ENGINEERED STRUCTURAL BRACING

ENGINEERED STRUCTURAL BRACING

www.r6brace.com.au 2 R6 Brace

Key Features Complies with BCA Tested & certified by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) Performs in all weather conditions Strong and durable No cracking and splitting No splinters Surfaces are smooth and flush Easy to handle Uniform density Easy to cut FSC Certified Australian Made R6 Brace is a strong and durable Engineered Structural Bracing product made in Australia for Australian conditions. R6 Brace is manufactured with tightly controlled and measured structural properties, has uniform density, is free of knots and splinters and can be cut, drilled and sawn like regular solid wood. Building Code of Australia (BCA) Compliance R6 Brace is engineered to comply with the bracing requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA). All R6 Brace is manufactured in accordance with AS/NZS1859.2. R6 Brace is made specifically as a structural wall bracing board. It is designed to resist horizontal racking and vertical uplift forces, due to wind or earthquakes, applied to buildings requiring bracing in external and/or internal wall frames. R6 Brace is engineered with highly durable Moisture Resistant resin for enhanced durability and strength. The BCA specifies an assessment method referred to as a comparison with the deemed to satisfy standard. This allows a comparison to be made between the deemed to satisfy product, which in this case is structural plywood bracing that is specified in AS1684, and the deemed to satisfy replacement product, which in this case is R6 Brace. As a result of this testing program the racking capacities documented herein ensure R6 Brace installed as described in this brochure will achieve equivalent capacities to comparable plywood systems. Termite Protection All R6 Brace comes with H2 treatment that provides protection against termites Australia wide complying with AS/NZS1604.2 Specification for preservative treatment Reconstituted wood-based panels. All R6 Brace product is marked with the below for your peace of mind. 622 73 H2 Certification Certification of structural performance and Approval of Preservative treatment for R6 Brace. Engineered Structural Bracing 3

www.r6brace.com.au Quick Guide When installed as detailed in this brochure, R6 Brace will achieve racking capacities as follows: NAIL SYSTEM System Nail Spacings Nails 450mm 600mm Top/Bottom Plates Studs 1 3.0kN/m 3.0kN/m 2.8 x 30mm 2 4.5kN/m 4.0kN/m 2.8 x 30mm 50mm 3 6.0kN/m 6.0kN/m* 2.8 x 40mm 40mm *Requires nailing to nogging Framing The Timber framing must be in accordance with the requirements of AS1684 or framing manuals produced in accordance with the design parameters of AS1684 and local government regulations. A minimum joint strength of JD5 is required to achieve the specified racking capacities and the minimum framing stress grade to achieve this is MGP10. For framing where a joint strength of JD6 is used then the design racking resistances must be reduced by 12.5%, requiring a proportional increase in the required bracing wall length. If a joint strength of JD6 is used then roof uplift should not be considered. For 6.0kN/m systems with 600mm stud centres, Radiata, Slash or Caribbean Pine framing is required. Other species may be permissible for framing however nailing trials would need to be conducted to ensure that splitting does not occur. Therefore R6 Brace is not currently certified for 6.0kN/m @ 600 stud centres for species other than Radiata, Slash or Caribbean Pine. Before fixing R6 Brace to framing the following items must be checked: Correct Racking Capacity marking for the application No physical damage to the boards from transportation or otherwise Where boards are physically damaged they must not be used. R6 Brace has not been tested for use with steel frames. It is highly recommended to fix R6 Brace to noggings, and particularly if external cladding is fixed directly to the wall frame. Fix R6 Brace to noggings as specified for top and bottom plates. Anchoring of bottom plates shall be in accordance with AS1684 or designed in accordance with AS1720.1 4 R6 Brace

INSTALLATION Nails The connection of R6 Brace to framing is critical in bracing systems. For R6 Brace Systems 1&2 use 2.8mm diameter x 30mm flat head galvanised or corrosion resistant nails, or their nail gun equivalent as specified in AS1684. For System, 3 nail length must be increased to 40mm. Table 2 below specifies the minimum hand or power driven nails. Minimum Nail Specification R6 Brace Bracing System Hand Driven Nails Power Driven Nails System 1 System 2 3.0kN/m 4.0kN/m 4.5kN/m 2.80mm diam x 30mm galvanised flathead nails Senco TN22-38 APB (2.3mm x 38 flathead) Bostich AC45P-GW (2.5mm x 45 flathead) Jambro B20998 (RBC 2.8mm x 32 zinc plasterboard) System 3 6.0kN/m 2.80mm diam x 40mm galvanised flathead nails Any equivalent power driven nail Important Nails must be inserted a minimum of 10mm from any edge of the panel. A fastener head should not be driven into the surface of the sheet. Set the nail head proud of the surface as shown. Cutting R6 Brace can be sawn and shaped in the same way as solid wood with standard wood working tools. Drilling R6 Brace has a similar shear carrying capacity to other sheet bracing materials and therefore holes of up to x, not closer than 300mm from any edge of a sheet are allowable so long as there is a stud in the centre of the sheet. Humidity R6 Brace is suitable for use in humid conditions where the panel in-service moisture content does not exceed 20%. It is suitable for use within the cavity of a brick veneer building throughout Australia. Expansion Gap R6 Brace must not be butt jointed because of expansion from hydroscopic movement that will occur. Allow a minimum 2mm expansion gap around the entire perimeter of each panel. Linear Expansion (Distortion) Like most other engineered Bracing products on the market R6 Brace will succumb to linear expansion if exposed to certain high humidity conditions. Exhaustive physical property tests have been undertaken on R6 Brace after linear expansion(distortion) has occurred with no degradation in the physical strength or racking capacity being recorded. The R6 Brace will return to or close to its original flat state when the moisture content returns to specification. Foundation Contract R6 Brace must not be installed directly in contact with concrete foundations as excessive moisture uptake may occur. Allow a minimum 2mm gap between the panel and the foundation. Storage and Handling Correct storage and handling of R6 Brace is essential to ensure problem free installation and to ensure bracing resistance for each panel as specified in this Technical Data Sheet. Store horizontally on square, equal height bearers spaced at a maximum of 800mm. The sheets must not be stored directly on the ground Pack strapping should be removed immediately upon arrival at the building site Store protected from direct exposure to the weather in a well ventilated area 48 hours of acclimatisation to humidity conditions at the building site should be provided. Engineered Structural Bracing 5

Studs Max. 600mm centres System 1 Horizontal butt joins are permitted when board is fixed to nogging at same nail spacing as top & bottom plates 450mm 600mm 3.0kN/m 3.0kN/m NAILS Type 2.8 x 30mm or Gun Equivalent Spacings Top/Bottom Plates Along Studs Minimum section of R6 Brace is 900mm. Allow 2mm expansion gap around full perimeter of board Top & bottom plates Allow 2mm expansion gap around full perimeter of board System 2 450mm 600mm Studs Max. 600mm centres Horizontal butt joins are permitted when board is fixed to nogging at same nail spacing as top & bottom plates 4.5kN/m 4.0kN/m NAILS Type 2.8 x 30mm or Gun Equivalent 50mm Spacings Top/Bottom Plates Along Studs 50mm Allow 2mm expansion gap around full perimeter of board Minimum section of R6 Brace is 900mm. Allow 2mm expansion gap around full perimeter of board 50mm Top & bottom plates System 3 450mm 600mm 6.0kN/m 6.0kN/m* Studs Max. 600mm centres *Only 600mm stud centres require additional fixing to noggins at 40mm spacing NAILS Type 2.8 x 40mm or Gun Equivalent Spacings Top/Bottom Plates Along Studs 40mm Minimum section of R6 Brace is 900mm. Allow 2mm expansion gap around full perimeter of board *Requires nailing to nogging at 40mm spacing 40mm Top & bottom plates Allow 2mm expansion gap around full perimeter of board 6 R6 Brace

Specifications & Standards Short Wall Bracing Systems The minimum width to retain full capacity for R6 Brace sheathed systems is 900mm. Where shorter sections are required as discrete panels the following reduction factors apply: <900mm to 600mm use 0.4 <600mm to 400mm use 0.2 Boards less than 400mm wide have no racking capacity at all. To use a reduction factor on, for example, a 6kN/m rated panel that has been reduced down to 650mm in width: Full Rating x Reduction Factor X Width of board in Metres (650mm is 0.650metres) i.e. ((6.0 x 0.4) x 0.650)=1.56kN/m M12 Anti-rotational Rod Short wall system sections <900mm to 400mm wide for panel racking capacities 3.0kN/m to 6.0kN/m, there is no reduction factor required to be applied to the panels for strength if fitted with an M12 anti-rotation rod from the outside edge of the studs at each end and secured with nuts and 50 x 50 x 3 washers. High Wall Bracing Systems For walls higher than 2.7metres, as with Plywood & OSB bracing systems application of a reduction factor is necessary. All R6 Brace fixed with the 3050mm dimension vertical requires application of a reduction factor of 0.9 to their respective bracing capabilities, e.g. the 6.0kN/m becomes 6.0 x 0.9 = 5.4 kn/m. The 0.9 reduction factor applies to all panel heights > 2.7m & < 3.05m. Safety Working with any wood based product produces dust particles. Therefore as when working with wood, protection of the eyes, nose and mouth when cutting is highly recommended. Refer to tool manufacturers for safe working recommendations for particular items of equipment. The current workplace exposure limits for exposure to dust when working with R6 Brace are equal to that of softwood timber and you are able to be exposed to twice the level of dust than permitted from hardwood timber. Please refer to local workplace authority to gain further information in regards to safe work practices when working with wood products. Environment R6 Brace is manufactured by Alpine MDF Industries who are ISO14001 & FSC certified, demonstrating our commitment to caring for the environment. Please ensure all waste generated from using R6 Brace is recycled wherever possible and any waste discarded is done so within the guidelines of local council and any other regulatory authority applicable to the area where the product is being used. This applies to board offcuts, packaging, pack labels etc. Updates For updated information and details please go to: www.r6brace.com.au Engineered Structural Bracing 7

Quick Guide When installed as detailed in this brochure, R6 Brace will achieve racking capacities as follows: NAIL SYSTEM System Nail Spacings Nails 450mm 600mm Top/Bottom Plates Studs 1 3.0kN/m 3.0kN/m 2.8 x 30mm 2 4.5kN/m 4.0kN/m 2.8 x 30mm 50mm 3 6.0kN/m 6.0kN/m* 2.8 x 40mm 40mm *Requires nailing to nogging Pack Details Thickness (mm) Length (mm) Width (mm) Pieces / Pack Area / Pack (m2) Weight / Panel (kg) Weight / Pack (kg) 4.75 2440 900 110 242 9.2 1010 4.75 2440 1200 110 322 12.2 1339 4.75 2745 900 110 272 10.3 1135 4.75 2745 1200 110 362 13.7 1509 4.75 3050 900 110 302 11.5 1260 4.75 3050 1200 110 403 15.3 1679 For full manufacturers Technical Data Sheet (TDS), please visit www.r6brace.com.au ENGINEERED STRUCTURAL BRACING VICTORIA NEW SOUTH WALES QUEENSLAND WESTERN AUSTRALIA Melbourne Head Office and Sales: 112 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207 Telephone: (03) 9647 9930 Facsimile: (03) 9647 9991 Distribution Centre 58 Parkwest Drive, Parkwest Estate Derrimut, VIC 3030 Sydney 17-19 McKay Close, Wetherill Park, NSW 2164 Telephone: (02) 9757 6999 Facsimile: (02) 9757 3935 SOUTH AUSTRALIA Adelaide 5 Johansson Road, Wingfield, SA 5013 Telephone: (08) 8359 1660 Facsimile: (08) 8359 1669 Brisbane 186 Boundary Road West, Rocklea, QLD 4106 Telephone: (07) 3722 3500 Facsimile: (07) 3277 3827 Townsville Unit 2, 207 Dalrymple Road, Garbutt, QLD 4814 Telephone: (07) 4779 0877 Facsimile: (07) 4779 3245 Cairns 303 Little Spence Street, Cairns, QLD 4870 Telephone: (07) 4035 3955 Facsimile: (07) 4035 3950 Perth 79-83 Pilbara Street, Welshpool, WA 6106 Telephone: (08) 9356 9911 Facsimile: (08) 9356 9922 NEW ZEALAND Auckland 61-69 Patiki Road Avondale, Auckland. Freecall: 0800 448 663 Telephone: +64 (09) 828 2089 Facsimile:+64 (09) 828 2228