Passive House in Waikato Provides Year Round Comfort

Ross and Julie Brown of ehaus Waikato recently completed their award-winning Waikato expoHaus home located in rural Taupiri. The eHaus Euro home has been built to the German Passive House institute energy efficient classic standard. The standard means the home requires little to no energy to heat or cool and will operate at 20-25°C all year round. This kind of energy performance is exceptional, but the additional benefits of a quiet, comfortable healthy space are also fundamental.

A certified classic Passive House uses no more than 15Kwh per square metre per year to heat which is 81% less energy than used to heat a standard new double glazed family home to 20°C. The indoor air quality is also outstanding due to the high level of filtration removing 98% of pollutants from the air — perfect for those with allergies and or respiratory issues.

With a 252m² footprint, this home offers four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two living areas. Some of the visible features include beautiful German engineered windows and doors, and solar photovoltaic panels.

The invisible features include carefully designed insulation connections to prevent any thermal bridges, a dedicated airtightness layer and a mechanical heat recovery ventilation system. Airtightness is achieved through the use of plywood panels taped with TESCON VANA tape. This tape has passed independent testing for durability so it can be rated for 100 years of adhesion performance. This eHaus Euro achieved an airtightness level of 0.41 air changes per hour when tested at 50 pascals. Standard homes built to the NZ building code generally operate at about five air changes per hour.

Ventilation is supplied by a Zehnder Q350 heat recovery ventilation system. This system allows fresh air to replace damp stale air while recovering more than 90% of the warmth in the outgoing air.

SOLITEX EXTASANA is used as the external building wrap behind the cladding system and Solitex Mento 3000 as roofing underlay. These membranes can resist up to 10,000mm of water column pressure making them extremely water resistant yet also include active vapour transmission which transports water vapour out of the insulation and framing layer, helping to keep it dry and free of mould and condensation.

Take a 3D tour of the home here

This show home is also open to visitors Monday to Friday 9-4 so those around Waikato can pop in, talk to the team and experience the Passive House first hand. Ross and Julie and their team are there to answer questions like: “Can you open windows in a Passive House?”, “How do I know that it will actually use less than 15Kwh per year to be 20 degrees?” and “What has the cost of power been for the last 12 months?”

Roof Underlay (SOLITEX MENTO 1000)

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SOLITEX MENTO 1000 roof underlay is a three-layer roof underlay designed to be used with most typical roof cladding systems. While providing temporary weather protection it can remain exposed for up to 30 days.

SOLITEX MENTO 1000 has been appraised for use as a self-supporting roof underlay on buildings within the following scope:

the scope of limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Paragraph 1.1 with regards to building height and floor plan area; and,
with masonry tile roof cladding; and,
with metal tile and profiles metal roof cladding; and,
suited to NZS 3604 Wind Zones up to, and including Extra High.

In the opinion of BRANZ, SOLITEX MENTO 1000, if used, designed, installed and maintained in accordance with the statements and conditions of Appraisal No.876 (2014), will meet, or contribute to meeting the following provisions of the NZBC:

Clause B2 DURABILITY: Performance B2.3.1(a), not less than 50 years, B2.3.1(b), 15 years and B2.3.2. SOLITEX MENTO 1000 meets these requirements.
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Performance E2.3.2. When used as part of the roof cladding system, SOLITEX MENTO 1000 will contribute to meeting this requirement.
Clause F2 HAZARDOUS BUILDING MATERIALS: Performance F2.3.1. SOLITEX MENTO 1000 meets this requirement and will not present a health hazard to people.

SOLITEX MENTO 1000 has been Appraised as an Alternative Solution in terms of the New Zealand Building Code Compliance.

Sill Tape (TESCON EXTOSEAL)

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Butyl sill tape for use with wall underlays like SOLITEX EXTASANA and SOLITEX EXTASANA ADHERO and other weathertightness layers.

TESCON EXTOSEAL Sill Tape has been appraised as a flexible flashing system for use around window and door joinery openings for buildings within the following scope:

the scope limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1 Paragraph 1:1; and,
with a risk score of 0-20 calculated in accordance with NZBC acceptable solution E2/AS1 table 2; and,
with wall cladding systems complying with NZBC acceptable solution E2/AS1 or a valid BRANZ Appraisal that specifies a flexible flashing system; and,
with flexible wall underlays compatible with flashing tape; and,
situated in NZ3604 Wind Zones up to, and including, Extra High.

TESCON EXTOSEAL Sill Tape has also been appraised as a flexible flashing system for use around window and door joinery openings for steel framed buildings within the following scope:

the scope limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1 with regards to the building height and floor plan area; and,
constructed with a steel frame complying with NZBC; and,
with a risk score of 0-20 calculated in accordance with NZBC acceptable solution E2/AS1 table 2; and,
with wall cladding systems covered by a valid BRANZ Appraisal that specifies a flexible flashing system; and,
with flexible wall underlays compatible with flashing tape and steel frame; and,
situated in NZ3604 Wind Zones up to, and including, Extra High.

Used in:

Te Uru Taumatua — Living Building Challenge
Unitec, Weltec and Toi Ohomai student-built homes
Habitat for Humanity
Housing New Zealand

BRANZ Appraised

TESCON EXTORA Multi-Purpose Weathertightness Sealing Tape

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TESCON EXTORA is a multi-purpose weathertightness sealing tape for windproof and weathertight sealing.

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TESCON EXTORA Sealing Tape has been appraised by BRANZ as a flashing tape for use around the head and jambs of window and door joinery openings for buildings within the following scope:

the scope limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Paragraph 1.1; and,
with a risk score of 0-20, calculated in accordance with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Table 2; and,
with wall cladding systems complying with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1 or a valid BRANZ Appraisal that specifies a flexible flashing system; and,
with a compatible flexible wall underlay fixed directly to the framing or over-fixed over a rigid wall underlay; and,
situated in NZS 3604 Wind Zones up to, and including, Extra High.

TESCON EXTORA Sealing Tape has also been appraised as a joint-sealing tape for rigid wall underlays [fibre cement sheet and H3.2 treated plywood In accordance with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1] which are over-fixed with a flexible wall underlay in accordance with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Paragraph 9.1.7.2 on buildings within the following scope:

the scope limitations of NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Paragraph 1.1; and,
with a risk score of 0-20, calculated in accordance with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, Table 2; and,
with wall cladding systems complying with NZBC Acceptable Solution E2/AS1 or a valid BRANZ Appraisal; and,
situated In NZS 3604 Wind Zones up to, and including, Extra High.

In the opinion of BRANZ, TESCON EXTORA Sealing Tape, if designed, used, installed and maintained in accordance with the statements and conditions of BRANZ Appraisal 838 (2013), will meet or contribute to meeting the following provisions of the NZBC:

Clause B2 DURABILITY: Performance B2.3.1 [b], 15 years and B2.3.2. TESCON EXTORA Sealing Tape meets these requirements. See Paragraphs 8.1 and 8.2.
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Performance E2.3.2.TESCON EXTORA Sealing Tape contributes to meeting this requirement. See Paragraphs 7.1- 7.5 and 11.1 - 11.5.
Clause F2 HAZARDOUS BUILDING MATERIALS: Performance F2.3.1. TESCON EXTORA Sealing Tape meets this requirement and will not present a health hazard to people.

BRANZ Appraised

Intelligent Airtightness Membrane (INTELLO PLUS)

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The pro clima airtightness system prevents uncontrolled air infiltration or leakage through the building envelope, and assists the drying capacity of the building through its unique moisture control properties.

Suitable for all construction and where there is risk of interstitial condensation
The protection of insulation from air movement
Preventing uncontrollable air flow though the building envelope
An optional continuous cavity for electrical and plumbing services can be created on the inside face of the external wall by fixing battens horizontally over the INTELLO membrane before installing the wall lining
The main advantage of a service cavity is to shift the plumbing and wiring out of the insulation layer
A service cavity also reduces the penetrations through the airtightness membrane allowing easy and fast installation of services
This also eliminates pressure points on inner lining (eg. plasterboard) from insulation expansion

The NZBC requires only that airtightness be considered, not measured. INTELLO directly assists with meeting the following requirements:

Clause E3.1 INTERNAL MOISTURE: Buildings must safeguard people against illness, injury, or loss of amenity that could result from the accumulation of internal moisture
Clause E3.2 INTERNAL MOISTURE: Buildings must avoid the likelihood of fungal growth or the accumulation of contaminants on linings and other building elements
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Concealed spaces and cavities in buildings must be constructed in a way that prevents external moisture being accumulated or transferred and causing condensation, fungal growth, or degradation of building elements
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Building elements must make due allowance for the following: (a) the consequences of failure, (c) variation in the properties of materials and in the characteristics of the site
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Interior linings with all joints stopped require barriers to airflow
Clause H1 : ENERGY EFFICIENCY: The building must be constructed to limit uncontrollable airflow
Clause H1 : ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Account must be taken of physical conditions likely to affect energy performance of buildings; (c) Airtightness of the building envelope.
Clause B2 : DURABILITY: Performance B2.3.1(a), not less than 50 years, B2.3.1(b), 15 years and B2.3.2

BRANZ Appraised

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