FEATURES
All larger buildings, and those to which the public has access, are to be designed under the supervision of professional engineers applying rational design criteria to satisfy engineering first principals.
Timber framed structures in compliance with SANS 10082 are deemed to satisfy the National Building Regulations and in compliance with SANS 10400, which covers conventional construction methods and processes. Only deviations from the specified design and construction requirements of SANS 10082 will demand engineering intervention and the provision of a rational design.
DESIGNING FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Approval has, in general, been given by municipalities to prefabricated truss fabricators that use a suite of rational design programmes supplied by‘ system suppliers’ to design roofs up to 10m in span for non-public buildings. All these system suppliers are accredited and approved by the Institute for Timber Construction South Africa( ITC-SA).
All larger buildings, and those to which the public has access, are to be designed under the supervision of professional engineers applying rational design criteria to satisfy engineering first principals. Engineers who have access to engineering design software can use these design programmes to satisfy the rational design requirements. Timber structures designed by a competent person in accordance with Part B of the National Building Regulations are not limited to the size, height, span, pitch and geometric configuration of structures as specified in SANS 10082 or Part L of SANS 10400.
TIMBER GRADING AND TREATMENT
The ITC-SA works closely with the Technical Committees of the South African Bureau of Standards( SABS) on grading and treatment specifications for structural timber, including design codes and standards for structural timber as well as on matters affecting the National Building Regulations and their application.
The ITC-SA has also instituted a Certificate of Competence scheme for timber frame builders and truss fabricators( truss plants) that design, manufacture and supply prefabricated nail-plated trusses. Stringent auditing of both the professions’ operations and key personnel is done before the awarding of such Certificates of Competence. This is an assurance of quality on timber structures for both the specifier and the general public.
TIMBER QUALITY
All timber used in a structural application should be structural South African pine that complies with the requirements of SANS 1783-2 / 1460 / 10149 and bears the full standardisation mark.
Timber used for roof battens should comply with SANS 1783-4 and should also bear the full standardisation mark.
Timber used for the construction of timber structures on site must be ordered in the dimensions in which it will be used and should not be re-sawn into smaller crosssectional sizes on site, as this will cause the grade, strength and dimensional tolerances to change.
TIMBER SPECIFICATION
The various grades of timber are defined by different strength properties and allowable design stresses. The grades commercially available are: S5, S7 and S10.( Note: there is a limited availability of grade S10.)
TIMBER TREATMENT
In certain magisterial districts in South Africa, it is illegal to use timber which has not been treated against biological attack for structural purposes. Treatment can be completed using either CCA or Boron in accordance with SANS 10005‘ Treatment of Timber’.
STORAGE OF TIMBER
Structural timber stored on site should be stacked on level ground on bearers and adequately protected against the weather by being covered with a waterproof material. Air must be allowed to circulate through the timber stacks and strapping around bundles of battens should not be removed until the battens are to be fixed, to prevent excessive warping.
FACTORY ENGINEERED TRUSSES
A network of prefabricated timber roof truss manufacturers can be found throughout South Africa. These fabricators operate under license to suppliers of nail-plate connectors and use computer design programmes devised by professional engineers. When placing orders with a truss fabricator, or when a quotation is required, the fabricator must be provided with the following minimum information of a detailed drawing:
• Overall span of roof
• Eaves overhang
• Pitch of roof
• Cantilever distance( if any)
• Truss spacing( can be optimised by the truss engineer) normally 760mm for concrete tiles and 1 100mm for sheeting
• Roofing materials plus any special loads( solar panels)
• Ceiling materials plus any special loads( airconditioning)
• Geyser position and capacity
• Hatch openings, size and position
• Special eaves detail
• Other details which may affect the design
For more information about specifying timber for construction or to find an ITC-SA accredited fabricator member near you, visit: www. itc-sa. org.
44 JUNE / JULY 2017 //