Citation of new loadings standard AS/NZS 1170

The publication of NZS 1170 Part 5 'Earthquake actions - New Zealand' completes the new joint loadings Standard AS/NZS 1170 'Structural Design Actions'.

The Department of Building and Housing is now reviewing the loadings Standard with a view to citing it in Verification Method B1/VM1 of the B1 Compliance Document. The Department is currently working to establish and consider all the changes between NZS 4203 and AS/NZS 1170 and assess the regulatory impact these will have on the New Zealand building industry.

Among other things there have been changes to earthquake, wind and snow actions and a cost-benefit analysis is proposed to investigate the impact the changes have on the viability and cost of buildings. At present NZS 4203: 1992 is cited in Verification Method B1/VM1 of the B1 Compliance Document and our current view is that this Standard will continue to be cited for a transition period after AS/NZS1170 is cited. A S/NZS 1170 is recognised by the Department as an important Standard for New Zealand and the Department sees this as a priority project.

Once the investigation of the impact of citing this Standard is complete a regulatory impact document will be prepared for a public consultation phase around November this year where public comment will be sought.