BRANZ Research - PrefabNZ 2021

BRANZ Research – PrefabNZ 2021

A multi - f a ce t e d , s cie n ce - le d o r ga n is a t io n , BRANZ u s e s
in d e p e n d e nt r e s e a r ch , s y s t e ms kn o w le d ge a n d it s br o a d
n e t w o r ks t o id e nt if y p r a ct ica l s o lu t io n s t h a t imp r o ve Ne w
Ze a la n d ’s bu ild in g s y s t e m p e r f o r ma n ce .

BRANZ is d r ive n by t h e kn o w le d ge t h a t t o t h r ive a s a s o cie t y ,
Ne w Ze a la n d e r s n e e d a bu ilt e n vir o n me nt t h a t is s a f e , h e a lt h y
a n d p e r f o r ms w e ll.

The BRANZ vision is to challenge Aotearoa New Zealand to
create a building system that delivers better outcomes for all.

At its heart, BRANZ is a team of
s cie nt is t s , e n gin e e r s a n d
p r o f e s s io n a ls p a s s io n a t e ly
co mmit t e d t o e n s u r in g t h e built
environment is the best it can be               .

Our Research Goal is to
Deliver Evidence - Based Solutions   to
 Drive System Wide Improvements

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) –
durability, seismic and fire performance
   Why?
   •   New Zealand has an urgent need for quality housing that can be
       built quickly and affordably
   •   SIPs have been used extensively overseas for many years, less
       is known about their performance in a New Zealand context
   •   The research aim is to understand how SIPs perform in New
       Zealand’s climate and during earthquakes or fires

SIPs – durability, seismic and fire performance

   How will this improve the building system?
   •   Findings will help demonstrate that products meet the requirements of the New
       Zealand Building Code
   •   The project will establish a consistent way of testing SIPs to ensure they are
       suitable for New Zealand housing, whether they are produced domestically or
       imported
   •   Results will provide a “whole system” analysis of SIPs and how they perform
       when used in conjunction with other common New Zealand building materials

SIPs – The Research
   Three workstreams each looking at SIPs from
     a different angle

   Open to engage with industry and
     understand what is/isn’t an issue from
     those working with SIPs

SIPs – NZ’s unique climate
   Assessing SIPs for Durability requirements
   • Accelerated ageing
   • Natural weathering
   • Mechanical testing

SIPs – NZ’s unique climate
   Accelerated Aging
   • Subject samples to cycles of realistic in-
     service temperature and humidity conditions
   Outdoor Exposure
   • Expose samples outdoors to natural, longer-
     term weathering

SIPs – NZ’s unique climate
   Mechanical Testing
   • Measure change in strength between control
     and aged samples

   Outcome:
   • Are developing a method for assessing SIPs
     in a generic way
   • Leads to a better understanding of the long-
     term performance of SIPs

SIPs – Earthquake
   Seismic Performance
   • Wall bracing in buildings
   • P21 testing
   • SIPs bracing

SIPs – Earthquake

   …so far, things are looking good

   with SIPs able to resist simulated earthquake
   loading,

   not failing globally,

   while also dissipating energy…

SIPs – Fire
   SIPs are complex:
   • SIPs can be comprised of many different skin
     and core materials
      •   Timber
      •   Metal
      •   Cementitious
      •   Polymer foams
      •   Bio-based materials

SIPs – Fire
   Fire research considers the whole building
   system
   • Cavities, Linings, Claddings, Penetrations, Joints,
     Fixings, etc.

   • Currently reviewing national and
     international regulatory requirements
   • Will develop appropriate test methods as
     necessary

SIPs
   Timelines:
   • March 2021: results from seismic performance work available
   • December 2021: end of project

   Funded by the Building Research Levy and EQC

Automated Building Code Compliance Checking
for Prefab Designs
   The Research:
   • Automated compliance checking is carried
     out overseas, the research is to
     understand the barriers and provide
     recommendations for adopting the
     technology in New Zealand
   • This is due in October this year

Towards effective use of technology in the
construction industry
   The Research:
   • Global review of technologies – Top 5:
      • BIM, RFID, immersive media, multidimensional
        building modelling, and web services
   • Key findings
      • Important to enable users to be technology
        ready including understanding the benefits of
        technologies
      • Developing relationships with technology
        providers for more cost-effective technological
        solutions, and
      • A need for the industry itself to develop
        guidelines for technology implementation

Thermal performance of houses – is in the detail
   The Research:
   • To develop a set of credible high performance construction details
     (HPCD) for use in conventional residential buildings
   • HPCD designed to meet passive house performance criteria
   • Includes: thermal performance, carbon footprint, indicative cost to build
     and buildability
   • Long-term – looking to have these HPCD as Acceptable Solutions to
     NZBC
   • 101 Draft details developed and available on Passive House Institute NZ
     website for comment (passivehouse.nz)
   • Expect designs to be finalised and published April 2021

BRANZ Research
Chris.Litten@branz.co.nz