CEILINGS - BUILDINGS UNDER 300M2
New construction R-values & how to achieve them
Insulation is a barrier. It helps keep the heat in during the winter and can help keep the heat out during summer. This means that insulation is beneficial even in the warmest part of the country.
To be effective, the barrier has to be continuous in the building. That’s why the changes to Building Code clause H1 Energy Efficiency look at insulating all parts of a building – including ceilings, walls, floors, windows, doors and skylights. Below is an overview of the changes to construction R-value requirements in different parts of a building, and how they can be achieved.
Minimum R-values for Ceilings for housing in H1/AS1 and H1/VM1
Options | Climate Zone | |||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
Roofs | ||||||
Current minimum requirements | R2.9 | R2.9/3.3 | R3.3 | |||
1 May 2023 | R6.6 |
New construction R-values for ceilings
All New Zealand housing will require the same roof construction R-value of R6.6, which is a significant increase from the previous requirements – R2.9 and R3.3 depending on the previous zoning.
The insulation product R-values required will vary depending on the construction materials used in the project and the roof and ceiling designs. We will see a larger variety of products considered due to the type of roof and ceiling designs and the costs involved with various methods of installation.
Due to the large increase in the construction R-value required, we will see the introduction of some new products to the residential new-build market. Fibreglass and polyester insulation will remain the most common products, but these will be installed in different ways.
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-9cb4y9gxia/images/stencil/original/image-manager/wall-insulation-image.jpg?t=1676929532)
Walls
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-9cb4y9gxia/images/stencil/original/image-manager/slab-on-ground-floors-image.jpg?t=1676929652)
Floors
![](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-9cb4y9gxia/images/stencil/original/image-manager/windows-doors-image.jpg?t=1676929663)
Windows & Doors