Broad changes to the H1 clause in the NZBC for commercial buildings over 300m² came into effect in November last year, as part of MBIE’s – Building for Climate Change. This programme was established in 2020 with the aim of guiding the building and construction sector to achieve its contribution to New Zealand’s emissions reduction targets.

The H1 Building Code changes focus on increases to insulation requirements and introduces six new climate zones to reflect the specific weather experienced in different parts of New Zealand. The recognition of thermal bridging impacts, where insulation effectiveness is compromised through heat loss or gain through building elements and penetrations, is also a vital step in improving the overall performance of building envelopes.

H1 compliance must be demonstrated via either the schedule method or modelling, as explained in H1 VM2. The calculation method used for housing cannot be used for buildings over 300m². These changes see insulation requirements for walls and roofs rising up to R3.2 and R7.0 respectively, challenging the conventional methods of insulating commercial buildings in New Zealand.

Kingspan is a global leader in the development and supply of high-performance building envelope technologies and systems. Kingspan Thermakraft can offer proven innovative, integrated insulation and building membrane systems that not only meet the required changes, but can achieve world-class levels without compromising ease of build and cost-effectiveness.

Compliance without compromising net lettable or saleable space is achievable with Kooltherm. Kooltherm is a closed-cell phenolic insulation with exceptional insulation and fire performance properties. As a thermoset material, it hardens and chars in fire situations, giving off very little smoke. This is in contrast to thermoplastics, such as polystyrene, which melt, soften, and give off thick black smoke. Thickness for thickness, Kooltherm dramatically outperforms glasswool and other bulk insulations achieving a product R-value of 2.5 at just 50mm.

Kooltherm is ideal for use as a continuous insulation, either internally or externally, to mitigate thermal bridging. Without drastic changes to wall thicknesses, it achieves compliance and beyond. Specialty products are also available for soffit and slab applications. Kingspan Thermakraft also offers the Therma insulation range for flat roofs waterproofed with mechanically fixed single-ply waterproofing or metal roofing, which are typically part of a warm roof construction.

Kingspan Thermakraft is ready to support your move to smarter construction, higher performance and compliance.