Forum Archive Index - June 2003

[Robin Benson <rob@hammerheadmedia.co.uk>]

Trying to define on paper the knowledge of working with materials such 
as wood, built up over generations, is folly indeed, so they try to 
regulate the material instead, so people can implement design and 
construction as badly as they like, with little or no impact on 
performance. That's "try".

The NZ climate varies so hugely, from hot and dry with low rainfall, to 
humid and muggy in summer to freezing and wet in winter. So, some very 
successful buildings can be constructed with quite simple materials, 
but much thought needs to go into it. For example, use of clay and 
straw, but properly prepared, constructed, and protected (by eaves). 
Badly employed, these materials spell total disaster. Well used, they 
produce some of the most long-lasting, efficient and pleasing results 
possible.

One last thought: regulation is fraught with problems. There are 
utterly ignorant or thoughtless people who need full-on regulating, and 
others who are self-regulating from an informed position. Regulating is 
a hard task, and for the most part, like trying to hit a moving target. 
It's one thing to slag it off, but quite another to suggest a 
better/more effective system that can deal efficiently and fairly with 
the range of attitudes it needs to.

Robin

On Tuesday, Jun 17, 2003, at 22:49 Europe/London, tonysw wrote:

> Exactly, I really think they have lost the plot.
> The basic idea is to keep the wood dry with the correct ventilation 
> system and if by chance there is a breakdown in the cladding system, 
> to have an effective protective system which enables this protection.
> I have designed such a system, not wooden battens (could hold moisture 
> & then rot), not metal (even galvanising breakdown after time).
> And can I get assistance to get it to the next stage....NOT !
> The red tape associated with BIA is absolutely hopeless. If anyone has 
> some ideas I would be very interested.
> KTm


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