FWPA has shepherded in changes to the draft 2019 National Construction Code (NCC) that facilitate the use of fire-protected timber in all buildings up to eight storeys – and industry has the opportunity to back the proposal.
Timber will be more easily used to construct buildings as diverse as shops, carparks, storage warehouses, laboratories, hospitals, schools and aged care facilities under changes contained in the draft National Construction Code (NCC).
FWPA made the case for the use of fire-protected timber in all buildings of up to eight storeys in height, achieving the support of the Australian Building Codes Board’s technical committee.
The proposed changes will apply to both traditional framing and newer mass building systems utilising glue-laminated timber (glulam), laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and cross-laminated timber (CLT) products.
FWPA National Codes & Standards Manager, Boris Iskra said that under the draft 2019 NCC, builders and developers wanting to use timber would no longer have to undertake time-consuming and expensive ‘performance solutions’ to gain building approval, as long as their designs met the deemed-to-satisfy requirements.
“At FWPA, we do everything we can to remove unnecessary restrictions on the use of timber. In 2016, we were successful with introducing similar changes for apartments, hotels and offices – and now we’re on the brink of extending that to other types of buildings,” Boris said.
“We’re proud to have successfully made the case to the authorities that timber can meet the required standards, and would urge the timber industry and progressive builders and developers to make submissions supporting the proposed changes to the Code – it’s a great opportunity.”
FWPA encourages you to view the draft 2019 National Construction Code and submit your comment in favour of the change before the deadline on 13 April 2018.
Picture credit: Ben Guthrie (International House)