HERA is pleased to announce the publication of HERA Report R4-159 – Common language in Structures as Steel Banks The HERA “Structures as Steel Banks (SASB)” project has identified the need to define the “common language” used in steel construction. There is a risk of misunderstanding key concepts and impeding clear communication in an interdisciplinary…
We are pleased to announce the launch of our online corrosivity map to enable our members to search by address to quickly and precisely determine a recommended corrosion classification for their project. Developed in collaboration with NIWA, these corrosion maps were first published in SNZ TS3404:2018 based on our past research projects. These paper-based maps…
HERA is pleased to announce the publication of HERA Report R4-156 – Seismic Design of Moment Resisting Frames This report has been authored by A/Prof G. Charles Clifton of the University of Auckland, Dr Kaveh Andisheh of HERA and Zahid Hamid of SCNZ. The report is the result of significant edits to the Moment Resisting…
Significant updates to HERA report R4-131 Design of Composite Steel Floor Systems for Severe Fires (slab panel method (SPM) design guide) HERA is pleased to announce the re-publication of updated HERA Report R4-131:2022 – Design of Composite Steel floor Systems for Severe Fires. This updated report has been authored by Associate Professor Charles Clifton…
A healthy sustainability solution for structural engineers: nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is reused. Traditionally, structural engineers have followed optimisation procedures to reduce material usage, increase the efficiency of designed systems, and consequently reduce negative environmental impacts. Recently, a new procedure, termed ‘healthy sustainability’ has emerged, aimed at creating positive rather than reducing…
We’re excited to let industry know that Reza Kordani has joined our Structural Systems team this week. Reza brings to HERA over four years’ of consulting experience in Aotearoa, and we’re very excited to bring this ‘commercial’ understanding to our research at hand so we can better serve our members. Reza studied his Bachelor of…
We’re excited to let industry know that Fanqin Meng has joined our Structural Systems team to assist with our focus on structural fire performance research. Fanqin is joining the HERA Structural team for a six month period to contribute to two key structural fire projects. These projects will be conducted in collaboration with the University…
We’re excited to announce that HERA’s long-anticipated Composite Design Software is now available for our members. In 2019, our Steel Research Panel identified it was important to develop electronic tools to support AS/NZS 2327 to allow our membership to better exploit the benefits of this standard. Responding to that feedback, we are pleased to release…
Data on the cool down phase for timber structures is something designers and regulators need to consider when it comes to load carrying capacity of CLT structures. This thinking comes about after noting an interesting paper in the recent issue of Fire Safety Journal highlighting the critical aspect of the cool down phase for timber…
While critical technical aspects associated with treated timber in construction remain unsolved, the ‘wood first policy’ is the wrong decision at the wrong time. There needs to be better science based understanding of fire safety and health and environment issues. We need only look at treated timber data in New Zealand, issues associated with treated…
A recent technical study has come to HERA’s attention as it highlights our stance that you should choose infrastructure material based on design parameters. The technical study that we refer to was performed by the structural engineering firm Cary Kopczynski & Company in Seattle, WA. It compared the affordability of a hypothetical 10-story residential building…
A recent John Hopkins University Report validates our concerns at HERA around the lack of data and baseless assumptions relating to mass timber performance in high rise buildings. This is not a new conversation for HERA. We have previously raised concern about the lack of research relating to the fire performance of building materials generally…