Establishing the Transverse Load Capacity of a Timber Framed Classroom Block

In 2013, testing of single storey timber-framed classroom blocks was initiated by the Ministry of Education and completed by BRANZ to better understand the seismic resilience of timber-framed buildings within the Ministry’s portfolio. The   tests demonstrated a significantly greater lateral load capacity than could be derived from engineering calculations at the time, and led to new assessment parameters being included in the revision of the national seismic assessment guidelines in 2017.