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...

RECONSTITUTED WOOD-BASED PANELS STANDARDS UPDATED

29 Nov 2017

Three Standards related to reconstituted wood-based panels have all been updated with new 2017 versions replacing the old 2004 versions.  These are:

AS/NZS 1859.1:2017 - Reconstituted wood-based panels - Specifications - Particleboard
This standard specifies the performance requirements for the manufacture and application of particleboard, for use under service conditions - dry (STD), moisture resistant (MR).  It excludes particle board for flooring.
Changes include:

  • the addition of "strands" as an acceptable ingredient of particle board
  • the deletion of High Performance (HP) particle board
  • reduction of Formaldehyde emissions (Desiccator values) with the deletion of classification E2 ( ≤ 4.5 mg/L) and the addition of SEO (super EO, ≤ 0.3 mg/L)

Note: AS/NZS 1859.1:2002 is incorrectly cited in NZBC SH/AS1 for particle board floors, so is not relevant as an Acceptable Solution.

AS/NZS 1859.2:2017 - Reconstituted wood-based panels - Specifications - Dry process fibreboard

This standard specifies the product requirements for three types of dry process fibreboards - ultra-low density (UDF), low density (LDF), medium density (MDF) - for use under service conditions - dry (STD), moisture resistant (MR) and high performance (HP).
Like part 1, there is the same reduction of Formaldehyde emissions. The rest are small changes.

AS/NZS 1859.3:2017 - Reconstituted wood-based panels - Specifications - Decorative overlaid wood panels

This standard is to provide performance requirements and specifications for the manufacture and application of decorative overlaid wood panels. This standard includes four types of decorative overlay, low pressure Melamine (LPM), PVC film, paper foils, and wood veneer, applied to wood panel substrates covered by AS/NZS 1859.1, .2, and .4. They are generally small changes only.

Not updated AS/NZS 1859.4:2004
AS/NZS 1859.4:2004 - Reconstituted wood-based panels - Specifications - Wet-processed fibreboard, has not been updated in this round. The boards it includes are, hardboard, medium board and softboard.

Masterspec
These Standards are used in a number of Masterspec sections, particularly cabinetry, joinery and linings. However, the new Standards have not changed the sections at all, except for a few typo's (sorry for that) which have been corrected.