Board Bites

Thanks to a great suggestion at this year’s Annual General Meeting in Wellington, we’ll now bring you an update on the great advocacy work the New Zealand Certified Builders Board has been doing in each edition of InHouse.

MBIE 2021 Building Code Update

Landing proposed thermal efficiency settings for 2022 and paving the way towards operational efficiency

23 September | Online workshop

This year’s update will ensure warmer, drier, healthier, and more energy efficient homes and buildings. It supports the Building for Climate Change programme of work, which continues to transform housing and construction for New Zealanders.

The changes won’t be as dramatic in the short term as the industry first thought. However, we can expect big changes to the way we have to build and design buildings to meet the new code over the next three years. The changes are in relation to the performance of roofs, walls, floors, and windows, and looking at how buildings are used by the end user. We have requested a good road map showing how the changes will be implemented over the next three years so we can prepare. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has been listening to the industry and consulting on how best to make the changes. The new change will be announced in November this year and come into play in November 2022.

Ian Chamberlain NZCB Board Chairperson

MBIE 2021 Building Code Update

Landing proposed R-values and design methodology for concrete floors

27 September | Online workshop

This was a very technical workshop that looked at how the industry will need to comply with the new codes and how this will change over time to ensure high-performing concrete floors.

MBIE is looking at up-spec’ing the ratings on all flooring in the short-term, but it’s also looking to change how you calculate these ratings, as well as up-spec them even further, in a few years’ time. My suggestions were to make gradual changes to give people in the industry a chance to get their heads around it. For example, start by changing how the ratings are calculated to give designers and builders time to learn the new requirements and understand how the recalculations would work. Then, once the new calculations are common knowledge and understood, up-spec the requirements.

Ian Chamberlain NZCB Board Chairperson

Te Pukenga Operating Model Consultation

21 October | Online engagement session

The industry and employers were updated on what future pathways will look like for learners, including how Te Pukenga is responding to the Review of Vocational Education (RoVE) and its outcome commitments. Nick Farrelly NZCB Board Vice Chairperson