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 |
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. |