Construction timbers and compliance

Queensland government provides the interactive web tool, QTimber (and associated publication, Construction timbers in Queensland (CTIQ)), to make it easier to use Queensland building timbers correctly and improve timber quality in service.

Both resources provide information on important wood properties you need consider when selecting timber for construction in Queensland. They also provide requirements and conditions of use, so you can determine the right 'design service life' for different construction applications in Queensland's climatic regions.

QTimber

QTimber is an interactive web tool that provides critical information about using the right timber for the right job, including:

• designing or building with timber in construction or engineering
• treating, importing or selling timber.

Timber construction regulations are related to geographical decay hazard zones and QTimber makes it easier to find timbers that are suited to your building application and location.

You can use QTimber to:

• find specifications for using construction timbers in Queensland
• select from a list of approved timbers relevant to the construction location and application
• find out if any conditional restrictions or preservative treatments that may apply to the construction project
• look up the wood properties (and use specifications) of any Australian-grown or imported timber
• find information about timber durability, design life applications, decay hazard zones, and more.

Construction timbers in Queensland (CTIQ)

The Construction timbers in Queensland publication sets out the conditions for using timbers in Queensland. QTimber is the new the digital version.

CTIQ describes the properties of timbers used in the construction of Class 1 to Class 10 buildings (e.g. houses, carports, garages, greenhouses and sheds), as well as those used for other purposes such as furniture, landscaping and outdoor structures (e.g. playgrounds, fences).

It's a primary reference document in the Queensland variations to the Building Code of Australia (BCA, Australian Building Codes Board) under the Queensland Building Act 1975.

The publication is made up of 2 books, also known as CTIQ 1 and 2:

CTIQ 1:

• provides definitions and descriptions of timber properties
• supports the information in CTIQ 2 by explaining
  • design life
  • building applications
  • decay hazard zones.

CTIQ 2:

• provides reference tables for the properties
• proposes target design life
• outlines conditions for more than 600 timbers in more than 50 building applications across Queensland.