Some of New Zealand's biggest building and timber organisations have welcomed a planned study of the costs and benefits of compulsory use of treated timber in new houses.
The Building Industry Authority (BIA) says it will carry out a cost-benefit analysis on its plans to require treated timber on all new houses to combat leaks.
The announcement, which delays moves towards a new compulsory standard, was welcomed by the Building Industry Federation, which claims the change would increase new house prices, devalue homes built with untreated timber and endanger pine exports to China.
The BIA made the change as a Government watchdog said it would not ban arsenic-treated wood from children's play equipment and homeowners' decks, even though the United States is stopping its use.
The Environmental Risk Management Authority said that before it could ban arsenic treatment, legally it would have to reassess the chemical.
* Figures released last week show the number of leaky buildings listed with the Government's Weathertight Homes Resolution Service has more than doubled to 1514 since January.
Herald Feature: Building standards
Related links
Timber study welcomed
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
