The New Zealand Building Industry Association (BIA) proposal to ban the use of untreated timber for house framing could spell disaster for the country’s Douglas fir producers.
The BIA is considering banning the use of untreated timber because of the leaky building crisis. However, Douglas fir cannot be treated so if the proposal goes ahead the industry will suffer badly.
Producers say untreated Douglas fir has been used for framing worldwide for around 200 years without problem and they are angry that leaky homes are being blamed on untreated timber rather than faulty construction methods.
Sawmills are already cutting back on their Douglas fir production and the industry has warned that jobs are being lost and more will follow.
