Description

The need for dwangs, those horizontal blocking pieces used between wall studs, has lessened over the years. Using fewer dwangs and making them narrower than the studs could improve a building’s thermal performance.

The use of Dwangs (also known as nogs or nogging in some parts of New Zealand) has evolved as light timber-frame construction methods have changed. It is interesting to look at how our use of dwangs has evolved and how we have arrived at the current situation for use of them.

Scope

This article includes the following chapters:

• Dwangs first used here in the 1920s
• 1970s thinking on dwangs
• Current view very different
• Not helpful for racking resistance or to support studs
• Only sometimes needed to support linings
• Blocking specific fixtures
• No longer have wet wall framing
• Obsolete as a fire stop
• Dwangs reduce thermal performance
• NZS 3604:2011 says 45x45mm dwangs
• Best practice