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9.2 Timber Industry Standards and Specifications
Authors: J C P TurnerPublication: NZIF Forestry Handbook, Volume Section 9 – Utilisation of forest products, pp 2, Dec 2023
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: It is important for the forest-related industry to be aware of the numerous timber standards and specifications to gain an overall appreciation of timber utilisation. Standards are continually evolving and Standards New Zealand itself has undergone change. NZ BUILDING CODE The passing of the NZ Building Code (1992) and the establishment of the Building Industry Authority (BIA) has reformed building controls. The power of government bodies (e.g. Labour Dept) and territorial authorities (e.g. District Councils) to generate building controls in their area has been revoked. The host of existing laws, regulations, standards and other documents have been amalgamated into one system called the NZ Building Code. The Building Code is performance-based in that it defines the required performance of the various materials, systems and services that go together to create a building. Although this means that there has been a fundamental change from prescriptive to performance-based regulations, prescriptive standards are still necessary. They are endorsed by the BIA as "acceptable solutions" which specify how to make a product or what to do to achieve a required performance. Both are necessary and several prescriptions can satisfy the one performance.