saveBOARD betterBRACE 4Steel is a rigid air barrier, wall bracing element and thermal break designed for use with light steel framing.

saveBOARD betterBRACE 4Steel is certified for use with buildings:

• a) designed and constructed to Nash Standard Part 2
• b) located in wind zones up to and including Extra High (as defined in NZS3604), and
• c) located in Exposure Zones B, C and D (as defined in NZS3604:2011 section 4.2), except microclimates, and
• d) located in:
  • i. Climate Zones 1, 2 and 3 where the internal lining is plasterboard, or
  • ii. any Climate Zone where the indoor environment is controlled between 18 C and 24 C and maximum relative humidity 65% rh, and
• e) where the cladding system:
  • i. is not open-jointed, and
  • ii. incorporates an 18mm minimum drained cavity.

• i. Climate Zones 1, 2 and 3 where the internal lining is plasterboard, or
• ii. any Climate Zone where the indoor environment is controlled between 18 C and 24 C and maximum relative humidity 65% rh, and

• i. is not open-jointed, and
• ii. incorporates an 18mm minimum drained cavity.

saveBOARD betterBRACE 4Steel shall:

• be installed with all joints, openings and penetrations taped and sealed with a compatible flashing tape. If the betterBRACE is over fixed with a synthetic underlay the betterBRACE joints are not required to be taped and penetrations and openings may be sealed using compatible flashing tape with the underlay, and
• be installed in accordance with the saveBOARD betterBRACE 4 Steel Installation Guide NZ Jan 2026 rev 1.2 and
• not be directly exposed to the weather or ultraviolet light for more than 30 days during construction. (It may be over-fixed with a synthetic wall underlay within this period).
• not have joints in cladding that allow rainwater to penetrate the cladding or expose the underlay or air barrier behind the cladding or expose the underlay or air barrier behind the cladding to UV.

The cladding system shall not be directly fixed to betterBRACE 4Steel.

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• B1 Structure: Performance Clauses B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.3 (b, f, h), B1.3.4
• B2 Durability: Performance Clauses B2.3.1(a); B2.3.2
• E2 External Moisture: Performance Clauses E2.3.2 (contributes to), E2.3.5 (contributes to), E2.3.6 (contributes to), E2.3.7
• F2 Hazardous building materials: Performance Clauses F2.3.1
• H1 Energy Efficiency: Performance Clauses H1.3.1 (b) (contributes to)

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CodeMark

Eco Choice Aotearoa

Homestar / Green Star

saveBOARD betterBRACE is certified for use with buildings:

• designed and constructed to:
  • NZS3604 or
  • NZS3603 and AS/NZS 1170 with a maximum wind design pressure (ULS) of 2.5kPa,
  • in existing buildings where the existing structure is equivalent to i) or ii) above, and
• located in wind zones up to and including Extra High (as defined in NZS3604), and
• located in Exposure Zones B, C and D (as defined in NZS3604:2011 section 4.2), except microclimates, and
• located in:
  • i. Climate Zones 1, 2 and 3 where the internal lining is plasterboard, or
  • ii. any Climate Zone where the indoor environment is controlled between 18C and 24C and maximum relative humidity 65% rh, and
• where the cladding system:
  • i. is not open-jointed, and
  • ii. incorporates an 18 mm minimum drained cavity.

• NZS3604 or
• NZS3603 and AS/NZS 1170 with a maximum wind design pressure (ULS) of 2.5kPa,
• in existing buildings where the existing structure is equivalent to i) or ii) above, and

• i. Climate Zones 1, 2 and 3 where the internal lining is plasterboard, or
• ii. any Climate Zone where the indoor environment is controlled between 18C and 24C and maximum relative humidity 65% rh, and

• i. is not open-jointed, and
• ii. incorporates an 18 mm minimum drained cavity.

saveBOARD betterBRACE shall:

• be installed with all joints, openings and penetrations taped and sealed with a compatible flashing tape. If the betterBRACE is over fixed with a synthetic underlay the betterBRACE joints are not required to be taped and penetrations and openings may be sealed using compatible flashing tape with the underlay, and
• be installed in accordance with the saveBOARD betterBRACE 7mm Installation Guide NZ Jan 2026 rev 1.1 or
• be installed in accordance with the saveBOARD betterBRACE 10mm Installation Guide NZ Jan 2026 rev. 1.2, and
• not be directly exposed to the weather or ultraviolet light for more than 30 days during construction. (It may be over-fixed with a synthetic wall underlay within this period).
• not have joints in cladding that allow rainwater to penetrate the cladding or expose the underlay or air barrier behind the cladding or expose the underlay or air barrier behind the cladding to UV.

The cladding system shall not be directly fixed to saveBOARD betterBRACE.

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• Clause B1 Structure: Performance Clauses B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.3 (b, f, h), B1.3.4
• Clause B2 Durability: Performance Clauses B2.3.1(a); B2.3.2
• Clause E2 External moisture: Performance Clauses E2.3.2 (contributes to), E2.3.5 (contributes to), E2.3.6 (contributes to), E2.3.7
• Clause F2 Hazardous building materials: Performance Clauses F2.3.1
• Clause H1 Energy efficiency: Performance Clauses H1.3.1 (b) (contributes to)

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CodeMark

Eco Choice Aotearoa

Homestar / Green Star