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Building Code Updates to H1 2021-2022- Time to Absorb and Apply

08 Apr 2022

On 29 November 2021, MBIE announced updates to the Building Code Clause NZBC H1 Energy Efficiency- Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods. The purpose of the changes is to help make new homes and buildings warmer, drier and healthier. Included are increases to thermal insulation requirements for roofs, windows, doors, skylights and floors. MBIE’s aim is to reduce energy needed for heating residential homes by approximately 40% and by 23% across large buildings.

Transition Period

NZBC H1/AS1 (fifth edition) became effective on 29 November 2021. It does not apply to building consent applications submitted before 29 November 2021. The previous Acceptable Solution H1/AS1 Fourth Edition Amendment 4 can be used to show compliance until 2 November 2022 and can be used for building consent applications submitted before 3 November 2022.

Key Changes

The main changes from the previous version are:
  1. The scope of H1/AS1 and H1/VM1 has been reduced to apply to all housing, including multi-unit housing and buildings up to 300 m2 . Buildings other than housing over 300 m2 have been combined into the new Acceptable Solution H1/AS2 and H1/VM2.
  2. Buildings with curtain walling have been excluded from the scope of H1/AS1.
  3. Citation of NZS 4218: 2009 “Thermal insulation – Housing and small buildings” has been removed from the document. The relevant content from this standard has been adopted into H1/AS1 with permission from Standards New Zealand.
  4. The minimum R-values previously found in NZS 4218 are replaced with new values and new text in Part 2. Building thermal envelope.
  5. The requirements for determining the thermal resistance and construction R-value of building elements have been revised to better reflect the thermal performance of windows, doors, skylights and slab-onground floors.
  6. Portions of text have been re-written to enhance clarity in the document and provide consistent language with other acceptable solutions and verification methods.
  7. Requirements for artificial lighting have been removed from H1/AS1 as these now apply to buildings outside of the new scope of H1/AS1.
  8. References have been revised to include only documents within the scope of H1/AS1 and have been amended to include the most recent versions of AS/NZS 4859.1, NZS 4246, and ALF in Appendix A.
  9. Additional references have been added to include BS EN 673, ISO 10077-1, ISO 13370, and ISO 13789 in Appendix A.
  10. The definitions page has been revised to include all defined terms used in this document in Appendix B.
  11. The three-zone climate zone map previously found in NZS 4218 has been updated with a six-zone climate zone map in Appendix C. H1 ZONES
  1. Requirements for establishing the orientation of a building have been added in Appendix D.
  2. The thermal performance tables for windows and glazing previously found in NZS 4218 have been replaced with a single table with updated construction R-values for vertical windows and doors in Appendix E.
  3. The new window insulation requirements will have a two-step approach for the warmest part of the country (climate zones 1 and 2 including Auckland).
    • Year 1. The warmest part (climate zones 1 and 2 including Auckland) will see an interim increase in the window insulation level.
    • Year 2. Climate zone 1 and 2 will see an additional increase with new requirements effective 2 November 2023


Next Moves

We recommend that ALL specifiers and product partners become familiar with the new requirements outlined under NZBC Clause H1.

For specifiers, this means getting an in depth understanding of the evidence pathway required to display compliance with the Building Code and the potential flow-on to the work of other trades eg upsizing of framed wall and roof construction to accommodate thicker insulation products (roof insulation changes from R2.9/R3.3 to R6.6).

For product partners, this may require the development of newer higher performance systems to meet the new requirements and for this to be adopted by industry. This will need to be supported by updated product information, test data and supporting documentation such as CodeMark/ Appraisals and Masterspec sections.

For Masterspec - over the next few months we will be incorporating the updated general high-level requirements into non-branded and branded product partner sections. Detailed product changes to branded sections will then be incorporated in consultation with product partners and prioritised as the information is received.  

Reference material Masterspec would like to acknowledge both MBIE and BRANZ for their content reproduced here.

https://www.building.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/building-code-compliance/h1-energy-efficiency/asvm/h1-energy-efficiency-as1-5th-edition.pdf

http://www.buildmagazine.org.nz/articles/show/building-code-changes-2021