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Seismic design

Seismic Design Services

We provide seismic restraint engineering services for non-structural elements, supporting projects from concept to completion across New Zealand and Australia

Seismic Design of Non-Structural Building Elements

We provide seismic design solutions for a variety of non-structural building elements. Our scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:

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  • Seismic Design of Ceilings​

    • Plasterboard, tile & grid, baffle systems, and feature ceilings

    • Suspended and direct-fix ceiling options

  • Seismic Design of Walls

    • Steel stud and timber partitions (bracing only)

    • Partial height, full height, and wall strapping systems

    • External and internal walls

    • Seismic design of opening jambs and lintels

    • Seismic restraint of glazing systems

  • Seismic Design of Other Architectural Elements

    • Exterior facade structures (including wind and seismic restraint)

    • ​External soffits (Direct-fix or suspended)

    • Bulkheads​

Please contact us if you require seismic restraint for elements not listed above.​​

Seismic Ceiling Restraint
Building Service Bracing

Seismic Restraint of Building Services

We also provide engineering designs for the restraint of building services. Our scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:​​​

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  • HVAC Seismic Restraint

    • Restraint of pipes, ducts, and components. 

  • Electrical Seismic Restraint

    • Cable trays

  • Hydraulic Seismic Restraint​

    • All hydraulic pipework, both singular and groupings.​

  • Seismic Restraint of individual components

    • Ceiling, wall, and floor mounted component restraint.

Please contact us if you require seismic restraint for elements not listed above.​​​​

Seismic Compliance

As part of building code compliance, we provide certification by a chartered professional engineer and take on the associated liability.

Regardless of your location — whether in New Zealand or any Australian state or territory — we can deliver certified design documentation that gives you peace of mind. This includes:

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  • PS1 Producer Statement (New Zealand)

  • Form 15 or 16 (Queensland)

  • Compliance to Section 238 of VBA (Victoria)

  • Section 40 Certificate (Northern Territory)

  • Certificate of Building Design (All other Australian states)

PS4 Documentation

We don’t just design — we stay involved till completion.

  • Site Assessments & Scoping Meetings: Whether it’s a scoping meeting to evaluate the existing conditions or a post-installation inspection, we ensure all elements meet seismic compliance requirements

  • Construction Monitoring & Inspections: We offer both on-site and virtual inspections, tailored to your project’s needs. Our team can issue PS4 Seismic Design Reports to verify installation compliance against our seismic designs. We offer a range of construction monitoring levels, but most commonly sign-off on CM2.​​​

Get in touch to have an engineer on site, and ensure your project meets the complex regulatory requirements.

Who Are Our Services For?

Architects and Interior Designers​

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  • We support the structural design of all non-structural building elements

  • Detailed guidance, engineering approval, and construction-ready drawings

  • Ceiling design, wall design, and architectural elements engineered to maintain design intent

  • Indicative architectural drawings are sufficient for initial guidance and quoting

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Subcontractors

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  • Buildable seismic design, early guidance, and construction compliance documentation

  • Ideal for tenders and pre-construction coordination

  • A tender architectural package is all that’s required for quoting

  • Tight programme? We work alongside your construction timelines

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Construction Professionals

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  • Early-stage seismic design to support accurate subcontractor pricing

  • Reduce large pricing spreads and unforeseen changes during delivery

  • Gain certainty around final construction details

  • There’s always value in early coordination — get in touch to streamline the process

Seismic Building Compliance
Earthquake Seismic Design
Wind Loading Design

Why It Matters

Build Code Requirements

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The NZ Building Code (NZBC) and Australian National Construction Code (NCC) require specific engineering for architectural elements to ensure they can withstand the loads they’ll encounter over their lifetime. That’s where we come in — providing specialist non-structural engineering to meet these standards.

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Earthquakes

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​The building code requires all architectural features to be designed for seismic forces, even across Australia. These requirements are project-specific, but we’re experienced in seismic design and ensure it’s done right — while keeping costs as efficient as possible.

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Wind 

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We also specialise in design against wind loading of architectural elements. Even interior features like ceilings and partitions are often subject to wind forces. Our team draws on extensive experience to deliver practical, compliant solutions.

© 2021 Inside Collab NZ Ltd

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