SESOC Journal

MBIE AND STANDARDS

NEW ZEALAND UPDATE

MBIE has issued a warning about the use of Please note an exception has been made regarding the
loop bar details in flange-hung double-tee use of cast iron anchors and couplers, which will continue
precast concrete floor units, and published an to be compliant under B1/VM1 Amendment 16 until 1
amendment to Verification Method B1/VM1 November 2018. This will allow for continuity of anchor/
The warning and amendment are part of MBIE’s response coupler supply by giving suppliers extra time to stock up
to the investigation into the performance of Statistics on alternative couplers and anchors.
House and the Canterbury earthquakes. On 10 October 2017 MBIE published a new version
Loop bar warning of its guidance on securing parapets and facades on
unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings.
MBIE has issued a warning about the use of loop bar
details in flange-hung double-tee precast concrete floor units The key changes in the new version are:
that do not comply with the Concrete Structures Standard • a revision of the figures in Tables 1 and 2, on page
NZS 3101.1:2006 Amendment No.3. 48, showing maximum unbraced parapet heights for
The warning came into force on 3 April 2018. From this support heights of 5.0 m and 10.0 m for one and two-
date building consent authorities (BCAs) and territorial storey buildings respectively
authorities must take the warning into consideration when • the addition of two new tables, on page 49, which show
deciding whether a building consent application complies maximum unbraced parapet heights for support heights
with the Building Code. of 4.0 m and 8.0 m for one and two-storey buildings
The warning only applies to building consent applications respectively
for building work. It does not mean that existing • a correction to the caption for Figure 4 on page 31,
buildings with loop bar details are unsafe. The expected which shows scope diagrams for two and three-storey
performance of loop bar details depends on a number buildings.
of other building design and construction characteristics.
If building owners are concerned that their building may
potentially contain the loop bar design detail they should
seek advice from a structural engineer or discuss their
concerns with their BCA.
Verification Method B1/VM1 Amendment 16
B1/VM1 Amendment 16 has been published and takes
effect from 3 April 2018. The amendment includes:
• an updated reference to the latest version of the
Concrete Structures Standard NZS 3101.1:2006
Amendment No.3
• modifications to the Steel Structures Standard NZS
3404.1:1997, to update design and construction
requirements.
The amendment ensures that current engineering practice
is reflected in the Verification Method.
B1/VM1 Amendment 15 or Amendment 16 will be
accepted as a means of compliance during the three- https://www.building.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/building-code-compliance
month transition period from 3 April to 30 June 2018. After b-stability/b1-structure/guidance-securing-parapets-facades.pdf
30 June 2018, only Amendment 16 will be accepted.

Volume 31 No.1 April 2018 85

SESOC Journal
Seismic design for suspended ceilings
28 March 2018
BRANZ Build magazine has an excellent article by Hedda
Maria Oosterhoff on how suspended ceilings fared poorly
in recent earthquakes (quoted in full with permission).
Suspended ceilings fared poorly in recent earthquakes. In
response, the relevant standard was revised, and there are
stringent design and installation requirements to prevent
collapse in a 1-in-500-year event.
Amendments to NZS 1170.5:2004 Structural design
actions – Part 5: Earthquake actions – New Zealand came
into effect in September 2016. These changes have a
significant influence on the design and installation of all
suspended ceilings.
NZS 1170.5:2004 is the design actions standard cited by
Verification Method B1/VM1 to New Zealand Building Code
clause B1 Structure. Following this standard means an
installed ceiling complies with the Building Code and will
help safeguard people from injury or fatalities caused by
structural failure.
Confusion with previous standard
Before the amendment, there was confusion around
seismic design requirements for ceilings, particularly
selecting the appropriate part category to apply. This was
especially a problem with tile and grid suspended ceilings.
Some argued that ceilings made up of parts that weighed
less than 10 kg and that were less than 3 m above floor
level could be classified as part category P7. P7 only
requires design to a serviceability limit state.
By considering only the weight and fall height of individual
components, rather than the total weight of the ceiling
system, ceilings were not designed for much larger ultimate
limit state events.
Serviceability or ultimate limit state?
Serviceability limit state requires design for no or minimal
damage during a 1-in-25-year earthquake, whereas
ultimate limit state requires design to a level to prevent
collapse during a 1-in-500-year event. For buildings of
a higher importance level, the requirement increases
to a 1-in-2500-year event. Clearly, the choice between
serviceability and ultimate limit states has an enormous
effect on the resulting seismic design.
Supporting commentary in the updated standard
acknowledges the previous vagueness. ‘[Designing
suspended ceilings to serviceability limit state] is not the
intent of the standard and it is recognised that some of the
previous standard and commentary provisions may have
contributed to this by not having been expressed clearly
enough.’
86
Threshold now 7.5 kg for whole ceiling system
The new standard lowers the weight threshold for ultimate
limit state design to 7.5 kg and makes it clear that the total
weight of the ceiling system needs to be considered – tiles,
grid, luminaires and any other supported services.
It is no longer possible to define ceilings as P7 (and
requiring design to serviceability design state) simply
because the weight of the individual components is below
7.5 kg – the overall system needs to be considered for the
design.
Given the performance of suspended ceilings in
earthquakes over the past 7 years, these clarifications are
required. Collapsing ceilings can injure occupants and
interfere with evacuation and reoccupation of a building.
What are part categories?
A system is assigned a part category according to its
potential to cause death or injury or its importance for the
continued functioning of the building or if the consequential
damage is high.
Part categories P1, P2, and P3 apply where the system
represents a hazard to human life. The ultimate limit state is
used for their design.
A part is considered a hazard to human life if it:
• weighs 7.5 kg or more, regardless of from what height it
falls
• can fall more than 3 m, regardless of weight.
Clearly, a suspended ceiling system as a whole is not
exempt and needs to be designed to ultimate limit state.
Design right
Most reputable New Zealand ceiling grid manufacturers
and suppliers will have a seismic calculator to assist with
seismic restraint requirements or will be able to assist
with a compliant ceiling design. Many building consent
authorities are now also requiring producer statements
from a qualified professional to sign off on a design. Sign-
off after completion is also needed.
Design ceilings for ultimate limit state events
The most important requirement is to design all future
ceilings for ultimate limit state events. This applies
to everyone – architects, designers, contractors and
installers – for both consented and non-consented
work.
Journal of the Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand Inc
 SESOC Journal

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON TIMBER Standard to which timber is claimed to have been treated.
STANDARDS NZS 3640 AND NZS 3602 The preservatives incorporated in the AS/NZS 1604 series
are required to be accompanied by analytical methods for
Public consultation on the draft revisions of NZS 3640
their determination, which are incorporated in the AS/NZS
Chemical preservation of round and sawn timber and NZS
1605 series.
3602 Timber and wood based products for use in buildings
ended on 6 April 2018. Please submit your feedback on

TIP:
the two drafts through the public consultation process.
AS/NZS 2980:2018 Qualification of welders for fusion
welding of steels - Additional requirements for
Australia and New Zealand
Specifies additional requirements to be used in conjunction Engineering New Zealand’s
10 Tips for Young Engineers
with AS/NZS ISO 9606.1 for qualification testing of welders
for fusion welding of steels, which are for certain unique
Australian and New Zealand conditions. For all other
Want to succeed? Check out our TOP
situations, the requirements of AS/NZS ISO 9606.1 apply.
10 TIPS for making the most of your
Appendix A provides guidance on the application of AS/
NZS ISO 9606.1 in relation to this Standard. This Standard career.
applies to welding processes including fusion-welding
processes that are designated as manual and mechanized 1. Be you. Figure out what works for you – and
welding. It does not cover fully automated welding don’t try to be someone you’re not.
processes, nor does it deal with the certification of welders.
2. Focus on first principles – use critical thinking
Supersedes AS/NZS 2980:2007 to find the simplest solution.
AS/NZS 1605.1:2018 Methods for sampling and
3. Keep learning. The best engineers never stop
analysing timber preservatives and preservative-
learning.
treated timber - Part 1: General requirements,
sampling, and determination of sapwood and 4. Stay focused on your goals – make sure you
heartwood presence know what they are and where you want to
Specifies general requirements for sampling and analysing end up.
timber preservatives and preservative-treated wood
5. Questions are good. Never be afraid to ask.
products, and sets out the method for determining the
presence of sapwood and heartwood. This revision 6. Take every chance to gain new experiences
incorporates new spot testing and analytical methods. It and demonstrate leadership.
is intended to be read in conjunction with the other parts
7. Leadership opportunities are everywhere:
of this series and with the AS/NZS 1604 series, NZS 3640
sports teams, work projects, community
or the relevant standard to which the timber is claimed to
groups.
have been treated.
AS/NZS 1605.2:2018 Methods for sampling and 8. Be passionate. Do what makes your heart
analysing timber preservatives and preservative- sing.
treated timber - Part 2: Determination of preservative
9. Have fun! Find a balance between working and
penetration by spot test
spending time with friends.
Sets out the method for determining the penetration of
preservative into preservative-treated wood products. 10. Stay generalist if you can. Doing a great job
It deals with the preparation of material for testing and taking every opportunity that comes your
and the methods for determining the penetration of way will give you more options than taking a
creosote, boron, copper in copper-based preservatives, very specialised route.
pentachlorophenol, tin, zinc and fluorine. This Standard is Engineering New Zealand
intended to be read in conjunction with AS/NZS 1605.1
and the AS/NZS 1604 series, NZS 3640 or the relevant

Volume 31 No.1 April 2018 87