Join our network. Make change happen.

GBPN connects like-minded people around the world to research, educate and implement change. Join us today.

CLOSE

New Zealand

Code Development

Summary
Summary

New Zealand has had national mandatory requirements for thermal insulation in new homes since 1978. When the government introduced the performance-based New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) in 1993, these requirements were converted to performance terms for residential buildings, and new requirements were added for commercial buildings (Clause H1).

Start Year
Exact Start Year
1 978
Start Year Range
< 1980
Revision Schedule
Yes, a revision schedule exists
Revision Schedule Explanation

All clauses of NZBC, including Clause H1, are reviewed in a five-year cycle. 

Existing Code Coverage
Commercial
Residential
Stakeholder Engagement NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details
Best Practices NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details

Code Implementation - Compliance & Enforcement

Administrative/Enforcement Structures

Several parties ensure compliance with the building regulations: the New Zealand Department of Building & Housing, territorial governments, building consent authorities, regional authorities, building owners and licensed building practitioners.

Compliance Checking on Design
Yes, compliance is checked on Design
Compliance Checking on Construction
Yes, compliance is checked on Construction
Compliance Checking on Pre-Occupancy
Yes, compliance is checked on Pre-Occupancy
Air Tightness testingy
Commissioning before occupancy NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details
Commissioning after occupancy
Compliance Software Residential NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details
Compliance Software Non-Residential
Yes, Software exists
Penalties for non-compliance
Refusal Permission to construct
Refusal Permission to occupy
Other
Other penalties
Fines can be levied for non-compliance
Incentives and Recognition program for compliance
Incentives and Recognition program for compliance
Awards/Grants/Tax Breaks
Finance/Loans/Ratings

Incentives for compliance include building rating programs; grants for upgrades of commercial buildings; funding for lighting programs. 

Compliance Rate monitoringe
Compliance Rate Publicised NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details
Compliance Lessons Learned NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details
Compliance Energy Use Statistics
Compliance Rate in % NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details

Capacity Building and Education

Awareness Raising
Awareness raising
Resourse kits
Online resources -

Training of territorial authority staff is important to adequate enforcement of the provisions in Clause H1. Training takes the form of a series of seminars throughout the country, backed up by training visits to individual territorial authorities. In addition, Building Officials Institute of New Zealand offers several trainings for building surveyors, designers, and builders on building energy efficiency and how to meet requirements of the code.

Building materials

Building Materials Ratings

The BRANZ House Insulation Guide provides thermal resistances of common building components, based on an established methodology. There are methodologies for calculating thermal resistance of materials, but materials are not labeled.

Energy Performance Certificates

EPC Implementation

Homestar is an independent rating tool that evaluates the sustainability attributes of homes. Green Star is a national, voluntary environmental rating scheme that evaluates the environmental attributes and performance of buildings using rating tool kits applicable to each building type & function. BASE is a simple, introductory-level green building assessment for new office, retail & mixed use buildings. NABERSNZ is a voluntary rating system for energy performance of office buildings.

Search

CLOSE