NZS 3604

Last updated

NZS 3604 Timber-framed buildings is a New Zealand technical standard which sets out specifications and methods for designing and constructing light timber-framed houses and other low-rise buildings. When read together with the amendments in Building Code acceptable solution B1/AS1, it allows the construction of code-compliant buildings up to three storeys high (two full storeys and a third storey in the roof space) on good ground without the need for specific structural engineering. [1] The standard is maintained by Standards New Zealand. [1] [2]

Contents

The first edition of NZS 3604 was published in November 1978, replacing provisions in the NZS 1900 Model building bylaw series. [3] Similar timber-framed building standards have existed in New Zealand since the aftermath of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. [1] The current revision of the standard is NZS 3604:2011, published in February 2011. [2]

NZS 3604 is New Zealand's most sought-after technical standard, [2] [4] used in the design and construction of an estimated 93 per cent of light timber-framed buildings. [1] In 2019, the Government funded free online access to the standard to increase accessibility and reduce building compliance costs. [4] [5]

Scope

NZS 3604 covers low- and normal-importance light timber-framed buildings such as standalone houses, medium-density housing and many small commercial buildings. It covers buildings up to two full storeys high, plus a third storey in the roof space, on good ground. In a three-storey building, the floor area of the highest storey cannot exceed half the floor area of the lowest storey. The maximum building height allowed is 10 metres (33 ft), measured from ground level to the apex of the roof. [6]

Good ground is defined as soil that has an ultimate bearing capacity of 300 kilopascals (6,300 lb/sq ft). Soils such as sand, peat and expansive clay, and areas subject to subsidence or liquefaction are not considered good ground under the standard. [7]

The standard allows a maximum snow loading of 2 kPa (42 lb/sq ft). [6] This covers areas below 350–400 metres (1,150–1,310 ft) elevation in Southland, Otago and most of Canterbury (south of Cheviot), and below 850 m (2,790 ft) elevation in the remainder of the South Island and the lower and central North Island. [8]

The maximum roof pitch is 60°, and walls may be pitched up to 20° only for forming mansard roofs. This means most A-frame buildings are outside the standard's scope. [6]

Revisions

Since NZS 3604's introduction in 1978, the standard has been through six revisions:

As of April 2021, Standards New Zealand is revising NZS 3604, with a new edition of the standard due to be published in 2023. The proposed changes include extending the scope of the standard to cover building three full storeys (to accommodate increasing demand for medium-density housing) and building on sites with expansive clay and medium liquefaction risk (e.g. TC2 land in Christchurch). [14] [15]

Access

Copies of NZS 3604 are available for purchase from Standards New Zealand. As of July 2021, a hard copy of the standard costs $310 excluding GST ($356.50 including GST). [2]

In July 2019, the Government extended free online access to the entire NZS 3604 standard, allowing people to download and print one PDF copy of the standard. The free access is intended to increase accessibility to the standard, and to reduce building compliance costs. The standard is funded through the Building Levy, which is collected on building consent applications. [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

Archives New Zealand is New Zealand's national archive and the official guardian of its public archives. As the government's recordkeeping authority, it administers the Public Records Act 2005 and promotes good information management throughout government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shed</span> Type of structure: a small hut used for storage or as a workspace

A shed is typically a simple, single-story roofed structure that is used for hobbies, or as a workshop in a back garden or on an allotment. Sheds vary considerably in their size and complexity of construction, from simple open-sided ones designed to cover bicycles or garden items to large wood-framed structures with shingled roofs, windows, and electrical outlets. Sheds used on farms or in the industry can be large structures. The main types of shed construction are metal sheathing over a metal frame, plastic sheathing and frame, all-wood construction, and vinyl-sided sheds built over a wooden frame. Small sheds may include a wooden or plastic floor, while more permanent ones may be built on a concrete pad or foundation. Sheds may be lockable to deter theft or entry by children, domestic animals, wildlife, etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand Parliament Buildings</span> Government complex in Wellington, New Zealand

New Zealand Parliament Buildings house the New Zealand Parliament and are on a 45,000 square metre site at the northern end of Lambton Quay, Wellington. They consist of the Edwardian neoclassical-style Parliament House (1922); the Parliamentary Library (1899); the executive wing, called "The Beehive" (1977); and Bowen House, in use since 1991. Whilst most of the individual buildings are outstanding for different reasons, the overall setting that has been achieved "has little aesthetic or architectural coherence".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brisbane Showgrounds</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

The Brisbane Showgrounds is a multi-purpose venue located in Bowen Hills, Brisbane. Established in 1875, it hosts more than 250 events each year, the largest being the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wall stud</span> Component of a buildings wall

A wall stud is a vertical repetitive framing member in a building's wall of smaller cross section than a post. It is a fundamental element in frame building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Futuna Chapel</span> Chapel in Wellington, New Zealand

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leaky homes crisis</span> Construction and legal crisis in New Zealand

The leaky homes crisis is an ongoing construction and legal crisis in New Zealand concerning timber-framed homes built from 1988 to 2004 that were not fully weather-tight. The problems often include the decay of timber framing which, in extreme cases, have made buildings structurally unsound. Some buildings have become unhealthy to live in due to moulds and spores developing within the damp timber framing. The repairs and replacement costs that may have been avoided were estimated in 2009 to be approximately NZ$11.3 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Street (Levin) railway station</span> Defunct railway station in New Zealand

Queen Street (Levin) railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand, serving Levin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangaweka railway station</span> Defunct railway station in New Zealand

Mangaweka railway station was a station on the North Island Main Trunk, serving the village of Mangaweka in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The original station opened in 1902 and closed on 15 November 1981. A new station then opened to the east, on the Mangaweka deviation on 18 November 1981, though only for parcels, small lots, and as a passing loop, which still remains.

In 2011 the New Zealand Parliament passed the Freedom Camping Act, which gives local councils and authorities the power to ban freedom camping in some, but not all, areas. The New Zealand Parliament introduced the freedom camping act because some tourists disposed of human waste inappropriately where they were camping. The Act does not include Certified Self Containment even tho attempts were made to include it. The reasoning is because the Standard is only applicable to a minority of Freedom campers as determined by the Act and that the NZStandard fails to comply with the bill of Rights Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohakune railway station</span> Railway station in New Zealand

Ohakune railway station is a station on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT), which serves the town of Ohakune in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. It is served by KiwiRail's Northern Explorer long distance train between Wellington and Auckland. It was called Ohakune Junction from 10 August 1926 until Raetihi Branch closed in 1968, to avoid confusion with Ohakune Town station on that branch. It was the second highest operating railway station in New Zealand, after National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curator's House</span>

The Curator's House is a historic building in the Christchurch Botanic Garden, in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was built for the Curator of the Botanic Gardens in 1920 and it is now home to a restaurant, called The Curator's House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Housing in New Zealand</span> Overview of housing in New Zealand

Housing in New Zealand was traditionally based on the quarter-acre block, detached suburban home, but many historical exceptions and alternative modern trends exist. New Zealand has largely followed international designs. From the time of organised European colonisation in the mid-19th century there has been a general chronological development in the types of homes built in New Zealand, and examples of each generation are still commonly occupied.

Lichfield is a rural settlement in the South Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ormondville</span> Settlement in Manawatū-Whanganui Region, New Zealand

Ormondville is a locality in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located inland, south of Waipukurau and west of Flemington, Hawke's Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manunui railway station</span> Railway station in New Zealand

Manunui station was on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand, serving Manunui. It was 2.9 km (1.8 mi) south east of Matapuna and 4.63 km (2.88 mi) north of Piriaka. Freight was handled from 2 September 1904, though it wasn't until 16 September 1908 that it was listed as having a station yard, formation and fencing and 10 November 1908, when it was described as a 6th class station, with passenger platform, urinals, cart approach, a 30 ft (9.1 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed and loading bank. On 24 July 1913 a request for lighting was added. A passing loop originally provided for trains of up to 26 wagons, but was extended to 100 in 1970 and 123 in 1980. By then Caltex had a siding for 11 wagons and a fertiliser store for 15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rangataua railway station</span> Railway station in New Zealand

Rangataua was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand. Like most of the stations on the central part of the NIMT, a large timber trade exploited the native bush until it was largely felled. What is now the small village of Rangataua developed to the south of the station. Just a single track now passes through and virtually nothing remains of the once busy station and workshops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pokaka railway station</span> Railway station in New Zealand

Pokaka was a station on the North Island Main Trunk line, in the Ruapehu District of New Zealand. It served the small village of Pokaka and lay to the south of Makatote Viaduct, the late completion of which held up opening of the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makotuku</span> Place in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

Makotuku is a locality in the Manawatu-Whanganui Region of New Zealand's North Island, about 3 km2 (1.2 sq mi) west of Ormondville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitmore Street</span>

Whitmore Street is at the boundary of the central business district and the government buildings area of Wellington, New Zealand's capital. The street runs almost north-south and is one of those linking Lambton Quay, Wellington's main shopping street, with Stout Street, Featherston Street and the harbourside at Customhouse/ Waterloo Quay. It is in the suburb of Pipitea.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. "Using NZS 3604". Building Performance. Retrieved 14 July 2021.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "NZS 3604:2011 :: Standards New Zealand". www.standards.govt.nz. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  3. ↑ Issacs, Nigel (August–September 2010). "Timber framing – rapid and reliable" (PDF). Build Magazine. 119: 98–99.
  4. 1 2 3 New Zealand Government (11 July 2019). "Building Code compliance standards funded for free download | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  5. 1 2 Clendon, Juliet (October–November 2019). "Free building standards". Build Magazine. 174: 94–95.
  6. 1 2 3 Timber-framed buildings: NZS 3604:2011. Wellington: Standards New Zealand. 2011. pp. 1.3–1.11. ISBN   9781869751432.
  7. ↑ "Site conditions and ground stability". Level. BRANZ Ltd.
  8. ↑ "Snow zones map" (PDF). Level. BRANZ Ltd. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  9. ↑ "NZS 3604:1978 :: Standards New Zealand". www.standards.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "NZS 3604:1981 :: Standards New Zealand". www.standards.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "NZS 3604:1984 :: Standards New Zealand". www.standards.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "NZS 3604:1990 :: Standards New Zealand". www.standards.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  13. ↑ "NZS 3604:1999 :: Standards New Zealand". www.standards.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "Framing up Building and Construction April 2021 :: Standards New Zealand". www.standards.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  15. ↑ "TIMBER STANDARD NZS 3604 REVISION PROCESS STARTED – Masterspec". masterspec.co.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.