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NZ Building Code · Linings & GIBGIB EzyBrace plasterboard bracing, explained
GIB EzyBrace gives you appraised plasterboard bracing systems and BU/m ratings for NZS 3604 homes, so you can hit your bracing demand with lined walls you're already building.
GIB® EzyBrace is a set of plasterboard bracing systems for NZS 3604 buildings, letting the walls you line double as your bracing elements. For a builder that means the linings on the job already do structural work — you just need to pick the right system, detail it properly, and hit your bracing demand in Bracing Units (BU).
What EzyBrace is
GIB® EzyBrace Systems 2016 carries BRANZ Appraisal No. 928 and covers plasterboard bracing systems for NZS 3604 buildings. It sets out BU/m capacities for each system, and the April 2025 Bracing Supplement adds to that range.
- Ratings are given in BU/m — Bracing Units per metre of wall — split into a wind (W) value and an earthquake (EQ) value.
- Systems range from a single sheet of Standard board on one side up to Braceline with plywood.
- GIB provides free EzyBrace calculation software to work through your bracing.
Choosing a system
Each system has a code and a described build-up, with its own wind and earthquake capacity. Higher-capacity systems use more board, tougher board, or extra layers. A few illustrative points from the range:
- GS1-N – one layer of 10mm Standard on one side with hold-downs, rated 50 BU/m wind.
- GS2-NOM – two sides with no hold-downs, added in the 2025 supplement, rated 50 BU/m.
- BLP-H – Braceline plus plywood, the highest system, rated 120 BU/m wind and 135 BU/m earthquake.
Whatever you choose, 120 BU/m is the absolute maximum on NZS 3604 timber floors — a system can't be credited above that ceiling.
Detailing rules that catch people out
- Minimum bracing element length is 400mm — shorter panels don't count.
- Minimum framing is 90×35 for external walls and 75×45 for internal walls.
- The TBP02 hold-down strap, fixed with 8/30×2.5 nails, is worth 3 BU.
- NOGS are not required for bracing — that's a common misconception worth clearing up on site.
Plain-English guide, not advice. This page helps you understand and navigate the rules — it is general information, not design, engineering or consent advice, and it does not reproduce the copyrighted tables of NZS 3604 or any Standard. Always check the current Standard or Acceptable Solution and your BCA, and use a suitably qualified LBP, engineer or QS where it matters.
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Common questions
What is the maximum bracing rating on an NZS 3604 timber floor?
120 BU/m is the absolute maximum credited on NZS 3604 timber floors. Even the highest EzyBrace system, BLP-H (Braceline plus plywood), can't be counted above that ceiling on those floors.
Are NOGS required for GIB EzyBrace bracing?
No. NOGS are not required for bracing under EzyBrace — the source flags this as a common misconception. That said, this is general plain-English guidance, not consent or design advice.
What's the minimum bracing element length and framing size?
The minimum bracing element length is 400mm. Minimum framing is 90×35 for external walls and 75×45 for internal walls.
How many Bracing Units does the hold-down strap add?
The TBP02 hold-down strap, fixed with 8/30×2.5 nails, is worth 3 BU. Wind (W) and earthquake (EQ) ratings are quoted in BU/m for each system.
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