A wall is not a ventilation system, therefore airtightness is not the enemy.

Thermal Mass is often presented as the magic ingredient to ensure that the passive solar gain within a building is maximised, but the importance and usefulness of Thermal Mass can vary depending on the purpose and location of a space, along with glazing and insulation. 

Why is it that single drop 'Thermal Drapes' are considered to be the solution to retaining heat within a house during winter, when lined curtains of ordinary fabrics have been used in the past?

Acoustic performance is of key importance to internal glazed partitions and door systems within commercial and educational buildings.

LRV stands for Light Reflectance Value and is a measure of the amount of visible light reflected by a surface. As a design professional you're probably well aware of this, but what you may be less familiar with is the effect that chosen colours can have on the integrity of the substrate beneath.

The requirements for airtightness in a passive house are an important factor when looking at energy efficiency and comfort.

At Dulux, we seem to hear about a new type of certification on a monthly basis. Each has a different focus but often overlaps with other programmes. It's hard to decide which is most important when choosing a product, but here are some of the better known.

Before worrying about slab-edge, start with thermal bridging fabric above the ground floor with timber floor insulation and appropriate joinery detail.

Following on from last month's blog about roof underlays and general roof construction details we will now take a closer look at skillion roofs.

As an architect or designer you will often need to prove that proposed structures meet a number of fire safety standards including the mandatory provisions of the New Zealand Building Code fire safety clauses.