Source: http://nzffa.org.nz/specialty-timber-market/information-resources/the-new-zealand-building-code/nzs-3602-durability/
Timestamp: 2018-09-24 17:10:44
Document Index: 90114152

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Farm Forestry timbers - NZS 3602 Durability
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NZS 3602 Durability
Natural Durability »
NZS 3602 Table 1
NZS 3602 Table 2
NZS 3640 Timber treatment standard
AS/NZS 1604 Specification for Preservative Treatment
Radiata pine and Douglas fir
NZS 3602:2003 Timber and wood based products for buildings covers N.Z. building code durability requirementsTo meet durability requirements of the New Zealand building code, timber building elements must comply with Compliance Document B2 Durability. Acceptable Solution B2/AS1 references NZS 3602 Timber and wood based products for buildings. for timber and wood-based products. The durability performance of the timber building component must meet the life intended for the building. The standard covers the materials themselves and aspects of design and construction that are relevant to their performance in use.
Timber species and required levels of treatment which comply with the durability requirement are listed below (Table 1 and Table 2) for a range of wood-based building components.
From N.Z. Building Code Clause B2 Durability Acceptable Solution for B2/AS1:
"For information on species (other than radiata pine and Douglas fir) which can be used for timber building elements under this Acceptable Solution, consult NZS 3602:2003 table 1(See below) and table 2(See below) (for structural uses) and table 3 (for non-structural uses)."
"Where treatment is required, the minimum Hazard Class
H1.1 Timber used in situations protected from the
weather, dry in service and where resistance
to borer only is required.
H1.2 Timber used in situations protected from the
weather but where there is a risk of moisture
exposure conducive to decay.
H3.1 Timber used outdoors above ground,
exposed to the weather – generally in
non-structural applications; i.e. fascia
boards, weatherboards.
H3.2 Timber used outdoors above ground,
exposed to weather or protected from the
weather but with a risk of water entrapment;
i.e. structural applications, decking, fencing and pergolas.
as per NZS 3640 (round and sawn timber) or AS/NZS 1604 (Part 3 for plywood and Part 5 for laminated beams and posts) is specified."
"The use of different timbers or timber treatments to those referred to in NZS 3602 are outside the scope of this Acceptable
Solution.*Amendment 7, effective 4 April 2011, to the Compliance Document for Clause B2 Durability of the New Zealand Building Code. Where the use of a different timber or timber treatment is proposed, it shall be separately assessed for compliance with the Building Code*Amendment 7, effective 4 April 2011, to the Compliance Document for Clause B2 Durability of the New Zealand Building Code.. For example, if imported hard-wood is to be used to surface a deck, evidence that the timber was durable for a minimum of 15 years in the expected exposure conditions is required."
The Department of Building and Housing and its predecessor, the Building Industry Authority (Now MBIE, Ministry for Building and Innovation) issued six determinations about the use of macrocarpa or cypress timbers in buildings. In all six cases, the question was whether these timbers, as installed, complied with Building Code Clause B2 Durability.
The six determinations have established certain criteria to decide whether macrocarpa, or Lawson or Mexican cypress timbers, are Code-compliant when installed to the exterior of buildings. Such timbers are the equivalent to structural-grade radiata pine treated to Hazard Class H3.2, and therefore comply with Clause B2 (they have a durability of at least 50 years according to Clause B2.3.1 (a)(i)) of the Building Code if:
their cut ends are similarly treated or suitably capped
MBIE can initiate a determination where it believes it is necessary to achieve the aims of the Building Act.
Content in blue © Copyright Standards New Zealand 2011. The following content from NZS 3602:2003 has been reproduced with permission from Standards New Zealand under Copyright License 000883. Ensure you refer to the full standard - available to purchase from the Standards New Zealand website.
The following tables provide timber species listed and level of treatment required (if any) for a range of wood-based building components. NZS 3602 specifies further requirements such as grades and in-service moisture range. Applicable figures and clauses are available in NZS 3602. Note: Wood-based building components made from wood species other than those listed may also achieve the required durability but there is not enough data on their durability to permit their inclusion in this standard.* Note 1, Table 1
Table 1 - Requirements for solid timber to achieve a (minimum) 50 year durability performance
Ref No. Wood-based
building components Species
or type Level of treatment(2) to NZS 3640
C – Members protected from the weather but exposed to ground atmosphere
(see section 108 of NZS 3602)
1C.1 Jackstuds, subfloor braces, bearers, wall plates,
floor joists to the subfloor, blocking, subfloor
wall studs, wailings and battens, wall studs
and nogs, diagonal boards Larch
Cypress(6) sapwood
Cypress(6) heartwood None
1C.3 Interior flooring, suspended ground floors Cypress(6) heartwood
Matai heartwood
Matai sapwood
Rimu heartwood
Rimu sapwood
Tawa None
D – Members protected from the weather but with a risk of moisture penetration conducive to decay
(see section 109 of NZS 3602)
Roof members (in or associated with)
1D.1 Sarking and framing not protected from solar
driven moisture through absorbent cladding
materials(8) Larch
Cypress(6) heartwood
Cypress(6) sapwood None
1D.3 Enclosed skillion roof framing and associated
roof members Larch
1D.4 Valley boards and boards supporting flashings
or box gutters and flashings to roof penetrations
and upstands to roof decks(10) Larch
Wall members (in or associated with)
1D.5 Framing and other members within or beneath
a parapet except in situations detailed in 1D.13 (i.e. Framing and other members in exterior walls including boundary joists, where monolithic claddings are fixed directly to the framing and do not comply with E2/AS1) Larch
1D.6 Framing and other members within enclosed
decks or balconies(9)
(See figure 1 NZS 3602) Larch
1D.7 Framing and other members supporting enclosed decks or balconies where failure is potentially life threatening, such as when the support is enclosed post and beam construction Larch
1D.8 Framing and other members supporting
enclosed decks or balconies(9)
(See figure 1 NZS 3602) Radiata pine and Douglas fir H1.2
1D.14 All other exterior wall framing and other
members including exterior and boundary
joists(9)(11) except those clad in masonry veneer covereed by 110.2(c) NZS 3602(12) Radiata pine and Douglas fir H1.2
E – Members not exposed to weather or ground atmosphere and in dry conditions
(see section 110 of NZS 3602)
1E.1 All roof trusses, including gable end trusses,
roof framing, ceiling and eaves framing, purlins
and battens excluding skillion roof framing, and sarking described in 1D.1 Larch
Cypress heartwood
Cypress sapwood
1E.2 All midfloor framing excluding boundary joists but including associated ceiling framing Larch
Cypress sapwood None
1E.3 Unlined buildings except those not allowed in 110.2(f) of NZS 3602 Larch
1E.4 Timber framing (including boundary joists) in exterior walls clad with masonry veneer complying to SNZ HB 4236 on a single storeyed building but with restrictions set out in 110.2(b) and in figure 3 of NZS 3602 Larch
1E.5 Internal walls excluding those supporting decks and balconies Larch
1E.7 Interior flooring Cypress heartwood
Beech sapwood
Eucalyptus heartwood
Eucalyptus sapwood
(2) Throughout Table 1, timber treated to a higher level than the minimum satisfies the minimum requirements.
(5) H3.2 refers to preservative treatments outlined in NZS 3640.
(6) Cypress species include Cupressus macrocarpa (macrocarpa), C. lusitanica (Mexican cypress) and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Lawson's cypress). Refer to AS/NZS 1148.
(8) Timber shakes and shingles, and similar absorbent claddings, absorb moisture that can be driven in frame cavities by evaporation. Unless the cavities are adequately drained and ventilate, continuing condensation caused by solar driven transfer increases the moisture content in the cavities and timber framing requiring a higher level of timber treatment to resist decay.
(9) Such as joists, lintels, wall plate and double top plates, studs, together with parapets, enclosed balustrades, boxed columns and chimneys.
(10) Any metal flashing shall be separated from the treated timber with building paper.
(11) Exposed ends of joists shall be protected by a boundary joist.
(12) Refer to table 1 row 1E.4 NZS 3602.
Table 2 - Requirements for solid timber to achieve a 15-year durability performance
Ref No. Wood-based building components Species or type Level of
A - Members exposed to exterior weather conditions and dampness (see section 111 of NZS 3602)
2A.3 Weatherboards
Base battens
Fascia, barge and coverboards Larch heartwood
Cypress(4) heartwood
Redwood heartwood
Western red cedar heartwood None
2A.6 Exterior joinery, including window frames, sills, and sashes, exterior door frames, sills and doors
Timber reveals for aluminium windows Redwood heartwood
Western red cedar heartwood
Cypress(4) heartwood None
2A.7 External stairs, stair handrails and balustrades, verandah floors, unroofed decking (which can easily be replaced) Cypress(4) heartwood
Eucalyptus(6) heartwood
Beech heartwood (silver, red, hard) None
B – Members protected from the weather and dampness (see section 111 of NZS 3602)
2B.1 Non-load bearing interior wall framing Larch
2B.2 Stair treads, risers and handrails Larch
Beech - silver, red, hard
(2) Throughout Table 2, timber treated to a higher level than the minimum satisfies the minimum requirements.
(4) Cypress species include Cupressus macrocarpa (macrocarpa), C. lusitanica (Mexican cypress) and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Lawson's cypress). Refer to AS/NZS 1148.
(6) Eucalyptus species include E. botryoides, E. saligna, E. globoidea, E. obliqua, E. pilularis.
Content in blue © Copyright Standards New Zealand 2011. Content from NZS 3640:2003 has been reproduced with permission from Standards New Zealand under Copyright License 000883. For full details, please refer to NZS 3640:2003 available to purchase from the Standards New Zealand website.
1.1.2*(Scope)
Note: For more information about Hazard Classes
download NZ Hazard Class and Timber Treatment Summary Table from the NZ Wood website.
While it may be possible to treat other species using the provisions of this Standard, such treatments are outside the scope of this Standard and the adequacy of the resulting treatments will need to be demonstrated.
For the treatment of hardwoods refer to AS 1604.1. For the treatment of other wood-based products, refer to AS/NZS 1604, Parts 2 to 5.
Content in blue © Copyright Standards New Zealand 2011. Content from AS/NZS 1604 has been reproduced with permission from Standards New Zealand under Copyright License 000883. For full details, please refer to AS/NZS 1604 available to purchase from the Standards New Zealand website.
1.9*Scope Use in New Zealand
When used in New Zealand in situations where treatment to hazard class H1.1, H1.2, H3.1 or H3.2 is required as specified in the New Zealand Building Code and in NZS 3602, Reconstituted wood productPart 2, PlywoodPart 3, LVLPart 4, Glue laminated timber productPart 5, shall be treated to the preservative retentions for H1.1, H1.2, H3.1 or H3.2 as set out in NZS 3640. Preservative penetration shall be in accordance with this Standard.
NZS 3602:2003 also specifies the requirements for timber treatment of radiata pine and Douglas fir in buildings. However, changes to the hazard class requirements for radiata pine and Douglas fir timber used within the building envelope were cited into the Clause B2 of the Building Code on 1 July 2011. This means that the minimum H1.2 hazard class requirements is now fully effective for radiata pine and Douglas fir timber framing in buildings, where it is protected from the weather (i.e. enclosed timber framing). There are exceptions to this requirement such as allowance for untreated Douglas fir to be used in houses of simple design and also an H3.2 requirement for cantilevered deck joists. Consult the tables in A QUICK GUIDE TO Timber Treatment for Enclosed Framing, Published in April 2011 by Department of Building and Housing for the few exceptions to H1.2 treatment. For other species of wood and engineered wood products (such as LVL and Glulam), the Acceptable Solution does not change.
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