Features
Each Build offers in-depth insights into two topics of interest to the building and construction industry.
Feature section: Medium-density housing
As councils move to raise limits on medium-density housing in urban environments, plenty of work is needed at research and regulatory levels around factors such as fire ratings and noise levels.
Articles in this section
Feature section: The future is now
It’s hard to keep track of where technology is taking us. It moves so fast, and the new frontiers of artificial intelligence and robotics are already knocking on the construction industry’s door. It’s time to embrace the changes.
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Feature section: Cleaning up
Construction and demolition waste dominates all rubbish at landfills. There are calls for the industry to reduce this. One way is at the very beginning of a building’s life cycle – during its design.
Articles in this section
Feature section: Seismic learnings
Earthquake engineering knowledge, technology and regulations continue to evolve, particularly following the damage and loss of life from the Canterbury and Kaikoura quakes.
Feature section: Grand designs
It's not size or flashiness that makes a home or building grand. The essential factor it must have is quality in design, functionality and the build standard.
Articles in this section
Feature section: National Science Challenges
Major research projects are under way as part of the National Science Challenges. These are focusing on significant issues that matter most to New Zealanders, including building better homes, towns and cities.
Feature section: Corrosion and materials degradation
BRANZ is helping improve building materials durability by increasing understanding of the causes of corrosion and materials degradation. Much has been learned about metal fasteners in timber, and adhesives are now also under the microscope.
Feature section: Who's building New Zealand?
Roles and activities in the construction industry are changing with increasing use of technology and a move to more specialist trades. With the current skills shortage, where could extra people come from?
Feature section: Building controls
How all the parts of New Zealand’s building control framework fit together may be a puzzle to some. To help, we look at various parts of our performance-based building control system and how to use them.
Feature section: Fire safety
Valuable research by BRANZ fire engineers is improving understanding of fire behaviour in buildings. The result is useful guidance to help protect buildings in the event of a fire. On the regulatory side, MBIE has also been busy with new fire safety proposals.
