Recent updates to the Building Code compliance pathways aim to improve the safety and reliability of Aotearoa New Zealand’s plumbing and drainage systems.
The third in this series looking at how current New Zealand building regulations for energy efficiency compare to those elsewhere measures us against Ireland.
An estimated $9–14 billion of storm damage to property and infrastructure, a steep industry slow-down and a general election with a change of government were all part of the picture of 2023. We look at some key events in an eventful year.
From firing up requirements for thermal insulation to cooling down prospects for building on prime farm land, plenty of building rules have been updated or introduced in the last year with more to come in 2023.
BRANZ Has been receiving queries from architects and designers about evaluating the bracing values of existing walls in housing that is being added to or altered. What do they need to know?
Wall design will play a key role in the improved thermal performance of new houses as we move toward net-zero carbon construction. One recent research project found problems with current wall construction, but another developed high-performance details that take us a leap ahead.
The guidance for using structural steel and other metals in Building Code clause B2 Durability is limited, and no Acceptable Solutions are offered. Perhaps there’s a need for an addendum to be incorporated.
A timber design standard available later this year will provide new options for designers and engineers to take advantage of the exciting innovations in engineered wood.
Here’s a look at initiatives from three businesses that are making a difference to the construction industry, from improving the compliance process to reducing the amount of building waste that goes to landfill and focusing on employee wellbeing.
A deadly boarding house fire is likely to prompt legislative changes to how building warrants of fitness are issued with changes to offences and penalties for building owners and independent certifiers.
A small tremor has been felt across Aotearoa New Zealand with the long-awaited release of a new draft seismic design standard. The draft, TS 1170.5, is a critical piece in the puzzle of how Aotearoa responds to the latest science on earthquake risk and represents a major change in seismic building standards.
To date, Aotearoa New Zealand’s response to extreme weather events has been ad hoc, reactive and financially unsustainable. The focus must shift from recovery and repair to adaptation and increased resilience.
Complying with the new requirements of clause h1 (the rules for thermal performance in housing in the New Zealand Building Code) for windows follows the previous process implemented in 2022 and 2023, but the insulation values are higher.
People still have plenty of questions about the new H1 requirements as was clear from a recent series of BRANZ workshops on the topic. Here are some of the issues that came up.
From 4 November 2021, there will no longer be an Acceptable Solution in Building Code clause E3 Internal moisture for using timber or timber based products as linings and finishes to floors in wet areas. However, an Alternative Solution designed and specified to best practice is easy to do.
With decades of research into thermal insulation, structural strength, internal moisture and related topics, BRANZ is well placed to give practical advice about some recent questions we’ve heard around h1 compliance.
From 1 May 2023, housing and small buildings up to 300 m² will need to be better insulated. What does this mean in practice for wall, underfloor and ceiling insulation of these buildings when using the schedule method for compliance?
Often wind determines the bracing requirement for timber-framed buildings. We walk through how to find the correct wind zone for a site using NZS 3604:2011.
MBIE recently released energy efficiency changes to the Building Code to help make new homes and buildings warmer, drier and healthier. These include increased minimum insulation requirements for roofs, windows and floors.
The building control system has many documents so it can be hard to know where to find information. This new series starts by explaining the hierarchy of the key documents and the importance of keeping them updated.
