Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 21Sep 03, 2009 7:06 am Thank guys for all your help really really appriciate it! Total Breeze Air Conditioning and Electrical - Based in Melbourne http://www.totalbreeze.com.au Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 23Apr 16, 2010 11:01 pm I needed a copy of the structural engineering for the frame and bracing so Alex the building surveyor can do his inspection. I was told by Carlisle unless its a double storey engineers no longer do a structural report or plan for frames. Instead all frames for single storey are built according to section 16 84 of the building code Does anyone know anything about this new method? or have a copy ? Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 24Apr 16, 2010 11:44 pm 1684 is actually AS1684 the Australian Standard for Residential Timber framed construction. Builders are able to use this standard to easily design trusses and building frames without the need to consult an engineer. If there is any deviation from this standard an engineer is required. For roof trusses the builder normally engages a truss supplier who will design the trusses in house to meet the requirements of AS1684. As to the availability of this standard it is not available without purchasing it from SAI Global, or looking in your local library. There have been several threads about the availability of Australian Standards. View our blog at: http://room4acubby.blogspot.com/ Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 25Apr 17, 2010 7:29 am txs room4cubby.Iam now asking myself how come Alex from Urban property inspections was not aware of this.I hassled my CLO for the frame layout & bracing report ,because he wanted it !!! Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 26Apr 17, 2010 7:40 am Hi Andy, Alex is still right in asking for plans, even though there is a bit of terminology mix up (well, almost). Even though it is not the structural engineers who designed your frame, there are still a frame and truss layout plans available from the frame manufacturer. Your CSO might not be fully aware of this. For us, I contacted her first and she claimed no such thing existed. I then contacted our frame mfr and sure, no problem, the only thing is that they needed to do it via the builder, so I ended up giving their details to my CSO so she can 'authorise' it - in fact, they sent her the plans and then she just forwarded them to me. I'm glad that Alex asked for plans. My inspector wasn't interested and he didn't use them at all. My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 27Apr 18, 2010 2:15 am Fully agree with Lex in regards to asking for the roof plans, I didn't know that we could ask for the roof and wall plans until I read one of Lex's previous Frame thread in the past which made me ask my contract administrator for it and she emailed it to me. This was taken from one of the document from the truss manufacturing company that built my roof trusses which my C.A gave me: 'The truss designs for this job have been determined using computer software provided by Pryda Australia, using sound and widely accepted engineering principles. In particular, loadings and designs are performed in accordance with the Standards adopted by primary reference in the Building Code of Australia, BCA 2009, Volume 1, Specification A1.3 and Volume 2, Part 1.4' In addition, the following secondary referenced Australian Standards also apply: AS 1649-2001 Timber - Methods of test for mechanical fasteners and connectors - Basic working loads and characteristic strengths. AS 1684.1-1999 Residential timber - framed construction, Part 1, Design Criteria. It goes on to say ' All trusses shall be manufactured in accordance with the fabrication specifications provided by Pryda, and installed, connected and braced in accordance with the recommendations given in - AS 4440:2004 "Installation of nailplated timber roof trusses" and any other supplementary details that may be provided'. All truss designs and their connections have been designed using Pryda design software. I'm not sure if an engineer did or was involved in my roof plans or whether the truss manufacturing company have an in-house engineer who did it but I couldn't find anywhere in the documentations that advise/say the truss design must be done by an engineer. The plans (drawings) I received from my C.A shows where each truss goes and how the truss looks like and also where the roof bracing should be placed. Not sure but I think the reason why the inspector wanted the plans is because each roof design plans are different therefore placement of roof trusses, bracing, spacing between each trusses etc will be different, therefore unless he have the plans he wouldn't have a clue whether the framers had put the roof trusses in the right place and whether it was installed according to the manufacturers recommendation YKWIM. Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 29Apr 19, 2010 1:36 am Andy - Ask your cso for the roof truss plan from the truss manufacturer the ones they give to the building surveyor for building permit and for frame inspection. If your cso doesn't co-operate, ask her to give you the truss manufacturer's detail or put you through to your cso manager. Can you ask your SS for the details?? If your lucky you can obtain the information on site, I notice these on my building site. * check whether there are any delivery docket from the manufacturer left on site - it should have the frame material items listed on it. * check whether the manufacturer or builder left the plans in the electrical meter box I hope this will help you. Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 30Apr 19, 2010 8:32 am Yeah, and for us it was easy - the delievered frames had big imprints of the mfr's name! From there, Google is your friend ... BTW, if the exact type/brand name is not specified in your contract, you can find mfrs of other things just like that - from the (sometimes tiny) imprints on various things. You can also check if they supplied the correct timbers for the frame (eg. structural grade or not, what strength, etc - this will all be imprinted on each single piece of timber) - there goes one component of 'frame inspection' . My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 31Apr 19, 2010 7:54 pm We are doing it.. at Frame Stage. We will also get it done at Lockup and Pre Handover. It is a MUST !! Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 32Apr 19, 2010 9:12 pm back to square one again with regards to the structural plan for the "truss and frame Layout ".The packages had the timber suppliers name on it plus frame manufacturers I rang Carter Holt and Harvey( frame manufacturers) and spoke to a person who is a technician .He says they dont manufacturer the trusses ,that I should speak to the truss manufacturers.They only supply the timber and specialise in grades etc, Who the hell are the truss manufacturers? AS 1684 standards for Residential timber and & framed construction seems the only document available when it comes to trusses and frames .Bizzare when you think each house is designed separately. Could it be ,all single storey homes such as mine follow AS1684 standards for Residential timber & framed construction guidelines? Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 33Apr 20, 2010 7:46 am Just remembered - if you are still not getting anywhere with this - the builder knows who all the manufacturers are, plus they will have all the frame + truss plans, simply because they have to give them to the PCA for their Frame Inspection. Further, they also know that privately organised inspectors will ask for these plans. So, you should persist with your requests for proper and all plans. You can even ask the SS when you speak to him next time - he should at least point you in the right direction. My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 34Apr 20, 2010 9:32 am We got both frame and slab inspected. And thank god we did. Alex from Urban has picked a fair amount of stuff we wouldn't have known. One of two fairly big stuff ups along with several small ones but nothing that can't be fixed. We're getting inspections all the way through. It is so worth it. Life is; then you tell yourself a story. Re: Independent inspection of frame - who did/didn't do it? 35Apr 20, 2010 2:44 pm oze, if you don't mind me asking. What were the stuff ups? View our blog at: http://room4acubby.blogspot.com/ You may still have a case, but your next step is to speak to a lawyer. 3 1619 This is 100% true. You can not hang anything on steel frames. very frustrating 8 8014 That is a really good attitude Akin to you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I do enjoy watching that tik tok inspector from Victoria but he does go a little… 12 81884 |