Australia's building code change and what it means for timber

The Australian Building Code has recently approved some amendments that will enable timber to be used for a much wider range of projects.

From now, building architects and designers will be able to incorporate more wood and wood products into three storey class three buildings, such as hotels and motels around Australia. 

Both designers and builders must comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) that is full of performance standards for each class of building and specifies which materials have been tested and approved to meet the standards.

Class three buildings include hotels, hostels, motels and the residential parts of health-care facilities that are used for staff accommodation.

This is a culmination of three years work by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) and means fire and acoustic rated timber-framed construction systems may become more popular.

This brings Australia in line with other countries when it comes to tall timber buildings and means the market for timber could increase also.

The new rule will apply from May 2014 and will be a positive change for all stakeholders, according to Ric Sinclair, Managing Director of FWPA.

"Designers and builders gains a broader material palette - and the option of bringing the environmental advantages of wood to more projects, while for the timber industry it's part of a market development process that will add substantial volume for Australian companies," he added.