Maurice Williamson

Wellington, Sept 6 NZPA - The Government has opened consultations on proposed changes to the Building Code, including the use of treated timber for house framing.

The changes also deal with fire protection and warning systems, noise protection and the rules around medium-density housing.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson said today consultation documents had been released and he wanted the building sector and consumer advocacy groups to make submissions.

"Without compromising quality or safety, the overall aim is to simplify and clarify regulations," he said.

"We want to maintain or improve the current level of protection and safety while making it easier to design good quality medium-density housing."

The Building Industry Federation welcomed what it called the simplification of rules around the use of treated timber through a single class for interior framing.

The proposals would help constrain the rising costs of new housing, chief executive Bruce Kohn said.

"A great deal of industry and government-backed research on rot and fungal resistance lies behind this decision," he said.

Timber supplier Kop-Coat New Zealand also welcomed the simplification of the treatment standard which it said would be more cost effective and minimise failures due to the use of untreated wood.

"Wood has laboured under a significant commercial disadvantage as a result of the multiple framing requirements," general manager Cameron Scott said.