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Free PDF: Australian Standards AS 3959:2018 - Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-Prone Areas (FileOpen DRM Required)

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Free PDF: Australian Standards AS 3959:2018 - Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-Prone Areas (FileOpen DRM Required)
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Lp4e81 on 09/09/2020 - 16:38 infostore.saiglobal.com (2547 clicks)
Last edited 11/09/2020 - 14:04 by 3 other users

Australian Standards AS 3959:2018 - Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-Prone Areas

Useful publication for building professionals, planners, engineers in the property development industry.

This is temporarily free to download (choose PDF in product format pull-down), thanks to an agreement between the Australian Government and Standards Australia.

Editor's note on FileOpen DRM plugin

The FileOpen DRM plugin has these implications on your privacy and the PDF has these restrictions:

  • 1-9 users depending on your chosen product (1,3, & 5 users currently free)
  • Permitted to print twice per user for Internal use
  • Permitted to store one copy for backup purposes

The Techsheet PDF version has no DRM and is also free to buy.

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closed Comments

  • first in line on 09/09/2020 - 16:41

    What was the orginal price?

    • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2020 - 16:52
      +3

      Usually about two hundy per standard.

  • banana365 on 09/09/2020 - 16:43
    +82

    It's beyond ridiculous that the standards that are developed with tax funds are only available if you pay exorbitant prices to a private company (now based in the US). Standards such as these that relate to public safety should be freely available all the time.

    • perhaps on 09/09/2020 - 16:44
      +2

      stonks

    • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2020 - 16:50
      +5

      Standards Australia has committed to making the standards available free of charge for domestic non-commercial use by, um, 2023 (see https://www.standards.org.au/news/an-innovative-future-for-s…). In the meantime, they've signed up another distributor, TechStreet. Unfortunately, it still has the crappy DRM.

      • incipient on 09/09/2020 - 16:55

        Yeah this new FileOpen DRM they've introduced is absolute trash. Great protect your stuff, but bloody hell don't do it in such an obnoxious way.

        • Drakesy on 09/09/2020 - 16:56
          +1

          just print to PDF, not exactly abiding by their rules, but bypasses the restriction.

          • alvian on 09/09/2020 - 18:00

            @Drakesy: Please show us how. Software printers are disabled.

            • Drakesy on 09/09/2020 - 18:09

              @alvian: I've never come across disabled software printers. Just tried it at work and easily printed to PDF.

              Maybe try opening it in chrome and printing via that?

              • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2020 - 18:35

                @Drakesy: Actually just "buy" the Techstreet version. This particular standard bought through them has no DRM.

            • MetalPhreak on 09/09/2020 - 21:18

              @alvian: There’s a fileopen removal tool that’s python based. Works fine ;)

    • incipient on 09/09/2020 - 16:53

      Actually SAI was taken over by a Hong Kong based private equity company. These Australian Standards, which used to be exclusive through SAI, have already lost (or will lose shortly) their exclusivity.

      I'm also not sure how much taxpayer money goes into SA as it's a not-for-profit company, but I'm also not sure if that matters if the Aust Gov gets to have some input as to which standards are developed and what goes into them. They also charge money as people effectively use these standards in a for-profit venture; often in place of first principles or other engineering judgement. Feels quite fair if you're building a $100m office tower you pay $10k/yr to access all of the relevant AS docs (AS3000, etc) to get it built.

      • brotherfranciz on 09/09/2020 - 16:59
        +5

        Not all developers are building $100m office towers…

        Not to mention some builders don't seem to be following the Standards anyway - given the recent issues with apartment buildings cracking and having other structural issues…

      • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2020 - 17:06
        +3

        Already lost the exclusivity. You can also "buy" (for free) this standard from Techstreet: https://www.techstreet.com/sa/standards/as-3959-2018?product…

        Other standards are also available from Techstreet, including the revered 3001 in digital format (instead of only being able to buy it spiral bound from SAI).

        By 2023, SA intends to have all standards available for free for domestic non-commercial use. In some cases as well, the relevant standard will be an AS/NZS, in which case it's worth checking if Standards New Zealand already makes it available for free (it does happen, since NZ has a much healthier less regulated DIY sector).

      • mull on 09/09/2020 - 17:09
        +15

        I don't agree.

        References to laws and regulations need to be freely available, if we are legally bound to comply with them.

        If it's a physical copy, then we should only pay for the publishing and logistical costs, while the electronic version should be free.

        Imagine every act, legislation, regulation, code, etc. was behind a paywall.

        Driving rules?
        Paywall.

        What can go in the recycling bin?
        Paywall.

        OH&S?
        Paywall.

        Where people are allowed smoke?
        Paywall.

        The idea is ridiculous, yet it still exists.

        • Zephyrus on 09/09/2020 - 17:48
          -8

          None of these things are work the average punter can sign off on. You have to be a professional with an education to use them.

          The advantage is the industry has to fund their own standards, rather than the tax payer.

          • Argon on 09/09/2020 - 18:03
            +5

            @Zephyrus: What a crock of stew. I use these standards several times a week, everyone should have access to them. Anyone willing to do a bit of reading can use them. I know prefisionals that should follow them but don't even take the time to read through them properly….

        • incipient on 09/09/2020 - 18:04
          -1

          Disagree entirely. A sparky has to pay $200 every time AS3000 is updated. It's a tool of their trade, and no other risk analysis or technical work is required. They COULD go down the path of NOPSEMA regulation, where a company is required, at their own cost and diligence, to demonstrate without any real guidance, that work is "safe". Imagine if a sparky had to demonstrate that the thickness of cable, types of termination, etc were all safe. Would be mayhem! All of that alleviated for a simple every few year cost of $200 to the chap.

          • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2020 - 18:09
            +1

            @incipient: The sparky can even save money by buying AS/NZS 3000 from Standards New Zealand instead, and pay only $130 NZ pesos - or $150 NZD plus courier costs for a dead tree version.

      • RedHab on 09/09/2020 - 17:35
        +6

        Access to a countries laws and standards should be 100% free.

        If you are expected to abide by a law, there should be no hurdle in getting hold of it.

        Unfortunately the privatization of the Australian Public Service is hitting many departments:
        https://www.michaelwest.com.au/privatisation-of-the-public-s…

    • vid_ghost on 09/09/2020 - 17:32
      +1

      WELL .. People voted for the Liberals and we got 25MBPS fiber to the node VS 100 to 1000MBPS Fiber to the home with Labor.

      We also got screwed on many other things… this one shouldn't be a surprise.

        • erasimos on 09/09/2020 - 18:30
          +1

          FTTH was the only way. Telstra owned the copper and weren't playing nice. Without being able to bypass the copper and exchanges Telstra would have been the only supplier for 80 percent of people and it would be crap.

        • wardrop on 09/09/2020 - 18:31
          +5

          And pigs can fly. If it was up to this guy we wouldn't have roads, sewerage, electricity, water, etc, because it would be just be too labour intensive to install, upgrade or replace any of it… especilly not to everyones house. Internet is as much a modern necessarity as any of those, and all of those need to be run to your house. There's only one sensible way to upgrade national broadband infrastracture, and that's just to re-do it with new physical modern-day infrastructure, aka. fibre. Infrastructure just needs to be replaced every now and then, either because it degrades, can no longer meet demand/capacity, or is otherwise unfit to meet the requirements of the day (safety, performance, maintenance, etc).

          Spending the amount of money the liberal party has spent on a stop-gap 10 to 20 year infrastructure solution that still handicaps most australians with no cost-effectie upgrade path is insanity/incompetenance/idiocy/idealism/whatever you want to call it. In other words, it makes zero sense to anyone who thinks for themselves and can ask some basic questions.

          No one debates upgrades of any other physical infrastructure, but I guess because the internet is still a relatively new thing, and this the first time we've had to upgrade the nations internet, people just take a while to keep up with reality.

  • nmachine on 09/09/2020 - 16:46

    I'll be popular at work for this one, thanks OP.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2020 - 16:52

      The PDF is DRM encrypted btw, you can only print it twice, and it's locked to a single computer.

      • Drakesy on 09/09/2020 - 16:55
        +6

        Just print to PDF then it's unlimited ;)

        What i've been doing for years.

        • eug on 09/09/2020 - 17:36
          +3

          Just print to PDF then it's unlimited ;)

          If you choose a PDF printer, Adobe Reader will pop up a dialog box saying "This printer is not allowed for secure printing. Do you want to change your choice?"

        • silverrat23 on 09/09/2020 - 17:56

          Too bad it's not that simple. Anyone know another method, aside from physically printing and scanning it back in?

          • Drakesy on 09/09/2020 - 17:58

            @silverrat23: Weird.
            I've been using Microsoft print to pdf for years and never had a rejection

            • silverrat23 on 09/09/2020 - 18:01

              @Drakesy: Tried that too, didn't work.

            • eug on 09/09/2020 - 18:02
              +1

              @Drakesy:

              I've been using Microsoft print to pdf for years and never had a rejection

              Were those documents protected with FileOpen DRM?

              • Drakesy on 09/09/2020 - 18:04

                @eug: Yep, just tried it at work, still prints to PDF, not sure of the error that people are mentioning. But yeah, disabling Java might work for some as has been mentioned

                • eug on 09/09/2020 - 18:11

                  @Drakesy: If Javascript is disabled in Adobe Reader, the document will fail to open. If you disable Javascript after opening the document, it will give the same printer not allowed message.

                  Maybe you're on an older version of FileOpen or something. Better not update anything. :)

                  • Drakesy on 09/09/2020 - 18:12

                    @eug: Hokay, so opening it in Chrome and printing to pdf works for me as it seems to bypass the in built blocker in adobe PDF

                    • alvian on 09/09/2020 - 18:19

                      @Drakesy: This is what I got when I dragged the PDF file into Chrome

                      Error
                      Failed to load PDF document.
                      [Reload]

        • Corgsta on 11/09/2020 - 21:21

          Yeah I just use muPDF which seems to ignore DRM and noticed Chrome does too.

      • nightelves on 09/09/2020 - 16:57

        Yeah that DRM is really annoying.

      • nmachine on 09/09/2020 - 17:00
        +2

        Print to PDF or disable Java was what we used to do when I was at uni.

  • fireislife on 09/09/2020 - 16:58

    Sprinklers solve everything, plz give me AS2118.1

    • brotherfranciz on 09/09/2020 - 17:01
      +11

      Hmm, username doesn't check out…

  • donkcat on 09/09/2020 - 17:03
    +1

    Thanks OP, my still have the 2009 edition so can update. This one should always be free, I think it's pretty important future home owners have access to this information that can have a pretty detrimental impact on the viability and costs of your build/ renos.

  • nmachine on 09/09/2020 - 17:09

    Brilliant, I have to install a plugin to open a bloody pdf….on a work pc that means I need admin permission (ie. the IT guy to remote in). Why make it so hard.

  • lost in transit on 09/09/2020 - 17:12

    Says $256 for me now…

    • p4e81 on 09/09/2020 - 17:15
      +1

      Make sure you select PDF in the 'product format' option.

  • Melb69 on 09/09/2020 - 17:15

    Thanks OP.

    Q for BAL29. Do I need to use one of the timber species for verandah pergolas. Also with the sub floor of a suspended house. As long as I have the mesh to the perimeter sub floor the timber joist and stumps under there don't need to be fire resistant. Is that the case.

    • donkcat on 09/09/2020 - 17:42

      Depends on the size of your pergola and how close it is to your dwelling. If your subfloor is enclosed by mesh or other non-combustible material then your subfloor doesn't need to meet BAL29

      • Melb69 on 09/09/2020 - 19:25

        Pergola which is partly roofed fixed to side of house.

        • donkcat on 09/09/2020 - 19:46

          Yeah needs to meet BAL29 then

  • salmon123 on 09/09/2020 - 17:20

    Pretty sure all Standards Australia standards have been free through university and state libraries (and probably local libraries too) for a long time. It's the digital version, so you don't have to move you fat a** to get a copy.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2020 - 18:04
      +6

      Unfortunately not. The local libraries canned that agreement in 2016 and the state libraries in 2017. Now the only way is universities, or waiting until 2023.

      • salmon123 on 09/09/2020 - 18:13
        +1

        Thanks for clarifying. F*** SAI global. If I was a library haggling with SAI global, I would've told them to shove it too.

        Hopefully Standards Australia gets their act together before 2023 and makes it available for free to every one.

  • ahara on 09/09/2020 - 17:21
    +2

    Received the email header concerning “Australian standards” and got worried I broke the rules again…

    Don’t keep scaring me like this at5pm OP :/

    • p4e81 on 09/09/2020 - 17:33
      +1

      Ah yes.. The mandatory "Oh, before you leave…." conversation starter in the office

  • donkeydoc on 09/09/2020 - 17:24
    +8

    all standards should be free for everyone if they want people to do the right things

    • CalmLemons on 09/09/2020 - 17:30
      +6

      This.

      And they should give better examples and elaborate on the standards where possible.

      I've read through the carpenter standards for framing and it is cryptic AF. An engineer would hardly make heads of tails of it let alone a chippie.

      Mistakes are often made in building because the standards are written by people who don't know how to explain things because they don't' understand it themselves.

      • donkeydoc on 09/09/2020 - 20:43
        +1

        I think it's headed that way. AS 1684 is quite simple to follow in my experience (if that's what you're referring to) , the engineering calcs are completed for typical timber sections. It's tabulated for ease of use, however there should be more comprehensive information available elaborating on specifics.

        • CalmLemons on 09/09/2020 - 21:10
          +1

          Yes, AS1684.4 and 1684.2, the confusion begins at the very naming system. One would be inclined to think they are missing information from 1684.1 and 1864.3, why not just call it, AS1684 Resi Framing for non cyclonic areas. All you need to know.

          E.g. Here's Table 9.1 This table covers what steel washers you need to use for a specific screw.

          Oh, and WHERE THE FK IS THE APPENDIX?

          I'm not a chippie, but I did a building course and compared to my official bachelor degree I was just shocked at the lack of explanation given. If you had a poor instructor, there would be no way you would work out how to use AS1684.

          I highly believe books like this should also be in COLOUR, with PICTURES of actual materials instead of black and white diagrams. Honestly, even maths books are in colour.

          • donkeydoc on 10/09/2020 - 15:07

            @CalmLemons: "If you had a poor instructor, there would be no way you would work out how to use AS1684."

            For sure it comes down to the teacher, I did cert iv in building construction (5 years ago) but I have a B Civil Eng so it was simple for me. Can highly recommend the teachers at St George TAFE. Two main teachers were builders and civil engineers and did a good job explaining the standard to the class. It's conceptual but not too difficult, definitely not for everyone though.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2020 - 18:07
      +2

      This will do your head in… the NZ Government funds full, free, access to building standards in electronic formats. Payment only required for dead tree versions.

  • nguyentran on 09/09/2020 - 17:28
    +1

    SAI global now has shitty DRM lock with our name printed in the document , make it impossible to redistribute for another fellow

    • CalmLemons on 09/09/2020 - 17:31
      +1

      just make up the name when you print the document and scan it back in. problem solved. just call yourself mickey mouse or something.

      • banana365 on 09/09/2020 - 18:42
        +1

        "Registered to a Mr. SAI Sucks-Balls. Hmmm, not a name I've heard of before."

  • ECE on 09/09/2020 - 17:36

    Thanks OP

  • Boogerman on 09/09/2020 - 17:40

    This is going to come in real handy some time in the next 3 years, considering I plan on living in the highest level of bushfire attack
    Thank you!

    • donkcat on 09/09/2020 - 17:44
      +1

      If you're talking BAL FZ then good luck

      • Boogerman on 09/09/2020 - 18:09

        Yes, that’s it

        • donkcat on 09/09/2020 - 18:21

          Well a few things, the windows and doors cost an absolute fortune, I’m talking like 5x the amount of BAL40 windows and doors, next because of the screens u need to use it looks like a prison. But you may not have to worry about that as the CFA are basically not allowing anyone to build to BALFZ atm as they deem the fire risk too high. One positive is though that a bushfire bunker drops you one BAL rating and BAL40 builds are very achievable.
          Overall the CFA get the final say, they might determine the risk too high even with a bunker.

    • hippyhippy on 09/09/2020 - 18:01

      Don't.. building in fz is so costly and so restrictive.

      • Boogerman on 09/09/2020 - 18:11

        I love natural bushland. I would be willing to pay to have a sprinkler system over the entire house running from a 20,000 litre tank, as well as a bushfire bunker, amongst other things
        Any thoughts about building?

        • hippyhippy on 09/09/2020 - 18:12

          You should really look into it… especially if you want windows on the wall

      • donkeydoc on 09/09/2020 - 20:47

        You need to protect openings, the cheapest option from my experience is fire mesh covering your window though it's like looking through a flyscreen.

  • Angelscrap on 09/09/2020 - 18:04

    Can I please ask some to explain to what this is in easy english. This interest me with bushfire prone area but yet getting confused

    • salmon123 on 09/09/2020 - 18:17
      +2

      Can I please ask some to explain to what this is in easy english

      It's the national rules and regulations for constructing a building in a bushfire prone area. State and local governments will have their own rules and regulations that complement the national standard.

      It's only really relevant to builders and other construction professionals (architects, drafters, etc). Some homeowners planning DIY renovations might find it relevant too.

  • alvian on 09/09/2020 - 18:13
    +3

    Fileopen and APS PDF DRM Removal Script

    The FileOpen plugin is a privacy killer. It checks your network address, your harddisk id, your cpu id, your username, your hostname, when you open and close your document and how many times you already have printed it. Despite the information on their website it doesn’t support AES (at least as far as I have seen). And yes, these methods may remind you of dystopian alternative realities like 1984 or Brave New World (you might want to check out the little story at click ).

    Unfortunately the DRM removal script is 404.

    • Sheld on 09/09/2020 - 21:13

      Print to PDF

  • Raj09 on 09/09/2020 - 18:18
    +1

    You would think that standards will not be charged for but free for anyone to access. Hardly something that people should bargain for

  • jelko on 09/09/2020 - 18:23

    When I was at uni studying Computer Science, for some software engineering unit we needed to purchase some AS document. The library didn't have a copy, so I drove to the city to purchase it. Cost about $50 for about 20 pages worth of crap that wasn't even applicable to the unit I was studying. When I got back to uni I made copies for all my classmates. 10 cents per page / double sided cost $1. Score.

  • toddwas on 09/09/2020 - 18:39

    If you google an online library called 'Library Genesis' they provide a lot of standards for access.

  • Rubes2 on 09/09/2020 - 19:04
    +6

    For those reading these comments, I am a building certifier and would like to advise the following.
    1. Standards Australia is not a government dept, It is a private company and that is why it charges for its standards.
    2. Australian Standards are not law unless they are referenced in legislation.
    3. Even when they are referenced in legislation, they are usually not mandatory, especially the bushfire standard , it is just one solution to comply with the law. there are uasally other ways to comply.

  • Sheld on 09/09/2020 - 21:12

    All standards should be free

  • Ok computer on 09/09/2020 - 22:24

    Thanks OP need some bed time reading

  • Pandaroo on 10/09/2020 - 01:09
    -1

    FYI drag any secured PDF into Google Chrome and select print -> Save as PDF.

    • eug on 10/09/2020 - 08:35

      I get the same Error - Failed to load PDF document message as alvian.

      • Pandaroo on 10/09/2020 - 09:55

        Ah missed that, haven't tested this yet but it used to work on previous AS documents. Between Chrome and Blue beam I've never had a document fail to be unprotected.

        I just got the Techstreet version.

  • Boogerman on 10/09/2020 - 14:12

    Anyone got their email yet?

  • LTDazzlin on 12/09/2020 - 18:36

    TAFE NSW Students can access all the Australian Standards (PDF Versions) for free through techstreet as apart of their course. Students simply login to https://tafensw.libguides.com/standards using their TAFE NSW Username and password.

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