BRANZ was called into a Dunedin school where too much ventilation caused excessive condensation in a large roof space. Understanding why this happened points to warm roofs being better in some locations.
Could banks encourage new-build customers towards designing more comfortable and efficient homes? A new report suggests they could, revealing synergies between building, lending and home performance and presenting opportunities for banks and their customers.
Early results from the latest House Condition Survey indicate the continued presence of mould in over half the properties. This is bad news, as evidence links mould and damp houses with poor health and social wellbeing.
Data gained from a unique, linked housing assessment and social survey involving Stats NZ and BRANZ shows that substandard, cold housing is inextricably related to occupant mental wellbeing. This is highly relevant information at a time when the cost of living is rising and housing affordability is worsening.
Many people in the housing sector are working hard to make sure that all people in Aotearoa New Zealand have a warm, dry, safe place to call home – essential for thriving communities. A new project is looking at how the way we talk about the issue can deepen understanding and inspire us to act for a better system.
Studies by BRANZ and other researchers have shown that healthy homes provide a range of benefits for their occupants. They’re warmer in winter and cooler in summer, drier, better ventilated and often cheaper to run. So why aren’t we routinely building them?
As we push for higher performance from our houses, expectations for airtightness and ventilation are changing rapidly. Some changes will be needed in design to improve airtightness, and mechanical ventilation is likely to soon be the norm.
Conventional ventilation keeps a home sufficiently aired but has an energy cost. An option is to install a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system that ventilates a home while efficiently conserving energy.
By following some easy to implement practices, occupants in a new centrally heated home were able to reduce high levels of internal moisture and enjoy a comfortable indoor environment.
As winter sets in and temperatures drop, there’s an increasing risk that moisture will condense in the roof space and cause problems. The source of the moisture – and therefore the solution – isn’t always obvious.
Twenty years ago, roofs didn’t need to be specifically ventilated. Today, things are different. That’s because 21st century homes are more airtight, and if they aren’t aired, condensation may form.
Some roof designs, such as skillion roofs, must include ventilation to manage roof moisture. Recent BRANZ research provides advice on the best place for effective vent openings in low wind zones.
Research shows that warm roofs offer homeowners and occupiers a range of benefits over their cold roof counterparts. Warm roofs make it easier to achieve a healthy indoor environment, reduce energy costs and, in some systems, provide a more durable roof structure.
Where is a gap required between building materials and when should any gap be sealed? It’s important to get these correct so we review the requirements in E2/AS1 and elsewhere.
Perversely, the draught-free, airtight homes of today might be harbouring plenty of internal moisture. Well designed ventilation is needed to manage this moisture and avoid the perils of mould and health issues.
Air seals play an important part in stopping air carrying water into a building. Understand why they are used and how to install them, and you should get them right every time.
Mechanical ventilation is becoming much more common in both new home construction and renovations. Where the system includes ducting, the right product and installation are crucial to maximise efficiency and avoid problems.
Good detailing at the soffit to wall framing junction is important to prevent moist air from cavities getting into the ceiling where it can cause problems.
Greater understanding of how to incorporate air seals in openings and penetrations in the exterior envelope of a building is necessary to prevent wind-driven water from entering.
Reducing the high levels of indoor moisture found in many New Zealand homes is a great start to creating a healthy home. In this overview, we look at some of the ways to do this.
Designing solutions for weathertightness problems is a growth sector of the industry, yet it is an area many designers are unfamiliar with. What are the factors that need to be considered for this type of work?
