BRANZ

🥵 Are summers feeling hotter at your place? You’re not alone! In-home monitoring of NZ homes last summer shows average indoor temperatures have increased by 6-10%, depending on room and time of day, compared to the last time BRANZ collected this type of data 20 years ago. 🌡️ Average evening temperatures in both living rooms and bedrooms exceeded 24°C 🌡️ 36% of bedrooms were classed as ‘overheating’ 🤔 So what can we do about it? For year-round comfort and energy efficiency, we need to consider home design holistically. This means thinking about how factors such as the orientation of the building site, the number and position of windows, shading, insulation, heating and cooling systems, and ventilation work together. For more: https://lnkd.in/gkFbAauA Source: Anderson B., White V., & Jones S. et al. (2025). Household Energy End-use Project 2: Report on summer comfort, cooling and indoor temperatures (preliminary analysis) (BRANZ Study Report SR502)

Looks like even Mother Nature approves of our new Fire Lab! When you build a fire lab so cool, she throws a celebration!" 🌈🔥 Photo credit: Rebecca Holden

It was a pleasure to welcome Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Limited to BRANZ last week to chat through how we can collaborate to support builders, designers and home occupiers in the areas that matter most to them – affordability, quality, resilience and sustainability. Thanks for making it out to see us and we look forward to closer collaboration together.   Grant Fraser, Julie Roberts and Emma Ingley from Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Limited and Steve Nicholls and Rosie Dawson-Hewes from 3R Group Ltd. 

Hey Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Sustainable Engineering, and Construction Management students – this is YOUR chance to take on ArchEngBuild's ULTIMATE 72-Hour Challenge! 💡💥 Got questions about ArchEngBuild? We've got you covered! Check out our Q&A video for some answers and insights to help you dive into this exciting challenge with confidence. Thank you to our sponsors Concrete NZ | New Zealand Timber Design Society | Metals NZ | Southbase Group | Sustainable Steel Council Thank you to our supporters New Zealand Institute of Architects | Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau | NZ Institute of Building

Electricity and fibre cables, and gas pipes are usually lying underneath building sites, so it’s essential to know what’s below before digging or excavating. 💥 Gas pipes Every year, gas leaks are caused by builders and construction workers hitting gas pipes. Gas leaks not only pose serious risks to life and property, but they’re also an environmental hazard, causing thousands of tonnes of CO₂ emissions. ⚡ Electricity and fibre cables Striking electricity cables can result in electric shocks or fires. Laser light from a fibre cable can damage eyesight. 🔍 Find out what’s below The most accurate way to know what’s below is to get the plans. Use BeforeUDig.co.nz, a centralised service that collates information from multiple infrastructure providers. Request the underground plans at least 2 business days in advance. ✅ Key safety steps Before you begin excavation, you must establish the location of underground services. If the plans show electricity, gas, or communications cables or pipes, you must locate them before starting work. 🔴 Damage control Electricity: Treat the cable as live and evacuate the area. Gas: Move at least 20 meters away and call 111. Fibre: Don’t look directly at the cable and call the fibre company. Stay safe. Know what’s below before you dig! Here is the full Build magazine article https://lnkd.in/gfhUnMmk

👩🔬 👷♀️ ♀️ This International Women’s Day we spoke to just a few of the many amazing wāhine here at BRANZ about why it’s so important to celebrate the women making an impact through their work, their voices, and their actions. Here’s to the contributions of women scientists, leaders, researchers and engineers across the globe. Happy International Women’s Day!

Last night, we brought together more than 200 leaders from across the building and construction system to talk about “The next decade of building with science”. Held at Parliament and hosted by the Hon Chris Penk MP, Minister for Building and Construction, we unveiled the sector priorities that BRANZ will focus on for the next decade.   “What matters to the sector, matters to us,” emphasised our CEO Claire Falck. “Our work is guided by what you have told us; we have listened to what you’ve had to say.   “That doesn’t mean that we have all the answers, or that we have landed on perfect solutions. However, we believe that true breakthroughs and progress happen when we work together.”   At the event, BRANZ Board Chair, Nigel Smith and Claire outlined the four priority areas that will guide our research and investment over the next decade: 🔹Affordability: understanding cost drivers and delivering practical solutions for more affordable housing. 🔹Quality: providing research-backed guidance on materials and methods to ensure high quality, durable buildings fit our country’s unique environment. 🔹 Resilience: supporting buildings to protect people from earthquakes, fire, extreme weather, and climate change. 🔹Sustainability: reducing carbon impact throughout the building lifecycle, from design to demolition.   “These priorities ensure that our efforts address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the industry,” said Claire.   Around the room, BRANZ scientists, researchers and engineers showcased the work we’ve been doing to deliver practical tools, resources and guidance in these four areas. Special thanks to Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Limited, New Zealand Certified Builders Association, the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, Auckland Council, Abodo Wood Ltd, Jennian Homes, Tennent Brown Architects Ltd and Naylor Love for sharing the spotlight with us – and talking about the value they’ve been getting from BRANZ in these areas.   “By bringing together the different voices and perspectives around this room, we can tackle the complex challenges we face. Collaboration is our strength, and it’s through this collective effort that we will drive meaningful progress,” said Claire.   Thank you to everyone that attended.

Congratulations to Ewan Brown and Hugh Tennent at Tennent Brown Architects Ltd 🌟   BRANZ is proud to recognise the achievement of Ewan Brown and his team for receiving the Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZ Institute of Architects Gold Medal on Wednesday night. Ewan's contributions to the architectural field and his support for BRANZ initiatives are greatly appreciated. As a member of our Building Research Advisory Council (BRAC), his dedication and expertise has been invaluable.

BRANZ and CIL Masterspec National Embodied Carbon Data Repository is now accepting carbon information in the form of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) or Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) from manufacturers and importers of New Zealand construction products for inclusion in the Repository.   We encourage all manufacturers and suppliers to take advantage of this opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable future. By sharing your carbon information, you are helping to build a comprehensive database that will benefit the entire sector and support the creation of affordable, high-quality, resilient, and sustainable buildings for all New Zealanders. 

When it comes to our homes and buildings many assume ‘quality equals expensive’. In an op-ed this week, our CEO Claire Falck explains why New Zealand shouldn’t have to choose between quality and affordability. Swipe for more or read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/gvN3Fxtk