Building confidence: Standards and innovation at the BOINZ Conference

From AI-driven inspection platforms to gender diversity in the sector, the event highlighted both progress and pressing questions around shaping the construction sector for the years ahead. Standards New Zealand was there alongside partners from MBIE BSDA and BSP.

Standards in the spotlight

A major theme was the growing role of standards in supporting innovation and ensuring quality in the built environment. MBIE announced the consultation on a new regulatory instrument, the Building Product Specifications. When used with existing compliance pathways, the Building Product Specifications will broaden the range of building products that can be used in building work that must be accepted by Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) as complying with the Building Code. This move is designed to remove regulatory barriers to overseas products into the New Zealand market while maintaining compliance and safety.

It is a significant update, with more than 120 standards proposed to be cited in the Building Product Specifications, many of which are joint AS/NZS, American ASTM, or ISO standards. This raised questions among attendees about how to access these standards (as over 140 New Zealand standards are currently sponsored for free access by the building regulator, MBIE BSP), and what their use means for the quality of construction in New Zealand - particularly in light of past issues like 'leaky buildings'. MBIE reassured the audience that these standards meet or exceed current requirements, leveraging global best practices for local benefit.

There was strong interest in specific standards, especially:

• The ongoing revision of NZS 3604:2011 Timber framed buildings.
• NZS 1170.5 Structural design actions - Part 5: Earthquake actions.
• NZS 4121:2001 Design for access and mobility: Buildings and associated facilities.

The role of BOINZ and future engagement

BOINZ members, as consenting authorities, work with standards on a regular basis. The conference reinforced the value of having Standards New Zealand present to provide updates on a critical component of their work. A presentation on earth building standards by Mike Farrell (Ashburton City Council) was well-received, and follows the recent revision of three earth-building standards publish late last year.

Innovation and warm roofs

Clare Falk, CEO of BRANZ (Building Research Association NZ), as part of an update on BRANZ research, presented on new guidance for warm roof construction, where insulation is placed along the pitched roof rather than directly above the ceiling. This method offers performance benefits and presents an opportunity for integration into future standards. The related insulation standard NZS 4246:2016 Energy efficiency - Installing bulk thermal insulation in residential buildings saw interest for a revision to accommodate this evolving practice.

Diversity and representation

Another positive trend was the increased gender diversity seen across the building sector, with noticeably more women participating in the conference and the industry at large. This reinforces the need for gender diversity on standards development committees to ensure standards consider ergonomic and other gender-based considerations are factored into revisions.

Standards New Zealand works closely with representative organisations across the building and construction sector including Engineering NZ, BOINZ and BRANZ, and the building regulator Building Systems Performance. We will continue to champion for standards used across the sector and encourage updates to standards.