Bob Burnett: Bob Burnett Architecture & Superhome Movement Co-founder

Breaking the CODE

I am not sure that building codes work, and particularly New Zealands Building Code, which is very subpar when compared to other countries we like to compare ourself to, which have similar climates to ours.

Build code is meant to provide a level of protection to stop silly or harmful outcomes. But in reality, thats a fallacy, and the code is failing badly at that.

How do you legislate for good housing?
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Can you regulate to encourage innovation, good design and future focused design?
The question should be... ‍
What does good look like – instead of less bad?
Or even just...
Better than the worst house.

The building code focuses on minimum standards and is even hopelessly outdated at that. Why is it, that the building code describes the worst possible building you are legally allowed to create in this country? Can we be more aspirational than that?

We must and take responsibility for our health and wellbeing now, and think about the health and wellbeing of future generations, through environmentally sound home design and construction.

There is also a strong cost benefit, over time, from exceeding code minimums to achieve reduced energy and maintenance cost. Superhome Movement recommends a Step change pathway, or road map similar to other countries who have much better building codes like Canada and the UK.

Here in NZ the aspirational ‘Building For Climate Change Program’ was announced 2020. It struggled to gain traction and seems to have been stopped by the current government.

MBIE and their advisor are clever people, so why is their advice not followed? Is it a communication problems opposed to an engineering or technical problem? We know what to do, and how we even have the CBA (cost benefit analysis) and research data to verify the compeling requirement to do better. So whats the problem? Is it a lack of the correct communication or absence of joined up thinking. Systems thinking instead of piecemeal tinkering with bits and pieces in the code.
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H1 Energy efficiency is the name of the building code section on energy. Its not called H1 Insulation, but there seems to be a narrow focus on just insulation values (R values).

Integrated Design should be the focus and quality. Proper details and installation, not just the quantity. 75% of insulation is installed faulty, according to BRANZ research, and even small gaps can have a mammoth impact on performance.

There is nothing in the code on air-sealing, thermal bridge free construction, which has a major impact on energy efficiency.

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So what else is missing from the code?

• Airtightness is not considered, but it has a massive impact on energy efficient comfort and health. Most other countries consider this.

Thermal Bridging not properly considered

•  Timber to Insulation Ratio 

 [brief lay-person description], NICE ONE BOB, this will be helpful :)

• Windows are currently promoted as being installed the in uninsulated cladding cavity... BOB CAN'T WORK OUT WHAT YOU ARE MEANING TO SAY?

 [brief lay-person description], NICE ONE BOB, this will be helpful :)

• Overheating not considered in code

Minimum for Climate Location

• Overheating not considered in code

Maximum Eaves in relation to Site Coverage


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The current government is concerned with or how little insulation can we get away with so that we can try and build cheaper.
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Leaders and experts in building design and construction are increasingly disenfranchised in New Zealand's build regulations due to the out dated and inadequate subpar standards.

Previous consultation on the H1 changes that became operational in 2023 attracted the most interest of any code updates in history. The overwhelming majority of submissions called for the regulators to go as far and as fast possible towards international best practice. What we have seen instead is piecemeal small changes to some insulation values when whats actually required to fix the building code is a thorough and holistic systems thinking design focused approach. Tinkering with isolated insulation settings doesn't cut it.
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There are numerous other elements that impact buildings energy efficiency comfort health and resilience that are absent from the code. For example thermal bridging, airtightness and proper ventilation. There is also no requirement in the regulations that consider overheating risks or even adequate standards for heating homes to healthy levels. Ironically rental homes regulations now call for greater heating requirements than newly built homes, albeit just the living rooms. Bedrooms can still have no heating and even new homes can have single digit room temperatures.
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This is of course unhealthy and unacceptable in a first world country.

Recent and proposed H1 changes do not have any bearing on projects Superhome Movement Participants are engaged in, as they already exceed code minimums.

Superhome Movement is working to bridge the gap between the inadequate building code and higher performance homes that are truly healthy comfortable and affordable to live in. True affordability is not just upfront capital cost but also balances, ongoing energy efficiency longevity and cost of ownership over time.

Well designed future positive homes have a significantly higher ROI and provide healthy happy productive communities.