This Technical Report provides an introduction and synopsis of comparisons among the following four national
design documents on light-frame timber (wood)1) construction:
a) AS 1684-1 (including AS 1684-1:1999/Amd.1:2002), AS 1684-2 and AS 1684-3;
b) the Engineering guide for wood-frame construction;
c) NZS 3604;
d) the Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (Chapter 1: General
information, Chapter 2: Engineered design and Chapter 3: Prescriptive design).
Each of the four light-frame texts compared in this Technical Report is based on a national timber design
standard that includes provisions for assemblies and systems, which go beyond single-member design
methodology. Other jurisdictions also have similar design documents on light-frame timber construction.
Although not all jurisdictions have design documents on light-frame timber construction, timber design
standards typically address assemblies and systems (See 6.2).