers, builders, consenting authorities and homeowners a shared benchmark. When properly applied within scope, it provides assurance that the structural design and construction of a home meet the relevant legislative and Building Code requirements. 

It influences productivity and housing affordability

The standard turns established engineering knowledge into repeatable construction solutions, which reduces the need to redesign conventional details for every project. The revision standardises proven timber-framed design and construction, thereby helping reduce specific design, construction and consenting costs for industry and consumers.

It has exceptional reach across the construction system

NZS 3604:2011 is the most used and essential standard in the New Zealand construction industry, and there are approximately 48,000 downloads per year from the Standards New Zealand web shop. It underpins the design, construction, and consenting of most of our light timber-framed homes. 

Revision timeline and key dates

Who is involved

The revision committee includes representatives nominated by construction-sector groups, central and local government, research organisations and professional bodies.

Organisations represented

• Architectural Designers New Zealand
• Bioeconomy Science Institute – Scion Group
• Building Industry Federation of New Zealand
• Building Officials Institute of New Zealand
• Building Research Association of New Zealand
• Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority
• Engineering New Zealand
• Frame and Truss Manufacturers’ Association of New Zealand
• Home Owners and Buyers Association of New Zealand
• MBIE Building System Performance
• New Zealand Certified Builders
• New Zealand Geotechnical Society
• New Zealand Institute of Architects
• New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors
• New Zealand Timber Design Society
• New Zealand Timber Industry Federation
• Registered Master Builders Association of New Zealand
• Structural Engineering Society New Zealand
• Window & Glass Association New Zealand
• Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of New Zealand

 

Questions about the revision

Is NZS 3604:2011 still the current standard?

Yes. The existing edition remains the current standard until a new edition is published.

What happens when the new edition of NZS 3604 is published?

NZS 3604:2011 will remain a recognised compliance pathway, as referenced and modified by the relevant New Zealand Building Code Acceptable Solutions, until those Acceptable Solutions are amended.

Until it is referenced in the relevant Acceptable Solutions, the new edition of NZS 3604 may be used as technical evidence to support an Alternative Solution under the New Zealand Building Code.

What happens after public consultation closes?

The committee will review all feedback, determine any necessary amendments, and prepare the final version for approval.

Consultation feedback

We expect to publish an analytical report on the public comments received. This will be uploaded here in October 2026

Key contact for this project

• Project Manager: Gleb Speranski, Gleb.Speranski@mbie.govt.nz.
• Project Coordinator: Andrea Sanchez Silvente, Andrea.SanchezSilvente@mbie.govt.nz.