E3/AS1: Building Code Requirements Explained

Bathrooms are often the most humid rooms in our houses, meaning the flooring you install needs to be water-resistant or waterproof.

This seems obvious – but it’s not just for aesthetic or practical reasons. The NZ Building Code has specific requirements for flooring in areas where watersplash is prevalent.
Let’s explore Woodland Lifestyle’s floating floor options and how each of the below products complies with the special regulations for floors in water-splash areas outlined in the New Zealand Building Code.

 

Building Code Requirements for Watersplash Areas

The building code requires proper floor construction to prevent excessive moisture and fungal growth. There are specific clauses and provisions related to areas where watersplash is prevalent, such as kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms.

Part E3/AS1 of the Code states that “surfaces where water-splash is prevalent must be impervious, easily cleaned, and have ventilation to meet conditions for health and safety.”

It also has to “extend at least 1.5m from any sanitary item within the following listed areas Kitchen, Toilet, Laundry, and Bathroom this must also include perimeter protection from water ingress.”

In a practical sense, this means that your flooring and wall materials need to extend 1.5m past items like sinks and toilets and that they should use an approved joint system and a specific sealing method around the edge of the room. 

Do Our Products Meet the Code?

All Woodland Lifestyle’s Flooring products feature an impervious and easily cleaned surface layer once installed. The surface layer of our products is made impervious and easily cleaned through a number of methods including heat-cured melamine, PVC and polyurethane resins. 

Our joint and locking systems are also engineered to provide an extremely tight glueless joint that inhibits any ingress of moisture without the need for additional sealing. This provides splash protection. 

To ensure water tightness of the joints of Woodland Lifestyle Bamboo flooring, it is required to apply Clic Seal joint sealer during installation 1.5m around sanitary items in the Kitchen, Toilet, Laundry, and Bathroom.

When it comes to perimeter splash protection, our installation instructions specify the foam rod and silicon system for floating floors. This consists of a foam rod and a flexible transparent silicone which provides the necessary resistance to water ingress around the perimeter.

When installed and maintained as per installation/maintenance instructions, Woodland Lifestyle is confident that our products are suitable to be used as an ‘alternative solution’ and meet E3/AS1 requirements.

Woodland Lifestyle product range area installation guide.

Product Range	Kitchen	Bathroom	Laundry	Toilet
Balterio Grande Wide	✔	✔	✔	✔
Vitality Style	✔	✔	✔	✔
Euro Deluxe	✔	✔	✔	✔
Oasis	✔	✔	✔	✔
Oasis Wide	✔	✔	✔	✔
Metroflor Genesis	✔	✔	✔	✔
Metroflor Herringbone	✔	✔	✔	✔
Strata Premium Hush	✔	✔	✔	✔
Strata Sentry	✔	✔	✔	✔
Bamboo	✔

Benefits of Installing Floating Floors

Great for Wet areas

As you don’t need to put down an additional waterproof membrane.

Time and Cost Savings

With floating floors, the installation process is easier and cheaper. There’s no need for nails or screws meaning you can install your floating floor in less time and at a more affordable price.

Floating Floors are Eco-friendly

Most floating floor materials are entirely eco-friendly and consume less timber than traditional hardwood flooring. Most modern products on the market use eco-friendly glues and sealants and have minimal VOCs. 

Highly Comfortable

Floating floors have an air cushion between the subfloor and the surface. This makes the floor partially flexible and more comfortable.

Easy Removal and Reusability

Since floating floors have no permanent attachment to the subfloor, they are easy to remove and repair. Some brands allow you to unlock, remove and reinstall the planks or tiles in a new room or house.

Choose Woodland Lifestyle for Floating Floors

Installing a floating floor in your bathroom, kitchen or laundry is a popular choice, giving an aesthetically pleasing finish to challenging wet areas around the home. 

Woodland Lifestyle delivers a wide range of innovative, high-quality flooring products – get in touch today and give your home a touch of style at an affordable price.