A look at the considerations for redeveloping brown fields. 

Durability in the NZ Building Code is simple in concept but probably needs more than normal maintenance.

We're experiencing an ever-increasing strain on the Earth’s limited resources and the impact of Covid-related restrictions on trade and production has shown how volatile the flow of materials is. New Zealand being an island faces its very own challenges when it comes to limited resources. We therefore want to encourage a paradigm shift in how we use building materials — being more aligned with our environment and the people we care for.

With the growing awareness of Passive House principles, we can now illustrate the wider benefits of warm roof design.

Hot water heating is the largest single energy demand in modern residential buildings. With higher density housing the opportunity for centralised hot water systems exists, allowing for more efficient and environmentally friendly systems, while reducing overheads of the tenants.

When it comes to the building and construction sector, there is a strong case for collaboration and, taking it a step further, a long-term programme to unify as much as possible our building regulatory systems.

Compliance with NZ Building Code clause H1 (Energy Efficiency) is straightforward for new builds, but for alterations to existing homes it is more complicated and can give unexpected results.

This month's blog post addresses NZBC E3/AS1 Amendment 7 2020/21 covering common scenarios that can be affected.

Can we develop new compliance pathways for innovations that respond appropriately to the relative risk of non-compliance but in a cost-effective manner?

Designing, planning and selecting the right membrane for the conditions of your site are key factors to achieve watertightness on tanking jobs.