Standards Australia is reviewing building standards following research into how buildings in North Queensland stood up to Cyclone Yasi in February.

The research by James Cook University has found that buildings constructed to current standards for structures performed well, but identified weaknesses with non-structural items such as roller doors, latches and bolts. When they failed, winds could get into buildings and cause significant damage.

Standards Australia is reviewing wind loads for housing, timber frame construction, sheet roofs and wall cladding, garage doors and roof tiles in light of recent disasters and the new research.

Its standards are often incorporated into building codes, and Standards Australia’s National Sector Manager for Building and Construction Adam Stingemore told insuranceNEWS.com.au the work should be completed this year and could be incorporated into the general and housing building codes by May 1 next year.

Queensland Attorney-General and Local Government Minister Paul Lucas says the university’s research, which was commissioned by the Australian Building Codes Board, shows that current building standards for structures “up are to scratch and working well.”

Less than 3% of post-1980s houses constructed to the latest standards experienced significant roof damage compared with 12% of pre-1980s homes.

“The report shows that the poorer performance of some pre-1980s houses was largely due to deterioration of the structure over time, as well as inferior tie-down standards when compared to modern building codes,” he said.

Most buildings repaired after Cyclone Larry in March 2006 received little or no damage to the repairs, although the performance of repaired buildings was lower than that of newly constructed ones.

Mr Lucas says the report has highlighted how damaged garage doors can lead to internal pressure on buildings.

“The poor performance of roller doors was clear, chiefly through failure by disengagement of the door from its tracks leaving it to flap in the wind or be blown away,” he said. 

Doors with wind block restraints performed better, but some still failed. Mr Lucas says panel-type doors, particularly with stiffening inside each panel, had a much lower failure rate than roller doors.

The report also recommends new construction requirements for buildings within a storm surge zone.