This year’s EBOSS architect sentiment report highlights that the industry continues to struggle but some businesses are starting to see improvements — and are even looking to hire new staff in the next 12 months. Could these positive signs mean we are at, or close to, the bottom of the cycle? 

A look at how the three new pathways for recognising overseas building products and standards work, including Approved Products Certified Overseas — a new deemed-to-comply-pathway that has just opened with a first round of recognition notices covering approximately 92,500 WaterMark plumbing and drainage products.

A thorough passive fire survey is essential. Identifying non-compliant penetrations allows for planned, rather than reactive, remediation.

This year major industries have been having significant difficulties with electricity pricing under the current market-driven pricing arrangements. With the growing number of Data Centres being established, the country needs to have a serious and comprehensive discussion on where and how our finite electricity supply is developed and used.

With Design and Build contracts becoming more common, the EBOSS team spoke to Livingstone Building CEO Kieran Nally to find out how designers can be successful in design and build projects.

Working out the labour involved with a project is one of the most challenging parts of the build process. Getting it right is vital.

Why it’s time for architects to get hands-on with energy modelling, airtightness, and real building performance.

During the design stage it is important to specify a drainage system that caters to the activity of the facility, allows for the desired layout and delivers reliable performance.

Clause E2 of the New Zealand Building Code, called 'External Moisture,' helps make sure buildings stay dry, safe, and healthy. It’s especially important for restricted building work (RBW) where following moisture rules is legally required. 

Not having a building consent has been a key theme in complaints to the Building Practitioners Board recently. This is the first in a series of articles looking at recurring reasons for complaints about LBPs.