MINUTES OF AUCKLAND BRANCH TRAINING AND NETWORKING EVENT
Time & Date: 5.00pm, 15 May 2024
Room:
Location: High Performing Building Centre, 199A Main Highway, Ellerslie
Welcome: Daniel, Branch Secretary and Hasan Branch Chair welcomed all Auckland members to the High Performer Building Hub and introduced the guest presenter, Benjy Simmonds to the members.
Attendance:
In person: Ted Jones, Paul Vernon, Bruce Vickers, Allan Rich, Michael McArtney, Craig Tibbits, Xin Xu, Rob Shao, Christine Hibbard, Paul Healy, Ryan Stowers, Scott MacBeth, Martin Perkovic, Steve Hull, Susan Holmes.
Online: Abdul Hadi, Debra Christensen, Dolly Shah, Ellip Behera, Faraz Azlam, Harish Chand, James Zhao, Jimmy Li, Jonathan Abiva, Joseph Burdett, Laffy Rai Rangga, Leanne Davies, Louis Kang, Malcolm Greenwood, Mark Tucker, Mayannje Young, Parveen Singh, Pierre Van Zyl, Richard Kaggwa, Russell Shaw, Stephen Shen, Tian Zhao, Tineke De Villiers, Vinay Thadi.
Apologies:
Jeff Fahrenson
Moved: Paul Vernon
Guests:
Benjy Simmonds - STARKE COMMERCIAL
Previous Minutes:
Meeting minutes were issued, read and accurate
Moved: Ted Jones
Matters Arising:
Nothing raised.
Correspondence In/Out:
No correspondence from National Office received at the time of meeting.
General Business:
Nothing raised.
Board Representative Update:
Board representative not in attendance.
Building Code Issues:
The below issue was raised in a questionnaire asking for Building Code Issues but was not brought up at the actual meeting.
Clauses E1, E2,E3:
Thermal bridging through steel framing is addressed under E3. However, E3 seems to only specifically address thermal bridging in the context of light steel framing (NASH style) and not for steel beams, posts, portals etc. The conductivity is the same, and the risk of condensation within the structure is also likely to be the same, but trying to enforce thermal breaks on individual steel members is challenging when the wording of E3 is so narrow with regards to steel framing, and there appears to be very little NZ specific literature relating to the issue. There is plenty of overseas literature, but when challenged on the issue designers claim that we simply don't get cold enough in NZ for it to be a problem. I feel like additional guidance is needed, one way or the other, as to how much of an issue the potential condensation from isolate steel structural members presents.
I have tried contacting BRANZ about 3 years ago, but never received a response. I used both the email channel phone number (left a voice message) in their technical advice sections.
Guest Presentation(s):
Benjy Simmonds from STARKE COMMERCIAL (end-to-end system design solutions)
Subject: Carbon, Envelope, Windows, Specifications, and much more.
Benjy’s presentation highlighted the importance of factoring in the construction of the building envelope to reduce carbon emissions. Uses for carbon zero, construction carbon, and embodied and operational carbon were highlighted as examples of materials to aid in reducing carbon emissions.
Thermal envelope and why windows are the problem and opportunity.
Benjy’s presentation provided a slide which pointed out what he believes to be opportunities from the problems caused by thermal envelope issues such as heat loss, air leakage and heat gain. Evidence from research and testing has revealed where improvements are gained in the window areas compared to other parts of the building envelope such as the roof for example.
Effect of window performance vs other building elements.
Benjy displayed a timeline from the 1950s indicating window performance development throughout the years and how it has evolved in New Zealand using various components such as timber, aluminium, uPVC, and a combination of two of these profiles. The trends included global examples and how the global market and new technology has influenced the joinery industry in New Zealand.
Window specification best practise.
According to Starke, what makes for a good window includes the following performance criteria:
- Heat loss; windows can be responsible for up to 50% of the overall heat loss in a building, however, if designed right can contribute to nearly 100% in heat gain.
- Windows are interchangeable with different glass and frames to get the values you desire.
- Heat gain; G-value of the glass dictates what percentage of solar heat gain is allowed into the building.
- Common values of R value yield in windows and frames range from 0.35 (very good) to 0.9 (not very good).
H1 compliance methods and how to best use them.
Benjy provided examples of the current compliance methods of H1 and a comparison of bad, better and best scale in reference to current compliance pathways (acceptable solutions/verification methods) and his reasons why:
- Schedule method (bad)
-
- Guaranteed to be overengineered which lead to being the most expensive compliance method.
- It is the most carbon intensive between the other two methods.
- There is a risk in overheating in building where R6.6 insulation is installed in ceilings.
- Calculation method (better)
-
- Value-engineer the envelope by appropriate design to save costs.
- uPVC & Low-e frames are unlikely to require any modifications to suit the zone the building is situated, particularly zones 1 and 2.
- Risks of negative building outcomes such as overheating still likely to occur.
- Modelling method (best)
-
- Further value-engineer the envelope for greater cost savings.
- uPVC & Low-e joinery, unlikely to require modifications, in particular to zones 1&2.
- Eliminates negative building outcomes.
Other factors in the presentation that were briefly discussed by Benjy towards the end of the presentation were:
- E2 compliance, installation, recessed windows – although compliance with New Zealand Building Code is paramount, it is reasonable to re-consider the gains and benefits in improving where you can and afford.
- Window frame type considerations – the cheapest is not always the best.
- Challenges and impacts of changes to product assurance system with imported joinery – current government proposal to regulate overseas products/systems in New Zealand that may have an impact on the current New Zealand market.
A question and answer session took place at the end of the meeting.
Next Branch Training and Networking Event: scheduled for June 2024 at TBC.
Special thank you to:
Benjy Simmonds from STARKE COMMERCIAL for taking the time to present to us.
Hasan Shueb closed the meeting at 6pm.
Daniel Harrison
Auckland Branch Secretary
Daniel.HarrisonACE@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
