Concepts For Performance-Based Timber Building

A conceptual framework for building codes and standards, using performance based criteria, is presented. It is proposed that there be three levels of building control. These comprise the specification of building objectives,design for in-service performance and the evaluation of characteristic values. At each level the target performance is defined in quantitative probabilistic terms. Also at each level there are four methods for achieving the required performance; these are through deemed-to-comply specifications, computation, testing and combined computation and testing; the last three methods are referred to as performance-based methods. All four methods are intended to produce the same in-service performance quality. Other matters discussed include the use of reliability-based methods, the specification of multiple levels of quality for in-service performance, the format for serviceability criteria and methods for incorporating durability and fatigue considerations.