Best Shed to buy in Australia
Best Shed to buy in Australia - A guide to analysing shed quotes
What is the best shed to buy in Australia? We are genuinely hoping to assist you in answering this question by following the recommendations of The Shed Health Test™ which you will find here.
This is an easy independent test for the product you are thinking of buying. All you must do is insert a few basic answers and you will immediately know if the product you are buying is legal in Australia or just carrying a false certification.
The Current Situation - Best Shed to buy in Australia
We know that almost all of the major manufacturers and suppliers in Australia have been on a race to the bottom over the last 30 years or more in sacrificing safety and strength for a low price. Australian made high tensile steel has been replaced by cheaper and much weaker imported mild steel. If Australian high tensile steel has been used, it is of too low BMT (base metal thickness) and in almost all cases, not enough structural steel is being used to meet Standards.
Farmers will often comment on how ‘flimsy’ they feel their new shed are in a high wind, but few know that the structure they have will not pass Australian Standards and the certification supplied is false.
The Shed Health Test™
You can find out about the independence of The Shed Health Test by going there and reading their “About” section. The test itself asks just 8 questions: -
- Your Region and wind code and Information about: -
- the end portals
- internal portals
- the purlins
- the girts
- the lateral bracing
- the roof cladding
- the wall cladding
(Please note, most of the following is published with the permission of the shedhealthtest ™.)
Where to get the information? - Best Shed to buy in Australia
Every quote you receive should have the information you require to complete The Shed Health Test™ clearly displayed on the quote.
There can only be 3 reasons why a Brand won't answer these questions in writing
- They are not doing the required calculations, which means they should not be selling the product.
- They are doing the required calculations, but the results are not National Construction Code, Building Code of Australia or Australian Standards® compliant, which means they should not be selling the product.
- They are not providing the type of steel they are advertising, which means they should not be selling the product.
Why is the ShedHealthTest™ Important?
- Over 550,00 Unsafe sheds in Australia
Engineering audits indicate that there are more than 550,000 unsafe, non-code compliant Sheds in Australia. Supplying less Steel or inferior Steel means more profit. Do not become another victim of corporate greed & deceptive marketing. Make sure you & your family are getting a safe shed.
- Safety is more important than Price
Price is important but it cannot be at the sacrifice of your safety. Spans, Centres, Deflection & Bracing are all critical, legal requirements for every Shed sold in Australia. If the manufacturer does not give you the information required to complete this test, then their product is most likely not compliant with the Australian Construction Codes & Standards.
You do not need to be an engineer or a builder. If your Shed's roof feels unsafe, it probably is. If you have any safety concerns about a shed you have purchased, send the engineering & documentation to mark@shedhealthtest.com.au for a free review. Get some peace of mind.
Why is the Steel Grade critical?
Extreme weather events are becoming more common. A light weight cold-formed steel Shed needs the strength of Heat Treated, Carbon Dense High Tensile Steel.
Unfortunately, many national Brands swap out High Tensile Steel for Mild Steel. This is a dangerous practice. Regardless of the Brand name, insist that they quote the Steel Grade in writing for each Structural Member required in your Shed, namely the Columns, Rafters, Purlins & Girts.
A reputable manufacturer will not hesitate in giving you the Grade of the Steel being used in writing.
As a baseline rule, do not accept any cold-formed Steel less than G450. G450, G500 & G550 are High Tensile Grades defined by The Australian Standards®. G means Grade. The number is the strength, e.g., 450 MPa or Megapascals.
Why do you need to know the Steel Manufacturer?
To verify the Steel's properties, span capacities & suitability for your shed. Reputable Steel Manufacturers publish certified & tested data for their Steel. This information is critical for the Structural Engineers certifying your Shed.
Your Shed's engineering is invalid if the Engineer has done their calculations on & certified BlueScope® G450 Steel, but the manufacturer has supplied Chinese Q235 Steel. 450 MPa is much stronger than 235 MPa. It is a widespread practice in Australia, and difficult to detect as the Steel looks identical.
One Shed Brand is famous for displaying BlueScope® Steel coil at the front of their Sydney factory but rolling Q235 at the back. It is a dangerous practice. Be careful. Remember, Steel is a commodity. It is priced by the Kilo. Beware of cheap Brands & their unsafe Sheds.
What is deflection & why is it critical?
Deflection is the sag or bend in the Steel. Calculated deflection means a Structural Engineer has verified the size, gauge & grade of the Steel to be used. If the deflection complies with the Standards, then the steel is strong enough for your Shed's span.
The Australian Standards® limit Deflection as excess deformation compromises the Structural Integrity of your Shed's Roof & Bracing. That is unbelievably bad.
Deflection must be calculated. Get it in writing.
What is lateral bracing & why is it critical? Best Shed to buy in Australia
Lateral Bracing is the exact amount of bracing required to keep your Shed upright.
The Australian Standards® stipulate how it is calculated. A Shed cannot be sold in Australia if it is not structurally braced for its design wind speed.
The forces required by the Standards are quite large. As an example, a typical 6 x 9 x 3 Region B1 Shed's lateral bracing must be able to withstand 14.1 kN. That is approximately 1410 kg.
The Roof bracing must exceed 100% of the force required for your Shed. The Front & Back Walls share the work, so each must provide bracing that exceeds 50% of the total force required.
The Cladding or Cladding Diaphragm does not provide sufficient lateral bracing as required by AS/NZS 1170.2 updated in 2021.
Are Top Hats or Top Span Purlins & Girts, Okay?
Absolutely. Top Hat is light weight, easy to install & perfect for small bays.
The Top Hat's Deflection will show you whether the Steel is strong enough for your Shed design.
It is important to get the Top Hat's Deflection value for the largest bay in your Shed.
Do you recommend any Brands or ShedSafe®?
No. Every Shed sold in Australia must have these calculations done. Get the values in writing, regardless of Brand, marketing, reputation or promises.
If the Brand can't or won't give you the information required to complete the ShedHealthTest™, find another Brand.
We strongly recommend that you get at least 3 quotes. Shop around & use this free test to see if you are getting a safe, legal Shed.
Why do you only include G550 Cladding with a minimum 0.42 BMT?
Cladding is extremely thin, so it must be extremely strong. G550 gives that Strength. Colorbond® is G550.
One of the tricks in the industry is to provide cheaper, thinner, or weaker imported cladding.
0.42 BMT is 0.42 mm Base Metal Thickness. Paint adds another 0.05 mm. 0.42 BMT = 0.47 TCT or Total Coated Thickness. 0.42 BMT G550 Cladding is suitable for your Shed.
Use the Colour Drop Down to match the colours carefully. Colorbond® colours have all been trademarked. Classic Cream® is G550 Colorbond. Smooth Cream is not.
Non-Colorbond® cladding is inferior & tends to fade. Australia's Code & Standards are Strong because our Weather is Harsh & Extreme.
Professional Choice Sheds - Best Shed to buy in Australia
We ask that you treat Professional Choice Shed quotes as you would any other quote. We strongly recommend that you get at least 3 quotes. Shop around & use the free independent ShedHealthTest™, to see if you are getting a safe, legal Shed.
We are 100% confident that any quote you receive from Professional Choice Sheds will pass all Australian Standards and we are confident that you will not find a better-priced shed in Australia that meets these Standards.
