New Zealand’s Building Industry Federation (BIF) has attacked proposed changes to the country’s building code which would require all framing timber in new homes to be treated to an “H1.2” standard.
The proposals, announced by the Building Industry Authority on June 13, are a response to the leaky homes crisis and will be subject to the outcome of public consultation.
BIF chairman Tom Nickels believes it would cause disruption in the forest and timber industries, plus add extra costs of about NZ$5,000 to homeowners. He also fears existing homes built since the 1991 Building Act could be devalued.
Mr Nickels said more than 50% of houses built last year were of brick veneer construction using untreated timber, a building method which has a good performance record. He said only 14% of the 120 million metres of framing timber produced annually was used in high risk situations.
The Forest Industries Council has also expressed concern about possible consequences for the South Island’s annual NZ$40m Douglas fir market. It said the species was generally considered untreatable to the proposed levels.
