Timber Inspection

Timber and wood products provide rugged and long lasting structural solutions in house construction. As all structural applications in building are regulated, the design and installation of these timber-rich solutions have to comply with the relevant regulations and Australian standards. AS1684 Residential Timber-framed Construction is a key reference document but other Australian standards also influence practice. This topic introduces you to these standards before going through the other aspects important to inspecting and certifying timber for house construction.
This includes:

  • The information about the site and project necessary for ensuring a suitable solution

  • Product compliance for major component types including trusses, wall frames and treated products

  • Determining if the components are fit-for-purpose after construction or extended exposure to weather

Completing the learning resources in this topic that can help you understand: how timber solutions are developed and satisfy regulatory requirements; the way products comply with their requirement; and key aspects of ensuring the finished structure is fit-for-purpose.

The course comprises 7 video modules:

VIDEO 1: Inspection and certification of timber for house construction

Length: 7:09

AS1684 Residential Timber-framed Construction is an acceptable manual for domestic construction but other Australian standards also influence practice. These include products standards for structural timber, design and installation standards for nailplate trusses, and the wind loading standard.

VIDEO 2: Details on House Plans

Length: 5:56

To ensure that the building’s design complies with regulatory requirements, house plans need to include notes and other information about key aspects of the project. These should detail the site’s wind classification and bushfire attack levels, items that affect loads on the structure, and the type and location of its bracing and tie-down.

VIDEO 3: Truss and frame manufacture and installation

Length: 5:59

Prefabricated trusses are designed and manufactured to ensure their performance satisfies the building regulation but they have to be handled and installed correctly if they are to deliver the required performance.

VIDEO 4: Structural timber products - compliance

Length: 9:11

Structural timber that complies with Australian product standards has been produced to achieve the required structural properties for the designated grade and verified by quality control testing. Their stress grades align with either the MGP, F-grade, or other grading systems.

VIDEO 5: Structural timber products - treatment

Length: 6:44

Some timber species are resistant to fungal or termite attack. However, most structural timber used in houses is not naturally durable and needs to be treated to the appropriate hazard level. Marks on the board, end tags or documentation indicate the treatment level. Special consideration is needed for treatment for timber used north of the Tropic of Capricorn.

VIDEO 6: Fitness for purpose after exposure to weather

Length: 5:42

Timber and wood products exposed to weather on site for extended periods can still be fit for structural purposes. The affected material can be inspected, likely problems identified and if necessary remedial action taken.

VIDEO 7: Fitness for purpose - other issues

Length: 5:37

Other issues can affect the fitness-for-purpose of a timber solution. These include: the basic consideration of using the correct timber and installing trusses and similar elements in the right way; penetrations that may have been made in elements for services; breakages of elements that should be whole; and poor installation of connections.

CPD

Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) members who successfully complete the course’s assessment with a 100% result will also be awarded 1.5 CPD points under the AIA’s refuel program.