Truss heels raised to accommodate extra thickness.The more timber in the wall, the higher the insulation batt R-value needs to be.Use of ply sheathing externally adds thermal resistance, as well as bracing.Design out dwangs (a horizontal bracing piece used between wall studs or floor joists to give rigidity to the wall or floor frames of a building).Not too dissimilar to current practice.The higher the R-value the better the performance. R-values are additive for layers of materials. R-value can be given for a material or for an assembly of materials (e.g. *The R-value is the building industry term for thermal resistance. North Island, north and west coast South Island: R1.5*.Slabs will also require an insulation ‘thermal break’ between garages and attached habitable spaces.It will require slab edge and possibly underslab insulation. Slab on-grade is no longer just ‘deemed to comply’.Window frames will be required to be thermally broken as a minimum, and in colder climates will have to use high-quality low-e glass.Those involved in the design and construction of new builds will need to take into consideration the following: These follow territorial authority (local government) boundaries. This will allow the insulation requirements to better reflect the different temperatures experienced in each zone. MBIE has expanded the number of climate zones used in the insulation requirements from three to six.

Requirements applicable to buildings other than housing over 300 m 2 have been combined into the new Acceptable Solution H1/AS2. The scope of H1/AS1 has been reduced to cover only housing, and buildings other than housing less than 300 m 2. What type of buildings does the update cover? This initiative will deliver warmer, drier, and healthier homes that cost significantly less to heat and will also generate carbon savings through energy efficiency. The changes to the insulation requirements represent the first step towards MBIE’s Building for Climate Change programme. The documents outline compliance pathways to meet minimum insulation requirements for new housing set out in clause H1 Energy Efficiency of the New Zealand Building Code. In November 2021, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) announced changes to the Building Code with the aim of making new homes and buildings more energy efficient. Here we look at the details and specifications to make sure you’re up to speed and compliant when considering your next building project. Understanding the changes to the H1 building code (and the changes to the changes) can be complex. Another day, another update to the Building Code.

H1 insights