New Building Code Requirements

New Building Code Requirements Bring Biggest Energy Efficiency Change in Over A Decade

It is well documented that New Zealand’s existing building code construction standards are well below similar temperate countries across the western world. Research shows the impact of damp, mouldy and poorly ventilated homes on the respiratory health of many New Zealanders. The latest changes to the Building Code will make new homes and buildings warmer, drier, and healthier, with less impact on the climate, a change that Comfortech Building Performance Solutions® are extremely supportive of and believe is a significant step forward in improving living conditions for New Zealander’s.

The changes focus on increases to insulation requirements and introduce six new climate zones to reflect the specific weather experienced in different parts of New Zealand and will reduce the energy needed to heat homes by up to 40 per cent, allowing people to heat their homes more easily and efficiently, which will lead to positive health impacts and increased energy savings for New Zealanders.

One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to boost thermal performance is to increase roof insulation. The minimum amount of roof insulation required for new builds will now be required to be doubled across the country.

Windows represent the largest source of heat loss in new homes, so the minimum insulation level for windows will now need to be increased across the country, with a focus on targeted higher upgrades in colder climate zones.  Regions across New Zealand have very different climates and the six new climate zones announced today mean buildings will need to be constructed to different insulation levels to reflect this.

Summary of Changes

Residential - Housing will require R6.6 roofs and R0.46+ windows, R2.0 walls and R1.5+ slab on-grade floors. 

Commercial - The increase in R-value is much larger with a change in the coldest climates to R7 roofs and R3.2 walls with R2.6 slab on-grade will be a good change.

The H1 Energy Efficiency Building Code changes for residential and buildings under 300 m² will come into place from 01 May 2023. MBIE is proceeding with changes to roof, window, wall, and underfloor insulation requirements, issuing the new H1/AS2 and H1/VM2 for large buildings, over 300m² from 03 November 2022.  This aims to reduce the energy needed for heating and cooling by 23% on average across large buildings over previous minimum status quo requirements. 

At Comfortech® our ambition is to create a more sustainable and comfortable future for all. With the introduction of the new H1 insulation changes, we’re working to enable all Kiwis to live and work in warmer, healthier and more energy-efficient buildings.

We’re meeting this commitment by introducing our new product range, Pink® Superbatts®, specifically designed to meet the H1 Building Code changes. Our Pink® Superbatts® are extra wide and are some of the most environmentally friendly H1 solutions on the market. Locally sourced and manufactured from over 80% recycled glass, our insulation is EPD certified.

For more information on the H1 Building Code changes and other updates to the Building Code, please visit the MBIE website or learn more about our H1 Solutions on the Comfortech® H1 Hub.