Finding the information gaps
A record response to the 2010 BRANZ industry needs survey presents a comprehensive insight into the future needs of the building industry.
Over 1,000 industry professionals recently participated in the bi-annual BRANZ industry needs survey. The total response of 1,082 was higher than the 948 achieved in 2008 and considerably up on responses in 2007. The increase in response numbers presents a comprehensive and industry-segmented insight into the future needs of the building industry.
Results from the survey help to provide information to support a range of key decisions concerning what the industry requires from BRANZ and what knowledge gaps need to be addressed now and in the medium term.
The objectives defined in the study were to:
- quantify and prioritise the current information needs of building industry groups
- provide an indication of expected information needs that industry groups anticipate in the medium term (4–5 years) to facilitate research planning
- identify whether the needs of innovation subgroups differ from the needs of wider industry groups.
Those invited to complete the online survey by TNS Conversa included architects and designers, builders and developers, educators and building officials, and local and government agency representatives.
Building envelope important
The survey found that, in the short term (1–2 years), industry members collectively placed the greatest importance on new information about the building envelope (see Figure 1). Building officials were more concerned about this topic than other groups.
Within the building envelope, rain penetration, joint and junction detailing were the two most important subject areas. Master builders were found to have greater concerns than other builder groups around rain penetration, wind effects, plaster cladding systems and wind loadings.
Codes and standards top sustainability
Other important areas for which the industry seeks new information in the next 1–2 years are codes and standards, materials performance, and energy and insulation. Codes and standards replaced sustainability and environment as priorities from the 2008 survey – otherwise, the topics remained the same.
Within codes and standards, industry members mostly require plain English explanations, illustrations and descriptions and updates on new or superseded compliance documentation. The survey found that 20% of industry members identified this as one of the top areas needing new information. Designers, builders and building officials have a high level of interest in codes and standards relative to other industry groups.
Durability features highly
In the immediate future, builders are more concerned than others about materials performance, and designers have greater interest in energy and insulation.
Within the materials performance area, the most important topics for generating new information are assessment of new materials entering the market, durability performance of systems, definitions of failure criteria and life expectancy, durability of timber frames and actions of materials on one another.
Within energy and insulation, the most pressing need for new information is in the area of renewable energy systems, efficient heating costs, insulation efficiency and passive heating and cooling.
Needs similar in longer term
The survey found that the longer-term needs (4–5 years) are similar to those for the short term. These included building envelope, materials performance, energy and insulation, and codes and standards. Builders remain most concerned about materials performance, and master builders are more concerned than other builder groups.
These longer-term topics were the same in 2008. However, interest in sustainability decreased markedly from 46% in 2008 to 29% in 2010.
There is strong support for every construction product being required to have a standard of performance verification that recognises the level of risk associated with that product in use. The survey found customers were most likely to source information about this topic, followed by builders and Building Consent Authorities.
All industry groups believed that the performance-based building control system is poorly understood. It scored 4.1 out of 10, with architects and building officials the most likely to have this perception.
Information sources and web-based seminars
The survey found manufacturers’ literature, Good Practice Guides and Build magazine are the most favoured sources of information amongst the industry generally.
There is a strong preference for the internet as a source of information. Of all respondents, only three indicated they had no internet access at home or work. Despite this preference for online information, most groups prefer to have compliance documents and codes and standards in hard copy form.
The ability to source information on building products on the internet is another desired topic for the industry. There is also a high level of support for submitting building consents online, although building officials and builders have least preference for this option.
On average, 64% of industry members would watch web-based seminars with continuing professional development (CPD) points. Consultants, designers, architects and builders are the groups most likely to be attracted to web-based seminars.
What next?
The industry needs survey is one of the key information sources in the development of BRANZ’s Building Research Information Agenda. Combined with the survey results, focus groups and other information sources, this annual document outlines all the research and information projects BRANZ is working on in the immediate future.
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Articles are correct at the time of publication but may have since become outdated.
