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Supporting the industry’s transition to the new H1 requirements

To smooth the industry’s transition to the new thermal performance requirements for housing (H1) – and healthier homes for people and planet – BRANZ has created a toolbox of resources for industry professionals.

Published August 2023

This year, the industry adapted to important changes to thermal performance regulations that should lead to warmer, drier, healthier homes, lower energy costs and reduced carbon emissions. Recognising the industry need for information and knowledge to smooth the transition, BRANZ and industry players leapt into action.

While the ink was still drying on the new regulations, BRANZ set to work on developing a toolbox to support industry professionals. The suite of tools, some new and some updated, is aimed at helping industry professionals navigate the regulatory changes and supporting them to achieve – and exceed – future compliance requirements.

The toolbox includes the H1 Calculation method tool, House insulation guide, H1 Schedule method tool and BRANZ Maps. In addition, a series of H1-focused research updates, published as bulletins, provides essential information for builders, designers and building consent authorities.

Working with partner organisations, BRANZ also led the creation of the online H1 Hub, a one-stop search tool to help people find H1-related content across partner websites. The H1 Hub uses machine learning to fine-tune search results and identify knowledge gaps, which is helping guide BRANZ and our partners to create new resources to meet industry needs.

Industry players are picking up our toolbox. As at 25 June 2023, the H1 Hub had received approximately 18,000 visits and bulletin downloads had reached approximately 2,000. The three H1-related webinars attracted 4,000 registrations, including more than 1,200 first-timers to BRANZ educational events.

This increased appetite for practical information demonstrates BRANZ’s unique ability to support the industry in adapting to regulatory changes, now and in the future.

BRANZ H1 TOOLS AND RESOURCES

  • Webinars: H1 Calculation method; H1 Window, doors & skylights; H1 Roofs
  • H1 Hub: a one-stop online search tool
  • eLearning module: unpacking the changes to H1 and key challenges
  • Bulletins and Build magazine articles
  • Updated House insulation guide
  • Updated H1 Calculation tool and H1 Schedule method tool – both compliance checking tools
  • Updated BRANZ Maps – an online interactive map with
  • information about natural hazard, land and climate zones

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