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TAFE Timber Education Newsletter 2009 #4 |
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3-Dec-2009
In this issue of the newsletter:
2009 #4
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Welcome to our last newsletter for 2009. I hope your year was successful and you have a fun and/or peaceful summer break.
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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New Home for Tree of Knowledge Wins Australian Timber Design Awards
The 2009 Australian Timber Design Awards grand prize has been awarded to Brian Hooper Architect & m3architecture (architects in association) for the Tree of Knowledge Memorial in Barcaldine, Queensland. The structure memorialises the tree under which, so legend has it, the Australian Labor Party was founded in 1891.
It is made up of over 4913 individual timber members all of which are recycled hardwood supplied exclusively by Kennedys and milled, graded and supplied to the NEW recycled timber interim standard. The memorial consists of a preserved ghost gum tree at the heart of a square frame. Logs hang from the ceiling of the frame in imitation of the canopy of a tree; and charcoaled external timbers create a "veil" around the preserved tree.
More info at
www.timberawards.com.au
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Timber Design Awards - ACT/ NSW / SA Winners
Joint winners in ACT/NSW were Johnson Pilton Walker for the National Portrait Gallery and Neeson Murcutt Architects in association with Coddington Construction for a house in Whale Beach. There were no winners from South Australia unfortunately.
A key feature of the National Portrait Gallery is the enormous timber trusses made from radiata pine laminated veneer lumber (LVL) as well as Jarrah as a feature timber. Well worth a look.
The Whale Beach house uses spotted gum almost exclusively as cladding, joinery and as a decorative veneer, allowing for the integration of doors, windows, shutters, stairs and internal walls.
More info at
www.timberawards.com.au
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Cause of Recent Deck Collapse
A Coroners Inquest into the deck that collapsed at Ascot, Brisbane in November 2008 that tragically led to the death of one of the guests, concluded in Mid October 2009. The Coroner has released preliminary recommendations prior to completing his final report and findings. The preliminary recommendations can be downloaded here.
Colin McKenzie of Timber Queensland has summarised the preliminary recommendations regarding the cause of the collapse as follows:-
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Extensive corrosion had occurred over the 90 year life of the deck to the nails that fixed the joists outer end to the outer bearer.
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The joists which were originally cogged into the bearer with approximately 20mm bearing, had separated from the bearer over time (for whatever reason) such that there was minimal bearing (just a few millimetres in some cases) just prior to the collapse.
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The significant load (but not overload) that was applied to the joists during the function being held at the time was sufficient to dislodge one or a number of these joists from the bearer and that this then led to an 'unzipping' of all joists with the deck collapsing away from the house like a 'trap door' opening.
The following sketch indicates the original construction detail prior to the joists becoming separated from the bearer.
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Need for Correct Detailing and Periodic Deck Inspection
With two more recent deck collapses in Morayfield, Queensland and Perth that have resulted in serious injuries, the need to have decks and balconies periodically assessed for structural adequacy and integrity has again been magnified. The results from the collapse in Perth may still be a few weeks from being made public, but again, it is believed these may be more building practice related than a straight timber issue.
The Morayfield deck collapse was due to totally decayed corner studs (probably untreated radiata) supporting the deck bearer end in the wall frame which in turn was supporting a newer deck added during extensions.
The wall frame is part of a 'room build in' under the original deck that occurred during extensions in 1999 with a fibre-cement (FC) 'water proof' deck added over the original deck. Deck joists and bearers were cypress with no sign of decay in the cypress deck bearer end or termites. Water entry to corner studs that decayed was due to detailing/flashing and failed sealant issues etc where the new FC was added over the original deck and where the bearer penetrated the FC cladding into the frame.
There were no issues with the cypress deck joists or bearers re grade or decay except that some deck joist had decay to some of top corners (sapwood) and this is understandable as the sapwood is not durable.
One of the challenges that an assessment throws up is how to see the unseeable! For example what are conditions at critical support locations that may hidden behind cladding/lining or internally at joints that are not visible to the naked eye.
One of the techniques used when trying to get a better handle upon what's happening 'inside' is the use of a drill and small diameter boring tool. It is recommended that all decks should be periodically inspected for structural integrity by a competent Building Professional and this may also require intrusive inspection techniques.
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Update on Progress of AS 1684 Revisions
Standards Australia has recently advised that they expect the new editions of AS 1684 Parts 2, 3 and 4 to be published around late February, March 2010.
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Unusual Inspiration - Lady of Wood
An 18th-century-style ball-gown designed and made by Alaskan carpenter David Walker made entirely of wood took the top prize at the World of Wearable Art awards in New Zealand.
Lady of Wood is made entirely of timber and is the first international entry to win the Montana World of Wearable Art awards competition, which began 21 years ago in Nelson, New Zealand.
Lady of Wood has now WOWed the world. Sculptor Max Patte, one of the judges, said the dress, made from American mahogany and lacewood with 52 strips of maple and cedar for the skirt and topped with a wig made of wood shavings, "works on every level original design and beautifully executed".
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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.
We have recently found a few more hardcopies and CDs of the manual when we moved our storage unit. Contact me if you'd like a free copy. It is also 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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