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Awards submission deadline extended |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00 |
2009 ATDA Overall Winner :: Brian Hooper Architect & m3architecture (architects in association) :: Tree of Knowledge Memorial
The
Australian Timber Design Awards
submission deadline has been extended to July 30! This gives those architects and design professionals still working on their submissions a little extra time to get their entries in.
This change accommodates the many requests we've received from architects for a couple of extra weeks in which to track down missing images and confirm timber certification. Veterans of architectural awards know that the final week before a cutoff date can be frantic. We hope this change has made things a little easier on our participants.
So if you've got what you think could be a winning project, check out the ATDA
entry categories
(something there for everyone) and fill out a
registration form
today. July 30 is approaching fast!
Other news from the Australian Timber Design Awards:
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Expanding the Class 3 Buildings timber market |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00 |
TDA hopes that revisions to the BCA will allow timber framing of up to 3 storeys in Australian hotels
TDA is consulting with regulators on a change to the Building Code of Australia (BCA) that would allow timber framing of up to 3 storeys in Class 3 Buildings (buildings such as hotels, hostels and motels). Should this campaign prove successful, the timber industry will enjoy a gradual expansion in Class 3 market share.
The BCA currently allows only 2 storeys of timber framing in Class 3 buildings, a restriction that Tony Walther, the TDA civil engineer overseeing this campaign, finds puzzling and contradictory:
“Class 2 Buildings are permitted three timber-framed storeys but Class 3 Buildings only two,” Tony said. “And yet the fire load of Class 2 buildings is higher than that of Class 3! It’s an inconsistency in the BCA that has persisted simply because it has never been properly challenged.”
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Read more... [Expanding the Class 3 Buildings timber market]
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Another TDA milestone for Andrew Dunn |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00 |
Andrew Dunn, our CEO, is this month celebrating his 20th year with TDA. These two decades have seen considerable change at the TDA – and momentous change within the timber industry. Looking back, Andrew emphasises, first of all, the changing role of the association:
“TDA is now in the business of creating new markets for timber,” said Andrew. “It’s no longer enough to simply promote timber within existing markets: you’ve got to open up new markets as new opportunities arise and as tastes and preferences evolve.”
Unsurprisingly, many of the most profound changes Andrew has witnessed in his time at the TDA relate to changing public attitudes towards the environment. Andrew is unequivocal about the opportunities these have created:
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Read more... [Another TDA milestone for Andrew Dunn]
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Chickens step up to recycle |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00 |
A TDA project to trial the use of waste timber as chicken bedding is nearing completion. The results of the trial will shortly be incorporated into an appropriate industry specification.
The project commissioned 180 cubic metres of waste timber bedding from a recycler in south-west Sydney. The bedding is being trialled, with so far positive results, by chicken growers in Peats Ridge and Raymond Terrace.
The trial indicates that waste timber bedding may successfully replace or extend bedding based on hardwood sawdust and softwood shavings. Growers were enthusiastic about this, as such bedding is sometimes difficult to obtain.
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Read more... [Chickens step up to recycle]
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Residential timber-framed construction standard revised |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00 |
The newly revised editions of AS 1684
Newly revised editions of AS 1684 are now available for purchase through
timber.net.au.
These updated standards are required reading for anyone in the built environment professions – most particularly because they feature significant modifications to span tables.
Notable revisions to the Standard include:
- The incorporation of new structural design characteristic values for stress grades MGP 10, MGP 12 and MGP 15 via revisions to the relevant span tables;
- Changes to the role, function and need for wall noggings;
- Incorporation of generic building practices for engineered wood products (see Appendix J of AS 1684.2); and
- Simplified and more efficient tie-down systems for high wind and cyclonic areas.
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Read more... [Residential timber-framed construction standard revised]
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On the cusp of a wood revolution |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00 |
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We are on the cusp of a wood revolution that will transform the way we design and build many residential and commercial structures, according to a leading Canadian architect.
Michael Green, principal with McFarlane Green Biggar Architecture in Vancouver, says that innovations in engineered wood products and wood’s environmental advantages are driving new applications for the material.
Mr Green is one of the major drawcards for the inaugural WoodSolutions 2010 one-day forums to be held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in September. He is also guest architect judge for the
2010 Australian Timber Design Awards.
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Read more... [On the cusp of a wood revolution]
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Timber marketing regulation under review |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00 |
Now is the time to make your voice heard on the NSW Government review of Timber Marketing Regulation 2005. Changes to this regulation may have a considerable impact on some sectors of the NSW timber industry, so it may be worthwhile spending some time reading through the
proposed regulation
and, if need be, lodging comments before the closing date for submissions: 27 July 2010.
Marketing Regulation 2005, the current regulation, aims to ensure that the quality of timber sold in the marketplace is fit for purpose. It prescribes the tests and results for lyctid susceptible sapwood, and for assessing the moisture content of timber. It also prescribes procedures and standards for preservative treatment of timber, and official forms and notices ensuring that minimum timber quality requirements are met.
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Read more... [Timber marketing regulation under review]
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Web design for the timber industry |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00 |
Some examples from our portfolio of websites
If you’re running a business these days, you need to be online – and if you’re running a timber products business, there’s no better organisation to establish your online presence than TDA. We know timber and we know web design: we’ve got the datasheets and images your site needs, the expert advice that our bird’s-eye view of the timber industry affords – and we’ve got the contacts to push your search engine ranking towards that elusive #1 spot.
Whether you need a basic corporate website (such as tdansw.asn.au), an attractive gallery site (see, for instance, timberawards.com.au) or a large information warehouse (such as timber.net.au), TDA can get you there. All our sites are packaged with a content management system that allows you to easily add news, events, documents and images to your site. We can provide a simple PayPal shopping cart or an extensive e-commerce solution. If you need an online newsletter, a slideshow or an image gallery, we can do that. Want to leverage the marketing potential of social networking? We can do that too. Whatever it is you need, talk to us. We can build it – and they will come!
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Read more... [Web design for the timber industry]
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Take advantage of our #1 spot |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00 |
The timber.net.au website
Our timber.net.au website still holds the #1 spot for a Google Australia search on "timber" (relegating Wikipedia to second place). As a result, links from that website confer very considerable page rank benefits to a timber-related website. And with over 15,000 unique visitors per month to
timber.net.au, you should at least consider listing your company on our Suppliers Guide, the most popular section of the website.
Standard plans start from as little as $240 pa (+GST) and display your logo, all contact details (with hyperlink and email) and 3 category classifications. Enhanced and Premium listings include further information about your company, such as products and services, and other business locations.
We also have available pay-per-month and pay-per-click advertising on both
timber.net.au and the National Timber Product Stewardship Group website.
If you would like to know more please contact us. |
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South East Fibre Exports sign up to energy technical assistance program |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 00:00 |
South East Fibre Exports (SEFE) on the NSW far south coast has signed up to the NSW Government's Energy Advantage program. The program provides a subsidised energy audit and technical advice which will help SEFE implement energy saving projects.
TDA Sustainability Program Manager Stephen Mitchell said "We can assist other wood product companies in NSW access a number of NSW Government energy, resource efficiency and sustainability programs. By participating in these programs, wood product manufacturers can improve their current bottom lines as well as protect themselves from future price hikes -- particularly sharply increasing energy and waste disposal costs."
Contact Stephen Mitchell on 02 8424 3700 for more information. |
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