Insights & Resources

MBIE recently released updates to the H1 code clause documents effective 29 November 2021. These updates include more stringent requirements for insulating both residential and commercial building enclosures, with an increase in the minimum required R-value for roofs, walls, floors, and glazing systems. Previous amendments of H1/AS1, H1/AS2, H1/VM1 and H1/VM2 can be used to show compliance for small and large buildings until 2 November 2022 and can be used for building consent applications submitted before 3 November 2022. There is ongoing discussion within the industry to extend the transition period to adopt the new H1 requirements. With the new requirements known, designers and industry leaders have an opportunity to implement better design solutions immediately without waiting for legal obligations to do so.

KEL will continue to push for better performing building envelopes and help project teams evaluate more robust methods of designing building enclosures including the use of warm roof systems, exterior insulation within cladding assemblies, and thermally broken joinery to meet minimum code requirements.

Auckland Council recently released Version 2.0 of their External Envelope Guidance document (AC1827). The updated guidance outlines Auckland Council’s consenting requirements for building envelopes and provides four different Pathways for submitting consent based on an overall Risk Score for the project. Additional updates to the Guidance also include considerations for Fire and Internal Moisture. For more information on Auckland Council’s Guidance doc, you can download it from their website:

From 2008 to 2019, on average 54 people a year died at work from injuries involving plant (e.g. machines, vehicles and equipment) and structures (e.g. scaffolding and excavations). That’s three-quarters of all work-related injury deaths. New Zealand’s work-related acute fatalities are high by international standards, approximately twice that of Australia and four times the rate of the United Kingdom. MBIE is proposing several changes to the existing H&S requirements for PCBU’s that will affect building sites, particularly for plant and structures. A particular change around safety working from heights is the removal of height limits where fall protection is required. Where there is a risk of any fall, including below the current 3 metre exemption, measures must be put in place to protect workers from falling. Additionally, businesses will be required to follow a hierarchy of controls for construction work to protect workers from falls, ranging from a safe working platform to fall arrest harnesses. Use of ladders will be restricted to specified circumstances. The changes are due to come in to effect late 2022 following a consultation period.

We’re working on reducing emissions from buildings during their construction and operation, while also preparing buildings to withstand changes in the climate.

The Building for Climate Change programme:

The Building for Climate Change programme has been set-up to get us building in a completely different way.  Tackling the climate change challenge will require vision, commitment and perseverance as well as a significant change.  It won’t be done overnight and it won’t be easy.

Though the gala event for the 2020 Timber Design Awards, scheduled for 26 March, was cancelled due restrictions related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NZ Wood has still announced the winners for the 2020 programme. The NZ Wood-Resene Timber Design Awards have been celebrating innovation and excellence with timber in the commercial and residential sectors for 45 years.

MBIE will be making the following updates to the Building Code:

•    Aligning the provisions for hollow-core flooring with the Concrete Structures Standard to allow increased depth of hollow-core flooring. This gives building owners more options, and makes it easier to comply with the Building Code (amending B1/VM1).
•    Making light steel framing a standard compliance solution, which will reduce the need for peer review around the structural design of light steel-framed buildings. This will give compliance certainty for designers and developers considering the option of using light steel framing (amending B1/VM1, B1/AS1, and B2/AS1).
•    Providing a new test method for building facades up to 25 m using the BRANZ Evaluation Method as a way to confirm building cladding is weathertight (new test method E2/VM2).
•    Adding extractor fans as a compliant way to ventilate bathrooms and kitchens, so that homeowners can more easily comply with the new Healthy Homes Standards (amending G4/AS1).
•    Updating the Water Supplies and Foul Water sections of the Building Code to cite the most recent joint Australian/New Zealand plumbing and drainage standards. This will make it easier to show compliance, and aligns with current industry best practice (amending G13/AS1, G13/VM2, G13/AS2 and G13/AS3; amending G12/VM1, G12/AS1 and G12/AS2).
•    Bringing together six separate Fire Acceptable Solution documents into one all-encompassing document that is clearer, more consistent, and covers things that weren’t included in the previous version. This means less ambiguity and confusion across the sector about which document to use, and an easier way for people to find the information they need to do their job. The changes are summarised in the first edition 2019 C/AS2 fact sheet.
 

This guide discusses how external wall cladding systems can be tested to determine their fire performance. It will help industry to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the New Zealand Building Code.