Standards Australia is the nation’s peak non-government standards organisation. Tim Wheeler, National Sector Manager for Building and Construction, provides us with an update on what’s happening in the standards world.

Over the past months and years, staff and technical committee members at Standards Australia have been working diligently to update the portfolio of National Construction Code referenced standards. Nineteen new and revised publications have been submitted by Standards Australia to the Building Codes Committee for their review and approval. It is expected that the outcome of this review will be announced in early February 2016.

The publications touch on topics as diverse as fire detection systems, wind loads for housing and reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Below are a few examples of the changes that have been made to improve BCA referenced documents.

AS 1720.5:2015 – Timber Structures – Nailplated timber roof trusses
Standards Australia has recently published the newest addition to the AS 1720 series on Timber Structures. AS 1720 part 5 is dedicated to the design considerations and methods for nailplated timber roof trusses applicable to residential and similar buildings.

This standard was developed in response to evidence that there were widespread deficiencies in the current design of roof trusses, leading to safety issues in some Australian households. Prior to this standard being released, there was no published design specification available on this topic. After consultation with stakeholders in both countries, Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand decided to develop this standard as an Australian Standard rather than a joint Australian/New Zealand Standard. This standard is intended to be referenced by the upcoming 2016 version of the BCA and will provide a prescriptive pathway for builders to comply with regulatory requirements.

AS 1905.1:2015 – Components for the protection of openings in fire-resistant walls Part 1: Fire-resistant doorsets
The objective of AS 1905 part 1 is to provide users with minimum requirements for the construction and installation of fire-resistant doorsets. Such doorsets are designed to protect the openings in walls and integrate elements of construction that are required to resist the passage of fire.

This publication was an industry-led initiative to revise provisions in regards to fire testing of door hardware and approvals. The revisions included redrafting the Standard to align with the Australian Building Codes Board protocols for the development of referenced documents and clarifying the requirements for testing, assessments, installation marking and documentation.

A RECIPE FOR AN AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
Ever wondered what goes into the making of an Australian Standard? There are a few “ingredients” involved, such as a rigorous assessment on the net benefit to Australia, and stakeholder support from the industry and community. We rely upon the expertise of our technical committee members, who are representatives from industry, government, regulators, and consumer organisations. All Standards are developed on the basis of consensus.

If you have some time today, catch Standards Australia’s video on “A Recipe for An Australian Standard” on our YouTube channel. The video showcases the people behind the development of an Australian Standard. You can find this video on Standards Australia’s YouTube channel (search for ‘Standards Australia’ on www.youtube.com)