Outright NZ

In many buildings, particularly those built with a single-skin masonry wall, it is common to add a steel stud frame on the interior, place fibrous insulation in the cavity, and finish the wall with plasterboard. This approach is appealing because it is inexpensive and easy to install. This build-up carries a significant and often overlooked risk, however. Because the insulation sits on the inside, the masonry remains close to the outside temperature, even when the interior is heated. The...

Changes to the NZBC’s H1 standard were announced in November late last year. The changes were brought about by MBIE in an effort to create warmer, more energy-efficient buildings throughout New Zealand. ​ With significant changes to R-values in each climate zone, there will be a substantial increase in the amount of insulation required for each project. We would like to help the industry understand how they can meet the new H1 requirements, in particular relating to roof insulation. What Is...

There are six important functions that a good warm roof system will resolve. This applies for the design of the building envelope, and for the building performance over time. These six functions are expanded in the following segments. Incorporating Passive House Principles for Airtightness ​ Unintended airflow and air leakage through the layers of the building envelope carry the risk of thermal energy loss. Professional energy auditors use blower door tests to help determine a home’s...