Find and access recently published information and resources.

 

New BRANZ resources and publications

 

Guideline December 2018

Information of interest in the December issue of Guideline includes:

• What building work, if any, can be done before a consent is issued;
• Single steps in an access route - an update on information given in the November Guideline; and
• Awnings and Schedule 1 exemption.

 

Build magazine issue 169

The feature sections for the December issue of Build Magazine focus on comfortable indoor environments and access and egress. The Right Stuff section has articles on:

• Built-up members;
• Sloped dragon ties;
• Lintels under gable ends;
• Designing a domestic plumbing system; and
• Bracing blocks and wings.

 

Roof ventilation fact sheets

Four new roof ventilation fact sheets have been published:

• Roof space ventilation in New Zealand houses, fact sheet 1;
• Testing the airtightness of residential roof spaces in three dwellings, fact sheet 2;
• Air permeability of common New Zealand ceilings and ceiling penetrations, fact sheet 3; and
• Moisture and ventilation in skillion roofs, fact sheet 4.

 

Two new study reports published

• The cost of Homestar: A case study on how to achieve a 6-10-Homestar rating for stand-alone and terraced housing in Hobsonville, SR391 (2018). This research aimed to determine the various additional capital cost commitment that would be required to achieve a 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10-Homestar rating from a standard Building Code-compliant design for 10 case study dwellings;
• Assessing the risk of non-compliant firestopping and smokestopping in New Zealand residential buildings undergoing alterations, SR410 (2018). The objective of this project was to develop of process to provide consistency in the application of section 112 of the Building Act when passive fire protection defects are found during alteration work. This report describes the problem, development of the propsed process, one potential risk analysis tool that has been developed by industry and made available by BRANZ and the results of the testing programme.

 

Changes to Building Code, Standards and legislation

 

Acceptable solutions and verification methods amendments - 30 November

The following acceptable solutions and verification methods have been amended as at 30 November 2018:

• B1/VM1: referencing a new standard for designing composite steel-concrete structures and a new technical specification for durability for steel structures.
• B2/AS1: now includes durability requirements for steel structures and components.
• E2/VM1 and E2/AS1: amended to include extra high wind zones, and clarification of testing requirements for weathertightness performance of claddings.
• G12/VM1, G12/AS1 and G12/AS2: references amended standards for jointing of common stainless steel pipework.
• G13/AS1, G13/AS2, G13/AS3 and G13/VM2: references an amended standard relating to testing of drains and inclusion of vacuum drainage systems.

Transition information: The previous acceptable solutions and verification methods will continue to comply until 31 March 2019 inclusive.

For more information on these amendments, see BC Update 243 (30 November 2018).

 

Other news and publications 

 

WANZ changes to WGANZ

The Window Association of New Zealand (WANZ) is now the Window and Glass Association of New Zealand (WGANZ).

 

Safe work with precast concrete

Worksafe New Zealand has published a new set of guidelines called "Safe work with precast concrete". The guidelines offer advice on handling, transportation and erection of precast concrete elements in a safe manner.