Breaking down CodeMark and E3 with Forté

However, it’s not just down to how good it looks to the eye—high-quality wood flooring can last for decades, it has hypoallergenic properties and is a great sustainable material option, with many manufacturers committed to responsible forestry practices. 

Forté is a beloved family-owned business in New Zealand, driven by a passion for timber. Forté is also a pioneer in the wood flooring industry, committed to producing beautiful flooring options with sustainable considerations, providing unique and exciting timber solutions that New Zealanders will love. They also carry a commitment to innovation within their products, and when regulations within the industry change, Forté refines its products to meet evolving building codes and standards.

Since the introduction of changes to Building Code E3 in 2021, kitchens have been reclassified as ‘wet areas.’ This reclassification has necessitated the development of Alternative Solutions for timber flooring installations in these spaces to gain compliance. However, despite initial acceptance by councils, a growing number of projects specifying Alternative Solutions are now facing rejection.

Forté, a leader in the timber flooring industry, has proactively addressed this challenge by becoming the first and only supplier to achieve CodeMark Certification for all its timber flooring collections. This certification guarantees automatic compliance with the Building Code, providing an equivalent to the Acceptable Solution.

Felix Piesse, Forté Commercial Specification Consultant, explains the significance of this certification: “Prior to our CodeMark Certification, we were in daily communication with the 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.”

Furthermore, Piesse notes that some councils are now rejecting building consents for non-CodeMark timber flooring systems in wet areas that rely on Alternative Solutions. Instead, they recommend specifying a CodeMark-certified system.

To expedite the consent process and avoid delays, Forté recommends specifying only CodeMark-certified timber flooring for kitchens and wet areas. The flooring must fall within the scope of the CodeMark Certification and adhere to the Forté Timber Overlay Flooring System Design Guide to ensure seamless council approval.

If you’re encountering compliance issues, Forté’s Specification Consultants are available to assist with their CodeMark-certified timber flooring products.

Learn more about Forté’s compliance resources and how they can help streamline your project approval process by reaching out today.