Page 13 - HW 0822

New insulation mandate is pushed out
SINCE THE LAST issue, as expected, MBIE has gone with an extension of the H1/ AS15th Edition around the forthcoming insulation regime.
So now, from 1 May 2023 (rather than November 2022), new building work in homes must meet the new wall, floor, and roof insulation performance requirements, while the new window and door insulation requirements
will continue with their staged implementation.
The extension for the new insulation measures was made following a consultation which received the highest level of submissions than any Building Code consultation to date.
Manager Building Performance and Engineering at MBIE Dr Dave Gittings says the extension was granted in recognition of existing pressure on the residential building sector.
“Response to our consultation shows there is a high level of support for the
insulation changes and the need for New Zealand to provide higher performing houses while responding to the urgency of climate change, however parts of
the sector have told us they need some more time to prepare for the increase in insulation.”
MBIE has detailed this split: “Architects, designaers, suppliers and building owners generally submitted in favour of keeping the transition period as it was, while builders and building consent authorities typically expressed a
strong preference for an extension. “Responses showed there is a high
level of support for the insulation changes and the need for New Zealand to provide higher performing houses while responding to the urgency of climate change. However there were some significant concerns raised by key parts of the system.
“All parts of the sector indicated there are existing stresses caused by COVID- 19 and the current economic climate. Builders indicated this would be further amplified by introducing the new insulation requirements from November 2022.”
A missed opportunity for those advocating the more rapid adoption of new regs towards higher specification new home builds, NZCB’s newly appointed Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming for one is pleased with the result.
www.mbie.govt.nz
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AUGUST 2022 | NZHJ 11