Below-ground waterproofing is one of the most critical elements of a building’s long-term performance. When it fails, the consequences can be costly, disruptive, and difficult to remediate. That’s why understanding the different waterproofing strategies — particularly Type A and Type B protection — is increasingly important for designers, engineers, and builders across New Zealand.

New H1 requirements have led to changes in the location of fixtures on the building line. This changes the way threshold drains and perimeter channels interact with insulated slabs and glazing suites — a challenge which can be simplified with the use of system-based threshold solutions.

The New Zealand construction sector is currently navigating global volatility and domestic uncertainty. Insight from industry leaders suggests that the industry is at a critical inflection point, driven by a conflict in the Gulf, shifting consumer confidence, and the looming political realities of an election year.

Why independent verification matters, a perspective by Warren Jennings, Texture Coatings Technical Business Manager, Specialized Construction Products.

While the NZBC-H1/AS1 Energy Balance assessment of Energy Efficiency demonstrates compliance for the purposes of obtaining a Building Consent, a dynamic multi-volume hourly passive thermal simulation of a dwelling’s passive thermal performance in its specific location and orientation is a much more relevant and useful starting-point towards providing a comfortable interior environment for the occupants over time. 

The closure of the Straits of Hormuz due to the current Iran war is causing an oil price response that could be worse than the two oil crisis of the 1970s. That is saying something. The 70s oil shocks caused seismic economic changes that echoed around the world.

Roughly 30% of business failures in the last year were in the construction sector. It is not the lack of trade specific skills, but the broader knowledge needed for a successful business.

I understand that one of the purposes of the recent review of clause H1 (Energy Efficiency) of the New Zealand Building Code was to address the growing problem of summer over-heating of medium-density housing developments. I am not sure that a significant change has been achieved.

Window & Glass Association's Technical Manager, Rob Campion, shares new guidance on the classification of windows and doors when tested to comparable international standards, looking at the most common classifications from Australia, Europe and America.

Tiled showers in second storey ensuites and multi-unit developments often create design challenges and durability risks to designers and homeowners alike. How can these areas be more durable and remove the risk of leaks or failures in the selected system?