DTCE was engaged to provide suitable documentation to demonstrate the structural adequacy of a prefabricated holiday cabin in accordance with New Zealand Standards. The Hansa Holiday Cabin A/92 is a 60 m² timber structure manufactured in Estonia, consisting of prefabricated spruce components assembled on site using a proprietary system with interlocking joints and supplied fixings. As limited information was available on the structural properties of the materials and the bracing capacity of the wall system, a conservative approach was adopted, assuming timber properties equivalent to SG8 Radiata Pine based on available test data. The design included custom foundation solutions using timber piles and bearers to suit site conditions, along with additional structural elements and connections to ensure stability under wind and seismic loads. Targeted enhancements were also specified to improve the performance of walls, roof, and openings.

DTCE assessed only the structural capacity of the prefabricated timber and steel members and not the durability requirements, delivering a practical and compliant solution tailored to the prefabricated system and its intended light-use application.