TIMBER STANDARD NZS 3604 REVISION PROCESS STARTED

18 Feb 2021

New Zealand's main standard for the design and construction of timber-framed buildings, NZS 3604:2011 Timber-framed buildings, is being revised, however it is not expected to be delivered until 2023. In the meantime the following Index has been published detailing the specific areas to be looked at as part of the revision process.

Facilitating better thermal performance: Focus on ways that revising NZS 3604 will support better thermal performance as part of New Zealand’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Extending the scope to three full storeys within the standard: Expand the scope of the selection tables within the standard to address the increasing demand for medium-density dwellings with up to three storeys.
Foundations on expansive soils and on liquefaction-prone soils: Add foundation solutions to NZS 3604 for when the soil supporting a building is prone to either expansion or shrinkage. This feature will extend the November 2019 amendment to B1/AS1 of the NZBC that added solutions for expansive soils from the Simple House Acceptable Solution into NZS 3604. Add solutions for foundations on soils with medium liquefaction vulnerability into NZS 3604. These will target sites that are similar to those classified as TC2 in accordance with the MBIE document Guidance on repairing and rebuilding houses affected by the Canterbury earthquakes.
Steel bracing elements for wide openings: Include steel elements into this timber-based standard that can be used to support the framing above wider doors and windows.
Support details for long-span beams and lintels: Provide support details for proprietary elements such as beams, lintels, and trusses, which apply higher point loadings than can be supported by the current version of NZS 3604. It aims to provide simpler support solutions for a range of situations. It will include connections and foundation details.
Framing around internal stairwells: Extend the framing span tables and provide construction details for wall framing around stairwells that extends into a second storey. It will also introduce selection tables and construction details for framing within part-height internal barrier walls.
Isolated internal masonry walls: Add standardised construction details for isolated internal masonry walls. This will cover construction of hybrid structures that have a small number of internal masonry walls in a predominately timber-framed structure.
Revising a number of noted corrections and updates: Make a large number of minor corrections and updates that have been identified since NZS 3604:2011 was published.
Bracing: Create a new part (NZS 3604.2) that sets out how to determine both wind and seismic bracing for Subfloor bracing; Walls; Isolated masonry walls; and Steel bracing elements used in wide openings. Create new sections with bracing rating tables and construction details.

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TIMBER STANDARD NZS 3604 REVISION PROCESS STARTED