About this programme
Many new residential buildings are not retaining heat efficiently. To improve new-build performance, H?kina Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment increased the minimum R-values for building systems, which is a measure for how materials resist the transfer of heat. In response, NASH and industry partners developed a programme of research to transform how Aotearoa New Zealand builds its residential dwellings. It focuses on how energy efficiency of roofing, walls, floors and junctions in dwellings constructed from cold-formed steel framing could be improved. This will contribute to warmer, healthier homes and to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The first phase of the research explored modelling software and current insulation practices to understand the need to develop solutions suited to Aotearoa New Zealand conditions. The second phase builds on this knowledge to develop and assess new cold- formed steel framing systems to achieve higher R-values that meet or exceed current regulations. The project is led by NASH in partnership with Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland and working with New Zealand Steel, FRAMECAD, Thermakraft / Kingspan, Winstone Wallboards and Comfortech. Using new designing-detailing framing for walls with junctions, roofing/ceilings and suspended floors, the research team will determine what new systems might be viable. These systems will be fabricated in both T?maki Makaurau Auckland and ?tautahi Christchurch to assess energy efficiency, durability, ease of installation and manufacturing and affordability in two different climatic regions. The successful systems will then be tested using WUFI modelling, which calculates heat and moisture transfer in building components. The lessons will be used to develop an energy efficiency steel framing code of practice for the sector.