Masterspec
01 Apr 2025
Document Referencing and Scheduling with eCert
Our editor team has updated all Masterspec work sections which have references to environmental documents. Where environmental document references...
27 Mar 2025
Update Manager New Features
The new Update Manager features are designed to boost productivity when applying changes to updated work sections. Simplify work section updates with...
03 Mar 2025
CIL is Now Accepting Product Carbon Data for the National Embodied Carbon Data Repository for Construction.
CIL Masterspec is now accepting carbon information in the form of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) or Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) from...
06 Jan 2025
Carbon 2025 and Beyond: Building a More Sustainable Future for NZ Construction
In July 2024, Construction Information Ltd (CIL) and the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) announced a partnership to develop a...
01 Nov 2024
Introducing eCert: A Game-Changing Tool for Sustainable Construction
As the New Zealand construction industry increasingly focuses on sustainability and carbon reduction, there is a growing need for tools that can help...
26 Sep 2024
Masterspec Specified: Manawa House by Cube Architecture
"Masterspec has been an indispensable tool for our project Manawa House. During the specification, Masterspec streamlined our entire specification...
26 Sep 2024
Masterspec Specified: Award Winning Ligar Bay Bach by Young Architects
"Masterspec was used for providing a detailed, fully customised, specification as part of our comprehensive project documentation for the Ligar Bay...
25 Sep 2024
Masterspec Specified: Hilltop Home by Jon McAlpine Architecture
“Masterspec is a critical component in our studio. Its user-friendly platform and regular product specification updates, keep us constantly on the...
06 Aug 2024
NZ Building Code Changes: Type 1 Domestic Smoke Alarms
In Masterspec NOTES June 2024, we provided commentary around the changes to the NZ Building Code relating to domestic smoke alarms.
18 Jul 2024
New Industry Initiative to Reduce Carbon Emissions of New Zealand Buildings
A new industry-led initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of Aotearoa New Zealand’s buildings, which contribute up to 20% of the national...
04 Jul 2024
Masterspec Announces New MasterKey4 for Revit 2025 Enhancements
Streamlined Workflows and Improved Collaboration with MasterKey4. We are excited to announce the latest update to MasterKey4 for Revit 2025, designed...
04 Jun 2024
Building Code Updates 2023-2024
This month we have published amendments in response to building code updates. The 2023-24 NZBC changes were published by MBIE on the 2 November 2023,...
04 Jun 2024
NZ Building Code Changes: Type 1 Domestic Smoke Alarms
From November 2023 the Building Code Acceptable Solutions for Protection from Fire (C/AS1 and C/AS2) have been amended to make Type 1 interconnected...
05 Apr 2024
Understanding Project Scope and How to Specify Window Systems
It is vital that Movement and Deflection criteria are correctly defined in the Specification. We cannot over emphasize the importance of correctly...
04 Apr 2024
MBIE Building Consent System Review - Overview and Update
In July 2022, MBIE commenced a review of the building consent system, as part of the Building System Reforms to improve the consenting process. The...
30 Nov 2023
NZCIC Guidelines Responsibility Schedule Goes Digital
The new online tool enables real-time collaboration among multiple stakeholders, fostering efficiency and innovation in construction processes.
10 Nov 2023
BCA Requests to Modify Manufacturers Technical Content
mDocs allows the specifier to quickly access the latest version of a document uploaded by the manufacturer or supplier. Importantly, these detailed...
27 Sep 2023
Masterspec Specified: Award Winning Taharoto Lane by X Studio Architects
The development will have 19 units, including studio, office, and retail space. The residential units will have balconies with views of the city...
27 Sep 2023
Masterspec Specified: Award Winning Soaring Box House by Turner Road Architecture
The house’s unique design fits into the rural landscape. The house has a cantilevered structure and a soaring angular volume. The interior design is...
13 Sep 2023
Hallmark Group Opens Up About BPIR
Recently, Hallmark Group turned to Masterspec, a trusted name in compliance solutions, for guidance on their BPIR for fire doors. In this article, we...

AMENDMENTS TO STRUCTURAL STEEL STANDARD AS/NZS 5131

01 Sep 2020

AS/NZS 5131: 2016, Structural Steelwork - Fabrication and Erection is cited in NZBC B1/VM1, 5.0 Steel. This new Amendment A1, which has just been released, of course is not cited yet and so the use of amendment A1 would be an Alternative Solution.
However if you do want to use the new amendment and all its changes, the following is a short review of those changes.

Traceability
This is by far the major change, with modifications to the definitions (Section 4) and application (Section 5) of traceability, apparently to better align with international practice.

Clause 4.7.1 has renamed and redefined the three types of traceability.

a) Was Basic Traceability - now Lot Traceability (see Clause 4.7.2 for definitions)
b)
Was Partial Traceability - now Piece-mark Traceability (see Clause 4.7.3 for definitions)
c)
Was Full Traceability - now Piece Traceability (see Clause 4.7.4 for definitions)

Clause 5.2.3 (NZ) has re-correlated traceability and Construction Categories (CC1 to CC4).

i. CC1:  No specific traceability requirements (old & new versions)
ii. CC2:  Was Basic Traceability - now no formal type of traceability just Test Certificates to be provided and Grades of Steel to remain identifiable
iii. CC3 & CC4:  Was Partial Traceability - now Lot Traceability for main structural members, connections between main structural members and major plate components. Test Certificates to be provided for all steel and Grades of Steel to remain identifiable for minor components. Extending Lot Traceability to all steel items, or applying Piece or Piece-mark Traceability is an option for the specifier where appropriate.

Clause 6.2 IDENTIFICATION AND TRACEABILITY for welding (NZ) has aligned the requirements for CC3 & CC4 with the new traceability requirements. There are no specific formal traceability requirements for CC1 or CC2 in the new version, although testing reports/certificates may still apply.

Bolt Tension
Table 8.5.5 MINIMUM BOLT TENSION was just for Grade 8.8 bolts, but now also covers Grade 10.9 bolts.

NZS 3404 Steel Structures Standard
The new version has replaced ‘NZS 3404.1’ with ‘NZS 3404’. In point of fact nothing has changed, NZS 3404; 1997 still has a Part1 and a Part 2, however they have taken upon themselves to refer to it as a single document?

Welding Quality Requirements
Clause 7.1.1 QUALITY REQUIREMENTS has had a slight update of Standards for the different Construction Categories.
CC1 was to AS/NZS 1554 or AS/NZS ISO 3834.4 ‘Elementary quality requirements’ - now only AS/NZS ISO 3834.4 (AS/NZS 1554 deleted).
CC2, CC3 & CC4 are unchanged.

Fusion Welding
AS/NZS ISO 9606.1: Qualification testing of welders - Fusion welding - Steels, in the new version, has replaced ISO 9606.1.

Minor Changes
There are a considerable number of minor changes, with a large proportion of them to do with the sense of performance. For instance there are a lot of - 'shall' replaced by 'should' - 'approve' replaced by 'review' etc. Some of these changes have added value, but some seem just less definitive?

Australia Only Changes
Some of the changes only affect Australian requirements.  For instance Appendix G STANDARD TEST FOR EVALUATION OF SLIP FACTOR, which did apply to New Zealand and Australia, in the new version it will not apply to Australia, but still apply to New Zealand.  Australia will now use AS 4100 instead.

Masterspec
Until NZBC B1/VM1, 5.0 Steel cites Amendment A1, Masterspec will continue with the pre-amendment version of AS/NZS 5131: 2016. Over the next few months, for those that need them, we will add some background on the impact of Amendment A1 to the guidance notes of the structural steel sections.