Council Approving CodeMark Certified Timber Flooring in Wet Areas

Since the introduction of the Building Code changes to E3 in 2021, resulting in kitchens being classified as wet areas, an Alternative Solution has been necessary to gain compliance of timber flooring installed in these areas.

While the Alternative Solution has previously been accepted by council for the installation of timber flooring in kitchens and other wet areas, there has recently been an increase in projects being rejected if specified this way.

Forté have front-footed this issue and become the first and only supplier in the industry to gain CodeMark Certification for all timber flooring collections. This certification ensures automatic compliance with the Building Code and is equivalent to the Acceptable Solution.

"Prior to our CodeMark Certification, we were in daily communication with council and architects, addressing RFIs about our Alternative Solution. Since obtaining CodeMark Certification, we haven’t been approached with any RFIs regarding our timber flooring," says Felix Piesse, Forté Commercial Specification Consultant.

"Additionally, some councils are rejecting building consents for non-CodeMark timber flooring systems in wet areas that use Alternative Solutions, recommending instead that a CodeMark-certified system be specified."

To expedite the consent process and avoid delays, Forté recommend specifying only CodeMark certified timber flooring for kitchens and wet areas. The flooring must also be within the scope of the CodeMark Certification and follow the Forté Timber Overlay Flooring System Design Guide for seamless council approval.

If you're facing compliance issues, contact Forté’s Specification Consultants for assistance with their CodeMark certified timber flooring products or learn more about our compliance resources.

Engineered Timber Wood Flooring — Artiste Grande Collection

Forté

View Product

Artiste Grande is a collection of engineered timber overlay flooring suitable for residential and commercial applications.

FSC Certified

Overlay flooring suitable for residential and commercial applications.

Glue down installation over plywood, particle board, concrete, existing timber
4-sided tongue and groove planks
Compatible with underfloor heating
Prefinished, can be sanded and recoated up to 4x (depending on plank option selected)
Matching stair nosing available

The Forté Timber Overlay Flooring System is certified for use in:

a) all buildings
b) in all areas, including level access routes likely to become wet, except:
i. garages and commercial kitchens, and
ii. unsprinklered sleeping areas and exitways in buildings where care or detention is provided, and
c) installed on the following substrates:
i. Concrete floors (slab-on-grade or suspended)
ii. Timber flooring (structural or overlay)
iii. Concrete floors with Hydronic Underfloor Heating system
iv. Electric underfloor heating system
v. Wet-Area Membrane systems
vi. Acoustic underlay

B2 Durability — By analysis and comparison with Verification Method B2/VM1
C3 Fire affecting areas beyond the fire source — By testing and comparison with Verification Method C/VM2
D1 Access routes — By testing and comparison with Acceptable Solution D1/AS1
E3 Internal moisture — By analysis and comparison with Acceptable Solution E3/AS1
F2 Hazardous building materials — By testing and comparison with the performance requirements of the New Zealand Building Code clause F2.3.1

CodeMark

Engineered Timber Wood Flooring — Moda Collection

Forté

View Product

Moda is a collection of engineered timber overlay flooring suitable for residential and commercial applications.

PEFC Certified

Overlay flooring suitable for residential and commercial applications.

Glue down installation over plywood, particle board, concrete, existing timber
4-sided tongue and groove planks
Compatible with underfloor heating
Prefinished, can be sanded and recoated up to 3x if required
Matching stair nosing available

The Forté Timber Overlay Flooring System is certified for use in:

a) all buildings
b) in all areas, including level access routes likely to become wet, except:
i. garages and commercial kitchens, and
ii. unsprinklered sleeping areas and exitways in buildings where care or detention is provided, and
c) installed on the following substrates:
i. Concrete floors (slab-on-grade or suspended)
ii. Timber flooring (structural or overlay)
iii. Concrete floors with Hydronic Underfloor Heating system
iv. Electric underfloor heating system
v. Wet-Area Membrane systems
vi. Acoustic underlay

B2 Durability — By analysis and comparison with Verification Method B2/VM1
C3 Fire affecting areas beyond the fire source — By testing and comparison with Verification Method C/VM2
D1 Access routes — By testing and comparison with Acceptable Solution D1/AS1
E3 Internal moisture — By analysis and comparison with Acceptable Solution E3/AS1
F2 Hazardous building materials — By testing and comparison with the performance requirements of the New Zealand Building Code clause F2.3.1

CodeMark

Engineered Timber Wood Flooring — Villa Collection

Forté

View Product

Villa is a collection of engineered timber overlay flooring suitable for residential and commercial applications.

FSC Certified

Overlay flooring suitable for residential and commercial applications.

Glue down installation over plywood, particle board, concrete, existing timber
4-sided tongue and groove planks
Compatible with underfloor heating
Prefinished, can be sanded and recoated up to 3x if required
Matching stair nosing available

The Forté Timber Overlay Flooring System is certified for use in:

a) all buildings
b) in all areas, including level access routes likely to become wet, except:
i. garages and commercial kitchens, and
ii. unsprinklered sleeping areas and exitways in buildings where care or detention is provided, and
c) installed on the following substrates:
i. Concrete floors (slab-on-grade or suspended)
ii. Timber flooring (structural or overlay)
iii. Concrete floors with Hydronic Underfloor Heating system
iv. Electric underfloor heating system
v. Wet-Area Membrane systems
vi. Acoustic underlay

B2 Durability — By analysis and comparison with Verification Method B2/VM1
C3 Fire affecting areas beyond the fire source — By testing and comparison with Verification Method C/VM2
D1 Access routes — By testing and comparison with Acceptable Solution D1/AS1
E3 Internal moisture — By analysis and comparison with Acceptable Solution E3/AS1
F2 Hazardous building materials — By testing and comparison with the performance requirements of the New Zealand Building Code clause F2.3.1

CodeMark

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