Implications For Structural Reliability As Indicated By In-Service Observations Of Timber Durability

The NZ Building Code highlights the need for designers to consider structural durability. Its presentprescriptive approach to durability design inhibits innovation and extrapolation. A design procedure fordurability considerations is being developed in Australia but it requires models which relate structuralperformance of building materials to environmental conditions. Some such models already exist for theresistance of timber to insect or fungal attack, and for adhesives, but need to be developed further to be usefulfor design by the Australian procedure.