Feature Briefs

Here are the briefs for our upcoming features in EBOSSNOW: 

August 2024: Intertenancy Floors and Walls 

This month we want to hear about product solutions that can help specifiers design high-performing and cost-effective intertenancy floors and walls.

• Do you have any new systems that provide an intertenancy solution for townhouses and apartments?
• Do your products resolve key concerns for intertenancy walls and floors such as passive fire, acoustics or space saving?
• Do you have an example of a recent project where your systems have ensured a compliant and comfortable solution for inter-tenancy walls and floors?
• Do you have examples of the support your team provides specifiers to simplify intertenancy density design?

Remember to back up your performance claims with a reference (e.g. BRANZ appraisal, independent testing or verification methods).

This feature is an opportunity to highlight the expertise, service and intertenancy solutions your team offers to help architects deliver smart, comfortable and compliant medium and high density designs. 

Article submission deadline: Thursday 18 July

Note: We will select the articles that best fit this brief. If we receive more than 20 articles for this feature, we may shift some articles to our popular Interiors or Exteriors newsletters instead.

September 2024: H1/AS2 — energy efficiency for buildings over 300m²

The recent changes to H1 Energy Efficiency has largely split buildings into two key categories:

• H1/AS1 covers all housing, along with buildings other than housing less than 300m²
• H1/AS2 provides the framework for buildings overs 300m²

This month we'd like to focus on solutions that meet the requirements of H1/AS2 solutions for buildings over 300m². This category covers large commercial and industrial buildings, including office buildings, educational facilities, hospitals, factories and other non-residential buildings over 300m². 

The updates to H1/AS2 include new insulation requirements — impacting the specification of roofs, walls, floors, windows, doors and skylights, as well as an updated verification method for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. We'd like to hear how your products exceed H1 requirements and how your team can help deliver energy-efficient commercial buildings.

Some of the topics you could cover:

• Any new products or systems that meet or exceed the new H1 standards
• A recent project that show how your products have helped deliver an energy-efficient commercial building that meets the new standards
• Interesting new products that reduce dependence on heating and cooling, or provide passive ventilation
• Information on products that reduce the cost of running a commercial building
• Information on any calculation systems or software that can help clients monitor their energy usage

We will prioritise articles that have a strong focus on how to meet the new standards. We think this will be a significant opportunity to show specifiers how your products can help them achieve the new H1/AS2 requirements and provide end clients with comfortable, energy-efficient buildings.

Article submission deadline: Thursday 15 August

Note: We will select the articles that best fit this brief. If we receive more than 20 articles for this feature, we may shift some articles to our popular Interiors or Exteriors newsletters instead.

October 2024: Low Carbon Design

The Emissions Reduction Plan introduced by MBIE sets out 5 key focus areas for building and construction:

1. Reducing the whole of life embodied carbon of buildings (See MBIE's methodology for whole-of-life embodied carbon assessment)
2. Accelerating the shift to low carbon buildings
3. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings
4. Shifting energy use away from fossil fuels
5. Establishing the foundations for further emissions reduction in the future

We want to hear from suppliers who can help architects meet these design goals:

• Is there a recent project that illustrates how your products contribute to low carbon designs by reducing waste, recycling of offcuts or creating a circular economy?
• How do your products minimise greenhouse emissions throughout their lifecycle and offer low embodied carbon and minimal waste at end of life?
• How do your products minimise reliance on the electrical grid? Comment on your decarbonised manufacturing process.
• Do you have credible data and carbon footprint information available to support low emission design? (LCA across modules A-D)

This feature is an opportunity to show architects just how your products meet low carbon requirements — be specific, use examples and demonstrate how they can design with your low carbon solutions. Show them the waste prevention and recycling opportunities your product can provide — all aspects which show your product to be a better carbon solution for the lifecycle of the building.

Article submission deadline: Thursday 12 September

Note: There are limited spaces available in this feature — we will select those that best fit this brief and those who have measured their embodied carbon, as installed in New Zealand.

November Feature: Outdoor Living

This month we want to hear about product solutions that can enhance outdoor living areas.

• Do you have any new products designed to create eye-catching, comfortable and enjoyable outdoor living areas?
• Is there a recent project that illustrates how your products contributed to the design of an innovative outdoor living area?
• Do your products resolve any key concerns for outdoor living areas (eg. shade and airflow, durability, lighting)?
• How do your products encourage creative design for smaller outdoor living areas such as modest townhouse yards or apartment balconies?
• Can your products help architects keep up with the latest trends, such as outdoor kitchens?

With the warmer months on their way, now is the perfect time to remind architects of the design possibilities for outdoor living areas. This is an opportunity to demonstrate how your products can be used to create stunning outdoor designs whether for classic backyards, apartment balconies or spaces in between.

Article submission deadline: Thursday 10 October

Note: We will select the articles that best fit this brief. If we receive more than 20 articles for this feature, we may shift some articles to our popular Interiors or Exteriors newsletters instead.