By Greg Overton
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1 December 2009, Build 115
The many examples of rotting parapets have raised concerns about the details used. A 2-year BRANZ project assessing the performance of parapet walls provides confidence that parapets can manage water when E2/AS1 details are used.
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By Stephen McNeil
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1 December 2015, Build 151, Feature article
Newer homes may be less draughty but concern is growing that they are accumulating too much internal moisture. Ventilation is key, and BRANZ is researching how to keep homes aired, warm and healthy.
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By Ian Cox-Smith
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1 December 2016, Build 157
Modelling of concrete floor slabs at BRANZ has provided insights into how to optimise the effectiveness of exterior perimeter edge insulation.
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By Peter McDowall
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1 April 2017, Build 159
A proven technology using UV light to clean air of contaminants is being used in a BRANZ project looking to harness it to remove mould from New Zealand homes.
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By Ian Cox-Smith
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1 June 2009, Build 112
What gives the best performance – insulation installed between framing, over framing or a combination? This question was put to the test in a recent BRANZ research project.
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By Malcolm Cunningham, Luca Quaglia
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1 October 2010, Build 120
A recently completed major BRANZ research project has improved understanding of how roofing underlays handle moisture in roofs and led to the development of a new test suitable for a wider range of roofing underlays.
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By Stephan Rupp, Dr Manfred Plagmann
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1 June 2015, Build 148
BRANZ building physicists recently investigated roof cavity ventilation in a high-altitude holiday home after the owner found condensation problems, including ice forming in the roof cavity.
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By Stephen McNeil, Dr Manfred Plagmann
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1 October 2019, Build 174
Blower door tests are used to identify air leaks and reduce air infiltration into a house. However, estimating the air infiltration rate – and therefore energy loss – is not as straightforward as many assume. Knowing the physics will help understand why.
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By Michael Nuth
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1 December 2020, Build 181, Feature article
Wellbeing is now a key government policy, but what does this mean for the construction industry? BRANZ research suggests a mobile app to collect enduser satisfaction levels could be a new measure of building performance.
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By Greg Overton
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1 December 2007, Build 103, Feature article
Building on the success of previous weathertightness research at BRANZ, two new projects have now started – one looking at parapet wall systems and the other at imported drainage mats performance under New Zealand conditions.
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