Notice Type
Departmental
Notice Title

Notice of Proposal to Issue and Amend Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods for Building Code Clauses B1, E2, G7 and H1 and Associated Materials Incorporated by Reference

Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods Proposed to be Amended

Pursuant to section 29(2) of the Building Act 2004 (“Act”), I give notice of amendments to the following acceptable solutions and verification methods:

  • B1 Structure Acceptable Solution B1/AS1;
  • B1 Structure Acceptable Solution B1/AS3;
  • B1 Structure Verification Method B1/VM1;
  • E2 External Moisture Verification Method E2/VM2;
  • G7 Natural Light Acceptable Solution G7/AS1;
  • G7 Natural Light Verification Method G7/VM1;
  • H1 Energy Efficiency Acceptable Solution H1/AS1; and
  • H1 Energy Efficiency Verification Method H1/VM1.

New Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods Proposed to be Issued

Pursuant to section 29(2) of the Act, I give notice that the following acceptable solutions and verification methods are proposed to be issued:

  • G7 Natural Light Acceptable Solution G7/AS2;
  • G7 Natural Light Verification Method G7/VM2;
  • H1 Energy Efficiency Acceptable Solution H1/AS2;
  • H1 Energy Efficiency Verification Method H1/VM2; and
  • H1 Energy Efficiency Verification Method H1/VM3.

Amendment to Material Incorporated by Reference

Pursuant to section 409(2) of the Act, I give notice of proposed new material and amended material to be incorporated by reference into the table of acceptable solutions and verification methods below. The material incorporated by reference in Column 1 of the table below, is replaced by the material listed in Column 2. Where there is text in Column 2 only, this signifies new material. Where there is text in Column 1 only, this signifies removal of material.

Column 1 Column 2
B1 Structure References
AS/NZS 4671: 2001 Steel Reinforcing Materials
Amend: 1
AS/NZS 4671: 2019 Steel for the reinforcement of concrete
AS/NZS 5131: 2016 Structural steelwork – Fabrication and erection AS/NZS 5131: 2016 Structural steelwork – Fabrication and erection Amend: 1
AS/NZS 2327: 2017 Composite structures – Composite steel-concrete construction in buildings AS/NZS 2327: 2017 Composite structures – Composite steel-concrete construction in buildings Amend: 1
New Zealand Geomechanics Society, Guidelines for the field descriptions of soils and rocks in engineering use, Nov 1988 New Zealand Geotechnical Society Inc., Field Description of Soil and Rock – Guideline for the field descriptions of soils and rocks in engineering purposes, December 2005

E2/VM2 References

BRANZ EM7 [version 2, May 2019] Evaluation Method 7 – Performance of mid-rise cladding systems. BRANZ EM7 [version 3, June 2020] Evaluation Method 7 – Performance of mid-rise cladding systems.

G7/VM2 References

  AS/NZS 1680.1: 2006 Interior and workplace lighting – General Principles and Recommendations
  NZS 6703: 1984 Code of practice for interior lighting design
  CIE 171: 2006 Test cases to assess the accuracy of lighting computer programs
  CIE 110: 1994 Spatial distribution of daylight – Luminance distributions of various reference skies

H1/AS1 References

NZS 4218: 2009 Thermal insulation – Housing and small buildings  
NZS 4243.1: 2007 Energy efficiency – large buildings – Building thermal envelope  
NZS 4243.2: 2007 Energy efficiency – large buildings – Lighting  
  NZS 4246: 2016 Energy efficiency – installing bulk thermal insulation in residential buildings
  NZS 4606.1: 1989 Storage water heaters – General requirements
  AS/NZS 4692.2: 2005 Electric water heaters – Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) requirements and energy labelling
BRANZ, The ‘Annual Loss Factor’ Method. A design tool for energy efficient houses, 3rd Edition (April 2000) BRANZ, Annual Loss Factor 4.0, 4th Edition (2018)
  Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002

H1/VM1 References

NZS 4218: 2009 Thermal insulation – Housing and small buildings  
NZS 4243.1: 2007 Energy efficiency – large buildings – Building thermal envelope  
NZS 4243.2: 2007 Energy efficiency – large buildings – Lighting  
  NZS 4303: 1990 Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality
NZS 4305: 1996 Energy efficiency domestic type hot water systems  
  ANSI/ASHRAE 140: 2017 Standard method of test for the evaluation of building energy analysis computer programs
BRANZ, The ‘Annual Loss Factor’ Method. A design tool for energy efficient houses, 3rd Edition (April 2000) BRANZ, Annual Loss Factor 4.0, 4th Edition (2018)
  Building Energy Simulation Test (BESTEST) and Diagnostic Method, International Energy Agency, 1995

H1/AS2 References

  NZS 4214: 2006 Methods of determining the total thermal resistance of parts of buildings
  NZS 4243.2: 2007 Energy efficiency – large buildings – Lighting Amend 1
  NZS 4305: 1996 Energy efficiency domestic type hot water systems
  NZS 4606.1: 1989 Storage water heaters – General requirements
  AS/NZS 4692.2: 2005 Electric water heaters – Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) requirements and energy labelling
  AS/NZS 4859.1: 2002 Materials for the thermal insulation of buildings – General criteria and technical provisions
  Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002

H1/VM2 References

  NZS 4214: 2006 Methods of determining the total thermal resistance of parts of buildings
  ANSI/ASHRAE 140: 2017 Standard method of test for the evaluation of building energy analysis computer programs
  Building Energy Simulation Test (BESTEST) and Diagnostic Method, International Energy Agency, 1995

H1/VM3 References

  AS/NZS 3823.1.2: 2012 Performance of electrical appliances – air conditioners and heat pumps – Ducted air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps – testing and rating for performance
  AS/NZS 4859.1: 2018 Thermal insulation materials for buildings – General criteria and technical provisions
  AS/NZS 5263.1.2: 2020 Gas appliances – Gas fired water heaters for hot water supply and/or central heating
  AS 1668.2: 2012 The use of ventilation and airconditioning in buildings – Mechanical ventilation in buildings Amendments 1 and 2
  AS 4254.1: 2012 Ductwork for air handling systems in buildings – Flexible duct
  AS 4254.2: 2012 Ductwork for air handling systems in buildings – Rigid duct
  BS 7190: 1989 Method of assessing thermal performance of low temperature hot water boilers using a test rig
  AHRI 460: 2005 Performance rating of remote mechanical-draft air cooled refrigerant condensers
  AHRI 550/591: 2015 Performance rating of water-chilling and heat pump water-heating packages using the vapour compression cycle
  ANSI/AHRU 1500: 2015 Performance rating of commercial space heating boilers
  CTI STD 201 RS: 2013 Performance rating of evaporative heat rejection equipment
  CTI ATC 1055: 2011 Acceptance test code for closed circuit cooling towers
  CTI 106: 2011 Acceptance test code for mechanical draft evaporative vapor condensers
  Construction Industry Research and Information Association, Safe access for maintenance and repair. Guidance for designers, 2nd Edition, 2009
  European Union, Commission Regulation (EU), No. 547/2012
  European Union, Commission Regulation (EU), No. 622/2012

Copies and Viewing of the Proposal for the Changes

The consultation document for issuing and amending acceptable solutions and verification methods is available free of charge from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (“MBIE”) website: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/.

The consultation document is also available from the Wellington office of the Ministry at 15 Stout Street, Wellington, between the hours of 8.30am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Purchase of Certain Material Incorporated by Reference

Certain material incorporated by reference described above may be purchased directly from Standards New Zealand, MBIE, 15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011, or online at: www.standards.govt.nz.

Hard copies of standards are not kept in stock for sale but may be ordered by following the directions online or by visiting MBIE’s Wellington office.

Availability of Remaining Material Incorporated by Reference

Viewing Material Incorporated by Reference

Material incorporated by reference is available for inspection free of charge at 15 Stout Street, Wellington, between the hours of 8.30am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

To make an appointment to view material incorporated by reference, call 0800 242 243.

Comment

I invite comment on the proposals contained in this notice by 28 May 2021. Comments can be made in the following ways:

  • On-line submission at: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/.
  • By email to: buildingfeedback@mbie.govt.nz, with subject line Building Code consultation 2021.
  • By courier or post:
    • Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011; or
    • Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140.

Dated at Wellington this 6th day of April 2021.

JOHN SNEYD, General Manager, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.