The Housing Industry of Australia (HIA) is spearheading an industry campaign to ensure building products meet Australian Standards and comply with the Building Code of Australia. The HIA has identified a significant and growing number of non-compliant products are being used for residential buildings. Source: Timberbiz
Truss and frame manufacturer Pryda has thrown its weight behind the campaign.
Use of these non-compliant products could lead to a possible risk of failure within the building design and result in significant rectification costs, according to Pryda’s Category Manager, David Taylor.
“Areas of concern include strapping, bracing and tie down connectors, concrete and reinforcing, structural grade timber and LVL, structural steel and steel framing, windows and glazed doors, balustrading, roofing, wall cladding and masonry materials,” he said.
Pryda has conducted a series of tests of its products and its competitors.
One was a CSIRO organised salt spray test, which Pryda used to check its own products and seven competitors. While the Pryda products held up well over more than two months of testing, five of the others failed badly – with several beginning to rust prolifically in only a few days.
“They are supposed to meet Australian Standard AS1684-2010 parts two, three and four covering residential timber framed construction,” Mr Taylor said.
“Bracing and structural connectors are to be manufactured from G300 or equivalent structural grade steel. It is critical that this steel grade is used as the steel supplier guarantees a minimum yield strength, which the timber connectors’ design values are based on.”
“The G300 steel should also have a zinc coating thickness of 275 gsm, referred to as Z275. This is to provide adequate corrosion protection in internal applications in most environments.”
Pryda said that with example, a supplier was distributing angle bracing 20 per cent thinner than what was specified in the standards.
