Unless you are James Bond you may want to ensure you are safe when you are up on the roof, or any other type of access structure. Codes and standards ensure the end product is safe, predictable and useable. Codes and standards are many and varied and making sure we comply means some of us now enjoy reading encyclopaedias (and standards) in our spare time..
Unless you are James Bond you may want to ensure you are safe when you are up on the roof, or any other type of access structure. Codes and standards ensure the end product is safe, predictable and useable. Codes and standards are many and varied and making sure we comply means some of us now enjoy reading encyclopaedias (and standards) in our spare time..
Why Use Codes
All building products and systems need to comply with the Building Code, this in turn refers to standards which relate to the different requirements such as safety of persons, loads such as wind and equipment and durability or the ability for it to last for the required time it designed for. This way we can live in work in and around buildings and structures without the fear they are as robust as my childhood treehut. Monkeytoe development and engineering team invest a lot of time in testing and developing the engineering basis to ensure our products are fit for purpose and safe.
What Codes Does Monkeytoe Use
Depending on the use and type of structure several codes can apply, these keep our engineering team busy developing geeky calculating tools to help our design team.
AS1664
This is for the design of aluminium structures and governs such things as the limits and values we use for connections and section strengths and material properties.
AS1665
This covers the welding of aluminium, the materials, processes, and quality control as well as welder qualification requirements. As we construct critical structural components the welders must be certified for this, for some structures such as bridges this involves 3rd party inspection such as Xray tests.
AS1657
This standard covers access systems and structures such as walkways, ladders, stairs and platforms used for maintenance purposes. This includes some specifics for aluminium structures and refers to other standards such as AS1664
AS/NZS 11770 series
This series of standards covers loadings and how they are calculated (1170.0) and applied to structures these include normal operation and equipment and structure (1170.1), Wind including storms and cyclones which was recently updated in 2021. (1170.2), Snow and ice(1170. 3) and earthquakes (1170.4). An interesting example of how this works is theoretical structure supporting 100kg vertically in Wellington must withstand around 300kg of force in the horizontal direction for the seismic calculations in 1170.4, some of this is no doubt to have ability to accommodate rapid changes in government policy. There is a simplified, specific version of this for building services seismic restraint NZS4219. Often seismic loads are considered for the overall structure but not for services such as HVAC systems . Monkeytoe products are designed to comply with these standards and we have products such as support rails to assist with transferring all loads back to the structure instead of A/C units ending up on the ground.
NZ Building Code
The New Zealand building code is a performance-based code with areas coded A-H. These cover all the aspects of what a building or structure needs to be compliant such as stability, safe access waterproof and fire safe.
Under each one of these are clauses the structure can be proved compliant by following an ‘acceptable solution’ or ‘verification method’ set out in detailed documents provided by MBIE, if it is not covered by these it can be proved to be an acceptable solution with further evidence this is known as a ‘performance solution’.
Some of the commonly used sections by Monkeytoe are:
B1 Structure, B2 Durability, D1 access routes, F4 Safety from falling, E2 External Moisture.
In turn each of these respective Acceptable solutions, Verification Methods refer to some of the prior mentioned standards.
AU building Code
The Australia building code is also a performance-based code, most of the requirements of which are laid out in the NCC Volumes 1-3
Other Codes
There are other standards that we refer to on a less regular basis for such as access and mobility NZS4121 and timber codes NZS3603, NZS3604.There are also product quality and testing standards for aluminium and other materials and test methods which are used to ensure products are safe and consistent.
Not all guidance on design and materials is covered by the NZ and AU standards and codes and so for some of our products and applications we use European and United States Codes some of these are Eurocode 9, Aluminium Design Manual (USA) DNV-GLASM manuals and Eurocomp
To Download and Print our Standards & Codes Click through here: Monkeytoe_Content_Standard Codes