By Stephen McNeil
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1 August 2021, Build 185, Feature article
As we push for higher performance from our houses, expectations for airtightness and ventilation are changing rapidly. Some changes will be needed in design to improve airtightness, and mechanical ventilation is likely to soon be the norm.
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By Stephan Rupp, Dr Manfred Plagmann
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1 October 2020, Build 180, Feature article
BRANZ was called into a Dunedin school where too much ventilation caused excessive condensation in a large roof space. Understanding why this happened points to warm roofs being better in some locations.
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By Roland Alderton, Mike Way
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1 October 2020, Build 180, Feature article
Ventilation of cold roof designs in New Zealand doesn’t always go smoothly. Here, BRANZ physicists hand over to a couple of professional builders who have long been at the coalface dealing with roof moisture issues on their projects.
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By Vicki White
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1 June 2017, Build 160, Feature article
Independent assessors carrying out the 2015/16 BRANZ House Condition Survey rated one-fifth of our housing stock as poorly maintained. Where are the problems areas, and why is maintenance being deferred?
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By Stephan Rupp, Cara Askew
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1 February 2017, Build 158, Feature article
BRANZ has been measuring moisture levels in a school’s classrooms. This information is providing a sound basis for understanding the indoor climate and designing moisture-safe long-span roofs in schools.
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By Dr Manfred Plagmann
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1 December 2016, Build 157, Feature article
BRANZ physicists have developed a useful calculation for designers to work out the minimum number and area of vents required in roof spaces.
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By Dr Manfred Plagmann
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1 August 2016, Build 155
Some roof designs, such as skillion roofs, must include ventilation to manage roof moisture. Recent BRANZ research provides advice on the best place for effective vent openings in low wind zones.
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By Stephan Rupp
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1 February 2016, Build 152, Feature article
Twenty years ago, roofs didn’t need to be specifically ventilated. Today, things are different. That’s because 21st century homes are more airtight, and if they aren’t aired, condensation may form.
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By Dr Manfred Plagmann, Stephan Rupp
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1 December 2015, Build 151, Feature article
Recent BRANZ research has confirmed how moisture gets into roof spaces and highlighted the critical role ventilation has in removing it.
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By Malcolm Cunningham
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1 December 2011, Build 127, Feature article
Recently, several cases of an insidious new form of thermal bridging have been seen. Aggravating factors have been identified that contributed to the problem, so there are now lessons to be learnt to avoid this on other buildings.
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