Postal ballot for revised NZS 3604 Timber-framed buildings Standard reaches consensus
Issue 23 – December 2010
The postal ballot phase for the revised NZS 3604 Timber-framed buildings Standard has now concluded with technical committee members reaching consensus.
Standards New Zealand initiated the project to revise NZS 3604:1999 at the beginning of 2009. Feedback was sought from stakeholders on the main issues that needed to be addressed through a revision and this feedback informed the scope of the project.
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[more]Proposed changes to Building Code documents
Issue 23 – December 2010
The Department of Building and Housing (DBH) is consulting on proposed changes to documents that the majority of designers and builders use day-to-day, and is asking for submissions. There are also proposals dealing with steel-framed and concrete buildings.
Download the DBH Summary of the proposed changes (www.dbh.govt.nz/UserFiles/File/Consulting/pdf/2010/e2-b1-consultation-summary-sheet.pdf), which you are welcome tocirculate to others who may be interested.
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[more]Reminder – Submissions invited on Construction Contracts Act 2002
Issue 23 – December 2010
The Department of Building and Housing is inviting interested parties to share their experiences of the Constructions Contracts Act 2002. The Construction Contracts Act 2002 (the Act) regulates progress payments in the construction industry and provides an adjudication framework for people with disputes under construction contracts. The purpose of the review is to find out how well the Act is working and to identify areas where improvements can be made.
You can view the Construction Contracts Act Discussion Document on the Department of Building and Housing's website (www.dbh.govt.nz/current-consultations).
Submissions close on 16 December 2010.
Supplied by Department of Building and Housing.
Earth buildings surveyed following Canterbury earthquake
Issue 23 – December 2010
The Earth Building Association of New Zealand organised a reconnaissance survey by three engineers of earth buildings in the Canterbury area following the Canterbury earthquake. The survey concludes that only minor damage occurred to the houses that were designed to New Zealand's earth buildings Standards.
On 4 September 2010 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred in Canterbury, approximately 40 km west of Christchurch, at a depth of approximately 10 km near the town of Darfield. Modified Mercalli intensities of up to MMI 8 and greater were experienced at some sites.
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[more]House of the Year Award winners announced
Issue 23 – December 2010
An exquisite Remuera home, a beautiful home renovation in Wellington and the Deloitte Centre in Auckland have taken out the Supreme Awards in the Registered Master Builders (RMB) 2010 House of the Year and RMB Commercial Project Awards, in association with PlaceMakers.
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[more]Trans-Tasman Timber Design Awards Programme announced
Issue 23 – December 2010
NZ Wood and Australian Timber Design Awards recently announced the introduction of a Trans-Tasman Timber Design Award open to the design industries in both Australia and New Zealand. The awards will be made in four categories and a winner and runner up will be announced in each category. The winners will be announced just before Christmas.
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[more]NEW PUBLICATIONS
AS/NZS 3679.2:2010 Structural steel – Welded I sections
Specifies requirements for welded I sections for general structural and engineering functions. These functions include the possibility of such welded I sections being subjected to dynamic and other special loads.
Supersedes AS/NZS 3679.2:1996
→ Buy this Standard
AS/NZS 4364:2010 Timber – Bond performance of structural adhesives
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[more]STANDARDS IN DEVELOPMENT
Amendment 2 to NZS 4229:1999 Concrete masonry buildings not requiring specific engineering design
Committee: P4229
Project Manager: Jono East
Estimated Publication Date: To be confirmed
Comments: Standards New Zealand is reviving an amendment project which originally commenced in 2006. The project was put on hold until a full revision of NZS 3604 commenced as any changes to the seismic zones in NZS 4229 need to be considered in conjunction with NZS 3604.
WS-013 Review of domestic wastewater systems
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