Overhaul of internal timber code

Photo / The Aucklander

New regulations are proposed for internal housing timber.

The Department of Building and Housing has released a consultation paper on a Building Code overhaul, saying rules need to be made easier.

A spokeswoman said the department was proposing a simplified system for classifying timber.

"This retains and, in some ways improves, the current level of consumer protection against fungal decay. Currently as many as four different classes of treatment, including untreated timber, are used within the envelope of a house. This can lead to confusion among specifiers and builders," she said.

"Under the proposals, timber will still be treated but one class of timber treatment will be used. This will increase protection for internal walls where untreated timber can be used. That will give greater safeguards against possible problems such as plumbing leaks," she said.

The Wood Processors Association and the Frame & Truss Manufacturers Association backed the changes. Jon Tanner of Wood Processors said that with improvements made to design and building practices since 2005, he was confident the industry was heading in the right direction.

The department said it was responding to the house-building sector by raising the issue.

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