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TAFE Timber Education Newsletter 2009 #1 |
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1-March-2009
Welcome to the first TAFE timber education newsletter for 2009.
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Welcome to our first newsletter for 2009. I hope you all had a good break and you are ready to rip into it again this year. Apologies to anyone who received our last newsletter twice and those who didn't receive it the first time - we had some database glitches! Also - thanks to those who are providing feedback on the review of AS 1684.
Please contact me for assistance with obtaining resources or any aspect of teaching timber related units or to update your contact details.
Stephen Mitchell
Co-ordinator, National Timber Education Program - ACT, NSW & SA
p: 02 9279 2366
e:
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Timber & Construction in Bushfire Prone Areas
Unfortunately, bushfires are a fact of life in Australia as the recent tragedy in Victoria has underscored.
In many parts of Australia, land will be assessed as being at a particular risk of bushfire hazards using the Australian Standard AS 3959 (in NSW additional guidelines are used by your local council). AS 3959, which is referenced in the Building Code of Australia has, among other requirements, requirements for different types of construction (and materials) depending on the risk of bushfire.
The Standard has been under major revision since publication of the second edition in 1999. Due to the recent bushfires in Victoria, the Standards committee members (from organisations such as the fire services in NSW and Victoria, CSIRO, the housing industry and timber development organisations) have been advised that the third edition must be completed in the next four weeks (Victoria has already adopted the draft third edition).
I will have an update in the next newsletter on some of the detail in AS 3959-2009.
To assist builders, specifiers and planners understand the Standard TDANSW (as part of the Technical Timber Education Program) is currently preparing a free CPD Course to understand AS 3959 (and specific state requirements) and how/where timber can be used in bushfire prone areas. The Course will be available mid 2009 - please contact me if you have any particular feedback to provide while it is being developed.
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National Carpenters Day - 21st April
As part of the Wood Naturally Better campaign (mentioned in our last newsletter) a National Carpenters Day is being held on 21st April. Australia's first National Carpenters Day is an event created to recognise the contribution of carpenters to the way we live.
The activities are currently being organised and Head Teachers will be contacted shortly about the day. If you'd like to be among the first to know, please enter your email address at the website
www.carpentersday.com.au.
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Inspiration - Use of Timber at the Zoo
I had the pleasure of visiting Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo a couple of weeks ago and was really impressed by the use of timber, and some of the detailing, in the new Asian Elephant Precinct and the Backyard to Bush area.
A range of Australian hardwoods and preservative treated softwoods are used. On the left is a picture of a pavilion covered in hardwood shakes made from Rose Sheoak and below that is a picture of the Backyard to Bush shed which hosts many school groups every week.
By the way the bird show is absolutely world class and worth the price of admission alone.
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It Keeps Happening, So We'll Keep Reminding!
F17 and F27 seasoned Victorian Ash and Tassie Oak as well as Douglas Fir (Oregon) are classed as Outside Above Ground Durability Class 3 or 4 and are not recommended for use as deck joists and bearers in weather exposed applications. Even if the deck is roofed, the ends of joists and bearers are still usually weather exposed unless there are very large overhangs all round. The same may apply to other hardwoods and softwoods.
It is recommended that hardwood timber used for these applications is Above Ground Natural Durability Class 1 or 2 with sapwood removed (or sapwood preservative treated to H3). Softwood preservative treated to at least hazard level H3 can also be used.
Note that in-ground durability and outside above ground durability may be different! See AS 5604 Timber - Natural durability ratings for the durability of timbers.
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Slips, Trips and Falls in Buildings
The Australian Building Codes Board have released a paper and press release in which they outline their intent to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries in buildings every year that are as a result of slipping and tripping on floors and stairs, and falling from balconies, verandahs and through windows.
The Board recently commissioned the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) to study the incidence of slips, trips and falls and their relationship to the design and construction of buildings. That study is now complete and the findings show the problem is significant. In a Q&A sheet also available from the ABCB website,
www.abcb.gov.au
the following are some of the issues that they propose to review:
- Reducing range of existing going and riser dimensions
- Mandating handrails for stairs in domestic construction
- Increasing handrail heights to stairs
- Defining slip resistance of flooring surfaces (presumably decking as well)
- Making all balustrades non-climbable and higher
- Plus a range of other issues
The timber industry may need to undertake some extensive research to ascertain the slip resistance of various flooring products should this requirement be mandated.
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Another reminder that the Australian Building Codes Board are holding a series of half-day information seminars on the updates to the Building Code of Australia (BCA) for 2009. These are the dates for the remaining seminars in NSW and SA:
| Sydney |
17th and 18th February |
| Adelaide |
25th February |
For more information email:
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, phone (07) 3423 0694 or visit
www.abcb.gov.au.
Costs for the seminar range from $155 to $195.
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Technical Advisory Services
TDANSW gets a number of calls about technical issues. We are happy to help TAFE teachers with any particular questions or referrals to the appropriate person for technical advice. For builders and the general public there are a number of very useful technical advisory phone services around Australia, depending on the wood product or your location.
Plantation Pine
A3P Pine Line (toll-free)
1800 007 463
Flooring
Australian Timber Flooring Association
1300 361 693
Engineered Wood (Plywood, LVL)
Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia
(07) 3250 3700
General Timber
National Timber Information Line ($1.10 per minute; includes GST)
1902 282 000
Timber in South Australia
Timber Development Association of South Australia (free advice for members)
(08) 8297 0044
Also, the Wood Naturally Better
website has a Q&A section in which technical and other questions about wood are answered.
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Even More Educational Resources
The web site
www.timber.org.au
has a large range of resources for use in education relating to the use of timber in buildings.
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Teaching Resources - information for teachers including downloadable PowerPoint presentations on applications, properties, production, AS1684, multi-residential timber framing, cladding as well as timber stairs manual.
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Learning Resources - information for students including applications, properties, production, durability, specifications, manufactured wood products, connections as well as 18 case studies of timber in use.
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Reference Resources - for teachers and students including timber flooring (installation guide), timber construction in bushfire prone areas through to structural timber design guides.
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The following educational resources are available through the Timber Development Association at no or small
cost. We also have a more extensive list of publications available from our website,
www.timber.net.au, which may aid your teaching.
Acceptable Standards of Domestic Construction
This excellent resource has been revised to address the most recent developments in construction and timber
design. The recommended retail price is $25. For bulk purchases of one box (30 books) we are offering the books at the reseller price.
Australian Hardwood and Cypress Manual
The Hardwood and Cypress manual is a must have for all specifiers and for anyone teaching timber
related subjects. The Manual is split into four sections: an introduction, a technical and detailing
guide, a set of species guides, and application guides. It is available for free download from
www.timber.net.au.
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Timber Framing Multi-Resource CD
This free all-in-one CD contains teaching resources for the following topics:
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Introduction to timber framing (video)
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Video
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Timber framing
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Interactive construction game
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Bracing and Tie-down Desin - 4 case studies
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PowerPoint
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Using AS16884.2 span tables
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PowerPoint
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Introduction timber construction
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PowerPoint
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Timber stairs, balustrades & handrails manual
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PDF
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Timber wall cladding systems
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PowerPoint
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Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD)
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PowerPoint
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Occupation health & safety (OH&S)
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PowerPoint
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Timber truss installation (update)
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PowerPoint
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This program is funded by the timber industry through Forest and Wood Products Australia
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