Understanding AS1684.2 - March 2026

Don't miss your chance to stay up to date. Understanding and using Australia’s Timber Framing Code correctly is an ongoing challenge for many building professionals. Site visits and inspections regularly uncover poor practice which can open up a litany of legal issues. This practical and interactive course is essential knowledge for building professionals who work under the timber framing code.

This online training course will take place over 4 sessions delivered via the Zoom webinar platform:

• Thursday 5 March 2026 - 10am AEST (this session will run for approx 2.5 hours)

• Thursday 12 March 2026 - 10am AEST (this session will run for approx 2 hours)

• Thursday 19 March 2026- 10am AEST (this session will run for approx 2 hours)

• Thursday 26 March 2026 - 10am AEST (this session will run for approx 1.5 hours)

Thank you to our course sponsor, AKD.

This course has been updated to cover changes made to the AS1684.2, including:

• New tie-down details;

• New bracing procedure determination; and

• Amendments to flooring practice.

Important information regarding registrations:

• A maximum of 40 participants will be taken per course to ensure an interactive group learning environment.

• Maximum of 2 staff members per company (whether member or non-member) may register.

• After registering, Timber Queensland will send through a confirmation email with webinar details and links.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN? 

• Gain an understanding of the member span tables and how to correctly read and extract member sizes from the span tables by following worked examples.

• Learn best practice when detailing the bracing layout for houses.

• Understand the connection requirements at both the top and bottom of bracing walls including common mistakes regularly found on building sites.

• Study the critical role tie-down connections play in achieving wind resistant housing. The tie-down chain from roofing to foundations and all the links in this chain will be considered with worked examples followed to consider alternative connection details.

• Evaluate building practices and the challenges that need to be considered when erecting timber frames via examples of acceptable and unacceptable building practice.

• Know what not to do after reviewing a range of inappropriate practices uncovered on site visits and inspections.

• Hear how changes to the National Construction Code will permit Mid-rise Timber Buildings up to 25m effective height.

WEBINAR PROGRAM* 

Session 1

Thursday 5 March 2026

5 minutes

Welcome and Introduction – presenter Lex Somerville

15 – 20 minutes

Understanding the structure/format of the Code

Facilitators will commence the workshop by presenting brief overview of the format of the code including an explanation of the mandatory and informative parts.

40 minutes

Using the code correctly

Workshop participants will be guided through a review the basics of the code and definitions of terms used within the Code (e.g. spans, RLW’s etc) to ensure everyone is “on the same page” to maximise their learning outcomes.

30 minutes

Building Practice Part 1: Joining of members over supports, notching etc.

Practical examples of a range of building practices will be presented highlighting some of the challenges that need to be considered when erecting timber frames. Examples of acceptable and unacceptable building practice will be given to gain this understanding.

10 – 20 minutes

Time for questions

Session 2

Thursday 12 March 2026

5 minutes

Welcome and Introduction – presenter Matt Smith

20 minutes

Building Practice Part 2: Joining of members over supports, notching etc.

Practical examples of a range of building practices will be presented highlighting some of the challenges that need to be considered when erecting timber frames. Examples of acceptable and unacceptable building practice will be given to gain this understanding.

60 minutes

Bracing including worked examples and do’s and don’ts

This session will consider best practice when detailing the bracing lay-out for houses. The principles of the transfer of racking forces through the building will be presented covering both the role and function of diaphragms and bracing walls etc. Participants will also gain an understanding of the connection requirements at both the top and bottom of bracing walls including some common mistakes found regularly on building sites.

10 – 20 minutes

Time for questions

Session 3

Thursday 19 March 2026

5 minutes

Welcome and Introduction – presenter Lex Somerville

75 minutes

Tie-down including worked examples and do’s and don’ts

Too often mistakes are made when detailing and installing tie-down connections. In this session participants will gain an understanding of the critical role tie-down connections play in achieving wind resistant housing. The tie-down chain from roofing to foundations and all the links in this chain will be considered with worked examples followed to consider alternative connection details.

10 –15 minutes

Time for questions

Session 4

Thursday 26 March 2026

5 minutes

Welcome and Introduction – presenter Lex Somerville

60 minutes

Determination of member sizes including worked examples

During this session participants will gain an understanding of the member span tables and how to correctly ready and extract member sizes from span tables. A number of worked examples will be undertaken to cover the most common issues faced in using the span tables.

20 minutes

Case studies of unacceptable practice

All too often site visits and inspections reveal poor practice. In this session a range of these inappropriate practices will be reviewed.

10 minutes

Time for questions

*This is a rough guide of the course program, and may be slightly amended

WORKSHOP FACILITATORS 

Lex Somerville (Reg Builder)

Lex has over 40 years of experience in the construction and building materials industry. His hands-on experience as a building contractor contributed to his success as a Technical Consultant with the Timber Research & Development Council.  Today Lex works as a consultant conducting inspections for a range of clients including TQ, the James Cook Cyclone Testing Station and a range of other associations and certifiers.

Matt Smith RPEQ

An RPEQ-certified Structural Engineer, Matt has over 25 years’ experience designing and inspecting timber buildings; in addition to designing timber buildings in many countries around the world including Malaysia, South Africa, Korea, Japan, New Zealand and a number of Pacific Islands. Coming from a family of 3 generations of builders, Matt is passionate about the timber building industry.

Vaimiti Rigal

A chartered structural engineer with over a decade of design and inspection experience across civil, commercial, and residential timber structures, Vaimiti combines engineering precision with site-based practical knowledge. She offers valuable insight into the integration of engineering design, prefabrication, construction, and inspection.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE THE COURSE REMOTELY 

• It is recommended that each attendee have access to their own copy of AS1684.2 for use during the course.

   AS1684.2 is available via SAI Global

• The course includes worked examples based on a provided house plan. 

Terms & Conditions - Payment, Bookings & Cancellation

All registrations must be paid in full 10 days before the event. If you are unable to attend this event we will provide a 100% refund up to 7 days prior to event and a 50% refund after that. Notification of cancellation must be received in writing. Due to the high demand for this course, participants may only complete the course once - but are welcome to retain training materials provided during the course via email for future reference.

Sessions are not separately bookable or transferable to different staff members. One registration per person is required, and includes all 4 webinar sessions.