New foundation design categories for Canterbury

Issue 33 – November 2011

The Government announced on 28 October 2011 that three new categories for residential foundation design have been developed and will be required for repairing and rebuilding homes in Canterbury following the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said the foundation designs apply to the flat land in the residential green zone in Canterbury, which has now been divided by engineering experts into three new technical categories (TC1, TC2, and TC3).

Building Controls Update 122 – updated references to Standards cited in Verification Methods and Acceptable Solutions

Issue 33 – November 2011

All building work must comply with the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC). Standards referenced in Compliance Documents (which include Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods) provide a means of compliance with the NZBC. Earlier this year, the Department of Building and Housing (the Department) consulted on proposed changes to update, withdraw, or amend references to over 60 Standards referenced in Acceptable Solutions, Verification Methods, and the Compliance Schedule Handbook.

Congratulations to New Zealand Concrete Masonry Association – 50th AGM

Issue 33 – November 2011

Standards New Zealand congratulates the New Zealand Concrete Masonry Association (NZCMA) on its recent 50th AGM. Formed in 1956, the NZCMA is one of New Zealand's oldest construction-related trade associations. The organisation seeks to inspire wider and more innovative use of concrete masonry in the built environment by providing technical support to ensure that industry decision makers realise the full potential of concrete masonry.

New CCANZ Information Bulletins – fire and starter bars

Issue 33 – November 2011

CCANZ has recently produced a new Information Bulletin (IB) IB 93 Fire Performance of Concrete and Concrete Masonry, which provides guidance to designers and specifiers on the design of concrete structures against fire. IB 47 Starter Bars – Concrete Masonry has also been updated and provides information on how to ensure the correct positioning of starter bars for concrete masonry, helping to prevent costly and time-consuming errors in this area.

Recycled aggregates and materials in new concrete – upcoming CCANZ Technical Report

Issue 33 – November 2011

CCANZ will soon release Technical Report TR 14 that outlines the processes for the use of recycled materials as aggregate in concrete and the effects of these materials on the fresh and hardened properties of concrete made from them. The report is based on overseas and New Zealand experience, and research on the use of recycled materials in concrete. The report is a resource on the performance and engineering properties of recycled aggregate in concrete, and the basis for future revisions of NZS 3121:1986 Specification for water and aggregate for concrete and NZS 3104:2003 Specification for concrete production, incorporating recycled materials.

New NZRMCA standardised concrete truck driver hand signals

Issue 33 – November 2011

The New Zealand Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NZRMCA) has developed NZRCMA Concrete Truck Driver Hand Signals, a set of standardised hand signals to assist clear communication with concrete truck drivers while on-site.

New Zealand's 'Apprentice of the Year' named

Issue 33 – November 2011

New Zealand's construction industry can be certain that its future is in safe hands judging by the talent celebrated at an awards evening in Wellington on 29 October 2011. Dunedin apprentice Ryan Keogh, 22, was named the Registered Master Builders Carters 2011 'Apprentice of the Year' after competing alongside 10 national finalists from up and down New Zealand.

Evaluating the performance of a building – new ISO Standard

Issue 33 – November 2011

A new ISO Standard will help the building industry, real estate sector, and financiers to evaluate better the performance of a building. Performance standards in building – Definition and calculation of area and space indicators ISO 9836:2011 uses the 'intra-muros' concept used in many parts of the world. This refers to indicators of surface and volume in evaluating buildings, which help to evaluate the economic characteristics of a building. The relationship between the area taken up by the building and usable area indicates whether the building costs and materials have been used to their best advantage.

STANDARDS IN DEVELOPMENT

Amendment 2 to NZS 4229:1999 Concrete masonry buildings not requiring specific engineering design

Committee: P4229
Project Manager: Rachel Mahony
Estimated Publication Date: April 2012
Comments: Standards New Zealand has restarted an amendment project which originally commenced in 2006. The project had been put on hold so that changes to the seismic zones in NZS 3604:2011 could be included in NZS 4229.

WS-013 Review of domestic wastewater systems